Planting trees to mitigate flooding in University City

Trees can play a vital role in reducing flooding. In flood prone areas of University City, residents are being offered free trees to encourage them to plant trees on their property.

"[Trees] put their roots down into the soil, so they're holding soil in place, absorbing that rainwater as it comes down," explains Meridith Perkins, executive director of Forest ReLeaf. "What we're really trying to do with the leaf canopy is intercept those rains and keep it from all surging at once."

Hear the interview with Meridith Perkins and Debbie Monterrey:

"Eighty percent of available planting spaces are on private property," Perkins says. "So when we can work with U-City In Bloom, U-City and all these municipal folks to plant trees in parkways, parks and green spaces...but really, every individual has an opportunity."

Plus, Perkins says you get all the other benefits of trees: shade, beauty, helping pollinators and other wildlife.

Saturday's giveaway, made possible by Forest ReLeaf, State Farm and the Arbor Day Foundation, is for U-City residents only. However, Forest ReLeaf sells native trees at a significant discount for anyone else interested in planting.