It may be hard to believe but planting even one tree can improve the environment around your home and of the community. Did you know that a tree is a natural air conditioner? The evaporation from a single tree can produce the cooling effect of ten room-size, residential air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. A tree canopy in a neighborhood can lower summer temperatures in a neighborhood by 6 to 8 degrees. Tree windbreaks can reduce residential heating costs 10 to 15% while the shading can reduce air conditioning costs 20% or more.
Montgomery County offers a FREE program, Tree Montgomery, to plant shade trees across Montgomery County, Maryland. The goal is simple – to plant shade trees and increase the tree canopy to provide a wide array of benefits for you, your community, and the County. Tree Montgomery is a program of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. The staff will work closely with you to choose the locations and species of trees to plant on your property. The trees offered are more than 10 feet tall at the time of planting, and many will grow to more than 50 feet in height.
Interested? Here is what you need to know:
- Sign up for Tree Montgomery.
- Schedule a site visit to your property.
- The County representative will tour your property with you and discuss the various trees available.
- You sign the Right to Access Agreement.
- The County orders your tree or trees and schedules the planting date.
- The tree or trees are planted.
- A follow-up inspection is performed by Tree Montgomery.
- And you receive care instructions, including emailed watering advisories during hot and/or dry weather.
- Trees are planted between October 15 and May 1st to provide the tree with the best chance to thrive.
If you are interested in applying to this very popular program, go to treemontgomery.org and sign up now to get on the waiting list!