The annual Spirit of Arbor Day Tree Sale in Longmont will be held online this year from March 3 through March 9. The sale is held as a lottery and residents who are selected through the lottery to purchase a tree will be notified on March 10. One tree is allowed to be purchased per resident.
The online tree sale is coordinated by Longmont’s Forestry Services each spring. It’s held in honor of Arbor Day, which occurs on the last Friday in April each year. This year’s Arbor Day is April 25, and trees purchased through this year’s sale will be delivered to residents during the week of April 21.
When entering the lottery through WebTrac, a recreation administration website utilized by the City of Longmont, residents will be asked to select the species of tree they would like to purchase, along with two backup species options in case their first choice sells out. There are a wide range of tree species available to purchase to help bring diversity to Longmont’s ecosystem. Species available include bald cypress, bur oak, honeycrisp apple, spring snow crabapple, and more.
Residents will be asked to pay the $50 cost for a tree when they enter the lottery. If not selected in the lottery, the $50 will be returned to the resident. If there are any remaining trees after the lottery is complete, they will be available for purchase on March 17.
Trees being delivered to residents and will arrive in 15-gallon pots. They will range between four and eight feet tall. The City of Longmont’s website provides information for residents about proper planting techniques and the proper way to care for newly-planted trees.
The City of Longmont states on its website that planting new trees is more important than ever to grow the health and beauty of Longmont’s urban forest, particularly because of the Emerald Ash Borer’s presence in the city. The invasive beetle has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the United States over the last 20 years.
