Most local Climate Action Plans have set goals for tree canopy cover, to provide urban cooling, energy reduction, and carbon sequestration. Trees also contribute greatly to healthy neighborhoods, active living, cool places during heat events, and nearby nature to enjoy.

San Diegans can contribute to climate action by taking care of trees in our front- or back-yards, and growing an additional tree or two. Small- and medium-sized trees have now been selected by local arborists, sourced from wholesale nurseries, and purchased from Walter Andersen Nursery in Old Town for about $50 in the 5-gallon size. These smaller locally-suitable trees are easy to transport and dig the hole for, and establish well to their new site. Check current inventory.

Right away you’ll have more nature in your daily life. In five years, you’ll know the tree is successfully established. In ten years, you can sit under its shade. And in twenty years it will be a family or neighborhood legacy tree.  Follow these steps!

More options!

• Give a shade, native or fruit tree, as an eco-friendly gift instead of adding more “stuff” to the world.
• Donate $50 so someone else can get and grow a tree, but just can’t afford to purchase it.
• City of San Diego residents can request a street tree to be planted in their street right-of way, if they agree to water the tree(s) and apply at https://www.sandiego.gov/blog/free-tree-sd.
• For residents in districts 4, 8, and 9 that live in census tracts that are considered “disadvantaged or low income” a tree can be requested for their private yards from the Tree San Diego program, “Branch Out San Diego,” at https://www.treesandiego.org/branch-out-san-diego. 
• Residents in other areas of districts 4, 8 and 9, who would like to plant a tree but can’t afford one right now, can request a tree as there are limited donated funds are available that aren’t tied to zip codes.

And most important, we can protect the trees that already bring us shade, nearby nature, and simple pleasures.