There is nothing better than sitting in a hammock under a huge tree with a drink in hand. But none of that would be possible without people like the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation department and their programs like the upcoming one on Saturday.

I am excited to tell you about the Tree Care Workshop. With multiple workshops throughout the year, the last one for 2011 is this upcoming Saturday at University Park.

In a blog post I wrote a few years back, the City General Plan suggested that every new parking lot should have “at least 51% shade coverage at maturity of tree.” I don’t know about you, but at every parking lot I visit in the Valley seems to lack any miniscule amount of shade.

Granted, the City General Plan is exactly that: a plan. But I believe programs like the one coming up is a step up that can help everyone and benefit not only those who plant the tree, but everyone in general.

Trees have an incredible impact on the environment and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the “net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.”

Not only that, but the American Public Power Association said that “landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home.”

This is amazing! Just think of how much energy we can save just by planting a tree in our yard.

Why wouldn’t you want to plant more trees around your home and even your neighborhood? They benefit the environment by providing such an invaluable necessity with oxygen and clean air.

So why should you attend this free class? Well, it is taught by an award-winning arborist that will give you the tools to design and care for a beautiful landscape. In fact, according to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, a mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Sign up for the workshop today! Visit www.phoenix.gov/parks or call 602-261-8793 and use the registration code 72640. We hope to see you there!