Live in Maryland? Save $25.00 when you plant a tree

"Planting a tree is a lifetime investment..in our state and in our future." Governor Martin O'Malley

Did you know that if you live in Maryland, you can get $25.00 towards the price of buying and planting a tree? That's a sweet deal for every property owner and a great way to have a positive impact on the local environment.

Trees protect water quality, clean the air and provide wildlife habitat. One large tree can eliminate 5,000 gallons of stormwater runoff each year, and well placed trees can help reduce energy costs by 15 to 35 percent. Because of their tremendous environmental benefits, the state of Maryland has partnered with local businesses to provide discounts for trees. Their goal is to help plant 1 million trees by 2011!

They have an excellent website called Marylanders Plant Trees which provides information about different tree species, participating nurseries and a downloadable coupon for the $25.00 discount.

One really interesting tool that they have on the site will help you calculate the environmental benefits of different species of trees before you make your selection. Here is one page of the results that I got when I input a Live Oak (one of my favorite trees for wildlife).

Don't have room to plant a tree? Consider giving the gift of trees for holidays or to honor the memory of a loved one. The gift of a tree is actually three gifts - one to someone you care for, one for future generations and one for the environment. For more information, visit The Gift of Trees page on the Plant Trees website.