Vancouver Park Board invites residents to adopt a tree

Today, the Vancouver Park Board is launching a new Adopt a Tree program which encourages residents to adopt a young street tree – less than three years old - and keep it watered. The program will promote education and stewardship of our urban forest while supporting Vancouver’s goals of increasing canopy coverage to 30% by 2050.

“It’s no secret that Vancouverites are passionate about their trees and we are thrilled to be launching this program,” said Park Board Commissioner Tom Digby. “Vancouver’s urban forest includes over 160,000 street trees as well as park trees, and 713 hectares of forest. Each tree is critical to our wellbeing and the wildlife we share our city with.”

To sign up visit vancouver.ca/adopt-a-tree which includes an interactive map with trees available for adoption. Watering bags will be provided to new adopters while supplies last. 

Or sign-up in person at:

• Britannia Community Centre – Wednesday, August 21st from 1 to 5pm
• Hillcrest Aquatic Centre – Saturday, August 24th from 9:30am to 1:30pm
• Killarney Community Centre – Sunday, August 25th from 9:30am to 1:30pm

Trees clean the air, capture carbon, provide habitat, filter pollutants from rain, absorb heavy rainfall and keep our neighbourhoods cooler.

Every year the Park Board plants about 2,000 new street trees. Newly planted trees require more water while they try to establish, and their establishment is vital to the long-term health of our urban forest. Trees are one of Vancouver’s most important tools for adapting to climate change, but trees themselves are vulnerable to climate change impacts like longer periods of hotter, drier weather. Adopters will care for their trees during the hottest, driest months of June to September. While residents can’t adopt mature trees, watering all street trees is helpful during dry periods. 

“During the summer, our crews water newly planted trees throughout the city however extra watering will contribute to an even stronger, healthier urban forest,” said Amit Gandha, Director of Parks. “This program will help our urban forest thrive as we work to increase it, particularly in neighbourhoods with lower canopy cover.” 

Taking care of your tree is easy:

• Water trees during summer dry spells when it hasn’t rained for at least four days.
• Water in the morning or evening so water doesn’t evaporate too quickly in the heat of the day.
• The recommended watering methods are to use a watering bag or bucket with 2 – 3 small holes of less than .5 centimetres drilled in the bottom. Watch a video using these two methods. 
• Trees can be watered anytime during watering restrictions if hand watering or using drip irrigation. If watering with a hose an automated shut-off attachment is required. 
• Do not prune trees. Pruning is an essential part of tree care and must be done strategically by professionals. 
• If you run into issues with your supplies or your tree seems distressed, make a request using Van311.
• Contact adoptatree@vancouver.ca for questions about the program.