Frequently Asked Questions

The ideal time to plant saplings is in the Fall or Spring when the roots will have a seasonal supply of rain. This will allow the trees to become well established before the heat of summer or the chill of winter, when planting is not ideal.

Unlike many similar services that plant bare root saplings that are only a few inches tall, we plant trees that are generally at least four feet tall with a more established root system, which gives them a better chance of survival.

If your tree dies within five years of planting, it will be replaced.

We strive to be your best memorial tree planting option and have several distinct advantages that set us apart:

Bigger Trees: Our trees are typically at least four feet tall and several years old in comparison to most memorial tree plantings which are small bare root saplings less than a foot tall. As a result, our trees have a higher likelihood of survival.

Replanting Guarantee: We will replant any trees not surviving after five years.

Legally Protected Forever: Remembrance Forest is protected by a conservation easement that legally prevents logging, agriculture, land development, and other potential disturbances of the forest. Your tree will never be cut down for timber or be subjected to site disturbance.

Most of the larger memorial tree planting companies plant small bare root saplings in national forests to replenish fire-damaged areas, which is definitely a good thing to do.  However, those memorial trees planted on multi-use public lands will likely eventually be harvested for timber.

There is no wrong choice in this situation, but if you do choose a Remembrance Forest tree, you are ensuring your loved one's legacy will be a part of a stable, maturing ecosystem that will never be logged or cleared. It is a promise of permanence that few other programs can offer.

Restoration and Management Experience: Remembrance Forest is owned by a habitat restoration company made up of restoration ecologists, nursery professionals, and land managers who are passionate about restoring and conserving forests, wetlands, prairies, and streams in America’s heartland. Over the last 20 years, we have restored and protected more than 3,000 acres of these important habitats which have provided shelter, food, and water to countless animals and have helped clean our water and air. We have more than 30 years of combined experience with habitat restoration and land management, and your tree and all of Remembrance Forest will be managed with expertise and care.

Part of a Larger Protected Restoration Area: Remembrance Forest will be located adjacent to an existing, protected habitat restoration area. Because of this, your tree will be planted next to a major river and restored forests, prairies, and wetlands in addition to existing mature forests. All of these areas will function together as one large conservation and wildlife area.

No, all photographs on our website are of forests and other habitats that we restored or manage.

No. Because we are a private business focused on permanent land protection rather than a 501(c)(3) charity, purchases are not tax-deductible.

To maintain the ecological integrity and private status of our restoration sites, it is not possible to bury or scatter remains. However, many families find peace in planting a tree as a living tribute to a loved one whose remains are elsewhere.