Posted by: Viviane Templeton and Laurie Erola
Laurie and I noticed some newly planted trees in our OOS neighbourhood and wanted to know what had motivated the residents’ decision.
One homeowner lost a wonderful large tree. The yard was looking pretty bare and she missed the privacy as well as the wildlife that the tree attracted.
Another was remembering how hot it was last summer without shade to cool down the house and to let him sit outside with ease.
Yet another couple noticed that their tree was aging and thought of planting a succession tree proactively to ensure a smooth transition. They mentioned that it takes at least 10 years for a tree to fully mature, depending on the species.
If you too have been thinking about planting a tree, it’s time to start making plans for the fall. The spring and fall are the best seasons for planting trees.
Here are some key tips and guidelines:
Location, location, location!
Fit the type of tree you choose to the available space. Your tree should have enough room for its roots to grow (and for its canopy to spread out):
- As a minimum, small trees, such as Serviceberry, need 3m x 3m of ground space & medium/large trees, such as Eastern White Cedar & Northern Hackberry/Bur Oak & Silver Maple, need 4.5m x 4.5m of ground space.
- Leave about 4.5m – 6m from other trees to ensure adequate light, water and nutrients for each tree.
- Plant at least 4.5m from the foundation of your house to avoid conflicts as the tree grows.
- If you are planning to build a deck or put down paving stones, leave about 1.5m – 2m from the planned hard surface.
- Leave 2m – 2.5m from the area surrounding an old tree stump. Be especially careful if the previous tree was diseased.
- If you have overhead wires, consider the average height of your tree at maturity.
- Identify the location of any underground cables, pipes or wires. The city will determine this for free. (Google “Ontario One Call.”)
Assess the growing conditions in your chosen location:
- Amount of sunlight.
- Soil type.
- Soil moisture and drainage.
- The possibility of future drought conditions or salt exposure.
When you are ready to select your tree, consider the following:
- Given space constraints, choose a tree with as large a canopy as possible for the ideal amount of shade and carbon sequestration.
- Choose a tree native to the area. Native trees are those that have evolved to thrive in a given region’s climate and soil conditions. These trees require lower maintenance and provide the best possible habitat for wildlife. Examples in the Ottawa region include Red Maple and Black Spruce.
- Avoid an invasive tree. This is a tree that displaces native vegetation and alters habitats. It can hog vital water and nutrients, choke out indigenous plants and even produce chemicals that prohibit the growth of native plants. Buckthorn and Norway Maple are examples of invasive trees found in Ottawa.
- Avoid overly common species in your neighbourhood. A species-specific disease could have an outsized impact on an area’s tree canopy if too many of the trees are the same type.
- Choose a tree that you find appealing. What do you love most about particular trees? Think about shape, colour, foliage, flowers or fruits.
Research small, medium and large species suitable for urban environments:
- “Decision Tree Illustrations” Glebe Community Association. This is a visual, quick reference guide of a selection of deciduous and coniferous trees by size, soil and moisture needs.
- “Ottawa Urban Tree Manual” Community Action for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES) Ottawa. This manual provides detailed information, including: a photo of the tree, if it is native, if it’s drought or salt resistant and its potential effects on foundations or underground pipes. (Google “Ottawa Urban Tree Manual CAFES Ottawa.” The manual is under the heading “Trees and Our Urban Forest.”)
Ask the city for a free tree in your front garden!
If you have city-owned street frontage, you are in luck. You can request a new tree from the Trees in Trust program. A forestry inspector will assess your site for potential tree planting and make recommendations on suitable species. The list of available trees rotates each planting season in order to diversify the species offering. Planting will occur during the closest available fall or spring planting season, on a first-come, first-served basis. All you have to do is commit to watering the tree for three years.
Laurie and I had a chance to speak to eight OOS residents about their experiences with the program. They were pleased with their trees and all aspects of the program delivery. When asked about the chief program benefits, cost savings first came to mind – a free tree and free planting. Two residents also highlighted the benefit of a tree specialist just a 311 call away. Both received timely and helpful advice when their tree appeared diseased. In one case, the specialist made several interventions until the tree could no longer be saved.
Ask the city for a free tree for your back yard too!
In March, the city launched a new program in partnership with EnviroCentre: Plant Your Place! For 2025, 1,200 trees, 50 per city ward, were made available. Residents can apply for one tree per planting address. There are 12-16 tree species, about 1.5m -2.5m tall, to choose from. Registration opened on March 31, 2025 and trees are to be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s likely too late for this year’s allotment of trees. However, residents are advised to apply anyway so that the city has an idea of the potential demand and can plan accordingly for future years. (Google “Plant Your Place Ottawa” for more details)
Buy your own tree
CAFES Ottawa’s Ottawa Urban Tree Manual includes a list of tree nurseries in Ottawa.
We hope that this helps you plan your tree planting adventure.
Once you have chosen your tree, don’t forget to refer to the tree planting tips in March’s OSCAR article and to the tree maintenance tips in April’s OSCAR edition.
Viviane Templeton and Laurie Erola live in Old Ottawa South and are members of the Enviro Crew’s Tree Team (envirocrewOOS@gmail.com)