Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum

Help us sort and distribute over 20,000 trees. KBGA serves as a regional hub for the statewide TN Tree Day, and we need lots of hands to help count, sort, and organize thousands of small, bare root trees. This will be mixed inside-outside work, mostly in KBGA's Carriage House. Dress to get messy! 

Not only will you be lending a hand for a worthy cause, but you'll also learn a lot about bare root trees and the conditions that they can handle. They are hardier than you might think!

NOTE: You need not commit to the entire shift, but please communicate your availability to volunteer@knoxgarden.org ahead of time.

What is Tennessee Tree Day?
TEC's Tennessee Tree Day is an annual, family-friendly event that engages thousands of volunteers across the state in planting native tree seedlings. By partnering with the Tennessee Division of Forestry and various nurseries, we distribute bare-root native trees to Tennessee residents through our vast network of dedicated volunteers and local businesses. Since our initiative began in 2007, we've mobilized over 100,000 residents to plant more than one million native trees —an effort that not only significantly enhances the tree canopy and promotes sustainability but also provides critical ecosystem services, such as purifying air, filtering stormwater, and creating wildlife habitat. We believe that by planting these trees, every participant—from seasoned gardeners to first-timers—reconnects with nature and fulfills a vital responsibility to nurture the environment, leaving a precious, lasting gift for future generations and making their community better than they found it.