Free shade trees
If your home has an eastern, western or southern exposure that heats up during the summer, you may be eligible to receive free trees from SMUD.
Since 1990, SMUD, in collaboration with the Sacramento Tree Foundation, has planted more than 450,000 SMUD trees in the Sacramento area.
Together we continue to provide expert advice on tree selection and planting techniques, and healthy trees from 4 to 7 feet tall, along with stakes, ties, fertilizer and tree delivery at no cost to you. All you do is promise to plant and pledge to care for the trees.
Planting your shade tree
Now you can learn how to plant and care for your new SMUD shade trees online. To watch a video click here.
Need some help?
Are you unable to plant the trees yourself but willing to pay for tree-planting services? Check out a list of landscape contractors. (List requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print; click here for free software download.)
Please note: By providing this list, SMUD does not endorse one contractor over another, or imply the legality or workmanship of the contractor to do business. It is up to the contractor to maintain the license, insurance, regulatory and quality standards associated with the profession. It is up to the customer to get referrals, multiple bids and reference information regarding the contractors before the contract is signed. SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation have no contract with the landscape contractors regarding the provision of tree-planting services and are not responsible for any payment for such services.
Benefits of shade trees
- Trees cool your home naturally
- Trees properly selected, planted and cared for can begin to reduce your home cooling costs within a few years
- Fully grown, properly placed trees can cut your home cooling costs by up to 40 percent
- Trees add beauty and grace to your neighborhood
- Trees add value to your property
- Trees produce oxygen and help cleanse the air we breathe
- Tree leaves capture rainwater
- Tree roots help clean rainwater and add stability to the soil
- Trees also provide a habitat for birds, squirrels and insects
(and children)
Tree Benefits Estimator©
How much will a tree save energy and protect the environment? The tree benefits estimator will help, by assessing the amount of energy savings and pollution removed when mature trees are planted in urban and suburban settings. The web-based estimator was developed by SMUD and based on the experience of the SMUD's Shade Tree program.
In order to convert the annual KWh saving estimates into monetary values, SMUD residential customers could simply multiply the KWh saving estimates with 10 cents, which would represent only a quick and easy approximation of SMUD summer average KWh price.
Carbon offsets
Through its carbon offset program, SMUD provides you with an opportunity to neutralize the carbon dioxide emissions produced during a number of daily activities - driving a car, using the air conditioner, turning on your lights, or taking a plane on a business trip. More
Community Shade
In addition, SMUD funds another urban heat-island mitigation effort, Community Shade. SMUD offers free 15-gallon container trees for planting in public areas such as parks, playgrounds, and schools. These trees can provide additional indirect cooling of the urban heat island via evapotranspiration, as well as help beautify public places. To schedule your site visit at your school or park, call Sacramento Tree Foundation directly at (916) 924-8733, Ext. 105.
Wood Chips
Free wood chips are available for SMUD customers to use as mulch around their trees and shrubs. More
Detailed information on SMUD shade trees
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