You better be-LEAF this: Newmarket residents can save $100 on a tree for their backyards

Arborist will help you pick out the right tree for your property

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 15, 2021
Lisa Queen

Want to plant a tree in your backyard and save yourself a few bucks at the same time?

The Town of Newmarket and LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) are partnering once again to help Newmarket residents plant trees for less.

When property owners plant trees through the LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program, they will qualify for an additional $100 rebate toward the purchase price of one new tree, while quantities last.

“Trees are a great resource. Not only do they provide us with oxygen and add beauty to our town, but they are instrumental in making Newmarket more resilient to climate change and extreme weather,” Craig Schritt, the town’s senior climate change specialist, said.

“That’s why we’ve partnered with LEAF to provide the Stormwater Rebate Program to help residents plant trees.”

“Trees intercept, absorb and filter rainfall, which helps manage the amount of stormwater run-off entering our waterways. On average, a tree reduces a property's stormwater run-off by 720 litres. Every tree planted through this partnership will contribute to Newmarket’s urban forest and together have the potential to divert 36,000 litres of stormwater.”

Also supported by the Region of York, the program is available to eligible Newmarket residents.

Participants receive a consultation with a certified arborist to help them pick the right tree for their property and have the choice of planting the tree themselves, or having LEAF do the planting.

“Our arborists assess the soil, sunlight and spacing conditions of each property to recommend native tree species that will survive and thrive,” Erin MacDonald, acting LEAF executive director, said.

“We plant native trees, those that have evolved here naturally, which are well-suited to our climatic conditions, help build resiliency, and provide essential habitat for local wildlife, such as songbirds and pollinators.”
For more information, visit yourleaf.org or call 416-413-9244.

There is a limit of one rebate per property, per year.