It’s time Denton got to the root of its conservation issues.

Saturday, October 22nd marks the 18th annual Keep Denton Beautiful Community Tree Giveaway. As of Monday, September 19, you can register for your free tree. This program, a major part of the Denton Tree Initiative, has gifted Denton residents an average of 875 trees per year over its 18 years of operation. These trees are completely free of cost and given to as many residents as the organization can supply.

Sound like there should be a catch? Not so! This is because the program serves a greater purpose: The giveaway is run completely out of the generosity of Keep Denton Beautiful and its sponsors in an effort to restore the urban tree canopy. In addition, Keep Denton Beautiful uses the event as a platform to educate city residents about trees and their value to the Denton community.

So what exactly is the big deal about free trees? First, as stated by the Keep Denton Beautiful website, trees are “vital for sustainable community growth, economic vitality, and public health”. More specifically, a lush tree canopy increases residential property values, lowers buildings’ energy consumption, reduces flooding, improves air quality, and encourages physical activity in the otherwise oppressive Denton heat. Finally, trees serve to beautify urban areas- a cause which, as one might expect, Keep Denton Beautiful supports wholeheartedly.

Though Keep Denton Beautiful has done much to promote the health of the urban tree canopy, Denton still has a long way to go before it meets its arboreal goals. According to conservation group American Forests, trees should cover 25 to 30 percent of urban land in our region. However, a study conducted by the University of North Texas in 2010 reported that Denton’s calculated tree cover was a mere 19 percent. Additionally, it is likely that this number has dropped significantly in the six years since the study, especially considering the recent boom in urban development.

Fortunately, this is a problem that every Denton resident can help solve. Additionally, to encourage involvement in the tree canopy issue, Keep Denton Beautiful has made the tree adoption process short and sweet: Those interested in receiving a tree need only register for the giveaway, attend a brief class on tree care, and then pick up their tree around noon on October 22nd. (Exact pickup times will be assigned following registration.) Keep Denton Beautiful has also provided online guides on proper tree planting and care to ensure that residents get the most out of their trees and promote the long-term success of the program.

Ever-ambitious, Keep Denton Beautiful hopes to increase Denton’s urban canopy by 12,000 trees over the next three years. So what are you waiting for? Now is your chance to get a free tree for your home or business, contribute to better conservation efforts, and let the world know that Denton digs trees.

Registration opens September 19th and continues through October 14th. Various tree species will be given out on a first-come, first served basis. Tree pickup will take place at the City of Denton Landfill at ECO W.E.R.C.S. (1537 S. Mayhill Road). For more information, visit KDB's website. Additional questions may be directed to autumn@kdb.org.

Header image by Jason Lee