THE LEAFLET

As a District Resident you can get trees – for free! No, really.

Through the Riversmart Homes Program, you can accentuate your home with a beautiful shade tree at no cost.

This District-wide program offers incentives to homeowners interested in reducing stormwater runoff from their properties. Obviously we take part in the shade tree and rain garden aspects of the program, and we use trees selected for their suitability to Washington, DC. Our professionals will help you choose the trees that fit best in your yard. Whether you want fragrant flowers, privacy, shade from a dense canopy, pollinators, or whatever fits your yard best, we have something for everyone!

To register, submit an application with the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and we’ll do all we can to get your tree planted the following season. It’s that easy! No hemming and hawing over what tree will thrive where, no driving around to nurseries to find a tree, no digging, no nothing – we take care of it all.

For even more context, once DOEE has received and processed your application, they’ll conduct an audit to assess which features – rain barrels, shade trees, rain gardens, BayScaping, permeable pavers, or re-vegetation – are appropriate for your property. Two to three weeks following the audit, you will receive the auditor’s report for your property.

After reviewing the report, contact your auditor to let them know what features you would like to have installed on your property.  Then DOEE passes your information onto organizations like us to install the stormwater features you want most! Once we have your information we coordinate the selection, location, and installation of the tree (or trees) that are both suitable to your property, your needs, and your tastes. Once we have the planting plan settled, we schedule a planting date next season and all you need to do is sit back and relax until your new tree arrives.

RiverSmart Homes provides incentives to beautify your property and benefit the District’s environment by:
– Treating and infiltrating stormwater on site helping to recharge groundwater levels
– Diminishing the impact on aquatic life from polluted stormwater rushing to local streams during storm events
– Stabilizing soils, helping to prevent erosion
– Minimizing the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers used in conventional landscaping
– Providing increased habitat for native wildlife
– Reducing air pollution and the urban heat island effect