The Backyard Buffers Program provides free native tree and shrub seedlings to Maryland landowners for planting along streams, ditches, ponds, and other waterways on their property. The program serves residential and small-scale landowners who are not eligible for agricultural cost-share programs.
Trees and shrubs planted along waterways reduce erosion, stabilize streambanks, absorb runoff, improve wildlife habitat, and moderate stream temperatures. Even small planting projects on individual properties contribute directly to reducing the nutrient and sediment loads reaching local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.
What Participants Receive
Each bag contains 20 to 30 native bare-root tree and shrub seedlings selected for streamside conditions, typically one to two feet tall, along with species information, planting guidance, and basic maintenance instructions.
Who Is Eligible
The program is open to Maryland landowners with a stream, drainage ditch, creek, river, pond, or other waterway flowing through or adjacent to their property. Funding and seedling availability vary by year and county. Contact the program coordinator below to confirm availability in your area before reserving a bag.
Reservations are generally taken in March, with pickup coordinated through local distribution sites in time for spring planting. Seedlings are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Why Forest Buffers Matter
Riparian forest buffers — trees and shrubs growing along streams and waterways — are among the most effective natural tools for protecting water quality at both the local and watershed scale. Forested buffers help filter runoff, stabilize streambanks, absorb nutrients, moderate water temperatures, and improve habitat for fish and wildlife.
For a more detailed technical explanation of how riparian forest buffers function, visit the
Riparian Forest Buffers page.
Sediment and Phosphorus Filtration
As runoff moves through a forested buffer, water slows and suspended sediment settles out before reaching the stream. Leaf litter, roots, and porous forest soils help trap and filter additional particles moving across the landscape.
Because much of the phosphorus in runoff is attached to soil particles, reducing sediment movement also significantly reduces phosphorus entering streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
Nitrogen Removal
Riparian forests also help remove nitrogen from shallow groundwater and runoff. In saturated soils, naturally occurring biological processes convert dissolved nitrate into nitrogen gas through denitrification before it reaches nearby waterways.
Research has shown that well-functioning riparian forest buffers can substantially reduce nitrogen concentrations moving toward streams.
Streambank Stability and Habitat
Tree and shrub roots help stabilize streambanks and reduce erosion, while forest canopy shades streams and moderates water temperatures during warmer months.
Leaves, branches, insects, and woody debris from streamside forests also support aquatic food webs and improve habitat for fish, amphibians, birds, and other wildlife.
Planting and Early Care
Bare-root seedlings should be planted as soon as possible after pickup while roots remain moist. Early spring, before leaf-out, is typically the best planting period.
Young seedlings require regular watering during establishment and should be protected from heavy weed and grass competition during the first several growing seasons. Proper planting and early maintenance greatly improve long-term survival.
Additional guidance is available through the following resources:
Contact Us
Alanna Crowley
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forester
Maryland Forest Service
Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave. E-1
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-260-8529
[email protected]
