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Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

Skip Navigation LinksLake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority > Funding & Expertise

​​​​​​​​​Full Service Tree Planting

We can help you establish a new forest, connect or enlarge your existing forest, or establish a windbreak. Our team of experts will help you every step of the way from funding and planning to planting and tending your new trees. We may cover between 50 and 90%!

a photo of a machine-planted field


As part of our tree planting service, we offer:


Preparation Services

  • Private, no obligation site visit to assess your property
  • Information on grants to offset project costs
  • Customized planting plan to suit your needs
  • Advice and possible support for site preparation 

Planting Services 

  • Delivery and installation of high quality, locally grown plant stock and materials
  • Experienced planting staff to complete your project efficiently and carefully, typically within one day
  • Inexpensive tree and shrub planting services (machine and hand planting options)
  • Ongoing technical support and advice

What species are available for planting?

Seedling Species

​(15-40 cm bare root stock)

Species Site Requirements Shade Tolerance Average Mature Size Salt Resistance
Coniferous Species:
White Pine
Pinus strobus
grows well on a wide range of soils including moist sands, loams and well-drained clays semi-tolerant height - 30m
diameter - 100cm
low
Red Pine
Pinus resinosa
does well on deep, well-drained sands or sandy loams intolerant height - 25m
diameter - 75cm
low
White Spruce
Picea glauca
suits a range of soils from moist sands to sandy and clay loams tolerant height - 25m
diameter - 60cm
low
Norway Spruce
Picea abies
moist, sandy loams and clay loams tolerant height - 35m
diameter - 130cm
moderate
White Cedar Thuja occidentalis grows well on a wide range of soils tolerant height - 15m
diameter - 30cm
low
Tamarack
Larix laricina
grows best in moist, well-drained soils, but often dominates poorly drained areas intolerant height -25m
diameter - 40cm
high
European Larch
Larix decidua
does well on well-drained loams and sandy loams intolerant height - 30m
diameter - 100cm
high
Deciduous Species:
Red Oak
Quercus rubra
grows best in fresh to moist, well-drained loamy soils, but will tolerate rocky or gravelly upland, acidic soils semi-tolerant height - 25m
diameter - 75cm
high
Black Walnut
Juglans nigra
suited for deep, moist well- drained loams or sandy or silt loams intolerant height - 30m
diameter - 100cm
moderate

Hardwood Tree Species

​(150 cm minimum bare root stock)

Species
Site Requirements
Shade Tolerance
Average Mature Size
Salt Resistance
Sugar maple Acer saccharum
grows in deep, fertile, moist, well-drained sandy loams, loamy sands and silt loams
tolerant
height - 24m diameter-75cm
moderate
Silver maple Acer saccharinum
grows in rich, moist, bottom land fine textures silt and clay soils, but will also tolerate dry conditions
semi-tolerant
height - 21m diameter-60cm
moderate
Red oak Querus rubra
grows best in fresh to moist, well-drained loamy soils, but will tolerate rocky or gravelly upland, acidic soils
semi-tolerant
height - 25m diameter-75cm
high
Bur oak Querus macrocarpa
grows best in rich bottom land, well-drained loam; will tolerate dry sand to poorly drained clay
semi-tolerant
height - 15m diameter-60cm
high
Black walnut Juglans nigra
grows best in moist, well-drained loams or sandy or silt loams
intolerant
height - 30m diameter-100cm
moderate
Black cherry Prunus serotina
grows best on well-drained, rich loamy soils but will tolerate most soils (dry to moist soils)
intolerant
height - 21m diameter-45cm
moderate
Balsam poplar Populus balsamifera
grows best in moist, rich, low lying soils, mainly near streambanks
intolerant
height - 18m diameter-30cm
moderate
Basswood Tilia americana
grows best in deep, moist, well-drained, fertile loamy soils, but will tolerate other sites
semi-tolerant
height - 21m diameter-60cm
moderate

Wildlife Shrub Species

​(25-60 cm bare root stock)

Species
Habitat
Soil
Growth Form
Use
Nannyberry Viburnum lentago
moist to well- drained sandy soils
wetlands, forest edges, thickets, streambanks
erect, suckering shrub, height up to 6m
food for wildlife, erosion control, naturalization
Alternate- leaved dogwood Cornus alternifolia
well-drained soils
hillsides, ravine slopes, open forests, thickets
multi-stemmed shrub, height up to 6m
food for wildlife, erosion control
Grey dogwood Cornus racemosa
moist to well- drained sandy soils
roadsides, fencerows, streambanks,
multi-stemmed shrub, height up to 3m
food for wildlife, erosion control, naturalization
Red osier dogwood Cornus sericea
fertile, acidic soils, moist to wet sites
variable, most moist to wet sites
multi-stemmed shrub, height up to 3m
food for wildlife, erosion control, naturalization
Highbush cranberrry Viburnum trilobum
fertile, moist soils
streambanks, open woods, thickets, around wetlands
multi-stemmed suckering shrub, height up to 4m
food for wildlife, erosion control, naturalization
Common elderberry Sambucus canadensis
sandy to loamy acidic soils
forest edges, roadsides, wetlands, thickets
multi-stemmed shrub, height up to 4m
food and cover for wildlife, naturalization
Serviceberry Amelanchier spp.
moist to dry sandy, acidic soils
wide variety of sites
multi-stemmed shrub, height up to 3m
food for wildlife, aesthetics
Chokecherry Prunus virginiana
grows in well- drained to moist soils
wide variety of sites
multi-stemmed tree that form thickets, height up to 3m
food for wildlife, erosion control, aesthetics
Pussy willow Salix discolor
moist sandy, silty, or gravelly soils
along streambanks, wet thickets
multi-stemmed tree, height up to 6m
erosion control, naturalization
Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina
can grow in very dry, poor conditions
open fields, ridges, streambanks, forest edges
erect, suckering tree, height up to 3m
for wildlife, erosion control, naturalization, food
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
dry sandy, gravelly soils
thickets, well drained slopes and ridges
low, multi-stemmed suckering shrub, height up to 1m
winter food for wildlife, erosion control

How can you get started?

Our full service planting projects are coordinated through the year, with the majority of the preparations being organized in the winter and summer seasons. To get started, we visit your property during a free, no obligation site visit. Together, we develop a customized planting plan that meets your goals.

We typically plant from the last week of April to the middle of May in the spring, and from late October to November in the fall. Our crew arrives with all of your new trees, tools and equipment. The majority of plantings will be completed in a single day. 


What projects are eligible?

Funding Eligibility

​What projects are eligible?

Tree planting projects are only eligible on properties of at least 2 acres in size and must be a minimum of 300 plants. There are 4 major categories of tree and shrub planting:

  • Afforestation - planting on large blocks of land, floodplains, marginal or fragile croplands, or groundwater recharge areas
  • Riparian (buffer) - planting along shorelines, watercourses, wetlands, or other water bodies
  • Windbreaks - planting along field edges and roadways to prevent wind erosion, to deflect snow and to redirect wind from livestock pen areas
  • Community Action - tree and shrub planting projects that support the health of Lake Simcoe implemented in partnership with volunteers, schools and community groups

If your project does not meet any of the above criteria, but you are still interested in planting, please visit our Enhancing Wildlife Habitat page. 

In order to ensure sufficient time to process your funding request, spring tree planting submissions must be received by January 15 and fall planting submissions by August 15.​

Project Details

Landowners within the Lake Simcoe watershed may qualify for grants of 50% of project costs to a maximum of $10,000. Additional funds may be available from other environmental grant funding so​urces. Conservation Authority Forest Technicians will ensure that you are made aware of all grant funding programs available to you.

  • All eligible tree planting projects - 50% up to $10,000
  • Community Projects – 100% up to $2,500

Additional funding is available for site preparation. Examples of site preparation include: mowing, brush-hogging, spraying, plough & disking, cultivating, applying a cover crop, staking, etc. Site preparation is highly recommended as it provides the trees the best chance of survival.

Talk to your Forest Technician for advice on which method of site preparation is best for your situation.

What costs are covered?

  • Site assessment and planting design
  • Trees, shrubs and planting costs
  • Establishment of cover crops on tilled land when in conjunction with tree planting
  • Portions of site preparation cost

What isn't covered?

  • Taxes
  • Commercial stock, fruit trees, or trees established for Christmas tree production
  • Large nursery stock used for landscaping (stock larger than 1 or 2 gallon containers), seedlings and bare root stock are preferred
  • Enhancements for recreational or landscaping purposes
  • Machinery or equipment owned and used by the applicant, family dependents or the applicant's business
  • Labour of applicant, family dependents or the applicant's business
  • If you have an outstanding violation with the Conservation Authority you will not be eligible for funding
  • Work that proceeds prior to funding approval does not qualify for funding assistance

Conditions

  • Landowners must plant a minimum of 300 trees or shrubs to participate in the Conservation Authority's full-service planting program. Orders of less than 300 plants may still qualify for funding through the Conservation Authority's Enhancing Wildlife Habitat​ grant category
  • Planting projects will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
  • Minimum property size of 2 acres is required
  • If the Conservation Authority services are not utilized, it is recommended that a private consultant with membership in the Ontario Professional Foresters Association be retained
  • The participant/partner is responsible for the care and maintenance of trees and shrubs after planting. This includes taking reasonable measures to protect the plantation from livestock, fire, insects, mechanical damage, rodents and disease
  • Livestock must be excluded from the planting area
  • Conservation Authority staff may perform periodic inspections of the site, typically 1, 2 and 5 years after planting, with prior notification to the landowner
  • Safe working conditions and access must be provided to the planting crew, including the removal of debris
  • The landowner is responsible for providing access to the planting area. If access is not available from the landowner’s property they are to arrange an access point from an adjoining property
  • The Conservation Authority is not responsible for the failure of a tree or trees to become established. While every effort is made to ensure that the plant material is of the highest quality and the trees are property installed, environmental conditions and/or poor maintenance practices may result in some mortality which is beyond the control of the Conservation Authority
  • The nursery stock is NOT INTENDED FOR LANDSCAPE PURPOSES. Plantings are intended to accomplish several environmental benefits including naturalization, the reduction of erosion from wind and water and the improvement of wildlife habitat
  • The nursery stock is not to be moved on the property or removed from the site and resold, or intentionally damaged by landowner or tenant

How to Apply

Complete the Landowner Information Form and the Project Pr​ofile Form to submit an application.

Be prepared to submit the following with your application:

  • Project site plan
  • Two cost quotations for proposed project

Once this project profile is submitted, you will also have to complete a Terms and Conditions Agreement form. A link to this form will be provided via email.​

Only complete applications will be considered for funding assistance.​

Please contact a Restoration Project Specialist to verify program eligibility and to answer any questions/concerns you may have about the program and/or the application process. This is a voluntary program and all calls are confidential.