Backyard Tree Planting Program

If you're searching for a tree that's both unique and beautiful, consider the tenacious tamarack tree. This often-overlooked native species thrives across the Canadian landscape, offering elegance and ecological benefits throughout the year. Read on to learn more about this one-of-a-kind gem.

Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble. Meet the most witchy shrub of them all: the common witchhazel! With its name, flowers, fruit and folkloric roots, this native shrub embodies all things eerie, making it the perfect fall garden addition to celebrate the spooky season.

While it might sound like something out of a fairy tale, this real-life fungal disease can do serious damage if left unchecked. As the leaves fall this autumn, you might notice something black and bumpy lurking on your tree’s bare branches. Read on to learn how to identify black knot, which trees it affects and how to manage it effectively!

Do you like eating hazelnuts? What if we told you that you can grow them right in your own backyard, while also supporting biodiversity, enhancing privacy and enjoying a range of vibrant fall colours? LEAF’s Residential Planting Programs Field Assistant, Joel, shares all things American hazelnut and why he thinks this shrub could be the perfect addition to your yard this season!

From forest edge to urban yard, native trees and shrubs offer more than beauty. Many can be brewed into flavourful and grounding teas. With a professional background in developing recipes with foraged local ingredients, LEAF's Residential Planting Programs Assistant, Amba, shares her guide to harvesting ethically, storing wisely and blending intentionally with leaves, berries, twigs and flowers. Whether you forage or grow your own, you'll learn to craft teas that reflect your place, your palate and the seasons you move through.