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 558 native shade trees in front and back yards and along sidewalks. Our program offers three years of ongoing watering and maintenance advice, and we have been able to replace the few trees that didn’t survive. Our residential recipients have watered and maintained these young trees, knowing that they are adding to the overall shade coverage of our town. 

During the fall 2024 planting season, we enjoyed the help of a group of young Americorps volunteers, who were expertly trained by our ReLeaf staff. They planted over 290 residential trees for us. In the recent 2025-26 planting season, we teamed up with Rebuilding Together Petaluma and their wonderful RTP Works program. RTP Works crew members learned a wide range of landscaping skills, including planting, root ball prep, and early pruning, plus concrete removal and root barrier installation.

Our goal was to add shade canopy coverage to private property, while beautifying yards and streets and improving our ecosystem by planting native species, which supports local bees, butterflies, moths, and birds. Shade trees planted near homes are proven to decrease energy costs and increase home values. ReLeaf is proud to have partnered with the City of Petaluma to bring the benefits of trees to homes all over Petaluma.