MUSCATINE, Iowa – Alliant Energy customers in Muscatine can participate in Operation ReLeaf, a program that provides trees for customers to beautify their yards and save energy by planting trees that they can purchase at a discounted price.
Properly placed shade trees shade your home in the summer and block the wind in winter helping the homeowner to conserve energy and reduce utility costs. For maximum energy savings, plant shade trees within 30 feet of the east and west of your home. Evergreens can be planted as a windbreak on the north and west of your home.
A total of 225 trees are available for purchase and customers can choose from eight varieties: Swamp White Oak, River Birch, Silver Linden, Sassafras, Loebner Magnolia ‘Leonard Messel’, Serviceberry, Katsuratree, and American Larch. The shade trees are five to eight feet tall in seven to 10-gall containers. Conifers and ornamentals are three to five feet tall in five to seven-gallon containers.
The trees retail for $65 or more but an Alliant Energy grant has reduced the purchase price to $25 each for Alliant customers. Advance purchase is recommended with customers able to order up to two trees.
The trees must be picked up from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Aquatic Center in Weed Park on Saturday, April 14. Any additional trees that would be available on distribution day will be available on a first come/first serve basis starting at 9 a.m. Any tree not picked up by 10:30 a.m. on distribution day will be considered a donation to the City of Muscatine. Trees are non-refundable and exchange cannot be accepted. The plant material is under no warranty and/or guarantee.
A free workshop will be presented for customers to learn the best way and place to plant a tree. The workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. on pickup day. Those interested can register for the short workshop by emailing Gabriele.edwards@dnr.iowa.gov. One lucky workshop participant will receive free pruning shears and a hand saw.
Since 2001, more than 62,265 new trees have been planted throughout the state of Iowa during 189 Operation ReLeaf events. This partnership initiative is funded by Alliant Energy and administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, in partnership with the conservation boards of host counties.
Before you dig be sure to contact Iowa One Call at 1-800-292-8989 or www.iowaonecall.com at least three business days before you dig. They will send someone to locate underground utility lines for you.
The order form can be found HERE. Be sure to complete and return to the City of Muscatine, 215 Sycamore St., Muscatine IA 52761 or email to parksoffice@muscatineiowa.gov before 5 p.m. on Friday, April 6.