Free Tree Giveaway

The 2024 Fall Free Tree Giveaway registration is now closed.

Free Trees for Brantford Residents!

The City of Brantford is thrilled to once again give away free trees to Brantford residents!

Trees offer us so many benefits. Did you know that they provide shade from the hot sun? Trees also store rain to reduce flooding, provide shelter and food to birds, insects, and animals, clean the air we breathe and store carbon dioxide to reduce the impacts of climate change. The more trees and vegetation in your neighbourhood not only improves property values but is also great for your mental health and well-being.

One of the six priority actions identified in the City of Brantford’s Corporate Climate Change Action Plan is to expand the Tree Canopy in the city. That’s why we’re excited to give away 320 free trees to residents.

Free Tree Giveaway Registration Details

Register for one of the 9 tree choices using the link below. The tree must be planted in your own yard. Trees can vary in their full-grown height dependent on their growing conditions. Please review the tree details outlined below and select one that will suit your yard. Note that only 320 trees in total are available on a first come, first serve basis. A limited number of each tree is available as outlined below.

Registration information

In order to receive a free tree, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a resident of the City of Brantford (within the city limit). You can check the city limit from City’s Mapping Information System.
• The tree must be planted on a City of Brantford residential property.
• Permission from the property owner must be obtained before planting the tree.
• Limit one tree per household.

Tree Species 

Red oak (Quercus rubra) 

• Fast growing, tough, extremely adaptable long-lived tree adorned with an open, rounded to broad-spreading crown.
• Inconspicuous yellow-green catkins in spring. Dark green foliage turns a red, scarlet, and rust in fall.
• Grow up to 50-70 ft. (15-21m) tall and wide.
• Full sun is ideal, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Adaptable to any soils, but prefer fertile, dry to medium moisture, and well-drained soils.
• Somewhat tolerant of urban pollution and soil compaction.
• Twenty (20) two gallon pots available.

Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

• Wide, open crown; usually taller than wider.
• Trunk contains rough, deep-ridged bark.
• Low maintenance, can handle various soil and moisture conditions.
• Distinguishing acorns – very deep fringed cups.
• Twenty-Five (25) two gallon pots available.

Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) 

• Feature uniquely shaped leaves and large yellow tulip-shaped flowers.
• Leaves turn an outstanding gold in fall and flowers are followed by cone-like fruit that provide winter interest.
• Grow up to 60-80 ft. (18-24m) tall and 30-40 ft. (9-12m) wide.
• Full sun is ideal, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.
• Grow well in soils that are moderately moist, well drained, and loose textured. Rarely do well in very wet or very dry sites.
• Low maintenance, and not subject to serious insect or disease issues. Dear and rabbit resistant.
• Fifty (50) two gallon pots available.

Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) 

• This tree is of great value to wildlife; as a food source and nesting site for birds, and the bark provides a common food source for some mammals.
• Grows up to 50-70 ft. (15-21m) tall and 25-50 ft. (7-15m) wide.
• Moist, acidic, well-drained soils are best, with full sun to partial shade.
• Slow-growing, typically living for 150 to 300+ years.
• Fifty (50) two gallon pots available.

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) 

• A lovely, small, flowering tree with short trunk and crown of spreading or nearly horizontal branches.
• Feature showy clusters of white flowers in spring and orange-red fruit in summer which may persist till late in the year.
• Forest green foliage, which emerges burgundy in spring, turns an outstanding brick red in fall.
• Grow up to 15-30 ft. (4-9m) tall and wide.
• Best in partial shade, but if planted in full sun, MUST receive adequate water.
• Require evenly moist well-drained soil for the optimal growth. Rarely do well in standing water.
• Intolerant of urban pollution. Generally pest free. Deer resistant.
• Forty (40) two gallon pots available.

American plum (Prunus americana) 

• Leaves are dark green in summer and turn into brilliant red to pale yellow in the fall.
• Fragrant, white flowers in showy, flat-topped clusters in spring before the leaves.
• Produce clusters of edible, round, red plums in summer.
• Grow up to 15-25 ft. (4-8m) tall and wide.
• Performs best in full sun or part shade in dry to medium, well-drained soils.
• Suckers need be removed to prevent unwanted spread or to train into a small tree.
• Forty (40) two gallon pots available.

 

Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

• Can be grown as a smaller tree  or multi-stemmed shrub.
• Trees grow 20 to 50 ft. tall and can live up to 50 years.
• Blooms of 5-petal white flowers produced in March and April, with berry-like fruits in June.
• Fruits and seeds are very important for songbirds and other wildlife.
• Fifty (50) two gallon pots available.

Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

• Typically grows only 6 to 9 meters in urban areas
• Dense branching provides year-round shelter for birds and wildlife.
• Grow best in moist, well-draining, loamy soils but can handle a variety of conditions.
• Small, cone-like flowers appear in the spring, developing into brown cones in the fall.
• Twenty-five (25) two gallon pots available.

Tamarack (Larix laricina)

• Typically grows to be 40 to 80 feet tall, with a straight, upright form.Needles grow in interesting tuffs, turning yellow in fall.
• Grow best in moist, well-draining soils but can handle a variety of conditions.
• Interesting fact: most conifers keep their needles year-round, but Tamaracks are deciduous conifers, with their needles turning a golden yellow in the fall. These fall and are replaced by new needles in the spring.
• Twenty (20) two gallon pots available.

Tree Pick-up Details

Trees will be available for pick-up only at 1 Sherwood Drive, City of Brantford Parks Office on Friday October 4th, 2024 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 5th, 2024 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  

Pick-up details for Friday October 4th, 2024 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

On Friday, enter the parking lot off of Sherwood Drive at Oak Street entrance. Follow signage and drive straight ahead to Tree Pick up Area. To exit, follow the direction of traffic to the left and loop around the parking lot and exit where you entered.

Pick-up details for Saturday, October 5th, 2024 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

On Saturday, enter the parking lot off of Sherwood Drive at Oak Street entrance. Follow signage, turning right and driving straight until you have to make another right to the Tree Pick Up Area. To exit, drive straight ahead.

If you have mobility restrictions, please contact us at 519-759-4150 ext. 5766 or forestry@brantford.ca to make arrangements.

Planting and caring for your tree

Registrant will be responsible for planting and caring for their tree; trees will not be planted by City staff.

Trees must be planted on a residential property in Brantford. Please ensure that the area you plant the tree has enough room for it grow to its full size. Trees are not to be installed on City property.

Share your tree photos

Please share pictures of your new tree and pictures of you planting it by tagging the City of Brantford on social media and using the hashtags #BrantfordClimateAction #FreeTrees. Let’s get excited about trees, Brantford!