Free Trees Available to Largo Residents

Want to add some cool shade to your yard? If you live within the City of Largo, you can register for a free seven-gallon size tree, while supplies last.

Residents can register online. Trees will not be available until January but the city needs to order the trees soon.

Residents can choose from six different species of trees, which are known to grow well in urban environments, said Largo Park Intern Taylor Kahns.

The trees, which resident can check out on the city's Web site, include bald cypress, crape myrtle (two varieties), southern live oak, southern magnolia, red maple and winged elm. 

The goal of the free tree program is to increase the number of trees in town. Trees help absorb water after storms, provide shade and many other benefits.

Largo surveyed its trees recently. Largo's current canopy coverage is about 27 percent. Clearwater's canopy coverage is slightly more than 27 percent. Of about a dozen city's Largo compared itself to the average canopy coverage was about 34 percent, according to a city report.

The free trees are funded through the tree fund, Kahns said.