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Free Tree Giveaway

For two years in a row, Kitchener has been one of 283 cities across 24 countries recognized as a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. This designation acknowledges our efforts in tree care, policy development, community engagement, and maintaining a healthy urban canopy.

To celebrate, the City of Kitchener is giving away 300 free trees to residents! If you’re interested in picking up a 2 gallon potted tree this spring (to plant on your property), please complete the intake survey below. These young trees are 1-2 metres in height and can be easily handled.

Please tell us a bit about where you'll plant your new tree so we can help you find the perfect match. Planting the right tree in the right place is very important when considering the full lifespan of a tree.

How much space is available for a tree to grow to its full canopy width? The canopy refers to the upper, leafy part of the tree.
 
How much overhead height do you have before wires, structure or other features come within the growing space?
 
What type of sun exposure does this space have in the summer?
 
How well does the planting location drain after a heavy rain?
 
Trees

Species

Growing width

Growing height

Drainage needs

Sunlight needs

Notable features
Common Name Botanical Name 4-12m 12-20m >20m <7m 7-15m >15m Poor Moderate Excellent Full Shade Partial Sun/Shade Full Sun Pollinator Value Wildlife Value Showy flower Fall Colour Shade
 Alternate-leaf dogwood  Cornus alternifolia ✓       ✓       ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   ✓ ✓   ✓
 American sycamore  Platanus occidentalis     ✓     ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓     ✓         ✓
 Basswood  Tilia americana   ✓       ✓     ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓       ✓
 Bitternut hickory  Carya cordiformis   ✓       ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   ✓ ✓   ✓     ✓
 Black maple  Acer nigrum ✓         ✓   ✓ ✓   ✓ ✓       ✓ ✓
 Blackgum  Nyssa sylvatica ✓       ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓     ✓ ✓       ✓  ✓
Hackberry   Celtis occidentalis   ✓      ✓  ✓  ✓ ✓  ✓    ✓  ✓   ✓  ✓      ✓
 Ironwood  Ostrya virginiana ✓       ✓       ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   ✓   ✓ ✓
 Swamp white oak  Quercus bicolor   ✓ ✓     ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓   ✓ ✓
Tulip-tree Liriodendron tulipifera   ✓       ✓   ✓ ✓     ✓ ✓   ✓   ✓
 White pine  Pinus strobus ✓ ✓       ✓     ✓   ✓ ✓   ✓     ✓
 Yellow birch  Betula alleghaniensis   ✓       ✓ ✓ ✓     ✓ ✓   ✓   ✓ ✓

 

Based on your answers above, please select your top 2 preferred tree species that best match your growing conditions. Use this table to help understand which species require which conditions.
 

Our team will help ensure the right tree is matched to the right site. This may result in a different species recommendation than your selection. You will be notified if this is the case.

To help us track where we're growing Kitchener’s tree canopy, please provide your address.

Street

Pick-up details

Please bring a bucket (or other container or bag) to grab mulch for your new tree on the day of pick up. Rodent guards will be provided with your tree.

Pick-up details will be sent closer to the date. Trees are to be picked up from the Kitchener Operations Facility (131 Goodrich Drive, Kitchener) on the tree pick-up date, Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon). There are no hold or delivery options available.

  

If you would like additional backyard trees, please visit Reep Green Solutions for more information about their backyard tree planting program funded by the City of Kitchener. 

 

Notice of collection

Personal information is being collected under the authority of s.11(1) of the Municipal Act and in accordance with s. 28(2) of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and will be used to contact you with pick-up details and to track where our tree canopy is growing. This information will be shared with staff who require it for their work as part of their work at the City of Kitchener and will be stored on a server owned by a Third Party Service Provider (GHD Group) located in Canada. The personal information collected herein will be used only for the purposes relating to the program and will be protected in accordance with the requirements stipulated in the MFIPPA.

Inquiries about the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information should be directed to Hajnal Kovacs.