ReLeaf and the City of Petaluma joined together in 2024 to offer free California native shade trees to homeowners across town. As this program comes to a successful close, we have planted 548 native shade trees in front and back yards and along sidewalks. Our program offers three years of ongoing watering and maintenance advice and our residential recipients have watered and maintained these young trees, knowing that they are adding to the overall shade coverage of our town. A group of young Americorps volunteers, expertly trained by our ReLeaf staff, planted over 290 residential trees in 2024. In the recent 2025-26 planting season, trained crews from RTP Works planted an additional 258 residential trees for us, while learning a wide range of landscaping skills, including planting, root ball prep, and early pruning, plus root barrier installation.

Shade trees planted near homes are proven to decrease energy costs and increase home values, as well as improving our ecosystem to support local bees, butterflies, and birds. ReLeaf is proud to have partnered with the City of Petaluma to bring the benefits of trees to homes all over Petaluma.