Backyard Buffers Program

Allegany & Garrett County Backyard Buffer Program 2023

Backyard Buffers is a program of the Maryland Forestry Service and is open to anyone with a stream, pond, drainage ditch or other wet area on their property where they would like to plant trees.

Packets of 25 bare-root seedlings are provided at no cost! This year’s packets will include white pine, pin oak, American plum, silver maple and hazelnut (5 of each). Anyone interested can apply here:

Complete THIS FORM.

Reservations are being accepted until March 17th or until the program fills. A limited number of trees are available and it is possible the program may reach capacity before this date. Anyone who signs up after the program fills will be placed on a wait list. Those who qualify will receive additional information on where and when to pick up your trees in late March. Pickup will be set for mid-April (yet to be determined depending on when trees arrive from the nursery). Please add melissa.nash@maryland.gov and adam.miller@maryland.gov to your email contacts to avoid communications going into spam folders. We will send you a brief follow-up survey in the fall.

We have additional options if you have a larger area you wish to plant (1 acre or more) and funding is available for larger plantings! If you are interested in such an opportunity please contact Melissa (Garrett County) or Adam (Allegany County) at the email addresses above or answer “yes” to the last question on this form and we will be happy to contact you!