About

Beat the Heat—Plant a Tree

Beat the Heat is a tree giveaway program started in 2024 by Columbia Green and the City of Columbia. Our goal is to restore our urban canopy in greater Columbia. Over the past 15 years, almost 22% of our trees have been lost, primarily due to development on private property.

Urban trees are important to the health of our great community. They help to battle extreme heat, manage stormwater runoff, clean the air of airborne particles and pollutants, and provide food and habitats for wildlife. Trees and greenspaces have been shown to improve overall health and wellness, improve liveability, raise property values, and attract people to the outdoors. Did you know that businesses in areas with trees attract more visitors who spend more and stay longer?

While the City of Columbia plants the trees you see in public rights of way, Beat the Heat trees are given to property owners to plant in their yards, gardens, businesses, and campuses.