Adopt a Kentucky Tree
Adopting a tree is a neat way to acknowledge a tree that has somehow enhanced your quality of life, whether on a day-to-day basis or just once. Participating in this program gives you or your group the opportunity to join a community of treekeepers around the Bluegrass, who recognize the benefits and beauty that trees provide us.
Adopt-a-Kentucky-Tree County Map
Find your county in the map below to see how many trees have been adopted where you live (best viewed on larger displays)!
Ready to Adopt? Here's how...
- You need a tape measure and camera
- Read and complete the Adopt a Kentucky Tree webform
Why?
- Simple and free
- Learn to measure a tree
- Fun group or team-building excercise
- Calculate benefits of your favorite tree
- Join in creating a “treekeeper” community in the Bluegrass, share your love of trees!
Why urban and community trees?
Urban and community trees are largely on private property. This includes all of the homes and businesses in a community. Promoting the beauty and benefits of our community trees is a group effort. The tree in your yard benefits us both. The trees in all of our yards make up the urban forest. A healthy urban forest is a real possibility, one that starts with awareness of its benefits by us, the community.
Resources
Tree Identification
- Tree Identification in KY - multiple fact sheets and video resources (UofK Forestry Extension)
- Kentucky Trees - common trees native to Kentucky (UofK Horticulture)
- iNaturalist - mobile application
- vTree - web/mobile application from Virginia Tech
- Leafsnap - web/mobile application
Past Adopt a Tree Activities
Adopt Million Gallon Challenge - complete !!!
We reached our goal of adopting enough trees in 2019 to fill the Million Gallon Challenge stormwater gauge. Your adopted tree (along with all trees and plants everywhere) catches, or intercepts, rainfall in its canopy of leaves (imagine every leaf as a small umbrella), especially important in Lexington and other cities where grey infrastructure systems (stormdrains and the underground pipes that link them together) are often overwhelmed when it rains!
