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Des Moines' Tiny Trees Program aims to help the environment and your wallet

The City says planting trees can help you save on heating and cooling bills while also creating a habitat for wildlife.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Want more oxygen? Plant a tree. 

No, this isn't an April Fools' Day joke— in fact, the City of Des Moines is offering up to five trees for residents to plant this spring. 

It's part of the City's Tiny Trees Program

Each spring, residents are offered to plant tiny trees to help increase property value in their community, save on heating and cooling bills and create a habitat for wildlife in the area. 

And, of course, trees help produce the oxygen that folks need to live. So planting these trees is also very good for their health. 

It's all part of the City's effort to increase, or at times replace, the urban tree canopy throughout Des Moines. 

"Unfortunately, trees age and perish, and also with things like the derecho and other things like that, we want to try and help grow the urban forest," said Shane McQuillan, urban forestry project manager. "So we figure this is a great way to engage with [the] community and help them help us plant more trees in the City of Des Moines."

Those wanting a few more trees in their yard have until April 23 to place their order. If there's a specific tree they want, they should hurry to order. Ornamental elderberry and redbud trees are already out of stock.

Click/tap here to find out more about the program or order some trees. 

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