Tree Seedling Program

• Trees absorb carbon dioxide, then transform it into oxygen. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming and climate change. Consider supporting the planting of trees to offset your carbon emissions.
• Trees transpire, releasing water through their leaves. This process of transpiration cools the air, acting much like an air conditioner. Walk into a dense forest on a hot summer day and notice the temperature change.
• Plant trees on the south side of your building. This can shade windows in the summer and lower air-conditioning costs by 20-50%! In the winter months, when those trees lose their leaves, the sun will shine through the bare branches. This warms your house, reducing your heating costs.
• Trees planted as windbreaks on residential properties reduce home heating costs by 10-15%.
• Trees can shade asphalt making our urban environments cooler and more comfortable during hot summer months.
• Trees intercept rainfall, slow runoff, and absorb water. Forests act like sponges on the landscape. They slow and absorb water and then release it in times of drought. In doing so, our groundwater will recharge.
• Trees reduce runoff into our streams and lakes. This slows the impacts of flooding while filtering and cleaning the water.

When selecting trees for your site, consider trees native to Ontario.

Native trees are suited to our climate and weather conditions. Our wildlife also rely on them for food and shelter. Planting native trees helps to bring nature back into our developed landscapes.

Select the native species that suit your site's soil, moisture, and light conditions. If you select the right species for your conditions, the tree will require little to no care in order to establish and grow into a beautiful mature tree. 

• Plant 10-20 feet away from buildings (distance away from buildings depend on how large/tall your tree will grow)
• Be sure to plant away from hydro wires and set back from fire hydrants, street lights, and sidewalks
• It is best to plant trees in the spring or fall to correspond with rains and cooler weather
• Your trees may need some care during times of drought
• Place mulch around the base of the tree to help retain moisture during hot summer days 

• Landowner's Guide to Forest Management Basics 
• Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program
• Grow Me Instead - Beautiful Non-Invasive Plants for your Garden

ATTENTION ALL TREE PLANTING PROJECTS!

If you’re a group or private landowner planning a tree planting project on either private or public lands for fall 2026 or spring 2027, apply to potentially double your project funding.

Quinte Conservation is applying to be the lead applicant for the Green Municipal Fund (GMF): Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC). By submitting this application, you are allowing Quinte Conservation to apply to this fund on your behalf.

APPLY BY APRIL 13, 2026

Apply Now: Quinte Conservation Tree Partnership Application - Quinte Conservation

Quinte Conservation offers a full-service and heavily subsidized tree and shrub planting program within 30 metres of water systems. Riparian buffers are areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation along a watercourse and aim to:

• reduce soil losses due to erosion and protect productive topsoil
• mitigate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides from farm fields
• enhance shoreline habitat for wildlife and protect biodiversity

Apply for the Agricultural Watercourse Buffer Planting Program

Residents of participating municipalities have the opportunity to pick up a variety of native tree and shrub seedlings at designated giveaway locations. The events are free to residents and funded/organized by each participating municipality and supported by Quinte Conservation. 

2026 Participating Municipalities To Date: 

• City of Quinte West 
• Town of Greater Napanee
• City of Belleville
• The County of Prince Edward 
• The Township of Stirling-Rawdon 
• The Municipality of Tweed
• The Municipality of Centre Hastings

Native plants play an important role in this region’s natural ecology, and the Community Trees initiative provides residents with a great opportunity to support that role by planting in urban and rural properties and help us to increase forest cover across the region for improved watershed and ecosystem health.

Community Trees Species Guide

Planting and Handling Guide (coming soon)

Available Species:

Give THANKS to the earth. Plant native species. 

Kits are $50 and individual plants are $15

ORDER NOW: Fall Flower Sale Order Form

Available Species 

• American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)
• Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
• Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
• Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
• Heart-Leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
• New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
• Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
• Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma)
• Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
• Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
• Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)
• Spotted Bee Balm (Monarda punctata)
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
• Tall Ironweed (Vernonia altissima)
• Upland White Goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides)
• White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
• White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Kits (click here to learn more about the species included in each kit)

Rain Garden Kit –  This collection of native perennials is engineered by nature to manage stormwater runoff while transforming low spots into thriving ecological havens. These deep-rooted species act as living sponges, capturing, filtering, and absorbing water from heavy downpours within 24 to 48 hours. Built to endure alternating cycles of temporary flooding and dry spells, this kit anchors shifting soil, prevents erosion, and provides a continuous, high-performance buffet of nectar for monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and vital native pollinators from midsummer through late autumn.

Shade Kit - This collection of native perennials is designed to bring life, structure, and elegant colour to the challenging, low-light areas of your landscape. Naturally adapted to forest floors and canopy margins, these species thrive where typical garden plants struggle. Together, they create a spectacular late-season floral display. From midsummer through late autumn, this kit provides a critical, long-lasting nectar oasis for woodland pollinators and native songbirds preparing for winter.

SUN FALL BLOOM KIT - This fall, transform your landscape into a vibrant, late-season sanctuary for pollinators with this curated collection of sun-loving native perennials. Specially designed to combat the "autumn hunger gap," these species extend your garden’s beauty from mid-summer well into October, while serving as a critical lifeline for migrating Monarch butterflies, bumblebees, and other beneficial insects. 

TEA KIT – This curated collection of native perennials brings together the finest aromatic and medicinal plants of the North American prairie and woodland. Each species in this kit has a rich history of traditional use as a flavorful, soothing herbal tea. Beyond their culinary and wellness benefits, these plants feature striking architectures, vivid blooms, and an exceptionally high nectar yield that will keep your garden buzzing with life from early summer through autumn.

**Safety Note: Quinte Conservation does not recommend consuming plants found in nature, unless you are thoroughly informed of the risks and are totally confidant on the species. Teas featured in the tea kit should be consumed in small doses that are not strong or long steeped. Individuals who are pregnant, nursing, have specific plant or herb allergies, an autoimmune disease, and/or are taking medication should consult with their doctor prior to consuming natural teas as interactions may occur. Plants harvested near roads or treated areas may carry chemical residues, which could be harmful to consume. Plants coated in powdery mildew should be avoided. Consumers are advised to conduct independent research regarding the traditional uses of these botanicals prior to consuming.**