Tree Planting

Healthy forests provide many important functions on the landscape including habitat for wildlife, improvement of air quality, surface and ground water quality. Planting trees on your property is a simple and effective way to improve soil quality, increase property value, and improve the health of the local environment.

Machine planting trees

Programs and Services

Learn about our programs and services below or contact us to discuss your tree planting project and explore any available funding opportunities.

Full Service Tree Planting

Kawartha Conservation works in collaboration with Forests Ontario to implement the 50 Million Tree Program, which helps deliver large-scale tree planting at a significantly reduced rate to landowners in our region. Through the program, Kawartha Conservation may be able to help cover 40 - 85% of costs for eligible projects.

Types of eligible projects

Afforestation: Converting open land into forest to increase tree cover and habitat
Reforestation: Replanting in an existing forest or open area that has been damaged
Riparian Buffer: Planting along water features to stabilize streambanks and naturalize area
Windbreak: Planting rows of trees along open areas to reduce wind flow and snowdrift

Eligibility requirements

Project area must allow for a minimum of 500 trees must be planted, which equates to approximately 0.5 acres of open land or 1000 metres for a windrow or riparian buffer planting.

Projects must fall under one of the four outlined eligible project types (afforestation, reforestation, riparian buffer, windbreak).

The landowner must be:

Able to cover the remaining costs of the tree planting after subsidies.
Willing to protect the trees from livestock, wildlife, and machinery damage.
Willing to sign an agreement stating that they will not cut, harvest, or otherwise remove the trees from the planted area for a minimum of 15 years

Tree Seedling Sale: DIY Planting

The 2023 Tree Seedling sale has now closed with more than 19,000 tree seedlings sold. Subscribe to this page for updates on the 2024 Tree Seedling Sale.

The annual tree seedling sale allows landowners across the watershed to purchase native tree seedlings and shrubs in bulk. We offer a great selection of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs as, well as several advancing species. The seedling sale opens each winter and seedlings are delivered in early spring.

Community planting

TD Tree Days provide communities with an opportunity to contribute to a healthy, vibrant, local environment through community tree planting events. Each year, Kawartha Conservation participates in TD Tree Days as technical advisors, ensuring the right tree is planted in the right location. This partnership allows us to involve the community in growing the urban canopy across our watershed and increase our resilience to climate change.

Protecting the butternut tree

Native to Ontario, the butternut tree is threatened by a fungal disease called 'butternut canker'. To protect the endangered species, we’ve completed eight butternut planting projects between 2018 and 2023, resulting in hundreds of butternut trees planted in our conservation areas. By continuing to plant, monitor, and support the growth of butternut trees in our watershed, we are helping to re-establish a healthy population in our region.

Questions?

If you have questions about our tree planting services, community planting, or project assistance, contact our Forestry and Landowner Services Technician Colleen Cathcart by email or by phone at 705-328-2271 ext. 249.