You can get free trees to plant at your Sacramento home or business. This is how

Hanh Truong
·2 min read

Sacramento residents can get free trees for their homes and businesses, courtesy of a program that’s been running since 1990.

Created by Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the Sacramento Tree Foundation, the Free Shade Tree Foundation has planted more than 600,000 trees in the area.

Trees help shield places from the hot sun, beautify communities, clean the air and produce oxygen, SMUD said.

SMUD customers can get up to 10 shade trees for their properties.

Trees are also available for renters, as well as larger community spaces, such as parks, schools and places of worship, according to the tree foundation.

As of Monday morning however, applications for community planting are closed.

How can I get a free tree in Sacramento?

To qualify for the free shade tree program, you must be a SMUD customer.

After confirming your eligibility online, you’ll be able to set a tree consultation appointment.

According to the tree foundation, the meetings are typically virtual. You’ll chat with a forester who will provide guidance on the best place to plant the tree and which species will thrive on your property.

The free trees will be delivered to your home or business, along with information about how to plant and care for them.

The Sacramento Tree Foundation has online tips on taking care of trees.

You can call the foundation directly at 1-916-924-TREE (8733) for more information about the program.

Renters can reach out to the foundation to learn how to get permission from property owners to plant trees.

What shade trees are available for no cost?

You can get more than 40 types of trees for no cost through the program.

The trees vary in size, growth rate, flowers and colors, as well as the kinds of wildlife and pollinators they support.

Some of the tree species available for free include persimmon, pomegranate, saucer magnolia, ginko, valley oak and red maple trees.

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