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Gardens To Visit
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Visit a PHS garden or landscape to help build stronger social connections with your community.
For Neighborhoods
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Explore programs that create healthy, livable environments and increase access to fresh food.
For Gardeners
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Engage with PHS on gardening, whether you’re an expert or a beginner.
About Us
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Get to know our story, become a part of our staff, or see what is in the news with PHS.
The Flower Show

Tree Programs

enews state of the tree canopy 2

PHS Tree Tenders is at the forefront of the urban tree movement across the country. PHS works to train hundreds of new Tree Tenders every year. They go on to form groups in their neighborhoods that transform the health and well-being of their communities by rallying neighbors to plant and care for trees. See how you can get involved in planting trees in your neighborhood today.

Volunteer for Spring Planting or Tree Distribution 

Join PHS and 75 neighborhood-based Tree Tenders groups in planting 1,100 trees in the Philadelphia region. Let's work together to improve health and well-being for ourselves and our neighbors by planting trees and growing our community forest!

There are two options to volunteer: tree delivery/sorting/distribution, and tree planting. No prior planting experience or tools are needed. Training is provided on-site. Each planting takes about 3 hours. 

Tree Delivery, Sorting, and Distribution

Help PHS with the tree delivery, sorting, and distribution to community groups (April 16 - 19). Use the link below to sign up for a volunteer shift. Contact us at [email protected] for help with registering.

Tree Planting Events

Find a tree planting near you (April 19 - 21). Use the map below to find a planting event near you. Just click on the blue circle for the time and location, and follow the link, or reach out to the contact person provided. Not seeing one in your area? Contact us at [email protected] for suggestions of community plantings most in need of more volunteers. 

 

How to Become a PHS Tree Tender

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Step 1

Take a PHS Tree Tenders Basic Training Class. Register below for an in-person or virtual class. For information on scholarships contact our Tree Tenders team at: [email protected].

Visit Upcoming Events to Register
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Step Two

Once you’ve become a Tree Tenders graduate, find a local Tree Tenders group in your neighborhood to join. Use our map to begin your search. Find a Tree Tenders group near me.

Find a tree tenders group near me
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Step Three

Don’t see a group in your neighborhood? Start a new Tree Tenders group! You only need three Tree Tenders graduates to make a group. The rest can be volunteers.

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Step Four

Get planting! PHS does two (2) plantings per year for groups to take part in: one in April and one in November. Learn more on our Get a Tree page.

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How to Plant a Bare-Root Tree

PHS Presents Planting a Bare Root Tree

Other Ways to Get Involved

Want to participate in a PHS tree planting, but haven’t taken the Tree Tenders course yet? No problem! There are still plenty of ways to plant a tree with PHS.

Volunteer

Join PHS Tree Tenders in planting nearly 2,000  trees every April and November in the Philadelphia region -- or help your local Tree Tenders group with summer tree monitoring or care throughout the year.

Through the Tree Tenders initiative, PHS collaborates with community partners to grow and steward tree canopy in neighborhoods and towns across the Philadelphia region and helps promote healthier, cooler, and greener communities.

Get updates on our upcoming tree planting by signing up at the link below with your email.

 

Connect

Connect with a local Tree Tenders group to help prune and take care of trees in your neighborhood or community. Volunteers can help track and collect tree health data as part of our annual summer Tree Checkers program for recently planted trees. No experience necessary. Training will be provided. The link to a map of current Tree Tender groups is above in step two (2) of how to become a Tree Tender. 

ISA Certified Arborists

Arborists can volunteer with Tree Tenders in the Greater Philadelphia Region and throughout Pennsylvania.

For more information, contact the area closest to you.

Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties)
PHS Tree Tenders 
[email protected]

The rest of Pennsylvania 
DCNR Urban and Community Forestry
 [email protected]

Questions? Contact the PHS Trees Team.

Become a part of the PHS community.