Free trees available through state spring planting program

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is giving away over 2,000 trees. You can register online for your free trees starting Friday, April, 12. 

Actually, make that two free trees: This year, the DEM is providing one tree at in-person pickup events in late April and May, and another tree via mail order. 

Available at pickup events are paw paw, tree lilac, Kousa dogwood, Princeton elm, bald cypress and tulip trees. These trees range from 4- to 6- feet in height and are planted in three-gallon containers. 

Smaller trees in 1-gallon containers that will be mailed directly to your home include white flowering dogwood, eastern redbud, river birch, pin oak, sycamore, sugar maple and black cherry.

Species selected are known to do well in Rhode Island without being invasive, are less likely to be affected by pests, and provide the same energy-saving benefits, DEM officials said.

The free tree program, which is semiannual and now in its eighth year, is designed to reduce home energy costs — and beautify people’s yards in the process. It’s funded by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a nonprofit collaborative effort at fighting carbon dioxide emissions between the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

DEM partners with the Rhode Island Tree Council, Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Arbor Day Foundation to make the free tree program possible. 

“These are investments in our communities and the quality of life throughout Rhode Island, particularly in our cities,” said DEM Director Terry Gray in a statement. “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.”

Trees can add more shade to neighborhoods, making summer heat more bearable. They can enhance air quality, and catch carbon from the atmosphere. They also help manage stormwater runoff. In addition, if planted strategically, they can shade a home, and an air conditioning unit, from summer sun or help shield against winter winds. 

The sign-up process uses an interactive mapping tool to plot the trees around your property. You can then select which species you’d like and reserve your tree for pickup. Pickup times are from 9 a.m. to noon at these locations on the following dates:

• Saturday, April 27, in Richmond at Richmond Elementary School, 190 Kingstown Road.
• Saturday, May 4 in Bristol at Colt State Park. The DEM will be in the parking lot near the main office. 
• Saturday, May 11 in North Kingstown at the Rhode Island State Parks Headquarters, 1100 Tower Hill Road.
• Saturday, May 18, in Johnston at Rhode Island Tree Council on 2953 Hartford Ave.