Tree Planting

Awareness & Understanding

Salt Lake City has one of the worst urban heat problems in the West — and a big reason is that too many streets and neighborhoods have almost no tree cover. Trees do a lot: they cool the air, clean pollution, slow stormwater runoff, and give birds somewhere to live. Walk your neighborhood and count how many mature trees you see versus how many empty dirt strips, bare sidewalks, or shadeless parking lots there are. Check out the Canopy SLC website, which maps tree cover across Salt Lake neighborhoods. You're ready for the next step when you can explain two specific benefits trees provide to urban neighborhoods and identify at least one area near you that lacks tree cover.

Research & Investigation

Not every tree does well in Utah's dry, cold-in-winter, hot-in-summer climate — so research matters before you plant anything. The Utah State University Extension website has a free tree selection guide for the Wasatch Front. Look up native species like Gambel oak, bigtooth maple, and narrowleaf cottonwood, plus adapted species like honeylocust that handle our alkaline soils. Learn the difference between planting in clay soil (most of the valley floor) versus sandy soil (foothills). Watch the Arbor Day Foundation YouTube channel for basic planting technique videos. You're ready for the next step when you can name three tree species that thrive in the Salt Lake Valley and explain one soil factor that affects which tree to plant where.

Planning & Preparation

Plan your planting before you touch a shovel. Find a specific site — your yard, a school campus, a church property, or a park strip — and get permission from whoever owns or manages it. Contact Canopy SLC or Tree Utah, both of which sometimes provide free or discounted trees and planting guidance for SLC residents. Sketch a simple diagram showing where the tree will go, how far it is from utilities (call 811 before you dig — it's the law), and what the watering plan will be for the first two years. Trees need regular water to establish roots in Utah's dry climate. You're ready for the next step when you have a specific planting site with permission, a chosen tree species, and a first-year watering schedule written out.

Taking Action

Planting day. Dig your hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper than it — trees planted too deep rot at the trunk. Remove any burlap or wire basket from the root ball before you backfill. Pack soil in layers, not all at once, to remove air pockets. Build a small ring of soil around the drip line to hold water. Mulch three inches deep but keep mulch away from the trunk — "mulch volcanoes" kill trees slowly. Water deeply right after planting. Take a photo of your finished tree with a sign showing the date and species. You're ready for the next step when you've planted at least one tree, documented it with a photo, and completed two follow-up waterings.

Leadership & Expansion

One tree is great. Now help more get planted. Organize a neighborhood planting event through Tree Utah's volunteer program or propose a "green street" project to your local community council. Recruit five or more people — friends, family, neighbors — and coordinate with a local nursery or Tree Utah for bulk tree availability. Create a simple guide (one page, printed or digital) explaining how to plant and water correctly so your new volunteers don't kill their trees in year one. You're ready for the next step when you've organized or co-led a group planting event with at least five participants and at least three trees planted.

Impact & Reflection

Circle back and look at the full picture. How many trees did you plant total — counting your own and any group events? What's the estimated canopy cover they'll add in 10 years? Tree Utah's website has a calculator you can use. Write a two-paragraph reflection on what you learned about urban forestry, what challenges came up (soil, water, site access), and what you'd do better next time. Share your planting photos and reflection with Tree Utah or Canopy SLC — they may feature your project in their newsletters. You're ready for the next step when you've completed your reflection, calculated your projected canopy impact, and shared your results with at least one local tree organization.