Free trees and shrubs are available for certain Toronto neighbourhoods

Pilot project aims to improve canopy in 23 communities

As spring approaches on the heels of a mild winter, Toronto is nearing prime tree-planting season — and one local non-profit is offering to pick up the tab for homeowners in certain neighbourhoods.

A new pilot project by urban forest improvement organization LEAF, in collaboration with the City of Toronto, is offering free trees and shrubs — as well as arborist consultations and plantings — in inequitystricken neighbourhoods with poor tree coverage.

“Normally, it costs somewhere in the range of about $200 to $250 for our service, which includes an arborist consultation at the property, a five- to seven-foot tree and the full planting service,” Janet McKay, executive director of LEAF, told the Star. “We take folks right through (the tree-planting process), from beginning to end.”

How to get a free tree or shrub

The program is available to property owners in certain neighbourhood improvement areas — regions determined by the city as facing the most inequities in areas like economic opportunities, social development and healthy living — that also have below-average tree coverage.

Single-dwelling homeowners are offered one free tree or up to three free shrubs each. They have a variety of native species on offer, McKay said.

Multi-unit or business property owners are allowed up to three free trees and five free shrubs each, she added.

The project will run until June. Plantings take place in spring and fall, McKay said; those who sign up now will likely have their tree or shrubs planted in April.

The process is “very personalized,” McKay said. Once you submit an application form, if supplies are available, an arborist will visit your property to determine the best tree or shrub for your space, soil type and lifestyle. After considering your preferences, including the colour of the leaves and density of the shade, the organization will dispatch a team to plant the vegetation on your property. From start to finish, the process takes two to three months, McKay said.

The pilot project runs on a firstcome, first-served basis, and there are a total of 60 trees and 90 shrubs available.

Toronto homeowners can sign up for the full process or opt to plant a tree by themselves at yourleaf.org.

Neighbourhoods eligible for trees

The following neighbourhoods are eligible for the program. You can check if your address falls within these areas using the City of Toronto’s neighbourhood finder.

■ Beechborough-Greenbrook

■ Black Creek

■ Downsview

■ Eglinton East

■ Glenfield-Jane Heights

■ Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn

■ Humber Summit

■ Humbermede

■ Ionview

■ Keelesdale-Eglinton West

■ Kennedy Park

■ Kingsview Village-The Westway

■ Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown

■ Oakdale-Beverley Heights

■ Regent Park

■ Rockcliffe-Smythe

■ Rustic

■ South Parkdale

■ Thorncliffe Park

■ Weston

Weston-Pelham Park Woburn North York University Heights

Everyone deserves to have the benefits that urban trees and green space offer, which are many — from shade and noise barriers, privacy, mental health benefits, air quality benefits. Just so many benefits.

Why city trees matter

We often take trees for granted. But as a number of recent studies point out, green spaces should be considered critical infrastructure for cities, with benefits for the physical, mental and social well-being of all residents — especially children.

Unfortunately, canopy coverage is far from equitable, McKay explains, with low-income areas often lacking the coverage enjoyed by higherincome regions. Of Toronto’s 33 neighbourhood improvement areas, 23 have less than average 26.9 per cent canopy cover average in the city.

“Everyone deserves to have the benefits that urban trees and green space offer, which are many — everything from shade and noise barriers, privacy, mental health benefits, air quality benefits. Just so many benefits,” she said. “Even though they may be rooted in private property, the benefits (will support) the community as a whole.”

According to Statistics Canada, urban green spaces are on the decline nationwide. From 2019 to 2023, Toronto’s average “greenness” score was 61.7 per cent — more than 11 points lower than the 73 per cent “baseline” recorded from 2000 to 2004.

McKay acknowledges that adding 150 trees and shrubs to certain neighbourhoods is a far cry from the effort needed to help Toronto turn over a new leaf. But it’s still a vital step toward understanding the issues the city is facing, as well as the barriers faced by some residents and neighbourhoods.

“We want to learn more about how we can make it appealing and easy for folks to contribute to the urban canopy by planting and by caring for those trees in to maturity,” McKay said.

JANET MCKAY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LEAF