$25 Tree Voucher Give Away to Homeowners

The Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards (CATS) will provide a $25 tree voucher to homeowners in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties this spring to encourage more trees to be planted.  Applicants must have a property less than a half acre, agree to call Miss Utility before they dig, and know the mature height and width of the tree selected.  Make application by emailing  CATSTreeVoucher2013@gmail.com and providing name, address and phone number.

The Tree Voucher Program is funded by the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation and a matching grant from an anonymous tree steward.  Five garden centers will redeem the tree vouchers:

                Snow’s on Avon Street,

                Southern States on Harris Street,

                Southern States on Rt. 29 North,

                The Garden Spot on West Rio Road, and

                Ivy Corner on Rt. 250.

The trees suggested by CATS for purchase are native trees with mature heights of 25′ to 30.’  This size tree will fit appropriately under power lines.  A larger tree may be selected if the homeowner has the space for it.  CATS will mail the tree voucher and information about planting a tree following application to the program.  Tree stewards will assist in the planting of the tree if requested by the owner.

Suggested trees are redbud, dogwood, cherry tree, serviceberry, fringe tree, and sourwood.  The Tree Voucher Program is an expansion of the program last spring with 14 homeowners in the Fifeville neighborhood of Charlottesville.

For more information, contact Jacki Vawter at 974-7683.