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In this undated photo, Provo residents check out tree options at the annual tree giveaway.

Courtesy Provo City

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Trees are lined up for last year's tree give away in Provo.

Courtesy Provo Power

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Provo’s annual tree giveaway has been a long-running tradition for close to 30 consecutive years. It’s time again to prepare and register for the September event.

Since 1998, Provo has planted more than 14,000 trees, according to Scott Bunker, assistant director of Provo Utilities.

This year, Provo City Power will be giving out 300 free shade trees to Provo residential utility customers. Registration opens Aug. 15, and the tree giveaway event is scheduled for Sept. 14 at the Provo Power pavilion, 251 N. 800 West, according to a press release.

All customers must be pre-qualified by filling out a request form online at www.renewchoice.com/natureshade. Terms and conditions are listed on the website.

“Over time, the processes and rules have changed, but the excitement from our customers that is generated around receiving a free tree has not,” Provo Power’s Kat Linford said in the press release. “The staff of Provo Power have seen it all, from customers waiting at 5 a.m. anxiously watching the crews set up the trees for the day, or customers attaching trees to bicycles for transport, or the indecisiveness of picking out which tree to take home, there is a palpable buzz watching our customers engage and drive away with delight with their free tree.”

Linford noted that no one needs to rent a truck, that if you have any type of a car or wheels of some sort, staff will help load up trees to take home safely.

One tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon in a year. This means that, on average, if every tree is planted that is given out this year, they will sequester emissions of close to two cars for a whole year, Linford noted.

Provo Power also has planted over 500 trees in planting strips, adding to the overall carbon reduction in the community.

Through a program managed by the city forester and crews, Provo City Power maintains 15,000 street trees and 40,000 utility trees. Provo has received numerous awards for the program through the Tree City USA organization, according to Linford.

“The three tree varieties we are offering this year are the Presidential Gold ginkgo, Royal Raindrop crabapple and the Emerald Sunshine elm,” said Chaz Addis, urban forester. “Each has very different characteristics but are all heat- and drought-tolerant, which is why I decided to ultimately go with them.”

“The ginkgo is a great centerpiece tree because of its fairly symmetrical shape. It is great as a shade tree, and it has a beautiful bright yellow fall color. The Royal Raindrop crabapple has a uniquely shaped dark leaf throughout the year, a small bright red fruit that adds contrast to the tree, and the leaves are multicolored in the fall. As for the Emerald Sunshine elm, it is the most tolerant of our climate, which offers a low maintenance appeal, is fast growing and has beautifully shaped leaves,” he added.

The size of the trees available at the event will be about 5-7 feet in height.

“Trees greatly help reduce the heat island effect in our communities through shading surfaces and evapotranspiration. For example, tree-shaded surfaces can be between 20-45 degrees cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded surfaces,” Addis said. “Also, trees are most useful as a temperature control and energy-saving strategy when placed strategically around buildings and parking lots nearest to windows and west-facing areas. For these reasons, we at Provo City feel trees are the answer to a lot of the environmental and conservation issues we face today. Through citywide efforts, stewardship and tree advocacy, we hope to keep our urban canopy robust and healthy.”