Sarah Lemmon August 31, 2015 6:51am

via hiltonpond

Looking for a new tree to add to your yard?

Through the City of Seattle’s Trees for Neighborhoods project Seattle residents can apply for up to four free trees for their yard or planting strip.

Here’s how it works: Participants receive free trees, water bags, mulch and planting and care instruction.

Availability: While many of this year’s small ornamentals have sold out, you can still apply for one of five conifers.

How big are these trees? If you have the space, Trees for Neighborhoods recommends considering planting one of three native conifers: the grand fir, western hemlock, or western red cedar. For small, narrow spaces, plant the graceful Serbian spruce. Consider the deciduous bald cypress and enjoy the changing color and soft beautiful foliage. Bald cypresses are excellent urban trees because of their adaptability, even winning the Society of Municipal Arborists’ Tree of the Year award.

And if you need a little inspiration, the project has created a interactive map of plantings from 2009-2014.

To learn more about this year’s species, space requirement, and to apply, please visit: http://www.seattle.gov/trees/treesforneighborhoods.htm.