The County of Wellington is distributing over 160,000 trees this year. The County, along with its partner Conservation Authorities, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry promote the planting of trees and care of forests in Wellington County.
Eligibility Requirements
- Trees must be planted in Wellington County within one of the seven member municipalities.
Note: The City of Guelph is a separate single tier municipality.
- Trees may not be used for resale.
Seedlings are distributed free to residents of Wellington County, local environmental groups, service clubs, schools and Wellington's local municipalities. If you would like to support the Programme you can make a tax deductible charitable donation. These funds will go towards the educational component of the Green Legacy Programme.
Submit a Tree Order Request - October 1, 2020 to April 15, 2021
The minimum order is 10 trees (1 bundle) however, larger orders of 50-100+ trees are strongly encouraged. Trees are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Order early for best selection! Please keep in mind that our order form is NOT connected to live inventory. We do our best to fulfill all species and quantities requested, however they are not guaranteed.
Online Tree Order Form Hardcopy PDF Order Form
UPDATES:
August 26, 2020 - The diversity of species we grow, and how much, is affected by nature and the production of seeds. To propagate our new tree seedlings, we start them from seeds. Please understand that we are doing our best to grow what we can and see that it is appropriately distributed to all of the Programme participants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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General Programme Questions
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| Q: I live in the City of Guelph; can I obtain trees though the Green Legacy Programme? |
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The Green Legacy Programme services the taxpayers of the County of Wellington. The City of Guelph is a separate single tier municipality and therefore residents are not eligible to order trees.
However, if individuals or organizations outside of Wellington County would like to order and plant trees within Wellington County, they are allowed, as long as they provide a valid address for the planting site and proof of permission from the landowner.
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| Q: If I give a donation, will I receive a tax receipt? |
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Yes. If you would like to support the Programme you can make a tax deductible charitable donation.
These funds will go towards the educational component of the Green Legacy Programme.
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| Trees and Ordering Related Questions |
| Q: What is the difference between a Municipal Tree Day and submitting a Tree Order Request? |
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Municipal Tree Days are an opportunity for Wellington County residents to pick up seedlings locally, at no cost, to plant in their community. Municipal Tree Days occur at seven locations throughout Wellington County. 5,000 trees are available to each municipality. These seedlings are available first come, first serve. Arrive early for best species selection.
When you submit a Tree Order Request directly to The Green Legacy Programme, seedlings are reserved specifically for you and your order is prepared separately from the 5,000 seedlings going to Municipal Tree Days. Typically, there is a larger variety of species to choose from when you place a request, however, there may be a different selection of species available at a Municipal Tree Day.
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| Q: When is the best time to submit a Tree Order Request? |
| Tree Order Requests open annually on October 1st. We suggest booking early for the best selection. We do NOT accept orders after April 15th. |
| Q: Why are there different species available each year? |
| The diversity of species we grow, and how much, is affected by nature and the production of seeds. To propagate our new tree seedlings, we start them from seeds. When nature does not cooperate, please understand that we are doing our best to grow what we can and see that it is appropriately distributed to all of the Programme participants. |
| Q: How big are the seedlings that are distributed? |
| Seedlings average 15-40cm. Their height varies greatly depending on the species. There can also be a variety of sizes within each bundle. |
| Q: Are there any rules for where I can plant my trees? |
| Trees must be planted in Wellington County. Provided they are on your own property, you are free to plant the trees wherever you like. Keep in mind that some places are generally inappropriate to plant; i.e. on septic beds or under power lines. |
| Q: Does The Green Legacy Programme offer assistance with planting? |
| Orders of 500+ trees have the option of asking for planting assistance. The Green Legacy Programme may be able to pair you with a local school group to help get all those trees in the ground. These orders may also be eligible for upgrades to potted stock. Let us know on your tree request form if you are interested. Note: Due to COVID 19 this opportunity may not be available in 2021. |
| Q: What can I do if I place a Tree Order Request and do not receive all the trees I wanted? |
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You are automatically placed on a waiting list for all of the seedlings that are unavailable to meet your request. If there are unclaimed trees at the end of our distribution, you will be notified if we can offer any of those seedlings to fulfill your original request.
The Green Legacy Programme offers free seedlings annually. You can always place another request next year, or try visiting your local municipality on Municipal Tree Day. Each municipality receives 5,000 trees to distribute, first come first served, to residents.
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| Q: What are much mats? |
| Mulch mats are woven coconut fibre mats that are placed on the ground at the base of the seedling. They offer protection against completion (like grasses) and help to retain moisture in the soil. They are 45 cm square and available to order for $1 each plus tax. All sales are final. |
| Q: What are rodent guards? |
| Rodent guards are protective pieces of plastic designed to wraparound the trunk of a tree (usually a deciduous species). They offer protection against rodents (like voles) that eat tree bark. They are available to order for $1 each plus tax. All sales are final. |
| Q: How do I plant and take care of my trees? |
| You can download our “Planting and Care Instructions” also found in our “Useful Tree Links” section. |
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Planting Help (Due to COVID-19 this option may not be available in 2021)
Orders of 500+ trees have the option of asking for planting assistance. The Green Legacy Programme may be able to pair you with a local school group to help get all those trees in the ground. These orders may also be eligible for upgrades to potted stock. Let us know on your tree request form if you're interested.
Do You Need Some Tree Advice?
The Ontario Tree Atlas can help.
Just click on the map at the above website and the Tree Atlas will help you:
- Identify native Ontario tree species using pictures of bark, fruit, cones, leaves and needles
- Learn which species grow best in your area, including tips on when and how to plant a tree
- Understand what types of soil and sun exposure will help a tree thrive
Other Useful Tree Links:
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