Free Seedlings At Lowe's This Earth Day 2011!

The Earth Day freebies are starting to roll in! Lowe's is giving away 1,000,000 (yep, ONE MILLION!) tree seedlings this Saturday, April 23rd, 2011. Visit your local Lowe's store early in the day to snag yours! Remember, it's first come, first served, and the million trees is spread out amongst all their stores, so don't get too upset if they are all out when you get there if it's late in the afternoon.


So you've gotten your free tree - now what? It's been my experience that these little seedlings need some TLC before being planted in the ground, or they may not make it - we've found out the hard way ourselves. The tree varieties being given away in this promotion may vary depending on what area of the country you are in. You may want to place your seedling in an extra large pot, and "baby it" over the next year, transplanting it next Spring. Keep the planter it's now in placed in a shady spot, and water it every so often. You won't need any fertilizer, just some good dirt and compost if you have it.

Now if you are planning to place your seedling straight into the ground, this is a little reminder to do some thinking ahead. Before digging, be sure to know where your underground lines might be! Look around your yard, and decide the "right" place for your seedling - you may it away from all power lines above. You'll also want to place it at least six feet from any fencing, and at least ten feet away from your house or any sheds. Remember, when this little plant grows, it's going to be BIG! You don't want to have to worry about the roots uplifting parts of your home, or the branches growing against your siding. If you are in an area that gets large storms, try to keep it planted away from the house so you don't have to worry about branches landing on your house.

This is a gentle reminder to be sure you "mark" your tree after planting, with a vibrant ribbon, or something similar, so it isn't accidentally run over with the lawn mower or with toys!

I really recommend picking up the tree, especially if you have kids, even if you're not big into the whole Earth Day thing - it's a great project to do together, and it helps teach kids a bit more about Planet Earth! If you live in an apartment, you can still take advantage of this and plant it in the big pot, and then gift it next year to a friend that has a garden - your kids could help transplant the tree in it's new home!