Street Tree Planting Program

We plant street trees under four main programs: Capital, Local Improvement, Greenways and Replacement.

• Since each of the available planting sites on our streets has been identified, we are able to select curbed boulevards at least 3 ft wide, in the tree deficient residential areas for the bulk of our Capital planting.
• Trees are planted in conjunction with new curb and gutter or sidewalk installations as provided through the Local Improvement Process.
• New greenspaces provided through the Greenways and other Street Beautification programs are often enhanced with trees and other plant material planted by the Park Board.
• Under the Replacement Tree program, we re-plant trees that have died or been removed because of serious disease or decline.

Also, development in commercial areas usually requires street trees to be planted by the permit applicant. Commercial tree planting sites are identified during the Development Permit process. The Park Board approves the proper species, tree placement and planting pit design.

Tree Selection

Regardless of the program, we always try to select the best tree for the site. We match the mature size of the tree with the width of the boulevard and consider overhead wires, utilities, building set-backs, and other constraints to potential growth. We choose trees appropriate for the site: residential boulevards, wide center medians or commercial concrete tree pits. In downtown and commercial hardscape areas, we are experimenting with continuous trenching, root barriers, root break-out zones and structural soils to provide enhanced growing conditions for urban trees and to reduce damage to surrounding pavement from root heaves.

We try to maintain a healthy diversity of species in each neighbourhood, and select hardy species and cultivars that are more resistant to disease, pests, drought, compaction, pollution, and other urban stresses. We also consider the aesthetic quality of our planting; selecting trees with spring flowers, autumn colours, attractive bark or interesting winter form. Residents are welcome to discuss species selection and tree placement with staff.

Langley Tree Farm

In order to establish a reliable source of street trees, the Park Board established a nursery in Campbell River Valley Park in the District of Langley. This 8-hectare (20-acre) nursery holds about 10,000 trees. Future street trees are purchased as inexpensive saplings. We grow these saplings until they have a trunk diameter of at least 50mm. Between 1,500 and 2,000 trees are harvested from the farm each year.

The Planting Season

Our planting season usually begins in late October when our crews begin to dig and transport the trees, balled and burlapped, into the holding area at Sunset Nursery in Vancouver. Planting continues throughout the winter dormant period, until about early April. These trees can weigh as much as 200 kg, yet staff manage to plant an average of 3,200 street trees every year. After planting the trees, our staff mulch around the base of the tree with wood chips from our pruning operation in order to reduce weed growth and retain moisture. Staff also attach a plastic protector at the base of the trunk to guard against weed whip and mower damage. During the summer, our staff water all newly planted trees for the first year and then as necessary in subsequent years.

Although staff water newly planted trees during the first growing season, tree health and vigour are enhanced when residents help by watering during the dry periods. Trees respond best when the water is applied slowly over the root ball at a rate of about 20L (5 gals) per watering, twice per week. Water restrictions do not apply to the watering of new landscape trees.

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