- 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.
Tree Seedling Program
Quinte Conservation commits itself to sustainable forest management practices. We aim to support and encourage healthy forest-management practices of our existing forests as well as supporting tree-planting initiatives across our watersheds. Trees provide a wealth of environmental, health and social benefits. Trees clean our air, absorb carbon, and slow climate change they provide food and shelter for wildlife and slow erosion while contributing to cleaner water, greener communities, and healthier people.
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
Programs
Agricultural Watercourse Buffer Planting Program
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.
2025 Participating Municipalities To Date:
- Centre Hastings
- City of Belleville
- City of Quinte West
- County of Prince Edward
- Municipality of Marmora and Lake
- Municipality of Tweed
- Township of Addington Highlands
- Township of Greater Napanee
- Township of Stirling-Rawdon
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.
Subsidized Tree Seedling & Planting Program
We currently not offer a subsidized tree program. To have your property pre-screened for when funding does becomes available, please send us an email.
The Pre-order Sale is now closed. See below for other sale dates.
If you are looking to purchase bare-root trees/shrubs in bundles of 25/per species, you may do so starting February 11 through this online form. This form will be available while supplies last or until April 30.
You must place an order prior to pick-up on Friday, May 2 between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm at Quinte Conservation's office located at 2061 Old Hwy 2, Belleville.
Orders will not be held as seedlings are bare-root and therefore must be kept damp, cool, and dark until ready for planting.
The Remaining Stock Sale will be available on Sunday, May 4 and Monday, May 5 between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm, at Quinte Conservation's office. The remaining stock will be available for purchase in singular quantities, while supplies last.
