History, Needs, Benefits

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) offers a program that provides tree planting services to landowners throughout the watershed. The NVCA has offered this program since 1964 and it is an integral part of our ongoing efforts to protect and enhance water quality throughout the valley. Forests help to moderate the effects of both drought and flooding. Forests can also reduce the extent of soil erosion, provide habitat for wildlife and are an important economic resource.

 

Things to consider

While the trees are only planted in the spring, landowners are encouraged to call anytime. Staff from the NVCA will meet with you onsite to help determine the best tree species and planting methods for your property.  

 

Some general things to keep in mind when thinking about tree planting;

• The seedlings should be planted 7 to 10 feet apart. To cover an acre you need approximately 700 trees.
• The availability of hardwood tree seedlings varies considerably from year to year.
• Hardwoods are more expensive, and considerably more difficult to grow than evergreens.
• Trees planted in rows are easier to maintain.
• Seedlings will require some sort of weed control for a period of up to 4 years after planting.
• Proper planting site preparation and post-planting care will increase your planting success.
• Trees planted by machine planters experience a higher rate of success than those planted by hand.
• Trees planted by machine planters cost less than those planted by hand.
• The program is not meant to provide landscaping services, and the plantings are not designed to enhance the appearance of any property.

Realistic Expectations

Tree seedlings are fragile living things. As young trees they are vulnerable to many things which are beyond the control of human beings. Drought, insects, disease, and predation by rabbits, mice, voles and deer all contribute to give tree-planting efforts a certain level of risk. Proper care in site preparation, planting, and post-planting care will reduce the risks but not eliminate them. Care should be taken when designing a planting plan to allow for some seedling loss. Unlike landscaping, the large scale of these projects makes it impractical to provide close care or monitoring of individual trees.

 

Planting Costs 

Calling well in advance of spring planting will ensure access to the widest selection of trees and site preparation options. The program is fully booked 6 months in advance of spring planting.

 

There is a minimum order of 1,500 trees. This requires a minimum of 2.2 acres of land to be planted. The cost per tree planted varies considerably, but generally falls in the range of $1.30 to $2.10 per tree.

 

There are special programs available to help offset the cost of tree planting. Staff from the NVCA will be able to advise you if you are eligible. Grant rates for the various programs range from 25% to 95% of the cost of planting.

Partnerships and Special Programs

In an effort to expand forest cover in the watershed, the NVCA has entered into partnerships with other organizations to offer plantings at subsidized rates. These subsidies lower the costs of reforestation, enabling landowners to plant critical areas, providing benefits to the entire watershed. Some examples of this are:
Trees Ontario 
NVCA Healthy Waters Program
Provides effective cost-sharing for landowners who have trees planted along key stream corridors.

Town of New Tecumseth Priority Areas Reforestation Partnership
Residents of the Town of New Tecumseth may be eligible for a grant when they have trees planted under the NVCA program. 
Simcoe County Private Land Priority Planting Program
Resident of Simcoe County may be eligible for a grant when they have trees planted under the NVCA program.
Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)
Landowners participating in the NVCA program are encouraged to consider enrolling in the MFTIP. For more information on the MFTIP, please click here.

 

 Purchasing Tree Seedlings

Landowners wanting to purchase small numbers of trees and shrubs (1-100) should visit one of our Arbour Day Tree Sales. The 2010 Arbour Day tree sale will take place on Saturday, May 8th. A wide variety of trees and shrubs for the home and garden will be available for sale at the Tiffin Centre.  Sales are also held in partnership with various community groups throughout the watershed. In 2009 we held sales in Wasaga Beach, Stayner and Elmvale.  
For more information, please click here.

 

The NVCA does not retail tree seedlings. Landowners wishing to plant their own tree seedlings are urged to contact our seedling supplier, Somerville Nurseries at 1-877-708-7337.

To download the 2010 Spring Tree Planting Program guideline, click here.

For more information contact Rick Grillmayer, Forestry Program Coordinator at 705-424-1479 ext. 230 or rgrillmayer@nvca.on.ca

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