Here's a trip to the impound lot that is certain to be more pleasant.
Starting next week, Minneapolis is selling 1,000 5- to 8-foot trees for $25, the city announced Monday.
Buyers of the trees, which are priced 80 percent lower than comparable trees at retail nurseries, must be a Minneapolis owner of a residence, business or nonprofit.
This round of sales is funded through the City Trees program, a partnership between City Hall and the nonprofit Tree Trust.
The city has funded the City Trees program since 2006 as a low-cost way to help build the city's tree canopy. There will be 16 varieties of trees to choose from, including some bearing fruit.
Orders can be placed starting March 17 at www.treetrust.org. There is a limit of one tree per property.
Trees must be picked up between May 15-19 at the city impound lot, where thousands of people trek every year to retrieve vehicles towed from illegal parking spaces during snow emergencies. A bag of mulch comes with each tree.
In explaining the rationale behind the program, the city said in a statement that "healthy trees look beautiful in our neighborhoods, increase property values, help clean the air we breathe, save on our energy bills with strategic planting, keep the city cooler in the summer, provide homes for wildlife and help manage stormwater."
