How to get free trees for Florida Arbor Day

• That's because most trees are dormant this time of year, so they're easier to transplant, per the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Why it matters: Several groups are giving out free (!!!) native trees this week to celebrate.

🌳 Pinellas County Urban Forestry will have varieties including red maple, sweetbay magnolia and bald cypress available for drive-through pickup this weekend.

• 9am-noon, Saturday, Pinellas County Urban Forestry and Landscape Services campus, 4500 126th Ave. N, Clearwater. More info here.
• Each household can choose up to two trees.

🌳 Duke Energy, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, will give away up to 1,000 free trees to Duke Energy Florida customers. Varieties include bottlebrush, red maple and pink crape myrtle.

• Residents can request a tree online here starting at 9am Friday.
• The one-gallon trees will be delivered to your house with planting and care instructions. Residents can expect their trees in time for National Arbor Day. More info here.

🌳 Keep Pasco Beautiful and the Florida Forest Service will distribute free fringe trees and firebrush shrubs on Friday — but you have to register online here. Residents can pick up their trees at two sites:

• 11am-1pm at the UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County, 36702 County Road 52, Dade City. This location will also host a 30-minute tree-planting seminar starting at 11am.
• 3-5pm at Frances Avenue Park at 5580 Frances Ave., New Port Richey.
• One tree per person. More info here.

🌳 Brooker Creek Preserve near East Lake is giving away varieties including sea grape, Jamaican caper and cocoplum.

• 10am-noon, Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Rd, Tarpon Springs.
• Smokey Bear will make an appearance between 10 and 10:30am. More info here.