As the leaves fall, it is time for rural landowners to start thinking about ordering trees from the Grand River Conservation Authority for planting next spring.
For plantings that will be done by GRCA staff, the deadline to order is Dec. 1. The minimum order is 500 seedlings or 30 saplings or potted plants.
For plantings that will be done by the landowner, orders can be placed online from now until March 1. The minimum order is 200 seedlings or 20 saplings or potted plants and shopping early provides the best selection.
For more information, check the Forestry section of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca (https://www.grandriver.ca/TreeOrders), or call the appropriate staff member for your area at the GRCA office at 519-621-2761: Wellington County, Perth County, Halton Region and Dufferin County – Myles Henderson, ext. 2262; Mapleton Township – Mark Funk ext. 2259.
Planting trees yourself
Online tree ordering started Oct. 2 and the best selection of trees is now. Online ordering is available until March 1, however the supply on some species dwindles as orders come in. Orders may also be placed by mail.
The GRCA has an inventory of 300,000 native trees available to watershed landowners with a property that is greater than one hectare (2.5 acres) exclusive of buildings, within the Grand River watershed. The trees provided by the GRCA include over 30 species. These are native trees and a few non-native species that are well suited to this watershed. Online and mailed in orders are taken until March 1.
Trees planted by the GRCA
If you want the GRCA to plant trees and if you need a planting plan, a site visit is required. Visits take place year-round, but for spring 2015 planting, the visit must be completed and the trees ordered before Dec. 1.
Planting sites may have to be prepared this fall to be ready to plant in the spring. A phone call to the GRCA now means your name will be added to the list for site visits. Demand for this service is high, so the sooner you call, the greater the likelihood that you will have trees on your property next spring.
The GRCA can also help landowners obtain grants to offset some of the cost. Projects such as windbreaks, shelterbelts, riparian buffers and large block plantings can receive grants covering 70 to 90 percent from sources such as Trees Ontario and the Rural Water Quality Program.
The GRCA’s Rural Water Quality Program also provides financial assistance to qualified landowners to share the cost of many best management practices that improve and protect water quality.
