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|  Urban Forestry Program
Coordinator: Doug Koppinger, 250-8220
The Trees for Tucson program was started in 1989 to encourage and facilitate desert-adapted tree planting in the Tucson metropolitian area. Trees help beautify the community, conserve energy by shading buildings, provide habitat for wildlife, absorb air and water pollutants, control stormwater runoff, and block soil erosion and wind.
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Trees for Shade:
Trees for Tucson Home Shade Tree Request Form
"Árboles para Tucsón"-Imprimir forma (español)
Adobe Acrobat Reader required to print the request form. If unable to print the request form, call 791-3109 or send an email to tcb@tucsonaz.gov to receive a form by mail or fax.
Thanks to a grant from Tucson Electric Power, Tucson metro area homeowners (including areas of Catalina, Green Valley, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and Vail) can receive up to two trees (five gallon size) for $8.00 each, if they agree to plant them on the east, west or south side of their home. You must be a TEP customer to qualify. You may submit an individual application, or compile applications with neighbors, co-workers, friends, or family members. Trees are delivered directly to homes, or a central location for group applications. Detailed planting and maintenance information is provided. Over 50,000 trees have been distributed through Trees for Tucson since Tucson Electric Power began its sponsorship in 1993. This program is conducted throughout the year.
Once your request is received, trees are delivered directly to qualified applicants generally within 1 month. Tree selection varies throughout the year. Prepayment by check or money order is required with application.
A brief description of currently available trees for the home shade program is included on the application. For more information see detailed descriptions of commonly available trees.
Note: Customers of Trico Electric Cooperative are not eligible for the Trees for Tucson Program. Contact Trico at 744-2944 for details on Operation Cool Shade.
NEWLY PLANTED TREE WATERING REQUIREMENTS
In general, water newly planted five and fifteen-gallon sized trees everyday for the first week after planting when daytime temperatures exceed 90 degrees (late April to early October). After the first week you may be able to reduce watering to every second or third day. Watch for drooping leaves or leaves that lose color, or worse yet dry leaves. This indicates lack of water.
Keep in mind that watering requirements depend on soil conditions (does water drain rapidly or does the ground stay wet for a longer period), grade of planting site (does water run off away from the tree, or does it soak into the soil near the tree), amount of sunlight and reflective heat (is the tree planted in full sun, or where it is in the shade for a portion of the day), type of tree (mesquite and palo verde are the lowest water users but still need frequent watering initially to develop roots to store sufficient water) and time of year the tree was planted.
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HOW TO PREVENT AND CORRECT WIND DAMAGE TO YOUR TREES
Trees with a lot of new growth in the spring and summer have increased weight and wind resistance. Add moist loose soil and weak trunk and limbs from improper staking and they may not stay standing in monsoon winds.
WHAT TO DO
Don't hesitate to radically prune the tree if it has a lot new growth especially if it is a young mesquite or palo verde as they are the most prone to blow over or have limbs break. Generally, if the tree is more than 5-6 years old it is much less likey to blow over. It may sustain broken individual limbs. Continue to thin trees gradually as they grow.
Avoid just cutting the top branches of the tree. (NEVER top trees unless they are growing into powerlines). This will just result in stunted growth or a misshapen tree. Try to leave some main upright branches by thinning back lateral branches to these main branches.
Once the tree has had its weight and wind resistance significantly reduced you may have to stake the lower part of the trunk to allow roots to repair and strengthen.
Always allow desert trees such as mesquite, desert willow and palo verde to develop at least 2-3 main trunk branches. (Never trim them up to a straight tall trunk which will create later problems with wind damage). Multiple trunks and low branching is their natural and more stable growth form. They will be much less likely to blow over and they will still attain adequate height.
WHAT TO DO IF A TREE BLEW OVER
Don't overreact and cut the tree to the ground. If the tree has partially blown over it may still be salvagable. So in some cases it may be advisable to leave the tree as it is even if it is at an angle and not otherwise blocking a roadway, sidewalks or causing damage to a structure. If it is stable in this position the roots will likely repair, otherwise stake the tree within three feet of the ground. You will likely need to trim off a significant amount of the canopy that is leaning on or near the ground. The remainder of the tree will naturally grow upward and in some cases may acheive its former size very rapidly depending on the size of its root system.
There are trees throughout Tucson that have been allowed to grow in leaning positions and eventually become large strong trees. A good example is two large mesquites along the south side of the street at about 6400-6500 East Grant Road.
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Free Trees for Schools:
 Trees for Tucson offers several tree related activities
available to schools for all grade levels (K-12). An interactive 45 minute slide show highlighting different desert trees and their ecological significance is available for presentation to student groups. Topics include wildlife habitat, biological diversity, global warming/greenhouse effect and tree-ring dating of wood samples.
Hands-on tree Planting projects are always popular with
students. One or more five or fifteen-gallon sized
trees can be planted on school grounds by students,
with Trees for Tucson providing instruction on
proper tree planting techniques. Trees can be
provided to any public or nonprofit school in
the Tucson area. Trees should be planted where
there is an adequate watering system to ensure
survival during the summer months.
Recommended steps for getting free trees for your school (up to 4 fifteen gallon-sized trees per school):
1) Determine where irrigation lines are available - contact school district maintenance (TUSD: Rich Hoffman, 403-0645; Sunnyside: Jim Navarro, 545-2099). Trees need automated watering to ensure survival. Relying on hand watering is discouraged due to reduced survival rates.
2) Have utility lines marked by the school district to avoid conflicts.
3) Contact Doug Koppinger at Trees for Tucson (250-8220) to determine types of trees and quantities available.
4) Arrange planting date and coordinate tree delivery and planting assistance (tools, planting specifications) with Trees for Tucson.
School Neighborhood Outreach projects are available
in conjunction with the Trees for Tucson Residential
Shade Tree Program. Students can engage in a hands-on
project helping to promote a product, organize
work and plant trees through teamwork and receive
the benefit of enhanced self-esteem through a
project that improves the environment and visual neighborhood around
their school.
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Free Trees for the Community:
Free trees are also available for various projects including beautification and shade for community housing programs, landscaping for nonprofit organization sites, and other beautification efforts.
Trees for Neighborhoods (Street Trees):
Trees for Tucson can provide trees for neighborhood groups who would like to plant trees along their streets or public common areas. Street trees are offered at $8 each for the five-gallon size container. A printable Street Tree Application & Maintenance Agreement is available. Before requesting street trees, please see Street Tree Planting Information for additional qualifications, guidelines and assistance available for community groups to plan their project. Trees can also be provided for public/nonprofit vacant lots or desert wash areas. Trees for Tucson can help obtain any permits that might be required for planting in the public right of way along the street, and provide advice on issues such as utility line avoidance, traffic sight visibility and pedestrian access. Hands-on assistance and detailed information on tree planting and planning for long-term care is provided for residents.
Trees for Commemoration:
El Paseo de los Arboles (The Pathway of the Trees) is a commemorative tree planting park project located along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River, between Ajo Way and Irvington Road. This project is administered by Tucson Clean & Beautiful/Trees for Tucson and the Pima County Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation. The park was opened in April 1996 with space for dedication of 600 trees. Tree species include mesquite, palo verde, acacia and desert willow. All trees have now been sold for dedication at the park.
Several new sites for commemorative tree plantings are being explored throughout the Tucson area. If you would like to receive notification and an application form when the next commemorative tree park location becomes available, please call 791-3109, or e-mail tcb@tucsonaz.gov
 Tree Tours:
| Each Spring, Trees for Tucson hosts the annual "Great Trees of the Old Pueblo" tree tour, visiting a number of large and unusual trees in the Tucson area, hosted by informative guides. Tour cost of $45 includes a gourmet lunch at a select restaurant. An additional tree tour is held each summer, visiting unique trees found in the Santa Catalina Mountains along the Mt. Lemmon Highway. Call 791-3109 or e-mail tcb@tucsonaz.gov to receive notification of upcoming tree tours.
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Tree Care Workshops:
Proper care is important to the survival of newly planted trees. Tree Care, Planting and Maintenance Workshops are held twice a year for the public by Trees for Tucson, covering many aspects of tree selection, planting, pruning and irrigation.
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