When the sun beats down on your shadeless garden, do you sometimes wish Johnny Appleseed would come by with a shovel in his hand and offer to plant a beautiful young tree for you – for free?

For up to 2,000 homeowners and renters in Petaluma, this dream can become a reality.

Thanks to the U.S. government’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, $1 million has flown into Petaluma to provide some welcome shade to residential properties. The Canopy Project – a joint program between ReLeaf Petaluma, Cool Petaluma and the City of Petaluma – allows property owners to sign up for one or more free trees that will be planted on a first-come, first-served basis.

“There is a long list of local, native tree species to choose from,” said Wendy Jacobs, co-chair of ReLeaf Petaluma. “They are sourced from local nurseries, are several years old and range in height from 4 to 8 feet.”

Tree species are limited to ReLeaf Petaluma’s list of approved species, which includes blue oaks, California live oaks, sycamores, and Northern California walnuts. For a complete list, visit releafpetaluma.org.

A ReLeaf tree expert will help the property owner select the best tree species for the site. Generally, property owners need 25 to 30 square feet of space for a new tree, with no overhead wires to bother them. Smaller tree species may be suitable for smaller spaces, Jacobs said.

The tree species must be agreed upon between the tree expert and the property owner for each location. In the case of rented apartments, the consent of the property owner is required.

The resident will be notified of the planting date by email at least several days in advance. The resident does not need to be home as the location has been recorded by ReLeaf with GPS coordinates. However, the organization prefers that you be home in case any questions or problems arise.

There is no limit to the number of trees that can be requested, but ReLeaf requires appropriate spacing between them. After ReLeaf Petaluma approves the planting site, it will source and deliver the tree. Volunteers will plant, support and mulch the tree.

To confirm that the digging site is safe and authorized, property owners must agree to have ReLeaf Petaluma call 811 on their behalf prior to the planting date, the national number you can call before digging. After the property has been marked, you should check the markings to make sure they do not conflict with your tree site. Notify ReLeaf Petaluma immediately by email if you notice any such overlap.

If your tree is located within 5 feet of a sidewalk or paved curb, the City requires that you install an approved root barrier as described in the City of Petaluma Planning and Construction Standards for Landscape and Irrigation Facilities.

ReLeaf Petaluma piloted the Canopy Project program last spring, planting about 20 trees in gardens in the Midtown-Payran neighborhood.

The mass planting of these trees supports the city’s climate goals by helping to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and reducing noise, water and air pollution. The shade provided by the trees also lowers ambient temperatures. The Inflation Relief Act includes the largest investment to combat climate change in U.S. history – $783 billion. This expenditure is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.

During the first three years, the newly planted tree is cared for by ReLeaf volunteers to ensure that it is adequately watered and grows well.

“The tree owner is asked to water weekly for the first year,” Jacobs said, “five to ten gallons per week.”

In the second year, the tree can usually be switched back to watering every 10 days to two weeks. In the third year, watering every three to four weeks should be sufficient.

“These are hardy species,” says Jacobs, “but beyond these water guidelines, additional watering may be necessary during times of extreme heat.”