Trade a Tree Program

A tree-canopied neighborhood is cooler in the summer. The cold winter winds also are reduced from tree coverage. Trees ultimately help conserve energy and lower home energy costs.

Trees, however, should not be planted under power lines because they can pose an electrical hazard. A tree that is located in a Brownsville PUB customers' yard and directly under a primary voltage line is eligible for replacement through the Trade-a-Tree Program. This program does not apply to trees in secondary lines.

For more information on the program, please contact Frank Matus at (956) 983-6258.

How Does the Program work?

A tree located in a customer’s yard and directly under a primary voltage line is eligible for replacement through the Brownsville PUB’s “Trade-a-Tree” program. This program does not apply to trees in secondary lines.

The Brownsville PUB, working with the City of Brownsville, will remove the existing tree interfering with the primary line, clean up the debris and provide a replacement tree approximately five(5) feet tall, placed in the customers yard by nursery.

The tree must be planted the proper distance from the primary line to ensure that it will not later interfere with the line. A wide variety of trees are available as replacements through this program.

Group 1
Trees in Group 1 may be planted any place in the customer's yard. Choices in Group 1 are:

  • Brasil
  • Crape Myrtle
  • Huisache
  • Persimmon, Chapote
  • Pindo Palm
  • Weeping Bottlebrush
  • Wild Olive, Anacahuita


Group 2
Trees in Group 2 must be planted at least 20 feet away from an area directly under the primary line. Choices in Group 2 are:

  • Anacua
  • Common Orchid Tree
  • Ebony
  • Golden Rain Tree
  • Retama

Group 3
Trees in Group 3 must be planted at least 50 feet away from an area directly under the primarily line. Choices in Group 3 are:

  • Cedar Elm
  • Honey Mesquite
  • Live Oak
  • Mexican Fan Palm
  • Soapberry

Every effort will be made to relocate rare, specimen trees i.e. sabal palms, oaks, etc. that are directly under the primary power line.

If a customer chooses not to accept the Trade-a-Tree they can donate it to the city for use in the city parks or on city property.


The Process:

Trees will be removed throughout the year and records will be kept to identify where replacement trees need to be planted. These replacement trees will be planted during the fall in order to increase the survival rate of the newly planted trees.

Once planted, the customer will be responsible for taking care of the tree. Customers can choose from the list of replacement trees and pick where they want the tree planted.

Brownsville PUB will coordinate getting the replacement tree installed (i.e. request for spotting of utilities, stake location of tree for nursery, etc.)