disponible únicamente en inglés

Pay bill
Outages
Call SRP

Free trees to shade your home

Desert-adapted shade trees can lower your cooling costs and improve air quality without using a lot of water. Attend an upcoming workshop and receive two free trees.

Attend a workshop

Through the SRP Shade Tree Program™, SRP customers can get two free desert-friendly, fast-growing trees by attending a workshop. 

Workshops Open

Hosted by Trees Matter, the workshop covers how to select, plant and care for your trees. After attending, you can claim your two new tree saplings. 

Date Time Location TYPE OF WORKSHOP
Saturday, August 23, 2025 10 am
Zoom
 Webinar 
Register

Types of trees

The SRP Shade Tree Program currently offers six different types of desert-adapted trees* that are tolerant of drought and sun. New trees will be approximately 2- to 6-foot saplings. Before you dig to plant your tree, contact Arizona 811Open new site. to locate underground utility lines.


Dense canopy of ferny green foliage with yellow flowers and thorns. Mature size is 30’ tall x 30’ wide.

Native Mesquite


Gray-green trunk, branches and leaves with thorns and yellow blossoms in spring. Mature size is 30’ tall.

Palo Verde


Moderate-growing deciduous shrub/tree. Has purple spike flowers spring through summer, no thorns. Mature size can reach 20’ tall x 20’ wide.

Lilac Chaste


Green foliage; wind tolerant. Keep away from pools. Plant in groupings for best results. Mature size is 30’ tall x 30’ wide.

Thornless Mesquite


Long, narrow bright green leaves; willowy appearance with large, fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers ranging from white to purple to pink. No thorns. Mature size is 25’ tall x 20’ wide.

Desert Willow


Narrow green leaves; willowy appearance; ideal around water features with fragrant yellow puffball-like flowers. No thorns. Mature size is 40’ tall x 20’ wide.

Willow Acacia
Native Mesquite


Dense canopy of ferny green foliage with yellow flowers and thorns. Mature size is 30’ tall x 30’ wide.


*Trees can vary in appearance and growth. The trees you receive may not grow exactly as shown in the examples below. While these are desert-adapted trees, their size, shape, and overall appearance may differ depending on a variety of factors and their specific environment. 

Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses.*

Program Requirements

To participate in this program, you must:

  • Be a current residential SRP electric customer
  • Attend a Shade Tree workshop
  • Have the legal right to plant trees on your property
  • Plant trees on the south, west or east sides of your home
  • Plant trees approximately 15-20 feet from exposed exterior walls and windows
  • Be able to care for the tree as needed
  • Have not previously received trees for your property from the SRP Shade Tree Program

Community partners

Together we’re making the Valley a shadier place, one tree at a time.

Trees Matter

Trees Matter is a Phoenix-based environmental education nonprofit. For 10 years, they’ve helped us run our Shade Tree workshops and distribute free desert-adapted shade trees to SRP customers who attend. 

Learn moreOpen new site.

Trees Matter

Trees Matter is a Phoenix-based environmental education nonprofit. For 10 years, they’ve helped us run our Shade Tree workshops and distribute free desert-adapted shade trees to SRP customers who attend. 

Learn moreOpen new site.

Treeland Nurseries

Treeland Nurseries is one of the largest family-owned wholesale and retail nurseries in Arizona. The nursery provides the variety of shade trees that we give out at the workshops.

Learn moreOpen new site.

Treeland Nurseries

Treeland Nurseries is one of the largest family-owned wholesale and retail nurseries in Arizona. The nursery provides the variety of shade trees that we give out at the workshops.

Learn moreOpen new site.

Desert tree planting guide

Use these tips to prepare for planting your tree.

Planting your tree

Make plans to get them in the ground within the first two weeks of receiving them. Contact Arizona 811 before you dig so they can mark any underground lines, pipes or cables.

Make your hole only as deep as your tree's root ball. Fill the hole with the dirt from the hole making sure the base of the trunk is level with the ground surface. Leave room for several inches of mulch.

Planting your tree

Make plans to get them in the ground within the first two weeks of receiving them. Contact Arizona 811 before you dig so they can mark any underground lines, pipes or cables.

Make your hole only as deep as your tree's root ball. Fill the hole with the dirt from the hole making sure the base of the trunk is level with the ground surface. Leave room for several inches of mulch.

Mulch around your tree

Mulch is organic material that allows water to penetrate through and shades the soil beneath, protecting your tree from drying out too fast. Leaves from your yard can be used or you can purchase mulch or wood chips at a garden store.

Mulch around your tree

Mulch is organic material that allows water to penetrate through and shades the soil beneath, protecting your tree from drying out too fast. Leaves from your yard can be used or you can purchase mulch or wood chips at a garden store.

Water the feeder roots

Remember to deep water the feeder roots all the way around your tree. As the tree grows, the feeder roots reach out to the drip line. This is the area that needs to be watered to keep your tree growing.

Water the feeder roots

Remember to deep water the feeder roots all the way around your tree. As the tree grows, the feeder roots reach out to the drip line. This is the area that needs to be watered to keep your tree growing.

BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP