PEA RIDGE – Hoping to provide a tree canopy for the town, Pea Ridge town officials hosted a fall tree giveaway sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation.
Carroll Electric Cooperative employees joined.
Brian Wise, new development coordinator, said he works with commercial and residential developers in the area.
“We have arborists available,” Wise said. “It is one of our policies to do everything we can to respect the land of our members.
“Sometimes we have to cut right-of-way for vegetation management, but we try to do it in a way that’s best for everyone,” Wise said, adding that there are trained professionals on staff.
“We live here and we work here. This is our community, too,” Wise said.
Certified Arborist Brian Peterson joined Alan Houston and Cooper David who assisted city residents who stopped by Oct. 20 to pick up one of the 200 trees available at no cost to residents.
“We’re here to help them, mainly to tell them how to plant them properly, proper watering schedules, help them survive,” Petersen said, explaining that it takes two years to establish a new tree. He said some of the trees on offer, redbuds and poplars, need a lot of sun. Others, like oaks, are quite hardy in any condition.
The benefit of planting a tree on property is not only aesthetic, but also increases property value, Petersen said.
“They provide shade and some economic benefits,” he said.
Each of the trees has different qualities, Petersen said, including growth rate and mature height.
Street Department Superintendent Nathan See said there was a good turnout of people wanting the trees.
Arborist Brian Petersen helped load trees Oct. 20 during the Tree Giveaway event at Pea Ridge. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Annette Beard)
Cooper David was one of three Carroll Electric employees who offered assistance Oct. 20 during the tree giving event in Pea Ridge. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Annette Beard)
Carroll Electric employees were on hand Oct. 22 to help department employees on Pea Ridge Street with a tree giveaway. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Annette Beard)
Streets Department Superintendent Nathan See hands out 811 information to Nadine Telgemeier on Oct. 20 during the tree giving event in Pea Ridge. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Annette Beard)