Volunteer Canopy Program
About the Program
The Volunteer Canopy Program empowers Knoxville neighborhoods to plant and care for trees on private property. Because nearly 89% of Tennessee land is privately owned, expanding our city’s urban tree canopy starts right in our own yards.
We focus on areas that need tree cover most, working hand in hand with local residents to build a greener, more resilient city. At the heart of the program are Tree Ambassadors: neighborhood leaders who educate their communities, share resources, and guide local planting efforts.
A healthy urban forest relies on every neighborhood doing its part. That starts right in your backyard!
2026-2027 Campaign
This year, Trees Knoxville is working with four neighborhoods to increase our urban tree canopy one yard at a time! We are working with Belle Morris, South Haven, Fourth & Gill, and Five Points.
This campaign allows homeowners to reserve up to 2 larger trees at no cost, and Trees Knoxville will order and deliver the trees straight to their door. Each neighborhood will then host an event to plant all of the trees at once, followed by an after party to celebrate the growth of the urban tree canopy!
If you live in one of these neighborhoods and have received a flyer or door hanger with a reservation qr code, please check out the resources to the right!
I Received a Flyer!
Great news! If you received a flyer, your neighborhood Tree Ambassador selected your area for an upcoming planting event in November 2026 or January 2027 (depending on your location).
Simply scan the QR code on your flyer to reserve your tree. Trees Knoxville will order and deliver the tree straight to your home. On planting day, our team, volunteers, and your neighbors will come together to plant the trees—followed by an after-party and tree adoption event to celebrate!
Benefits of Trees
- shade
- cooler temperatures
- climate regulation
- mitigated flooding
- wildlife sanctuary
- curbside appeal
- lower utility bill
- much more!
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits trees provide, take a look at the attachment below:
How to Pick the Right Tree
If you are now convinced you want to reserve a tree but don’t know where to put your tree in your yard, take a look at the attachment below! This walks you through species selection so that you can rest easy knowing you chose the right tree for your yard:
Available Species
Now that you know how to select your tree, take a look at the available trees for your neighborhood. There are a variety of small, medium, and large trees for you to choose from based on the needs of your home. Select your neighborhood below to see what species are available to you!
Note: some neighborhoods have a different species selection due to restricted space availability.
Belle Morris Species Availability
South Haven Species Availability
Five Points Species Availability
Fourth & Gill Species Availability
Once you know which tree best suits your yard, return to the reservation form and select which tree you want. You will receive a confirmation email and updates about the event, the closer it gets!
Thank you for being a vital part of the growth of our urban forest and investing in the health of our beautiful city!