City to Give Away Free Trees in Celebration of Arbor Day

In celebration of Texas Arbor Day, the City of San Marcos Electric Utility will give away free trees to San Marcos electric utility customers this Friday, Nov. 4.

The trees will be distributed on a first come first serve basis at the San Marcos Discovery Center, located at 430 Riverside Drive, starting at 9 a.m.  Customers must present a current San Marcos electric utility bill in order to claim their free trees.  

There will be several different types of trees to choose from including Texas mulberry, Texas red oak, roughleaf dogwood, rusty blackhaw viburnum, southern magnolia, and Montezuma cypress.

All are native or adapted species that require very little supplemental water once established.  The saplings are in 5-gallon pots and range in size from 2-8 feet tall.  Each will come with planting and care instructions.   

“It’s important to plant the right tree in the right place,” said Jan Klein, Conservation Coordinator for the City of San Marcos. “Smaller varieties such as dogwoods and the blackhaw viburnum are more suitable for planting near power lines. Larger varieties such as red oaks and mulberrys can reduce summer cooling costs when planted on the south and west side of your home.” 

Arbor Day is celebrated in Texas on the first Friday in November.

For more information, please call 512.393.8310 or email jklein@sanmarcostx.gov.