Is your neighborhood hot? Root Nashville is offering free trees to cool the city

Walk down a typical neighborhood street in Nashville. The path is shaded by trees. But then the leafy protection splits open, allowing sunlight to directly penetrate skin. 

What if the city filled those gaps? 

Nashville is planting trees citywide to gradually cool the city’s hottest points, while offering residents the chance to identify breaches in canopy cover. 

The city is accepting orders now from residents to plant trees alongside homes, businesses and other community sites. Homeowners, and renters with homeowner permission, can order up to three trees for their yards. 

Planting trees in strategic locations is an effective way to reduce heat, which is the deadliest form of extreme weather. Trees can lower pedestrian-level temperatures by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit, while large planting projects can lower temperatures in the surrounding area, even at night in humid climates.

Scientists say urban forestry is becoming increasing critical work. Tennessee summers are getting hotter and heatwaves are getting longer as the world continues to burn fossil fuels, cut down forests, get food unsustainably and spread concrete across soil. 

More: With fewer trees and more concrete, Nashville is heating up. What’s the plan? | WPLN News

The city’s tree planting work is organized through the Root Nashville campaign, a partnership with the Cumberland River Compact. 

The campaign offers seven native species of trees, all considered sturdy woods against high winds and tornadoes.

Courtesy Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Facebook

Homes in Murfreesboro were damaged by strong winds during a thunderstorm in May.

“Root Nashville works closely with local nurseries to grow and offer tree species known for their wood strength, structure, and resilience in storms,” said Meagan Hall, spokesperson for the Cumberland River Compact.  

Since 2020, the city has planted nearly 25,000 trees through the “free tree” model, primarily at private residences. Last year, 3,000 households received about 7,500 trees. 

Root Nashville is now roughly 10% into its goal of planting 500,000 trees by 2030.