A state program that has helped plant trees in thousands of Maryland communities just got a significant upgrade — and it's good news for anyone who cares about keeping those trees healthy long after they go in the ground.

Effective October 1, 2026, Senate Bill 164 — signed during the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session — expands the Tree-Mendous Maryland program to cover far more than new plantings. Community groups, schools, and parks can now apply for funding to support tree maintenance, education, and volunteer stewardship work alongside traditional planting projects.

Tree-Mendous Maryland is a program run by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that provides native trees at reduced cost and helps fund community planting and care projects. Since it launched nearly 40 years ago, the program has supported plantings in more than 3,000 communities, parks, and schools across the state.

The program is funded in part by donations. Marylanders can contribute directly, and vehicle owners can add a voluntary donation when registering or renewing a vehicle through the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).

Before this legislation, Tree-Mendous was primarily focused on countering forest loss through replanting. The new law updates the program's purpose to cover community stewardship of native trees and shrubs — a much broader mandate.

State Forester Anne Hairston-Strang explained the shift: "When Tree-Mendous was created nearly 40 years ago, public conversation focused on countering forest loss with replanting. Today, people are actively stewarding community forests and trees. This update gives the state more flexibility to support those efforts."

Under the expanded program, eligible activities now include:

• Tree maintenance — pruning, structural support, and ongoing care for established trees
• Education programs — workshops on tree identification, seed collection, and species selection
• Volunteer stewardship — organized community efforts to care for existing urban tree canopy
• New plantings — still fully supported, as before

Young trees are vulnerable. Planting a tree is only the beginning — without proper care in the first several years, survival rates drop dramatically. This expansion directly addresses that gap by allowing program funds to support the ongoing work that keeps newly planted trees alive and thriving.

The change also supports Maryland's 5 Million Trees initiative, which aims to plant and maintain 5 million trees by 2031. Keeping young trees alive after planting is a critical part of reaching that number.

For communities in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and surrounding counties, this means more resources are available not just to plant trees, but to make sure those investments actually survive.

Community organizations in Southern Maryland that want support can apply through the Maryland Forest Service's Community Forestry Catalyst Fund, which connects applicants with Tree-Mendous and other available funding sources for planting, stewardship, and related projects.

DNR has not published specific deadlines or award amounts — those details are posted on the Tree-Mendous Maryland program page on the DNR website. For questions, contact DNR at 1-877-620-8DNR (8367), toll-free in Maryland.

Expanded funding for community forestry is a great step — but it also highlights something we see every day in the field: trees need skilled care to thrive.

Whether a tree was planted last year through a community program or has stood in your yard for decades, proper pruning, health assessments, and timely intervention make the difference between a tree that flourishes and one that becomes a hazard. Programs like Tree-Mendous can fund the community side of stewardship, but individual property owners still need a trusted local arborist for the work on their own land.

At Arundel Tree Service, we work throughout Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Caroline, and Queen Anne counties. If you have trees that need attention — whether it's a routine pruning, a health assessment, or an emergency situation — we're here to help.

Call us at 410-439-1900 or request a free estimate online. Healthy trees start with the right care, and we're proud to be part of keeping Maryland's tree canopy strong.