The Salt River Project is handing out free desert shade trees to customers to plant and learn to take care of them during a coming workshop. KJZZ’s Keller Brown has more on the yearly program.
Eligible SRP customers can pick two trees from six varieties, including native palo verde, native mesquite and willow acacia. SRP’s Tanya Hughes hopes this popular program will provide comfort, as well as reduce power bills.
“Up to 5,000 trees per year, for the last 13 years," Hughes said. "We work very closely with Trees Matter, and negotiate a really great price for us with our local nursery.”
In addition to taking an hourlong online course taught by a master gardener and being an SRP member, the recipients of the trees must have permission from landlords, and be able to plant and care for the tree.