Growing Green with Pride (previously Clean Up Green Up) is a County-wide clean up and beautification event run by Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and many other agencies and partners. It occurs annully in spring and fall. The fall event allows schools, community groups, and municipalities to apply and receive free trees, shrubs, and perennials from a selected list of plants. Schools get their plants delivered. The Neighborhood Design Center supports the program by helping groups that request design and plant selection help.
1-15
Low
Application opens around September, plants are delivered to schools in the two weeks before the event, the official planting day is at the end of October.
Must be within PGCPS; Fill out info form and one person attends a mandatory in-person tree-planting workshop (1 hr long)
Yes. You will need teachers/parents/students to prepare the site and plant your trees.
You will need to provide your own tools. (The Schmidt Center has tool rentals for schools)
The project leader should fill out the application with their contact information. Make sure to mark that you are a school.
Apply early to ensure availability; be flexible with plant list – sometimes they run out or substitute; ask for assistance if you’ve never planted trees – they will come on site and mark out the locations for you. While it’s encouraged to plant on the Growing Green with Pride day, which is always a Saturday, schools can hold their planting day on a school day if easier.
Prince George’s County celebrates Arbor Day every year by planting trees with an entire school. A full day long celebration takes place at one PGCPS school with a special assembly, tree dedication by local officials, and 1 professional lead planting per class. Each class gets a tree to plant and care for.
1 per class in the school
Low
The school is usually selected in the fall. The principal and any other project leaders attend regular checkin meetings with DPWT and
Must be a PGCPS school; Cannot be a past recipient of the County Arbor Day Celebration
None. This occurs during a school day so only teacher participation is required.
There is no application process. Schools are selected based on school interest and capacity; location throughout the county (to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the council districts); and those with space on their campus for more trees. If you are interested in being considered, your principal should reach out to James Roberson at the William H. Schmidt Center.
The Urban Trees Grant Program, called for by the Maryland General Assembly as a component of a 5,000,000-tree goal by 2031, provides funding for tree planting projects in urban, underserved communities. Many local non profits
Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization: is a nonprofit based in Riverdale Park and has multiple programs to plant trees on Prince George’s County residences, streets, and sometimes schools.
Joe’s Movement Emporium: is a nonprofit based in Mt. Rainier. They have also received funding through the CBT Tree Grant, they may be able to source some trees to your school grounds or the neighborhood streets in front of and surrounding your schools.
Defensores de la Cuenca, is a non profit in Prince George’s County. With this grant they are supporting the Town of Edmonston, Cheverly Nature Trail, Solid Rock Church, and the Port Towns and Greater Riverdale area with trees. They may be able to source some trees to your school grounds or the neighborhood streets in front of and surrounding your schools.
Municipalities and other organizations have received funding through the CBT Tree Grant – they may be able to source some trees to your school grounds or the neighborhood streets in front of and surrounding your schools. Check out the award list to see if there is an organization serving your area.