man planting tree

What is the Big Plant?

This Big Plant started in Door County with a goal of increasing the tree canopy in Door County, MMSD and partners worked together to extend the Big Plant to SE Wisconsin to expand tree canopy in our area.

Trees are distributed to residents through community partnerships, including municipalities and community-based organizations.

As a community-based organization, you can request trees to distribute through your free programs, outreach activities, or community connections. MMSD will provide the trees, and your organization will distribute them to residents.

big plant se wisconsin logo

More information:

  • The event and trees must be free to the public
  • Trees are available to CBOs and residents within the Milwaukee River Basin <link>
  • CBO staff or volunteers distribute 40-100 trees
  • Events can occur on one day or over teh course of a week

If you are interested in learning more, please complete this form, and we’ll follow up with you.

Thank you for your interest in helping to grow the tree canopy to reduce the amount of stormwater entering our sewers and waterways!

Tree Request Form

a table event giving away free trees

How the Process Works:

  1. Community-Based Organization plans or plans to attends a free, public outreach activity or program and would like to distribute trees to residents living in the Milwaukee River basin
  2. CBO completes interest form
  3. MMSD & CBO discussion – MMSD learns more about the event, CBO learns more about the program
  4. MMSD & CBO agree the program is a fit
  5. MMSD confirms date and tree availability with the nursery
  6. If date is confirmed, MMSD orders the trees and delivery and connects the CBO to Johnson's nursery
  7. Trees are delivered, CBO distributes trees, recipients are delighted
  8.  CBO provides summary report to MMSD

About the Trees

The trees are #1-#3 size pots, which means that the pot sizes range from 1 gallon (think of a milk jug) to 3 gallons in size. The tree heights range from approximately 3’-5’. In all cases, the trees are light enough and small enough for the average adult to carry and will fit into a standard car.

The tree species are pre-determined and include: Bog Birch, Musclewood, American Elderberry, Swamp White Oak, Common Witch Hazel, Speckled Alder, Hackberry, and Tamarack. Your organization would receive four of the species, based on nursery availability at the time of your event. There will be equal numbers of each of the four species, and they will be labeled.

Trees for the Big Plant program are purchased from Johnson's Nursery.

different sizes of trees in pots

Distribution Resources

MMSD will provide the tabletop resources you need for the tree distribution. These materials include: tabletop sign, 8.5”x11” color tree profiles for species that are being distributed, half-sheet tree profiles and care instructions to provide to tree recipients, data sheets (we as the CBO to gather addresses where the trees will be planted). These resources will be delivered with the trees.

Things to note:

Tree recipients need to live within the Milwaukee River Basin, the municipalities included are: 

  • MMSD will ask for the CBO to gather addresses where the trees will be planted
  • The CBO is responsible for the trees once they are delivered, MMSD cannot pick up trees that are not distributed
  • Requests are first come, first served. Priority is given to CBOs that have not received trees.
  • One CBO can distribute trees per public outreach activity or program

Tamarack Tree Example Brochure

facts about tamarack trees

Volunteers Planting Trees

person at tabling event giving away trees