Downtown Owosso Flowers

Summer beautification efforts are underway! We’re looking for volunteers who would like to adopt and maintain a downtown planter.

Adopt-A-Planter Volunteer

Planter Adoption Program at a Glance

Planting Season

Adoption runs May through October. We encourage planting in mid-to-late May ahead of the Curwood Festival in June.

Adoption Signup

Planters are assigned in the order requests are received. Please complete the Adopt-A-Planter Form to request a location.

What can be planted

To help keep downtown visually consistent, planters are for flowers only—no vegetables, herbs, signage, decorations, or non-plant materials.

Keep It Safe & Visible

Plants should remain under 2 feet and avoid thorny or hazardous varieties.

Volunteer-Led Care

Adopters provide planting and ongoing maintenance throughout the season.

Keep It Cohesive

If using mulch, please use black mulch to maintain a consistent downtown appearance.

Maintenance Request

Program Guidelines & Policies

Please review these guidelines and policies before submitting your Adopt-A-Planter request form to ensure a smooth and successful experience.

  • Open to individuals, businesses, and community groups
  • Participants must be 18+ or have adult supervision
  • A primary contact must be identified for group adopters
Signup Form
  • Planters are assigned first come, first served
  • Adoption lasts one full growing season (May–October)
  • Returning adopters must confirm adoption for future years

Adopters agree to:

  • Plant and maintain their assigned planter
  • Provide their own plants, materials, and tools
  • Visit regularly to maintain plant health
  • Remove weeds, debris, and spent blooms
  • Notify Owosso Main Street of concerns
  • Select plants suited to site conditions (sun, shade, moisture)
  • Choose manageable, easy-to-maintain varieties
  • Keep plant height under 2 feet for visibility
  • Avoid invasive, hazardous, or high-maintenance plants
  • Perennials are encouraged; annuals are welcome
  • Planters are for flowers only
  • No vegetables, fruits, herbs, grass, or tubers
  • No signage, décor, or non-plant materials
  • Black mulch is required if mulch is used
  • Mulch may be available during designated volunteer events
  • Some planters include irrigation; many do not
  • Volunteers are responsible for supplemental watering
  • No additional watering services are provided
  • A landscaping company provides periodic weeding, but not all planters can be serviced each visit
  • Volunteers may assist with weeding nearby planters as needed
  • Report damage, hazards, or vandalism through the Maintenance Submission Form
  • For tree-related concerns, please submit a maintenance request rather than trimming independently
  • If you’re unable to maintain your planter, please notify us so we can assist if possible.
  • If a planter is not maintained, we will follow up.
  • If necessary, it may be reassigned.

Adopters are encouraged to join our private Facebook group, Downtown Owosso Volunteers, to:

  • Share updates
  • Offer extra plants or materials
  • Stay connected with other adopters

Questions? Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section on this webpage or email: [email protected]

View our available planters here!

Washington Street and Exchange Street planters have a drip irrigation system.

Please review the Planter Adoption Program Guidelines & Policies, then browse the zones to identify your preferred planter number before submitting the Adopt-A-Planter request form.

Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend planting in mid-to-late May, especially during the Downtown Spring Cleanup event on May 29th and 30th, but you may plant anytime during the season.

The program runs through October 31st. Fall vegetation is welcome, and Owosso Main Street will begin winter installations on November 1st in preparation for Glow Owosso, which takes place the day after Thanksgiving.

No, but those dates are encouraged. Community members will be volunteering at the Downtown Spring Cleanup from 8 AM to 10 AM and 10 AM to 12 PM to pick up trash and clean up vegetation. It’s a great opportunity to plant alongside other volunteers, pick up some free mulch, and meet your neighbors.

Confirmed adopters may pick up black mulch at City Hall, located at 301 W. Main Street, on May 29th and 30th during Downtown Spring Cleanup volunteer shifts (8 AM–10 AM and 10 AM–12 PM). Supplies are first come, first served.

Potentially. Some planters have irrigation, but many do not. Volunteers are responsible for watering as needed.

We encourage creativity, but plants should be appropriate for the space (sun/shade, water needs) and easy to maintain. Vegetables, herbs, hazardous, or invasive plants are not permitted.

Planters are for vegetation only. To maintain a clean and cohesive look, signage and decorations are not permitted.

Yes. You’re welcome to loosen the soil, mix in compost, or add fertilizer to support plant health.

Volunteers are asked to:

  • Water if needed
  • Remove weeds and litter
  • Trim plants and remove spent blooms (deadheading)
  • Check in on their planter (recommended at least every 2 weeks)

Please contact us at [email protected]. We’ll do our best to find temporary support.

Please submit a request through the Maintenance Submission Form on this page, including location, details, and photos if possible.

Yes! Volunteers are welcome to assist with weeding or light maintenance in unadopted planters.

Adopt-A-Planter