Ontario has several tree-planting programs to choose from to help purchase and plant tree seedlings for your private property. The main motivations for participating in a native tree-planting program include: improving wildlife habitat and food sources, connecting forests to create larger natural corridors, recreational opportunities, and leaving a legacy for future generations. Tree planting has a multitude of benefits. For example, a windrow will reduce snowdrift, prevent soil erosion, and provide privacy. Trees planted on shoreline areas protect surface and groundwater sources, stabilize shorelines, and streambanks. Forest restoration planting, after a weather event like the derecho we had last spring or invasive species damage like the Emerald Ash Borer, can improve forest health and rehabilitate your woodlot. Trees also remove significant amounts of carbon, improving the air we breathe and the water we drink.

 

 

 

Ontario-based tree-planting program run by a not-for-profit charity, Forests Ontario. It is funded by the Government of Canada, corporate sponsors, and donors. The program provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to plant trees on their property, helping to increase forest cover across the province by reducing the costs of large-scale tree planting. Landowners must have enough space to plant a minimum of 500 trees, approximately half an acre (0.5 ac) of open land or 1000 meters for a windrow or riparian buffer planting.

To participate in the 50 MTP, apply online at Forestsontario.ca. A Forests Ontario staff member will contact you, once the application is approved, the landowner is referred to a local forestry professional/planting partner. A site visit will be made, and if the site is eligible for planting, the planting partner will develop a preliminary planting plan and provide a cost estimate. Then, the planting partner and the landowner then agree to the planting plan, and the landowner enters into an agreement. After that, the planting partner and landowner carry out the duties of the planting agreement (e.g., site preparation, planting, tending, planting quality and survival assessments). Survival assessments are completed by the planting partner up to year five when the tree reaches a 'free to grow' status and can successfully establish into a young forest.

For example, Rideau Valley Conservation has a tree planting program that is subsidized by the City of Ottawa's green Acres Program for home owners that live within the city limits can have trees planted for 15 cents per tree!  Landowners must have a minimum of 0.4 Ha (one acre), minimum purchase requirement of 1000 trees and can reasonably protect the trees from damage.  The program includes these services:  on-site assessment from a qualified forestry staff member that will make a customized tree planting plan for your lands specific needs. They will prepare the site ,order the trees, plant , tend to them and will follow up with survival assessments.   Go to RVCA.ca and click on Stewardship & Grants to find more information about the program and who to contact.  In Eastern Ontario you may reside within the jurisdiction of South Nation, Raisin Region or Cataraqui Region conservation authorities, all of whom have tree planting programs available for private land tree planting. 

Tree Canada's grants support stewardship initiatives for school groups and communities.  They have a 'Greening Canada's School Grounds' that can be granted to any kind of school, elementary to university.  A second grant called  'Edible Trees' is meant to help combat food insecurity and a third grant called 'Treemendous Communities' is for municipalities, non-profit organizations, associations and community groups.  Grant applications are currently closed un till this fall.

You can order bareroot seedlings from us! Bareroot seedlings are the most economical planting stock for planting projects and are the best performers in open field plantings where competition is high. The minimum purchase requirement is 100 in total, 25 per species, for example, 25 Silver Maples, 25 White Birches, and 50 White Spruces. Ferguson Tree Nursery starts taking orders for bareroot seedlings mid-November and the trees can be picked up at the end of April.

Resources: Forests Ontario website, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority website, Tree Canada website

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