This factsheet explains why developing an urban forest plan to manage and protect tree canopies is important for their long-term success. It provides guidance on creating, establishing and maintaining an urban forest plan tailored to your community’s needs and priorities.  

This factsheet was created to support small and rural communities who are just developing their urban forestry approaches and content might be helpful for municipal staff working in various departments such as public works, recreation or public health services. 

Why does urban forest planning matter? 

Urban forestry is the sustained planning, planting, protection, maintenance and care of trees, forests, greenspace, and related resources in and around communities to create economic, environmental, social and public health benefits. Urban forestry practices are relevant for communities of any size. The practices are similar for rural, small, medium and large communities—anywhere people live and interact with trees or forested areas, including where people manage social, economic and environmental policies and programs.  

Trees take decades to mature and can live for centuries. Over their lifetimes, trees will encounter challenges and changing environments. Decisions made today about planting, protection and management will have lasting effects for generations. An urban forest plan can anticipate challenges and guide local governments towards achieving a more resilient urban forest that benefits the entire community. A well-crafted urban forest plan establishes a long-term vision supported by clear goals, measurable targets, timelines, responsibilities and resource needs for implementation. 

The journey to a healthy and resilient urban forest starts with a plan. 

Key components of an urban forest plan 

Urban forest plans set goals for management and guide professionals on how to plant, protect and maintain the urban forest proactively, ensuring it delivers maximum benefits to the community and wildlife. A well-crafted urban forest plan should include: 

• a collective vision for the urban forest 
• an assessment of the current state of the urban forest 
• a strategic framework consisting of goals, objectives and targets to help fulfill the vision 
• an implementation plan that outlines detailed actions and steps with specific timelines (months or dates) and assigned responsibilities 
• a monitoring plan with a system to track progress and revise the plan if needed 

Setting the context for your urban forest plan

Understanding the context of your community’s urban forest is essential for developing a plan that aligns with its unique characteristics and needs. The planning process should consider your community’s demographics and development patterns, the resources it has in place to manage the urban forest, the current urban forest management program (if one exists), and emerging opportunities and challenges.  

Consider which staff and departments (such as planning or public works) might be involved in managing the urban forest and invite them to participate in the planning process. It is also important to identify and engage interested stakeholders, including equity-deserving groups and rights holders, to ensure that planning efforts are inclusive and responsive to community needs. 

Here are some guiding questions you can ask to better understand the context of your community’s urban forest: 

• What is your community like? For example, is it vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods and heat waves? Do you foresee any changes that will impact the planning or management of the urban forest? 
• How is your urban forest managed currently? Do you have an inventory of the trees in your community? 
• What are the opportunities and challenges related to urban forest management in the next 10, 20 and 50 years? 
• How is the urban forest recognized among community members and other stakeholders or rights holders? What about your Council and senior management? 
• Are all the relevant and interested parties engaged, including equity-deserving groups who most need to benefit from the urban forest? 
• What do the various parties hope to address through the urban forest planning process? 
• Do you have the appropriate data to help you understand the current state of your community’s urban forest and possible future changes? 
• Do you have adequate levels of staffing and funding to support the planning and implementation of urban forestry programs? 
• Does your community have people with the right expertise needed in urban forest planning and management? 

Getting started on an urban forest plan

Below are some guiding steps that can help your community get started on creating an urban forest plan. Depending on the work your community has done to date, you may choose to skip or rearrange some of these steps.  

1. What do you already have? 

Understand the current landscape for urban forest management: 

• “Plan to plan” by organizing resources and seeking senior management and Council support for the development of an urban forest plan. 
• Create or update your community’s tree inventory to ensure you have an accurate picture of the current state and health of your urban forest. 
• Review relevant policies and practices to understand the current policy framework and practices around urban forest management.
• Identify opportunities and gaps in current policies and practices. 

2. What do you want? 

Establish a long-term vision, goals and targets in collaboration with the community: 

• Identify and engage stakeholders or rights holders; learn about their values, concerns and ideas for trees in the community. 
• Develop a long-term vision and supporting goals based on what you learned in previous steps. 
• Develop measurable targets (such as tree canopy or crown volume targets). 

3. How do you get there? 

Outline your plan’s strategies and detailed actions based on the vision, goals and targets established in previous steps: 

• Develop a list of actions that would help achieve your vision, goals and targets.
• Invite community stakeholders and/or rights holders to review, assess and prioritize the actions based on their values and concerns. 
• Allocate resources, assign responsibilities and specify timelines for each action to develop a comprehensive implementation framework. 

4. How do you stay on track? 

Develop a monitoring plan to track and evaluate progress and to support adaptive management: 

• Identify what you need to monitor and evaluate to ensure progress is being made on implementation and outcomes. 
• Develop a monitoring system to track implementation progress, evaluate actions against goals and targets, and share results publicly on a regular basis. 
• If satisfactory progress has not been made, investigate the causes and adjust the plan as necessary. 

You have a plan, now what? 

If your community has developed an urban forest plan, there are several steps you can take to further support the plan’s implementation: 

• Develop a planting master plan to guide planting along streets, in parks and other community properties, aligning with the vision, goals and targets set forth in your urban forest plan. 
• Develop or update regulatory tools related to urban forest protection and management (see Metro Vancouver’s Tree Regulations Toolkit for examples), including:  
  • tools that regulate how trees are dealt with (e.g., tree bylaws, environmental development permit areas and covenants) 
  • tools that regulate land use and tree retention, including zoning bylaws and subdivision bylaws 
• Develop or update an urban forest asset management plan to integrate the urban forest into conventional asset management (see the City of Vaughan’s Asset Management Plan for Urban Forestry for examples).

Opportunities to involve the community  

Community involvement in urban forest planning is vital for raising awareness, gaining support and fostering collaboration. Community input plays a vital role in shaping key directions and priorities in the planning process, ensuring that urban forest plans and strategies reflect the community’s diverse needs and values. 

Prioritizing Reconciliation and engaging with Indigenous Peoples on urban forest planning and management is equally important to recognize and respect Indigenous rights. To achieve this, communities can: 

• Identify Indigenous Peoples: Use available resources and information to identify Indigenous communities whose rights may be affected by the local government’s urban forest management activities. 
• Acknowledge legal and traditional rights: Recognize Treaties and frameworks of legal, customary and traditional rights, including the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 
• Involve Indigenous leaders and Knowledge Keepers: Seek guidance from Indigenous leaders, Knowledge Keepers, Elders and Youth to advise on urban forest planning and stewardship from an Indigenous lens. 

Local governments can prioritize inclusive community engagement, establish diverse partnerships, adhere to equitable protocols and target programming to ensure that forests and trees are planted, preserved and protected in all neighbourhoods regardless of social, ethnic or economic demographics.  

Engagement can occur at different stages of the planning process, including before the plan is developed to gather input on community values, or after drafting the plan to ensure it aligns with community priorities and concerns.  

Various engagement methods can be utilized, including:  

• questionnaires and surveys to collect broad input from community members 
• open houses and workshops to facilitate in-depth discussions and interactive sessions 
• online tools to provide accessible platforms for community members to contribute their perspectives and expertise. 

Some resources that can help with these steps include: 

• Future Cities Canada and Evergreen’s Civic–Indigenous Placekeeping and Partnership Building Toolkit 
• Climate Caucus’s Community Engagement Handbook for local elected officials 

Next steps

Here are additional resources that can help you get started with urban forest planning: 

• Vibrant Cities Lab, Planning: Best Practices in Urban Forestry 
• Inland Urban Forest Council with support from CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service and California Urban Forest Council, Urban Forest Management Plan Toolkit 
• Tree Canada, Compendium of Best Urban Forest Management Practices: Chapter 4. Strategic and Operational Management Planning 

This resource was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. 

This factsheet covers key points to consider when choosing trees and shrubs for your local planting projects. It provides step-by-step guidance communities can follow to ensure the right trees are planted in the right places to achieve their urban forestry goals, beautify the landscape and deliver the long-term benefits of a healthy community canopy.  

This factsheet was created to support small and rural communities who are just developing their urban forestry approaches and content might be helpful for municipal staff working in various departments such as public works, recreation or public health services.

Why does stock selection matter? 

Stock selection is all about choosing high-quality trees and shrubs to plant that are suitable for local conditions. This process includes determining the required stock size, selecting the right species and evaluating the condition and quality of young trees before purchasing and planting them. Well-chosen stock should be aligned with your project’s planting objectives and compatible with the planting location. 

Selecting the right stock is critical for tree establishment and growth. High-quality trees and species that are well-suited to the planting site are more likely to thrive and achieve their intended benefits. Choosing the most appropriate species for the site is also the best way to increase biodiversity and support the broader ecosystem. 

Choosing the right species to plant  

First, consider the objectives of your planting project when selecting what species to plant. What are your community’s planting or other sustainability goals, such as canopy cover or biodiversity targets? Do you have site-specific objectives, such as flood mitigation or urban heat island mitigation? What are the traits the selected species should have to best meet these objectives and suit the site conditions? 

For example, if you are looking to mitigate urban heat island effects in a neighborhood prone to hot and dry conditions, you would choose drought-tolerant species that can withstand harsher conditions. Or, if your objective is to restore habitats for species-at-risk or to restore forests in naturalized areas, you would consider choosing a diversity of native species that grow well in existing conditions. 

There are several factors to consider when choosing which species to plant: 

Suitability 

Choose species well-suited to the local environment and planting site. Consider water use, shade tolerance, wind tolerance and physical limitations. Determine which plant hardiness zone your area is in to understand what species can survive the lowest temperatures. Whenever possible, choose nursery stock that has been grown locally or in a similar climate.  

Species should also be suitable for future climate scenarios. This may mean selecting more resilient species that can tolerate warmer or dryer conditions, choosing fire-resistant species in fire-prone areas and avoiding species that are threatened by endemic pests and diseases. Regional climate models can help you evaluate how local conditions may change over time. 

Diversity  

Aim for a diversity of species for a tree canopy that is more resilient to pest and disease infestations. Adopt a diversity guideline to inform stock selection, such as the 10-20-30 rule, which recommends having no more than 10 percent of one species, 20 percent of one genus and 30 percent of one family in an urban forest population. These guidelines can be adjusted according to the diversity of species the local climate can support. Alternate methods include ensuring functional diversity in the trees you select, so that different traits, such as tolerance to shade, droughts or floods, are well-represented. 

Consider shrubs (smaller, multi-stemmed, woody plants) for part of restoration or habitat planting projects, for edible planting projects, or for specific sites within the project where tree planting is not viable. 

Native vs. non-native species 

It’s important to select regionally and genetically appropriate seed stocks that are likely to survive a changing climate. Choose native species whenever possible for natural areas and where site conditions permit as they support native habitat and biodiversity.  

In urban settings, non-native species can be better adapted to conditions or more resilient to climate change. However, extra care is needed when choosing non-native species. Invasive species should be avoided as they can have very detrimental effects on local ecosystems and biodiversity. It is important to ensure the selected species comply with local regulations. 

Aesthetics and maintenance 

Consider the species’ appearance and maintenance needs, including potential nuisances like allergens. Trees grow in a variety of forms and colours that can beautify landscapes. Factors such as fall colour, flowers or fruit and growth form should all be considered in species selection.  

Ensuring the stock you choose is high quality

Nursery stock comes in various ages, sizes and types. Here are common types you may choose from: 

• Seedlings are very young trees, easy to plant in large numbers, easy to transport and inexpensive. They are most appropriate for natural planting or large-scale planting (e.g., replanting a forest). They are less well-suited for street tree planting or planting in high traffic areas as they can be easily damaged.  

• Bare-root trees are transplanted without soil on their roots. This means they are lighter, but it also makes them more susceptible to root damage. It’s important to keep them moist if they are not going to be planted immediately.  

• Container-grown trees and shrubs are often grown in artificial soil in various sizes. They are easy to handle and transport, but their roots can girdle and be restricted by the container size. Also, winter conditions can damage container-grown trees if they are grown above ground because they are less protected from cold temperatures. However, they can be moved inside more easily before planting if needed.  

• Ball and burlap trees are commonly larger trees, grown in the soil at the nursery and then removed with their roots and soil covered by burlap material. The root ball protects the roots during transport, but ball and burlap trees are heavier and more difficult to transport. Their large size makes ball and burlap trees more resistant to damage and therefore more appropriate for planting in high traffic areas.  

Consider the type of trees and shrubs that will best suit your planting needs and contact a local nursery to source suitable stock. Always assess nursery stock to ensure plants are high quality and likely to establish and grow after planting. Young plants should be inspected at the nursery and upon delivery in accordance with the Canadian Landscape Standard and Canadian Nursery Stock Standard.  

Here’s a quick guide you can follow when inspecting nursery stock for acceptance: 

1. Is the stock free of pest and disease? 

2. Is it free of invasive weeds in the root ball? 

3. Is it free of injury or other defects? 

4. Is it free of girdling roots (roots that grow in a circular pattern around the trunk, or at or below the soil line)? 

5. Is it free of co-dominant leading stems (single leader present)? (This is for trees only.)

6. Are branches well-spaced and not crowded? (This is for trees only.)  

7. Does the trunk increase in diameter closer to the root ball (also called trunk taper)? 

Make sure to plan the logistics of accepting, transporting and storing nursery stock, especially if you will not be planting immediately. For example, you will want to ensure that plants are stored in the shade and any coverings used to protect leaves or roots are removed to avoid excessive heat stress. Work with your contractor or the nursery to ensure the successful transfer and storage of trees and a timely planting operation.  

Opportunities to involve the community 

Engaging the community in stock selection can foster urban forest stewardship and create educational opportunities. For example, residents can play a role in selecting species for planting projects in their own neighbourhoods and learn how to select, plant and care for trees on their own properties. By involving community members, local governments can gather valuable feedback on the types of trees preferred and educate people about the reasons behind stock selection. This engagement empowers residents to participate in decisions that impact their environment, promotes a sense of shared responsibility for the urban forest and can encourage good tree planting practices across the community. 

Next steps 

Here are additional resources that can help you get started with stock selection: 

• Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, Canadian Nursery Stock Standard  

• Landscape Ontario, Ontario Landscape Tree Planting Guide  

• Government of Canada, Forest Change adaptation tools  

• Tree Canada, Compendium of Best Urban Forest Management Practices: Chapter 8. Species Selection and Planting  

• Tree Canada, Compendium of Best Urban Forest Management Practices: Chapter 16. Invasive Plant Species 

This resource was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. 

This factsheet provides an overview of tree maintenance processes and best practices. It is designed to assist communities, including staff tasked with caring for trees and their partners, in implementing strategies to maintain and expand their community canopies.  

This factsheet was created to support small and rural communities who are just developing their urban forestry approaches, and content might be helpful for municipal staff working in various departments such as public works, recreation or public health services.  

Why is tree maintenance important?

Community trees provide a long list of benefits. They clean the air, provide beauty and shade, increase biodiversity, fight the impacts of climate change, reduce noise pollution and create job opportunities. For communities to derive the most benefit from trees, they must be properly maintained. 

Urban trees face multiple threats: diseases, pests, storms, salt, compacted soils, space limitations and damage from vehicles. Communities might also be concerned about the potential risks and liabilities that trees near buildings and public spaces can present (e.g., fallen branches or trees). Like built assets, communities should properly maintain their natural assets, including newly planted and existing community trees, to extend their lives, enhance their benefits and reduce risk factors. Adopting a proactive approach to tree maintenance can prevent costly, damaging or high-risk scenarios and foster the growth of healthy, long-living trees that constitute valuable community assets. 

Community trees require frequent maintenance

Maintenance is crucial for ensuring safe and healthy tree growth. Trees in the built environment require more frequent maintenance to promote good structure, maintain clearance and manage risks.  The frequency and type of maintenance varies depending on site conditions, climate conditions and tree species. 

Different maintenance activities are needed at different stages of tree growth. Young trees typically require mulching, protection from factors that may damage them (e.g., mowing, animals, weather), sufficient water (especially in the summer) and pruning for healthy structural growth. 

Maintenance requirements for older trees and shrubs varies. Typical maintenance for mature trees includes risk inspection, clearance pruning and removal at the end of a tree’s lifecycle. In some cases, mature trees may require pest and disease treatments or watering in extreme drought conditions. Trees will provide wide-ranging benefits for years to come with little maintenance if the right species is chosen for the environment and if the tree pit has been carefully designed. 

Key tree maintenance activities

Typically, maintenance activities vary depending on the location of trees and the local climate. Special consideration should be given to factors that might change maintenance requirements, such as adjacent construction, pest/disease outbreaks, wildfires or storms. 

The following activities are key to maintaining trees after planting so they can flourish while growing safely.  

1. Watering 

Trees, especially newly planted ones, should be watered frequently. Watering consistently at regular intervals and increasing volumes over time will help the root systems of trees and shrubs to grow and spread underground.  

Generally, trees and shrubs should be watered at the time of planting, then daily for the first two weeks, then every couple of days for the next three weeks to three months. Watering should be abundant and deep, covering the entire area under the tree canopy. If trees have been planted in soil that does not drain well, watering should be done gradually to prevent runoff. 

After the first few weeks and for about two to three years after, it’s better to water a large amount (for several minutes) less frequently than a small amount every day until roots are established. Watering in the mornings or evenings will also avoid significant water loss from evaporation, especially during long, hot summer days. 

2. Mulching 

Mulch is a layer of organic material that can be applied over soil and around plants to improve soil conditions. Proper mulching around trees after planting benefits them by improving soil health, regulating soil temperature, reducing competition and avoiding damage from grass maintenance equipment. Mulch should be reapplied as needed to maintain a consistent depth of around five centimetres to ensure ongoing benefits and replace material that decomposes.  

3. Staking 

If young trees are unstable or susceptible to heavy winds, temporary supports like stakes may help them build stability. Any support structure should be regularly inspected and removed within one year. 

4. Fertilizing 

While fertilization is not always recommended, it can improve soil conditions and plant health, and it can increase growth when applied properly. Soil fertilization should be considered when a nutrient deficiency has been diagnosed by soil testing or in consultation with a qualified professional. Fertilizer should be selected and applied following the label instructions and industry standards (such as the Canadian Landscape Standard). 

5. Weeding 

The roots of newly planted trees compete with other plants for nutrients and water, so maintaining an area around the tree that is free from weeds and grasses will help the tree thrive. Applying a layer of mulch around the tree will help with weed control, but regularly inspecting and weeding newly planted trees are also important maintenance activities. The use of herbicides to control weeds should be avoided, as they can have negative effects on pollinators and ecosystems.

6. Pest and disease management 

Trees may be prone to different types of pests and diseases, brought on by warming climates and spread between different regions. It is far easier to prevent rather than cure infected trees, so establishing a plan for regular monitoring to identify early signs of stress or disease and taking preventative measures to avoid infection are crucial. If trees become infected, specific treatments or removal of diseased branches or whole trees may be necessary. Integrated approaches should be used for managing pests and rodents to avoid or minimize the use of insecticides, herbicides and rodenticides.  

7. Pruning 

Pruning is one of the most important maintenance procedures for urban trees. It can be done to remove dead wood, encourage growth in a desired shape or structure, and raise, reduce or thin growth. Proper pruning reduces the risk of fallen limbs and branches, avoids tree damage and promotes long-term tree health. 

Creating a plan for monitoring and maintenance

Trees are valuable municipal assets and, as with all municipal assets, it’s a good idea to create lifecycle plans for monitoring and maintaining trees.  

Different types of tree assets may require different types of maintenance. Defining the different types of tree assets in your community can help you create monitoring and maintenance plans. For example, are they street or boulevard trees, park trees or forest trees in natural or restoration areas? 

Across the community, the extent of maintenance needed can be assessed by answering questions such as: How many trees require maintenance? How often do these trees require maintenance? What level of maintenance is required for each tree? What type of maintenance needs to be completed? What are the costs of maintaining trees? What resources are required? What resources are available? 

Here are steps that can help you monitor and maintain trees: 

1. Create a tree inventory: A good way of recording maintenance needs is to develop a spatial inventory. Inventories should capture attributes such as the tree’s location, species, condition, diameter at breast height (DBH), planting site type and any other factors that will inform maintenance planning and prioritization. For more information on using tools to create site inventories, review our Tools and technologies factsheet. 

2. Create annual work plans: To address the scope, frequency, budget and timing of proactive maintenance throughout the year, a work plan is indispensable. Work plans should specify which trees need to be inspected and maintained at regular intervals, including identifying trees that require more frequent maintenance due to their health or location. Plans should also detail monitoring activities to measure, track and report on tree health and other relevant maintenance considerations. 

3. Anticipate reactive maintenance: Tree maintenance will also be required reactively, outside of annual work plans, such as when trees become high-risk, have a health issue or need to be pruned for clearance. In these cases, maintenance should be prioritized according to safety and available resources.  

4. Document completed tree maintenance: Documentation, ideally done in your tree inventory, enables better monitoring of tree conditions, maintenance history, treatments received and any ongoing issues. It can also be used to improve asset management planning. 

5. Establish a plan for replanting: Trees periodically need to be removed, as part of regular maintenance or because of damage caused by conditions like windstorms or disease outbreaks. As part of your maintenance plan, determine what steps you will take to replace trees that need to be removed or that do not survive. 

How to involve your community in tree monitoring and maintenance

Invite community members to be a part of tree maintenance and monitoring by encouraging them to share their concerns about tree conditions and report trees in need of attention. Volunteer and community groups, such as citizen urban forester programs, can act as stewards of trees, parks or natural areas. They can help with watering, invasive species removal, restoration planting and engaging with the public to raise awareness of the importance of tree maintenance in urban and naturalized areas.  

Next steps

Here are additional resources that can help you get started with maintaining your community trees: 

• Tree Canada, Compendium of Best Urban Forest Management Practices  

• Vibrant Cities Lab, Monitoring & Maintaining Your Urban Forest  

• International Society of Arboriculture, Proper Mulching Techniques  

• Natural Resources Canada, Top forest insects and diseases in Canada 

This resource was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. 

This factsheet walks through important considerations for choosing where to plant trees and how to prepare for planting in sites where conditions are less than ideal. It provides step-by-step guidance that communities can use to help ensure long-term tree survival.  

This factsheet was created to support small and rural communities who are just developing their urban forestry approaches and content might be helpful for municipal staff working in various departments such as public works, recreation or public health services.

Why does the right site matter?  

Communities should plant the right kinds of trees in the right places at the right times. Good planting sites are the foundation of successful tree planting.  

Choosing the right site and preparing the site before planting can help avoid costly challenges like premature tree removal and complicated maintenance. Additionally, choosing the right site will minimize potentially hazardous conditions and community safety concerns. Careful site selection and preparation can also allow for planting in areas that are traditionally not as well suited for planting, but which may be important for achieving community benefits. Community benefits can include climate resilience, easier access to nature and cooling shade, and better quality of life for all residents including equity-deserving groups. 

This factsheet covers two important processes. Site selection is choosing where new trees will be planted, while site preparation is the process of readying a selected site for successful planting. Careful consideration of both is crucial because the conditions of a planting site directly influence the establishment and long-term health of trees. 

How to select and prepare your site 

1. Consider your objectives for planting 

Start by defining the objectives of your planting project to guide and prioritize sites where trees could have the greatest impact. Consider broader community goals related to urban forest management, biodiversity, climate action and equity.  

Try a tool like HealthyPlan.City to help you identify areas with low canopy cover, high summer temperatures or high flood risk in your community, as well as how these areas intersect with populations that may be disproportionately impacted by these factors. 

2. Create a site inventory  

Conduct surveys of potential planting sites using tools like GIS (geographic information system mapping) combined with ground-based surveys (which can be done by driving or walking). Gathering community feedback can also help identify where new trees would be most beneficial. While surveying non-municipal lands, identify the landowners of the potential planting sites in your inventory. Recording planting sites in a site inventory can also aid future tree planting operations. 

For more information on the tools, you can use to create site inventories, review our Tools and technologies factsheet. 

3. Assess planting sites 

Site conditions vary widely across and within communities, making site assessment crucial before planting. Important factors to consider in your analysis include soil conditions, growing conditions such as water availability and access to sunlight, exposure, height and space requirements, physical limitations, and previous land use or history of the site. 

Soil 

Soil quality is vital to tree establishment and growth. Site selection and preparation requires consideration of both soil volume and composition.  

Soil volume refers to the amount of soil available for roots to grow. Ideally it is as large as possible to support root spread and depth. A good guideline is that trees should be planted in a soil volume of 0.6 cubic metres per square metre of the tree’s crown area at maturity (for more information, consult the Canadian Landscape Standard). 

Soil composition is the mix of air, water and nutrients in the soil. High-quality soil is typically a mix of roughly 25% water, 25% air, 45% minerals and 5% organic matter. Field or laboratory testing can help you determine soil composition, including pH and nutrient levels, organic content, and the proportion of different soil components (such as sand, silt or clay).  

Retaining existing soils, where possible, helps to preserve soil structure and microorganisms that support tree establishment. In sites with poor soil, remediation or replacement can improve tree establishment (this is covered in step 4 below).  

Water  

Trees grow best when they have access to an uncontaminated, consistent water supply and soil with good infiltration and drainage. It is important to assess how the sloping of the land and the soil conditions will influence water distribution and pooling. In dry conditions, irrigation or watering may be necessary—particularly during the first two years after planting.  

Exposure 

Urban planting sites can vary widely in their exposure to shade, wind, salt and cool or hot microclimates. Different tree species vary in their tolerance to these factors. When selecting planting sites, consider the location’s current or potential exposure to factors that could impact the survival of different species. 

For more information on selecting tree species, review our Stock Selection factsheet. 

Physical limitations 

When planning where and how to plant, it’s important to consider the size of the tree both at the time of planting and when it reaches maturity to understand the space required for healthy growth. Conduct an evaluation of elements above and below the ground that could affect the available space for tree growth. It’s also important to consider maintenance requirements and future accessibility to the site. 

Consider what’s above the site: 

Examples: signage, lights, traffic, power lines, sightlines, maintenance limitations 

Examine all above-ground site factors. How will growing trees affect traffic, buildings, utilities, sightlines and private property? What kind of spacing is there from other trees? Is there enough clearance from surrounding infrastructure? Is there anything there that will make it difficult to maintain the site? These are all important factors to plan for before planting trees. Remember to plan for trees to reach their mature sizes and consider how large trees would affect the area.  

Consider what’s below the site:

Examples: water pipes, gas lines, electrical infrastructure, artefacts or anything else of cultural or archaeological significance 

Examine all below-ground site factors. What underground infrastructure is there? For example, tree roots can grow into pipes and heave pavement. Check your municipal and provincial guidelines (use a resource such as Click Before You Dig) and check with utility authorities to see what’s below any planting site you’re considering. Note that different provinces have different utility regulations to examine before choosing a planting site.  

Previous land use or history of the site 

It's important to consider other factors about a site that may be hard to see, such as the history of land use and tenure of the area. When considering the history of the site, you could collect information on whether the site had been affected by forest fire, insect damage or weather damage in the past. You could also consider if the site had previously been used for industrial purposes, or as former marginal farmland. Community engagement can help you learn more about sites that may have cultural or historical significance. 

4. Apply strategies to improve site conditions, where needed 

After you’ve thoroughly investigated a planting site, you can identify any modifications needed to improve planting conditions. Site preparation can be an intensive process, so it’s important to plan carefully and seek professional advice before beginning. Some common strategies to improve site conditions include: 

• Adding soil or soil amendments to adjust soil composition, pH or nutrient levels and ensure sufficient levels of organic material (e.g., compost) 
• Removing rocks, pavement or other hard structures that could limit root development or affect water infiltration 
• Breaking up compacted soil to improve soil structure, increase nutrient uptake, and improve aeration and drainage 
• Decontaminating soil or completing other site remediation activities 

How to involve your community in site selection and preparation 

Community feedback is important for aligning planting objectives and priorities with local values and priorities. Engaging with community members can help you identify where trees should (or should not) be planted and to prioritize sites based on demand and equity considerations. 

Next steps 

Here are additional resources that can help you get started with selecting and preparing sites for tree planting: 

• Canadian One-Call Centres Committee, Click Before You Dig 
• Natural Resources Canada, A Guide for Successful Tree Planting  
• Natural Resources Canada, Site preparation science supporting tree planting 
• City of Guelph, Tree Technical Manual 
• Vibrant Cities Lab, Tree Planting - Urban Forestry Toolkit  

This resource was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.