City Of Reno Offering 230 Discounted Trees To Customers

Press release from the City of Reno:

September 16, 2020

The City of Reno is providing 230 discounted trees to Reno residents only through ReLEAF Reno and Energy-Saving Trees, an Arbor Day Foundation program that helps conserve energy and reduce energy bills through strategic tree planting.

Reno residents can reserve up to two trees at ArborDay.org/Reno for $14 per tree, a significant savings from the average retail cost. Residents have two options:

• a 5-gallon sized tree (130 available), which will be available for pick-up at Idlewild Park on Saturday, October 17 from 8 a.m. to noon; and/or
• a 1-gallon sized tree (100 available) that will be delivered directly to the resident’s home address, ideal for those who would like to avoid social contact at the pickup event.

Residents who pick up a tree on October 17 are asked to comply with CDC and WCHD guidance for social distancing, and to wear a mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

In the signup process, residents agree to properly maintain the tree, which includes the requirement to have an automatic watering system in place. An online tool helps customers estimate the annual energy savings that will result from planting trees in the most strategic location near their homes or businesses.

“Reno is proud to sponsor this program and will contribute 75 percent of the cost of up to two trees per family,” said Reno City Councilmember Naomi Duerr, who launched the ReLEAF Reno program in 2016. “Trees around homes not only help reduce the amount of energy your home requires, but they also add to your property value, reduce your carbon footprint, improve the air quality and more effectively catch stormwater runoff.”

Different-sized trees are being offered, so that residents can select an appropriate tree for their location. The types of trees offered this year include the following:

• Large canopy trees:
  • Common Hackberry (44 trees available)
  • Swamp White Oak (34)
• Medium canopy trees:
  • Goldenrain Tree (43)
  • Chinese Pistache (33)
• Small canopy trees:
  • Western Redbud (43)
  • Little Gem Magnolia (33)

The City of Reno’s goal, through the ReLEAF Reno program, is to double the city’s tree canopy by 2036, from 5.2 percent in 2015 to 10 percent. Reno’s urban forest provides $21 million in environmental and economic benefits each year to our citizens. The City of Reno maintains over 23,700 public trees along its streets, and in and around more than 85 city parks and trails.

For more information, visit Reno.Gov/ReLeafReno.

This press release was produced by the City of Reno. The views expressed are the author's own.