The Mill Creek Towne Garden Club is pleased to offer our community FREE native trees and shrubs!!!!
Sunday, March 29th
3:30 pm-5:30 pm
7617 Warbler Ln, Derwood, MD 20855
First come first serve, limit 4 plants per household. The trees and shrubs come bareroot – they need to be planted as soon as possible, and you will need to provide deer protection unless they are inside a fenced area that the deer do not frequent. Please use some damp newspaper to wrap the roots up until they are ready for planting.
Deer management and Tree cages: Watch for the presence of deer. Use repellents during installations and cage ALL trees and shrubs to prevent deer browsing and rubbing. Cage immediately upon planting to avoid catastrophe! For guidance on caging see this handy guide: https://mywoodlot.com/images/supporting_information/installing_tree_cages.pdf
Deer fencing material: Tenax brand deer fencing is recommended. This material is UV stable and sturdier than the usual flimsy mesh typically available at Home Depot and Lowes. The flimsy stuff will tear more easily and is know to ensnare and kill both birds and snakes. To avoid the bird and snake problem and for a sturdy product, be sure to purchase Tenax with 1-¾” by 2” mesh size. Zip ties work well to secure the Tenax to a stake and to itself.
For more detailed guidance on planting and caring for bare root trees and shrubs visit: https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Documents/Planting-Guide-Brochure.pdf
These plants are free to the public, but we do welcome donations to the Club to help us continue to beautify our neighborhood and provide quality programming. To donate please visit www.mctgardenclub.org/donations/ and consider joining the Mill Creek Towne Garden Club!
Donate Today!2026 Mill Creek Towne Garden Club Tree Giveaway Species List
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
A shrub or small tree that tolerates shade, pawpaw produces a fruit that is readily eaten by wildlife and humans. It has a height 15 to 30 feet, a spread of 15 to 30 feet, and prefers full sun to part shade and moist fertile soils. Often spreads by root suckers to form colonies or thickets.
American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
This fast growing, nut producing, multi-stemmed shrub can reach heights of 8 to 15 feet with a spread usually slightly greater than the height. Hazelnut prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained loamy soil. Fruit matures in September, is edible, and benefits turkey, deer and other wildlife. This Maryland native displays a copper-red color in the fall.
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
This native shrub quickly grows 5 to 8 feet tall and almost as wide with drooping branches. It prefers moist well drained soils and will tolerate light shade, but is intolerant of deep shade. Clusters of purple berries that form on the stems in the fall are an important food source for more than forty species of songbirds.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
A deciduous shrub that grows only on wet sites, buttonbush is usually 3 to 12 feet tall with a spread of 4 to 8 feet. The seed is consumed by small birds and ducks. Buttonbush must be planted at the water’s edge. Prefers full sun to partial shade.
