Maple, oak, elm, or lilac? When it comes to picking a new tree for your yard, the A Tree for My Neighbourhood campaign has a huge variety to choose from — and all at great prices.

The twice-yearly program is the result of an alliance between the Regroupement des éco-quartier (REQ) and the Société de verdissement du Montréal métropolitain (Soverdi) who have combined their expertise to facilitate Montrealer’s access to trees for a fraction of their usual price.

To get your tree

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, homeowners and tenants on the island of Montreal can visit unarbrepourmonquartier.org to choose their tree online. Choices include ornamental trees, fruit trees, conifers, and “exceptional” species such as the Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry and the Katsura Tree. Prices vary depending on your place of residence as some cities offer their own subsidies. Residents of Montreal, Dorval, Pincourt, Cote-Saint-Luc, and Kirkland receive a grant of $60, which covers part of the cost of the trees. Residents of non-subsidized cities can purchase at the rate of $85 for regular trees, $95 for fruit trees, $105 for conifers and $115 for exceptional trees.

Trees are 1.25 and 3 metres high and 3 to 7 years old when purchased, depending on their species. Distribution is done through eco-neighbourhoods in mid-June for the spring campaign and in early October for the autumn campaign. In some boroughs, a planting and delivery service is available for a fee.

On the website, you can find tips for choosing a tree that suits your sun exposure and yard size. You can also learn how to plant and maintain it. To be eligible to purchase a tree through the program, you must be a landowner, manager, or tenant of a property located on the island of Montreal, you must be planting the tree as part of the creation of a new canopy (the tree cannot be replacing one recently felled), and the tree must be planted in the ground a maximum of two weeks after you receive it. ​​Trees are available to purchase up until May 28, 2023.

Improving the tree city’s tree canopy

Thanks to the initiative, since 2013, more than 21,000 trees have been planted by residents on their own land. In the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough alone, 1073 trees were planted between 2020 and 2022 as part of the campaign.

During last year’s spring distribution, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said how proud she is to see more and more Montrealers getting involved in the project. She also noted that the initiative, which is in line with the objectives of the 2020-2030 Climate Plan, contributes to the city’s efforts to fight climate change and increase neighbourhoods’ vegetation cover. “This campaign makes it possible to take concrete action in our living environments and to leave a greener and healthier environment to our future generations,” Plante said.

For more information, visit unarbrepourmonquartier.org, call 514 507-5401 #107, or email info@unarbrepourmonquartier.org