Backyard Tree Planting
Help expand the urban canopy in your neighbourhood with our subsidized, full-service tree planting program!
In partnership with the cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, and the Region of Waterloo, the Backyard Tree Planting Program offers native trees to property owners at a subsidized cost.
If you’re in an eligible Cambridge or Kitchener neighbourhood, you may be eligible for a free tree through our Community Canopy program.
What Does the Program Include?
Personalized Property Consultation
One or More Native Trees
Delivery & Full Planting Service
Care and Maintenance Guide
This program includes the following:
- On-site consultation in your yard with an arborist
- 5-8-foot-tall native deciduous tree and/or 2-4-foot-tall native evergreen tree with warranty
- Mulch and staking, if necessary
- Full-service delivery, planting, and care guide
- A follow-up visit to check on tree health and correctly prune
The price that you pay for this program ranges from $160-$230 per tree (+tax). This payment covers a portion of the value of our services, and the rest is covered by our funding partners.
Apply for the Backyard Tree Planting Program
Who is Eligible for the Program?
To participate in this program, your property must be in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, or the Township of Woolwich. We will be contacting people on a first come, first served basis.
If you represent a private property, like a condominium, place of worship, school or other property type, you are eligible to apply to determine if the program is suitable for your property, provided you have obtained approval from the property owner.
For further questions or if you are interested in bringing this program to your community, please contact [email protected].
We are currently accepting applications from City of Cambridge residents.
Check to see if you’re eligible for a FREE tree through our Community Canopy Program.
We are currently accepting applications from City of Kitchener residents.
Check to see if you qualify for a FREE tree through our Community Canopy program.
We are currently accepting applications from City of Guelph residents and multi-residential properties.
We are currently accepting applications from City of Waterloo residents.
We are currently accepting applications from Township of Woolwich residents. This program is being piloted in Woolwich through the Region of Waterloo’s Community Environmental Fund.
New jurisdictions will be added soon. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified.
What is the Cost of the Program?
You pay the subsidized price of only $160-$230 per tree (plus HST)
Evergreen trees are $160 (+ HST) (approximately 2-4 ft tall at the time of planting). Deciduous trees are $230 (+ HST) (approximately 5-8 ft tall at the time of planting). This price includes the cost of the consultation and full planting service.
There is a $75 consultation fee if no trees are ordered by the end of your consultation.
This payment covers a portion of the value of our services, and the rest is covered by our funding partners.
We require 2 business days notice for change of appointment times or cancellation of site visits. Otherwise, a $40 fee applies.
If for any reason you decide not to purchase a tree at the time of the consultation, there is a $75 charge for the consultation. The consultation is valid for the current planting season, so if you make the decision to purchase a tree following your consultation, the $75 you have paid will be deducted from the cost of your order, provided there are no changes to the species or planting locations that were agreed to at the time of the consultation.
Deferring your order to the subsequent planting season (spring or fall) is at the discretion of Reep Green Solutions. If an order is placed and then cancelled after the site visit is complete, we will keep $75 for consultation fee + 25% of the cost of your order and refund you the rest.
Which Trees are Available?
All of the trees that are available to be planted, both deciduous and evergreen, are native to Ontario. Our focus is to help you get the right tree for the right place to ensure your tree(s) will thrive and become an amenity in your yard for years to come.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Trees will only be planted if the available space in your yard meets with the following conditions:
- 5 feet from property lines or fences
- 7 feet from hard surfaces (paving, interlocking, decks)
- 10 feet from buildings with foundations
- 20 feet from existing trees (or more depending on species), including trees in neighbouring yards
- 8 feet from stumps
- 5 feet from swales
- Medium trees require at least 15 x 15 feet of soft ground surface (free of paving, stone, interlocking, etc.). Large trees may require more. Small trees require at least 10 x 10 feet of soft ground surface
Reep Green Solutions guarantees that, with proper care, trees will produce leaves by the first July 15th after planting.
Trees planted or delivered in spring (between April 1-June 30)
If your tree does not produce leaves by July 15th of that same year*, you must contact us by that same date in order to be considered for a replacement.
Trees planted or delivered in fall (between Sept 1- Nov 30)
If your tree does not produce leaves by July 15th of the following year*, you must contact us by that same date in order to be considered for a replacement.
Animal damage, weather damage or other damage that occurs to your tree after planting is not covered.
*Reep will not consider replacing plants when concerns are received after this deadline, or when proper care, including twice-weekly watering, has not been provided.
No, trees are planted during specific times of the year. We do, however, take applications year round.
Spring Planting
Planting will happen throughout April-June.
Fall planting
Planting will happen throughout September-November.
We do not book appointments or take scheduling requests for planting. You will be notified 2 business days in advance of the date of planting, but we cannot give you a time of day. You don’t have to be home for the planting, but we will need full access to your yard at our convenience.
Properties with the space for multiple trees are eligible to get more than 1 tree. Our arborist will be able to provide more details on the space required for different tree species when they reach maturity. If you’re considering multiple trees, we generally recommend as many different species as you can to help contribute to a diverse urban forest!
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