Urban Forestry

Neighborhood-Based Urban Forestry

Since 2013, Louisville Grows has proudly helped residents plant and care for trees on their own properties. Our neighborhood-based urban forestry program focuses on rebuilding Louisville’s tree canopy, especially in areas that have experienced the greatest loss of tree cover.

Analysis of Louisville’s urban tree canopy found that the city lost approximately 3% of its tree canopy between 2004 and 2012-about 54,000 trees each year. In response, the Louisville Metro Tree Advisory Commission released the city’s first Tree Canopy Assessment in 2015 to help guide canopy preservation and expansion efforts.

More recent data show encouraging progress. According to the Tree Canopy Assessment (2012-2019), Louisville saw a 1% increase in overall tree canopy during that period. While modest, this positive trend reflects the collective impact of organizations like Louisville Grows, residents, and community partners working together to create a greener, healthier city.

Through our Treecipient Program, we work directly with residents, schools, parks, and community partners to plant and care for trees. Trained Citizen Foresters lead volunteers, provide hands-on guidance on tree selection and maintenance, and help build community knowledge in urban forest stewardship.

The Tree Canopy Assessment (2012–2019) also identified single-family residential properties as having the greatest potential for expanding vegetation, with more than 30,000 acres of potential plantable space. While canopy cover in this category continues to decline, our focus on education and hands-on guidance ensures residents understand the value of trees and are equipped to care for them. By engaging directly with residents, Louisville Grows leads the way in resident-driven urban forestry, empowering residents to grow and sustain Louisville's tree canopy for years to come.

Expanding tree canopy isn't just good for the environment-it directly benefits the people who live here. Urban trees provide meaningful health and quality-of-life benefits. Research shows that access to green space and tree canopy can help reduce stress, lower inflammation, improve mental health, and encourage physical activity. Tree-lined neighborhoods are also associated with safer streets, cleaner air, and a stronger sense of community. These benefits make expanding Louisville's tree canopy an investment not only in the environment, but also in the health and well-being of our neighbors.

Trees have the power to transform communities, but ensuring that transformation is equitable and beneficial requires intentional collaboration. Louisville Grows participated in a collaborative study with NC State University, the University of Michigan, Texas A&M University, the University of Louisville, Louisville Metro Government, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Forest Service to better understand how urban tree planting can positively impact communities.

To date, Louisville Grows has planted more than 8,000 trees and continues to provide residents with the resources, education, and support needed to help those trees thrive during the critical first five three years after planting.

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/urban-forestry/louisvilles-tree-canopy

5 Steps of Community Tree Plantings

Louisville Grows aims to provide resources and capacity to work with a community, not just in a community. Planning a tree-planting event with a community takes months of hard work, and consists of five steps:

1.
Identify the neighborhood based on initial community interest
2.
Partner with community organizations and key stakeholders
3.
Canvas neighborhood to identify “treecipients”
4.
Citizen Forester Training for community representatives
5.
Planting day with volunteers

Our Tree Planting Season

Louisville Grows organizes numerous planting events during each tree-planting season, from November through March. These months coincide with trees' dormant season, making it the ideal time to plant. While dormant, trees can focus on developing strong root systems with less transplant stress. By spring, their established roots are better equipped to absorb water and nutrients, setting them up for healthy growth throughout the year. In contrast, Planting in summer puts extra stress on trees due to heat and increased water needs.

Planting Day:

Citizen Foresters perform a planting demonstration for the group of volunteers in each zone. Citizen foresters are on hand to help educate volunteers while planting.

Citizen Foresters perform a planting demonstration for the group of volunteers in each zone.Citizen foresters are on hand to help educate volunteers while planting.

Louisville Grows provides food and refreshments for our volunteers. We are so grateful for their assistance and couldn’t grow greener healthier neighborhoods without their support.

We encourage volunteers wear clothing appropriate for the weather and close-toed shoes and bring a water bottle. Louisville Grows will provide gloves.

Tree Giveaways

Louisville Grows occasionally hosts a public tree giveaway with various partners at different locations throughout Louisville. During the giveaways, people can receive one to three trees, depending on how many trees we have been supplied. The trees are native species planted in three gallon containers.

All tree giveaways are posted on our website, social media platforms and newsletter. Trees are available to everyone on a first come, first serve basis.