Use this form to express interest in receiving notifications regarding the Backyard Buffers Program for St. Mary's County, MD. You will receive email notification when registration opens for next springs program.
This form is only for notification, you will need to fill a separate form for registration when the program registration opens in early spring.
The spring 2024 distribution was April 8-10, 2024. The 2024 bundle contained 16 bareroot seedlings. The species in the 2024 bundle were: sycamore, persimmon, northern red oak and buttonbush. Species will vary by year and will always be Maryland native species.
About the program:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service and the University of Maryland Extension (UME) partner to offer free native tree seedlings to help improve water quality in St. Mary's County.
County landowners/residents who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free seedlings through the Department’s Backyard Buffers program. The seedlings cannot be used for required mitigation projects.
Trees intercept rainfall, reducing its impact and allowing the soil to absorb water instead of running off into streams. Trees planted along waterways help improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients, lowering peak water temperatures, reducing sediment and stabilizing stream banks.
https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/pages/programs/backyard-buffer-program.aspx
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