Possible locations for plantings in an urban area (like Providence) include a mix of public and private, and commercial property. Street tree plantings are one way that new trees get planted and enhance the city, but other locations may prove to be more successful and productive in terms of benefits gained, as well as health and longevity of the trees. Some excellent potential locations include parking lots of local businesses, which will have financial incentives to plant as well as possible legislation to comply with; vacant lots, which may be purchased from an owner and converted to public space; existing greenspace or greenways, such as the Woonasquatucket River Greenway in Providence, or the Riverside Mills Project in Olneyville which, by incorporating new trees into its revitalization projects, will have an impact on adjacent roadways and residences, and act as a filter for emissions from the highway and as a noise barrier; and private property such as individual backyards, where homeowners may be persuaded by benefits or mandated by law to maintain or plant new trees in their backyards, thereby increasing overall canopy cover and carbon sequestration. In addition, affordable housing developments, which are often not required to adhere to many building regulations, can be required to maintain more existing trees on their property, as well as plant new trees to achieve more canopy cover.

Locations for trees should also be chosen based on their potential impact and ability to incur the most benefits. Identifying the areas most at risk for experiencing heat island effect, which would benefit from more carbon sequestration, or choosing a neighborhood with few trees and crime problems, such as Federal Hill, which could benefit from the social effects of plantings.