Changes made to city’s tree planting programs following May derecho storm devastation

The City of Ottawa’s tree planting operations will have to wait just a while longer as crews are still grappling with the cleanup of the May long weekend derecho storm. 

According to an announcement from Coun. Keith Egli, spring tree planting around the city has been temporarily suspended until the fall. 

The spring tree planting season usually happens between May 1 and June 30. 

Scheduled spring plantings that did not happen before Saturday, May 21 will have to wait until autumn. 

As a result, three of the six community tree planting events that were scheduled for the spring have been cancelled. 

The Trees in Trust, Commemorative Trees, Schoolyard Tree Planting Grant Program and Park and Streetscape Plantings (unless starting before May 21) were postponed. They are now prioritized for the fall. 

The deadline for applications for the Schoolyard Tree Planting Grant Program has been extended to Oct. 1 for project implementation in spring 2023. 

However, residents may apply online to have city-owned trees in front of their homes replaced through the Trees in Trust Program. 

The program plants city-owned trees on the right of way in front of residents’ homes. 

Many of the trees, the City of Ottawa says, were impacted by the derecho storm, and now staff are looking to replace them.