Las Vegas Is Planting Thousands of Trees and Shrubs to Cool the East Side, and Some Residents Can Get a Free Tree

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

In early October, City Forester Brad Daseler walked KTNV reporter Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez through the city's tree program. He said the city is working to install more than 60,000 new plants across the valley. That mix includes large trees, small trees, shrubs and bushes. The work is being paid for out of the city's existing park maintenance budget, so it is not a brand-new line item. KTNV did not report a separate dollar figure for the planting.

Daseler said the variety matters because the city's properties are all different. A big park can hold a large shade tree. A narrow strip by a parking lot may only fit a shrub. He said the goal is to "bring shade and green space into the properties that we manage." His team tests more than 100 plant species to see which ones can survive Southern Nevada conditions, and he said they will keep changing the plan as conditions change.

Growing a city canopy is slow work. Daseler told KTNV the planning starts years ahead. "We're three or four years in the future saying, 'Hey, we want to grow this species of tree,'" he said. Trees have to be ordered, grown and cared for long before they show up in a park or along a street.

The part most homeowners will care about is the free tree program. On its website, the city sums it up in one line: "Free Tree. We Plant It. Irrigation Included." Homeowners in city of Las Vegas ZIP codes 89101, 89102, 89104, 89106, 89107 or 89110 may qualify. The city says it will provide a drought-tolerant shade tree "selected for the Southern Nevada climate," plant it in your front yard, and add irrigation at no cost. The city's page says it received $5 million in federal funding to plant drought-tolerant shade trees in the areas hit hardest by the urban heat island effect. The online application form is labeled as a USDA Forest Service application.

KTNV also talked with east Las Vegas resident Hope Hesch, who recently moved from Henderson. She said she noticed more greenery and shade in Henderson and enjoyed walking its tree-lined paths. She wants more trees on the east side, but she asked the city to pick species that do not use much water.

City of Las Vegas City Forester Brad Daseler speaking with KTNV in front of young trees in containers

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

Start with the heat. Daseler told KTNV that east Las Vegas is among the hottest parts of the city, which matches what the National Weather Service reports. He called the heat "exceptionally high" and said it can run even hotter downtown and on the east side. When you live in a neighborhood like that, shade is not just about looks. It changes how hot your sidewalk gets, how hot your car gets, and how hard your air conditioner has to work.

The city's own planning documents spell this out. A 2050 Master Plan fact sheet for East Las Vegas says the area has about 9 percent estimated tree canopy coverage and the highest Urban Heat Island Vulnerability Index in the city. The same fact sheet explains the heat island effect in simple terms: streets and sidewalks soak up the sun and warm the air around them. It says trees can cover those surfaces and cool a city block by as much as 10 degrees.

For a homeowner in one of the six eligible ZIP codes, the free tree program is a real money saver. Buying a shade tree, paying someone to plant it and running a drip line to it can add up fast. Here, the city covers the tree, the planting and the irrigation. You still need a front yard with enough room, and you need the property owner's permission. If you rent, the city says to ask your landlord to fill out and sign the application.

There is also a longer-term payoff. A shade tree on the west or south side of a house can cut down on afternoon sun hitting walls and windows. Over time that can mean a cooler yard and a more comfortable home. The East Las Vegas fact sheet also lists "increase value of property" as one of the benefits of tree canopy. The exact effect on any single home's price depends on many things, so treat that as a general benefit, not a promise [NOT VERIFIED for any specific property]. Still, a mature tree that took years to grow is something buyers notice when they pull up to a house in July.

An east Las Vegas resident talks with KTNV in a sunny, mostly treeless shopping center parking lot about wanting more shade

The resident view KTNV captured is worth a second look. Hesch did not ask for lawns or lush landscaping. She asked for trees that do not use much water. That lines up with how most people in the valley now think about yards. People want shade, but they also know water is limited and watering rules are strict. A program that pairs a drought-tolerant tree with a drip line, set up by the city, tries to give residents both.

It also helps to be clear about the numbers, because two similar figures get mixed up. In 2023, FOX5 reported a city goal of planting 60,000 trees over 30 years. This month, KTNV quoted Daseler saying the city is working to install more than 60,000 new plants, a figure that includes shrubs and bushes as well as trees. The two numbers describe the same long-term push, but they are not the same count, and the city has not said how many trees are in the ground so far [NOT VERIFIED].

Even if you do not live in one of the six ZIP codes, the citywide planting affects you. More shade in parks and along city property means cooler places to walk, play and wait for the bus. And because the city is using its park maintenance budget, the work is already part of how parks get cared for.

Background and History

The tree push did not start this fall. The City of Las Vegas built shade and tree canopy into its 2050 Master Plan. The plan's key outcome, listed in the city's East Las Vegas fact sheet, is for the city's tree canopy to reach 20 percent by 2035 and 25 percent by 2050 using native and drought-tolerant tree species. A second goal in the same document is for 85 percent of the city's population to live within one-third of a mile of green features like parks, tree canopy or planted areas.

Back in July 2023, FOX5 reported that the city had a goal to plant 60,000 trees over 30 years. City planning project manager Marco Velotta told FOX5 that extreme heat has been getting worse. "It is the frequency, duration and intensity that has been increasing over the last couple of decades," he said. He said the city planned to lean on Mojave Desert native and adaptive plants that use less water, and that these plants "really help bring down temperatures and keep buildings cooler during the day." He also pointed to earlier plantings downtown, along Las Vegas Boulevard and along Washington Avenue as places where trees had helped cut the heat island effect.

That FOX5 report also mentioned that the city was working with the Southern Nevada Water Authority and other partners to plant trees on private property, and that a low-income tree program was already in place. The current free tree program, backed by $5 million in federal funding according to the city, is the latest version of that private-yard planting idea.

Water is the other half of this story. Southern Nevada has spent years pulling out grass that nobody uses, and the region has strict watering rules. That creates a real tension. Grass removal saves water, but bare rock and gravel can make a yard hotter. Trees are the city's answer to that problem: plants that give shade without the water bill of a lawn. That is why Daseler's team tests so many species, and why residents like Hesch are asking for low-water choices. The East Las Vegas fact sheet says drought-tolerant species and greywater reuse are key to growing canopy in a place with so little water.

KTNV reporter Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez and City Forester Brad Daseler walking past young desert trees at the city tree yard

What Happens Next

The planting is ongoing. Daseler said the city plans years in advance and will keep adjusting its mix of species as it learns what grows best. The 2035 target of 20 percent canopy is about nine years away, and the 25 percent target runs to 2050. Trees take time to grow, so most of what is planted now will not cast full shade for years. That is exactly why the city is planting now.

For the free tree program, the city has not posted a deadline on its tree page, and it does not say how many trees are left or how long the federal money will last [NOT VERIFIED]. If you are interested, it makes sense to apply sooner rather than later. The city's page also does not list which tree species homeowners will get, or what care the homeowner is expected to give after planting. Those are fair questions to send in through the city's question form before you sign up.

The city's 2050 planning documents also name priority areas for the broader urban forestry work, including the neighborhoods south of U.S. 95, Eastern and Bonanza, Nellis, Eastern and Owens, and The Wash area. Residents in those parts of town can expect to see more planting on city property over time. Watch for new trees in parks and along streets, and for updates on the city's progress toward its canopy goals. A separate claim about a city council vote on a tree plan this month could not be confirmed, so we are not reporting it here [NOT VERIFIED].

Ryan's Take

Shade is one of the most underrated features of a Las Vegas home. When buyers walk a property in the summer, they feel the difference between a yard with a mature tree and a yard that is all gravel and block wall. A tree that shades the front of a house or the driveway makes the whole place feel more livable, and it takes years to grow one. That is why a free tree, planted and plumbed for you, is worth a look if you qualify.

The bigger picture matters too. Many of the eligible ZIP codes cover older, central parts of the city where lots are often established and homes were built before today's landscaping trends. Neighborhoods like that benefit when shade comes back, because walkable, cooler streets are part of what makes an area feel cared for. The key for homeowners is to pick the right tree for the right spot and stay on top of watering within the valley's rules. A healthy tree is an asset. A struggling one is a chore.

City of Las Vegas Free Trees flyer listing eligible ZIP codes 89101, 89102, 89104, 89106, 89107 and 89110 with a QR code to apply

What You Can Do

First, check your ZIP code and your city. The program is for homes inside City of Las Vegas limits in ZIP codes 89101, 89102, 89104, 89106, 89107 or 89110. If you live outside city limits or in another ZIP code, the city's tree page points you to an Urban Forestry Map that shows other tree programs around the valley. Next, look at your front yard. The city says you need a suitable front yard and the property owner's permission for the planting. Renters should ask their landlord to complete and sign the form.

To apply, go to lasvegasnevada.gov/trees and use the online application. The city also has a question form on the same page if you want to ask about tree types, spacing or care before you commit. Think about where a tree would do the most good. A spot that shades a west-facing wall, a window or your driveway will give you the most cooling in the afternoon. Keep the tree clear of your roof line, power lines and the block wall as it grows.

Once your tree is in, follow the valley's seasonal watering rules. Fall rules are in effect now, and the irrigation the city installs should be set to fit the allowed watering days. Young trees need steady water while their roots get established, so check the drip line now and then for clogs or leaks. If you are not eligible for the free program, you can still plant a drought-tolerant shade tree on your own. Ask a local nursery about desert-adapted species that give good shade without a big water bill. Small choices like this, made house by house, add up to cooler streets.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime.