Lafayette County to host free tree and seedling giveaway

Lafayette County will host a free tree and seedling giveaway at 8 a.m. on Feb. 5 at the Lafayette County Multipurpose Arena off F. D. "Buddy" East Parkway. Items will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, with limits in place to spread resources across households.

Available fruit trees include Santa Rosa plum, Honeycrisp apple, Belle of Georgia peach and Bartlett pear, and muscadine vines will also be offered. Hardwood seedlings listed for distribution include bald cypress, hardy pecan, red maple, sugar maple, white oak, Nuttall oak, white flowering dogwood and persimmon. Ornamental trees available are southern magnolia and red crape myrtle, and pine seedlings will be offered in bundled groups.

Distribution limits are intended to promote equitable access: participants may receive one fruit tree or vine per variety, up to three hardwood varieties for a total of 15 hardwood seedlings, and up to two bundles of pine seedlings, with each bundle containing 20 seedlings. Pine seedlings are donated by Nail Forestry Service; the Lafayette County Soil & Water Conservation District is providing fruit trees, muscadine vines, red crape myrtle and hardwood seedlings.

Representatives from the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Lafayette County Soil & Water Conservation District will be on site to advise residents on tree placement and proper planting techniques. That technical guidance aims to improve survival rates for transplanted seedlings and to help residents locate trees where they will deliver the greatest benefits—shade, stormwater absorption and, for fruit trees, local food production.

For Lafayette County homeowners and renters, the giveaway is a low-cost opportunity to increase yard canopy, start a small fruit supply and contribute to neighborhood green infrastructure. Expanding tree cover can reduce local temperatures in summer, slow runoff on sloped properties and add long-term value to residential lots. The capped distribution per household is designed to avoid stockpiling by a few participants and to encourage a wider spread of planting across neighborhoods.

The event’s first-come, first-served format and morning start time make early arrival important; residents who need more information or guidance before the event can call 662-234-8701, ext. 3. The partnership among county conservation staff and state and federal agencies reflects a coordinated approach to small-scale land stewardship that relies on citizen participation.

The takeaway? If you want free trees, plan ahead: bring a vehicle for transport, identify planting spots now, and arrive early. Our two cents? A well-placed seedling today can be shade, food and stormwater help for your yard and your neighbors for decades.