City of Burlington giving away 500 trees to residents, pick your own species

Burlington | Halton | Community | Latest News |

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Published September 2, 2022 at 10:23 am

The fall is a good time to plant trees and the City of Burlington is giving away 500 trees to residents. The trees are free, but residents will need to register and select their preferred tree from 10 types of trees.

Registration is open now and types and quantities are limited to first registered, first served. One tree per address. To register for a tree, visit the city webpage.

Pickup for trees will be Sept. 24 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Pick-up time is dependent on species selected and will be at the Parks and Forestry Operations Centre, 3330 Harvester Rd.

Trees will be between four and seven feet tall. Please ensure you can safely transport the trees. A city staff member will place the tree into your vehicle.

Here are some tips to ensure your trees have the best chance to thrive:

  • Ensure the type of tree will fit the space you have available
  • Visit this webpage before you dig to ensure there are no wires, pipes or cables where you will dig
  • Dig a hole roughly twice the width and depth of the tree’s pot
  • Remove the pot and carefully place the tree into the hole
  • Fill the hole back in with the soil removed while digging and water thoroughly
  • Water the tree several times a week to minimize the stress on the tree and ensure good root growth

“Planting trees on private property is a big help for us in expanding our tree canopy coverage,” said Steve Robinson, manager of Urban Forestry.

“It’s also important we ensure there is a variety of trees planted and not just one type. By having several tree types in an area, it creates stronger trees and reduces the likelihood of an entire area being wiped out by a disease or pest that only impacts one type of tree.”

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