Backyard Tree Planting Program

Have you heard? If you reside in one of Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs), you might be eligible to have trees and shrubs planted on your property for FREE! LEAF is here to help make tree planting easier than ever this spring. Read on to learn more about what this exciting new initiative offers and how you and your community can take advantage of it!

Shake off the winter blues and gear up for a vibrant spring with native shrubs! With over 50 options of native trees and shrubs available through the Backyard Tree Planting Program, the choices are abundant. Not sure which are best for your yard? Fear not, our planting team is here to help! Not only do they help get trees and shrubs in the ground, they’re also eager to share their favourite native shrubs. Read on to discover five exceptional native shrubs guaranteed to instantly elevate your yard.

Halloween is a fun-filled time of year for all ages to enjoy, perfect for visiting pumpkin patches, catching tractor rides and picking the perfect costumes. It’s also a time for creativity and for adorning your home with spooky décor. With a little mindful decorating and environmentally friendly practices, you can preserve the health of your trees and foster ecological balance. Check out these three "tricks" that will make your yard an eco-friendly "treat" this Halloween season!

A healthy root system is essential for sustaining a healthy tree. Tree roots provide many important life-supporting benefits to trees such as absorbing much-needed water and minerals from the soil for food, storing essential nutrients and anchoring the tree to the ground. But did you know that in some scenarios, tree roots can also be a detriment to tree health? Continue reading to learn about girdling roots and how you can prevent them from harming your favourite tree!

Food insecurity is a growing concern, especially with recent inflation trends and the impacts of adverse weather events on our food supply. The urban forest is home to many diverse edible plant species and can be leveraged to help increase availability and easy access to local food. Check out our top four most nutritious native shrubs that you can plant to grow food and our urban forest.