Program Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a City of Mesa Electric residential customer (not SRP). See the service area map if you're not sure.
• Own the home or have the legal right to plant a tree on the property. If you are a renter, obtain explicit permission from your landlord.
• Attend the workshop offered on September 21, 2024.
• Be available to pick up the tree on September 28, 2024.
• Participants are responsible for transporting, planting, and maintaining the tree received in this program.
• Have room on the south or west side of the home to plant a tree for optimal energy savings. 
• Be sure the planting location will not result in the tree contacting overhead power lines or communication lines when the tree is mature.
• Ensure no underground utilities will be impacted by the installation of a tree. Call Arizona 811 before you dig. 

 Note that businesses are not eligible.

You will be eligible to receive a free tree after you complete the following steps:

1. Register and attend our upcoming Shade Tree Workshop.
September 21,10 a.m. to Noon at the Charles K. Luster Building, Community Room, 640 N. Mesa Dr., Mesa AZ
>>> Register no later than September 12, 2024 by 8 p.m. <<<

2. Pick up your free, 5-gallon tree (approx. 3-5' tall) to plant at your home.
September 28, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Charles K. Luster Building, Community Room, 640 N. Mesa Dr., Mesa AZ

You will receive instructions for pickup when you attend the workshop.      

The Mesa Electric Shade Tree Program currently offers six different types of desert-adapted trees that are tolerant of our low rainfall and hot summers. The 5-gallon trees will be approximately 3-5 feet tall. They will require supplemental watering to get established. You can print a list of the available trees with photos and descriptions.   

Mature size is 30’ tall x 30’ wide. Small thorns. Semi-evergreen.

Blue Palo Verde has a blue-green trunk, branches, and leaves. Bright yellow flowers cover the tree in spring and the branches have small thorns. This tree is great for birds and other wildlife. Seasonal litter will occur from flowers, seedpods, and partial leaf drop. Native to Arizona. It is our Arizona State Tree.

Mature size is 25’ tall x 25’ wide. No thorns. Deciduous.

Desert Willow has narrow, bright green leaves and an upright appearance. Large, fragrant, trumpet-shaped pink flowers bloom from late spring through summer. Great for attracting hummingbirds and pollinators. Seasonal litter will occur from the flowers and leaf drop in winter.

Mature size is 35’ tall x 35’ wide. Thornless. Deciduous.

Red Push Pistache has a dense canopy of dark green foliage through summer. Flowers are non-showy, but the new growth emerging in red tones and the fall/winter color of the yellow and reds make this a striking tree for the landscape. Be sure to plant where it has plenty of room to grow. Seasonal litter.

Mature size is 30’ tall x 30’ wide. No thorns. Semi-evergreen.

Thornless South American Mesquite or Chilean Mesquite is a large tree that provides lush dark green canopy. Branches are thornless and the tree will bloom with yellow-cream catkin flowers in spring. This is a hybrid species but is great for wildlife and pollinators. Seasonal litter will occur from flowers, pods, and leaf drop.

Mature size is 25’ tall x 25’ wide. Thorns. Deciduous.

Velvet Mesquite has a dense canopy of ferny gray-green foliage. Pale yellow catkin flowers adorn the tree in spring followed by bean pods that support wildlife. This tree is great for attracting birds, butterflies, and pollinators. It does have small to medium thorns. Beans can be ground into edible flour. Seasonal litter.

Mature size is 40’ tall x 20’ wide. No thorns. Evergreen.

Willow Acacia has narrow green leaves, an upright growth form, and a willowy appearance. Fragrant, small, cream-colored puffball flowers are heaviest in spring. This tree has low to moderate litter, but it will drop a small number of leaves throughout the year.

Wondering how to plant and maintain your new tree? Don’t worry, our workshop topics include how to select, plant, and care for trees. The program will last about 75 minutes and experts will be onsite to answer your questions. See our guide on How to Plant & Stake a Tree.

Before you dig, you must contact Arizona 811 at least two full working days in advance so underground utilities can be located and marked. It's free. It's easy. It's the law.

Visit our Trees Are Cool page to Help Us Grow a Cooler Community! With a goal to plant one million trees by 2050, we need your help. Plant a tree, then register the date you planted and the planting location on our online engagement platform. Once on the page, you will see a green rectangular button that says, “Record Your Tree.” By doing so, your tree will show up on the map along with those recorded by many of our other Mesa residents and businesses.

The map below shows where trees have been planted in Mesa since the 'Trees Are Cool' Initiative was launched in February, 2023. 

Click on the map to see the current tree count. This map displays best on a desktop. 

The City of Mesa is partnering with Trees Matter, a Phoenix-based environmental education nonprofit whose mission is “To Inspire and Promote an Increased Tree Canopy Throughout the Valley.” Trees Matter has been contracted to oversee our Shade Tree programs for Mesa residents who qualify. You can contact them with any questions at the number and/or email below. 

Call: 480-935-9988

Q: I can’t make the workshop date on September 21. Is there another option?

A: This program is being offered one time only to select neighborhoods across the city to encourage tree planting for the benefit of growing a healthy and resilient community for generations to come. If you are unable to attend this program, and you are an SRP electric customer, learn more about the SRP Shade Tree Program.

Q: I can’t make the pickup date on September 28. Is there another option?

A: Once you have your email instructions on how to pick up your tree, you can share it with a friend, neighbor, or family member who is able to pick up your tree. They will need to provide this info to our team at the pick up event.. At this time, we have no plan for an alternate pick up option. Please contact Trees Matter at 480-935-9988 or via email at mesashadetree@treesmatter.org if you need more information.

Q: How big is the tree? Will it fit in my car?

A: Trees are in a 5-gallon container and are typically 3- to 5-feet in height. They will comfortably fit in most vehicles.

Q: Is there someone available to plant the tree for me?

A: No. You are responsible for planting and maintaining your tree.