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Parking Lots

Which lots are eligible?

All parking lots in the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) service area are eligible if:

  1. You are not already legally required to plant the trees you are requesting.
  2. The trees provided supersede any trees being used to meet shading requirements.

If you are not eligible to receive free SMUD shade trees for your parking lot you may still be eligible for a site visit from a Sacramento Tree Foundation Forester to help you pick the best trees for your site. Call the NeighborWoods department for more information.

How many trees can I recieve?

There is no limit to the number of trees you may receive, as long as they fall into our existing siting guidelines.

Does the Tree Foundation provide trees for parking lots of private businesses?

Yes. There is no restriction on what types of businesses may benefit from parking lot trees.

Are there hidden costs?

The trees, stakes and ties are provided free from SMUD in order to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Tree education and siting assistance are provided by the Sacramento Tree Foundation in order to ensure the health and vigor of the trees. The recipient landowner/agent will be responsible for the maintenance and care for the trees after planting.

Who plants the trees?

NeighborWoods has several planting models. You can plant the trees yourself, with your own staff and resources or work with a landscaper. In all cases you must plant according to our specifications, developed to ensure the survival and health of the trees.

In some cases, if you recruit volunteers, NeighborWoods can assist you by providing education and tool use.

What are the siting guidelines for parking lot trees?

There are some differences in the siting guidelines for parking lot trees vs other tree locations. These are:

  • A large tree (London plane, red maple, zelcova, scarlet oak) requires an 8 ft. x 6 ft. planting bed for a single tree.
  • A medium tree (Chinese pistache, ornamental pears, tupelo, trident maple) requires a 6 ft. x 4 ft. planting bed for a single tree.
  • Small trees (Washington hawthorne, eastern redbud, crape myrtle) can be placed in 4 ft. x 2 ft. planting bed.

The above guidelines are the requisite minimum spaces to ensure the health and vigor of a tree. When larger trees are placed in smaller planter beds, they never achieve their full size and canopy. They are also more likely to damage planting beds and surrounding asphalt as the root systems mature.