Dalton creates program to plant more trees

DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) – The city of Dalton wants homeowners to plant more trees.

They are launching a program to help out.

You can apply to have the city plant the tree for you, but they do charge a fee.

“Trees help to reduce the heat island effect created by asphalt roads and concrete,” City Arborist Jerome Key said. “They’re good for the environment, and they improve our air quality.”

The tree must go in your front yard.

You can choose between red maples, ginkgo, southern red oak or willow trees.

The cost of the program is 250-dollars.

“It’s the silver bullet if you can get homeowners bought in to planting trees on private property,” said City Arborist Jerome Key. “We’ve got all these trees in the (public) right of way that are getting mature, and possibly getting to a point where they have to be removed. They’re declining and decaying. And the spots in the right of way aren’t always the best location for the planting of a tree. So if we can get property owners bought into planting trees on their property that aren’t going to hinder utilities or road safety, I think that’s a big plus.”

You can download the application at daltonga.gov/bc-tree.

You can also contact City arborist Jerome Key at 706-278-7077 for more information.