Make a Difference Day
2023 Make a Difference Day (MaDD) Tree Sale
Sale opens: September 1, 2023
Sale ends: September 29, 2023
It’s working! Our regional tree canopy has increased by 5% according to data from Cincinnati Parks. Planting trees is the key for creating a healthy, sustainable environment.
We are offering for sale high quality, low-cost native trees and shrubs so you too can participate in reforesting the tri-state. These trees are grown from seed collected at Spring Grove Cemetery and other sites in southwest Ohio.
Gayle Ficken-Clarke and Bobbi Strangefield organize this MaDD tree sale in partnership with Taking Root, Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, the National Make a Difference Foundation, and the Homegrown National Park Call-to-Action.
Trees and shrubs available for purchase this year are:
- Bur Oak
- Overcup Oak
- Swamp White Oak
- Striped Maple
- Flowering Dogwood
- Spice Bush
- Cucumber Magnolia
- American Plum
- American Hazelnut
- Black Chokeberry
- Carolina Allspice
All are in 3-gallon pots, $25 each.
For questions regarding the Madd Tree sale, please email Gayle and Bobbi.
Tree Pick-up: Thursday, October 26
Spring Grove Cemetery
4861 Gray Road, North Gate entrance
2pm to 6pm (Gates are locked at 6pm so give yourself time for pick-up)
RegisTree
When you’ve planted your National Make a Difference Day trees, please don’t forget to register your tree with Taking Root. We are keeping count of new trees planted in our region.
Organize a Make a Difference Day (MaDD) Event
If you’d like to organize a tree-planting project for October’s National Make a Difference Day, Taking Root’s MaDD Team can help ensure your project’s success whether you are a small or large group.
The MaDD Team offers advice and contact information for anyone wanting to plant trees on Make a Difference Day. We can provide information on fundraising, volunteer recruitment, appropriate tree selection, tree planting, and toolkit essentials for a successful planting event by your organization or in your community.
We also coordinate an annual tree sale exclusively for MaDD tree planters that includes a selection of native trees and under-story shrubs at close to wholesale prices from an excellent supplier.
Contact the MaDD Team for information or we would be happy to speak to your organization directly.
Recent MaDD Events
Taking Root’s MaDD Team has facilitated the planting of about 5000 trees since our formation.

On Make a Difference Day in 2017, Great Parks of Hamilton County celebrated planting its 100,000th tree since Taking Root’s launch four years earlier.

Boone County Arboretum holds an annual tree planting on Make a Difference Day.

The City of Covington has participated since 2014.

The City of Wyoming has planted every year since 2014.
Gayle Ficken-Clarke and Bobbi Strangfeld have been doing organized tree plantings on Make a Difference Day since 2014 and their experiences can guide while you plan then plant.
Stay up-to-date
RegisTree — log your efforts
Register your tree plantings to count toward our 2 million goal. It's quick and easy.
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Donations can go toward the Tree Fund or Taking Root's operational costs.
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