City of Sarasota residents invited to participate in two tree programs
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
City of Sarasota, FL: City residents interested in receiving a free small tree or a low-cost canopy tree are invited to participate in two highly anticipated tree programs following unprecedented interest in recent City tree giveaways.
Arbor Day Foundation tree giveaway
The City of Sarasota has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to give away a total of 200 free 1-3feet tall trees that will be delivered directly to a resident’s home. The City’s Tree Mitigation Fund will provide 100 trees, with an additional 100 trees provided by the Arbor Day Foundation as a match.
Interested residents can register online to receive one of five available tree species:
- live oak
- bald cypress
- thuja green giant
- chaste tree
- crape myrtle
Participants can select one tree per single-family home to be delivered, free of charge. Click here for more information or to reserve your tree while supplies last.
Neighborhood Canopy Program
City residents interested in receiving a larger tree are invited to participate in the Neighborhood Canopy Program. This program provides professional installation of 2-inch caliper trees between the front plane of a resident’s home and the street. Participants will pay $100 for the tree, with the City covering the remainder of the cost up to $500 for the selected tree, funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund.
Neighborhood Canopy Program participants can choose from 10 species:
- magnolia
- shady lady
- Southern red cedar
- Japanese blueberry
- winged elm
- live oak
- green buttonwood
- royal poinciana
- ligustrum
- sycamore
Interested residents can register for the Neighborhood Canopy Program by emailing [email protected]. Registration closes August 22, and planting is scheduled for the first two weeks of September.
Participation in both the Arbor Day Foundation tree giveaway and the Neighborhood Canopy Program is limited to City of Sarasota residents only.
In April, City tree giveaways received exceptional interest. During the City’s tree giveaway at The Bay Park, residents expressed so much interest that, after the first 100 trees were claimed in just 64 minutes, 50 additional trees were provided to be given away on the second day.
City tree programs are funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund, which collects a portion of tree removal permit dollars to be used for urban canopy programs.
Sarasota’s tree programs help do more than just beautify neighborhoods. Growing the urban canopy can help fight the urban heat island effect, save energy, clean the air, filter storm runoff, and provide habitat for local wildlife.