Growing our canopy

The first phase of Ottawa’s Plant Your Place!

2025 program has wrapped up. Over 1,200 households across the city received free trees to plant on their own property, helping to grow our canopy and cool our neighbourhoods. If you missed out this year, Plant Your Place! will be back in 2026 with more opportunities to green your space.

Although this year’s official distributions have ended, there’s still plenty you can do to contribute to a healthier urban forest. Residents are encouraged to plant trees on their own property, but before you dig in, make sure you know where it’s safe to plant. Call Ontario One Call—a free service—to locate any underground utilities such as gas lines. It’s a quick and easy step that helps keep you and your neighbours safe while protecting the infrastructure we all rely on.

In addition to supporting private planting efforts, the city is continuing its tree-planting initiatives in streetscapes, parks, and public green spaces. So far in 2025, 1,700 new trees were added across Ottawa. 

August is Tree Check Month

It’s Tree Check Month—and now’s the time to be extra vigilant about spotting invasive pests that threaten our trees. In partnership with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Ottawa Forestry service is asking residents to inspect trees on their property and in public spaces for signs of pests and report anything unusual. Early detection is key to protecting our forests.

Want to learn more? Join Ottawa Forestry services at Britannia Park on August 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Forestry Services will be teaming up with CFIA under the trolley next to the Ron Kolbus Community Centre for an info session on how to identify and report invasive pests.