Tree orders for spring 2014 planting can now be made online.
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 GRCA has over 30 native species available for next spring.
GRCA staff do site visits with landowners during the fall to create planting plans for next year.
Sites may have to be prepared this fall to be ready to plant in the spring.
A phone call to the GRCA now means the caller’s 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 one will have trees on his or her property next spring.
If a person already knows what is needed and intend to plant the tree, then now is the time to order online.
The GRCA planted 280,000 trees this year and more than 180,000 of them were on private land.
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 per cent from sources such as Trees Ontario and the Rural Water Quality Program.
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 the deadline is March 1, 2014. The minimum order is 200 seedlings or 20 saplings or potted plants.
For more information, check the Forestry section of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca/treesales or call the appropriate staff member for your area at the GRCA office at 519-621-2761:
– Waterloo Region, Oxford County, Brant County, Hamilton and Haldimand County – Jessica Robbins, Ext. 2277
– Wellington County, Perth County Halton Region and Dufferin County – Myles Henderson, Ext. 2262
– Mapleton Township – Mark Funk ext. 2259.
For further information contact Dave Schultz, GRCA Manager of Communications, 519-621-2763 ext. 2273, cell 519-658-3896, email dschultz@grandriver.ca, or visit the website www.grandriver.ca.
