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www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 12, 2017 | 34 Oakvillegreen launches backyard tree planting by Mara McHaffie Special to the Beaver Oakvillegreen Conservation Association and LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) are bringing a subsidized backyard tree planting program to Oakville. The program launches this month and provides homeowners with an arborist consultation, tree delivery and tree planting. This program will be crucial in helping Oakville to reach its 40 per cent urban forest canopy cover goal, as residential land contains the greatest proportion (1,300 hectares) of Oakville's plantable space. The backyard tree planting program also supports residents in taking action on climate change and private ash tree losses due to Emerald Ash Borer, and helps native biodiversity. The LEAF backyard tree planting program began in Toronto in 1996, and has since delivered and planted more than 24,000 trees and shrubs in backyards throughout Toronto, York Region and Ajax. The program offers both a fullservice and do-it-yourself option Oakvillegreen and LEAF staff, Mara McHaffie and Brenna Anstett, planting the first backyard tree of the fall season. Oakville customers can sign up for consultations beginning Oct. 10. | Oakvillegreen photo -- at what Oakvillegreen dubs a reasonable cost. The full service Tree Planting option is $150-$220 and the Doit-Yourself Planting program is $100-$170. With both options, customers receive a 5-8-foot tall native deciduous tree delivered to their home and arborist advice on tree selection, planting & aftercare. LEAF and Oakvillegreen are collaborating to deliver the program to Oakville residents. They are both non-profit environmental groups. The Backyard Tree Planting program fees and a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation are supporting the delivery of the program in Oakville, according to Oakvillegreen's Giuliana Casimirri. Through the full-service option, LEAF arborists conduct on-site consultations with homeowners to determine suitable planting locations and suggest native trees and shrubs that would thrive best in the soil, light and moisture conditions of the site. LEAF then delivers and plants the trees, and provides the homeowners with instructions on how to care for them so that they thrive in their new home. If homeowners wish to plant the trees themselves, they can choose the Do-It-Yourself option, which includes a virtual consultation, tree delivery and tree care information. Consultations are important as they ensure that the right trees are planted in the right places so they will provide the maximum benefits to homeowners and be a part of the urban forest for many years to come. Growing the urban forest can benefit the entire community. Healthy urban forests perform many environmental services including storing carbon, producing oxygen and filtering pollutants from the air and water. In fact, Oakville's urban forest removes 113 tonnes of air pollution each year. Trees also provide direct economic benefits to homeowners, as they increase property values and reduce home energy costs. Studies show that trees can improve human physical and mental health, and the native species planted by LEAF will ensure that our native pollinators and songbirds are healthy too. LEAF will begin conducting consultations in Oakville this fall, and trees will be planted during the spring 2018 planting season, which runs from April to June. Homeowners can learn about the program and sign up for consultations at www.yourleaf.org starting Oct. 10. Oakvillegreen is a not-for-profit community organization founded in 1999. This project has been supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario. -- submitted by Mara McHaffie Residential Tree Planting and Stewardship Coordinator, Oakvillegreen Conservation Association EVERYDAY LIVING AT DESTINATION FURNITURE ASK US ABOUT OUR NEW LIGHTING COLECTION! FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR OVER 25 YEARS www.destinationfurniture.ca Patio Furniture · Gazebos · Awnings · Patio Umbrellas · Bedroom · Dining · Bar Stools · Office Chairs · Sofas · Home Theatre Seating DESTINATION FURNITURE floor model patio 584 Kerr Street (upstairs)@ Speers, Oakville furniture on sale now 905.337.3653 OPEN EVERY DAY! up to 75% off