Just in Time for Fall Planting
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM), in partnership with the RI Tree Council, RI Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Arbor Day Foundation, is providing 1,000 free trees to Rhode Island residents this autumn. Now in its 13th season, the program helps Rhode Islanders beautify their yards, save energy, and lower their utility bills by strategically planting trees on their property.
"Planting a tree in the right place can improve air
quality, sequester carbon, and help manage stormwater runoff," said DEM
Agriculture and Forestry Chief Ken Ayars. "It's a terrific way for Rhode
Islanders to reduce their energy costs today and in the years to come, and a
tangible way to stand up to climate change. We're especially pleased to offer
free trees now, when many of us are spending more time in our backyards because
of the pandemic."
Planting the right tree in the right place is the key to
maximizing the energy-saving benefits that trees provide. When planted
properly, a single tree can save a homeowner money on energy costs by shading
their home in the summer and blocking cold winds in the winter. Additional
benefits include improved air quality, reducing storm-water runoff, increasing
biodiversity, and beautifying one's surroundings.
Registration opens Thursday, Sept. 9. The process to reserve
your free tree takes less than 10 minutes. In three easy steps, you can reserve
your tree!
1. Sign up at www.arborday.org/RIDEM and map your house by using
the interactive mapping tool.
2. Select the right tree by choosing from the list of available
trees.
3. Reserve your tree and select your pick-up location from the
list below.
The free trees will be approximately 4-6 feet tall and in
3-gallon containers. These trees will fit in most cars for transportation to
your home. All program participants must be Rhode Island residents and
pre-register online to reserve their free tree. The trees will be available for
pick up starting in late September at the following locations, dates, and
times:
Dexter Training Ground Park: 85 Parade Street, Providence, RI 02909 Saturday, Sept. 25, 9 AM-12 PM
Richmond Elementary School: 190 Kingstown Road, Richmond, RI
02898 Saturday, Oct. 2, 9 AM-12 PM
Colt State Park: Route 114, Bristol, RI 02809 Saturday, Oct. 16,
9 AM-12 PM
RI Tree Council: 2953 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919
Saturday, Oct. 23, 9 AM-12 PM
Funding for the program is provided by the Regional Greenhouse
Gas Initiative.
For online registration assistance, please contact the Arbor Day
Foundation at 1-855-234-3801.
For more information about the Rhode Island Energy-Saving Trees
Program, please visit DEM's Division of Forest Environment Urban and Community
Forestry website at www.dem.ri.gov/urbanforestry or follow the Division of
Forest Environment on Facebook www.facebook.com/RIForest.
For more information on DEM's programs and divisions, visit
www.dem.ri.gov or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or
via Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM).
Related
links
Energy-Saving
Trees Program Sign Up