April is Earth Month which means two of our favorite holidays are just around the corner: Earth Day (Saturday, April 22nd) and National Arbor Day (Friday, April 28th)! Our urban forest helps grow greener and healthier communities. Trees enhance our communities by cleaning the air we breathe, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating healthy ecosystems. Here are a few ways you can help make the Sacramento region greener this Earth Month.

Volunteer with us

Want to get down in the dirt with us? We have volunteer opportunities for you to get involved and help grow livable and lovable neighborhoods. From tree plantings and stewardship events to community science, there are year-round opportunities to get involved. Check out our events calendar to find a tree planting or stewardship event near you. 

Plant free shade trees in your yard

Trees give us fresh air to breathe, provide endless health benefits, and create cool, shady spaces to safely recreate and relax. If you’ve been thinking about adding some shade trees to your yard, you may be in luck. Thanks to our partnership with SMUD, all SMUD customers can get a free landscape assessment and up to 10 free shade trees delivered to your home or business. Our staff will work with you to determine the right trees for your space and deliver them to your property with stakes, ties, and helpful information on how to plant and care for the trees.   

Set up your water wise plan

It’s hard to believe with all of this rain that we are already thinking about the dry summer months on the horizon. Before the summer heat kicks in, set up a water wise irrigation method for the trees in your yard to prevent stress on your trees. Did you know that unlike grass and other plants, trees need deep and slow watering to develop strong root systems and thrive? Most trees require much less water than a lawn, but the exact amount of water your tree needs depends on your soil, tree type, and weather. Check out this watering guide to save water while keeping your tree healthy and hydrated all year long.   

Support seed-to-slab stewardship of the urban forest

Gifts of every size make a difference in growing thriving, healthy communities. Your support helps steward the urban forest throughout its entire life cycle, from harvesting acorns, to planting and caring for saplings, and diverting logs from the landfill to have a new life as urban lumber – enriching our community with the benefits of trees at every stage. To make a gift or become a monthly donor, visit sactree.org/donate . 

Use sustainable urban wood for your next project

If you’re planning your next home improvement project, take a trip to our Urban Wood Rescue yard to pick up live edge slabs and dimensional lumber. With a wide variety of wood and grain patterns to choose from, each piece is one-of-a-kind and adds character to any home project. The best part? Using local lumber is a sustainable choice that keeps logs out of the landfill and sequesters carbon from the wood. It’s an easy way to support the environment and the local economy! Check out what slabs are available online or by visiting the yard at 6045 Midway Street (Depot Park) in Sacramento open Thursday – Saturday (8:15 A.M.-4:15 P.M.). 

Make discoveries in your own backyard with your little ones

If you’re raising little tree stewards and are looking for a way to introduce them to nature and the value of caring for our urban forest, look no further! Encourage your kids to make discoveries in their own home with some of our printable activities for kids. The Peek and Seek activity is a great way to show how trees provide homes to local wildlife (don’t forget to print both Sheet A and Sheet B). For the little artists in your life, take the tree care promise in our Trees Take Care of Us coloring book. 

Show off your City of Trees pride

From T-shirts and tote bags to mugs and coozies, we’ve got everything you need to show off your City of Trees pride. All proceeds support the Tree Foundation’s efforts to grow livable and lovable communities. 

Check out these other events to celebrate our green planet

Sacramento Earth Day hosted by ECOS – Hosted by the Environmental Council of Sacramento, this is the largest Earth Day celebration in the Sacramento region. This year’s theme is GROW NATIVE and will feature information on sustainability and expanding the use of native plants in the region. Want to chat about our awesome urban forest? Stop by the Tree Foundation’s booth at the event! This free event will take place on Sunday, April 23^rd (11:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.) at Southside Park. 

Whole Earth Festival – From live music and performances, tasty food, art, and sustainable vendors, there is something for the whole family at the Whole Earth Festival! This zero-waste, student-run event will take place over Mother’s Day weekend from Friday, May 12^th to Sunday, May 14^th at the UC Davis Quad.