Forestry

Spring Tree Planting

Tree seedlings are available for planting on your property in 2010 through the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority’s (LTVCA’s) tree planting program. Tree order applications can be picked up at the LTVCA’s administration office in Chatham at 100 Thames Street Monday – Friday or mailed to you by contacting the people at the telephone extensions shown below.

The deadline to receive tree orders is mid-March, however to ensure your species numbers and selection, order your 2010 trees now. A minimum order of $100 and 25 seedlings/species is required. The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has a variety of trees for rural landowners in both seedlings and large stock trees. Grants are available from Trees Ontario and the Natural Areas Restoration Grant Program to eligible customers with sites of a minimum of one acre or larger. Call now to find out if you qualify. Prices for seedlings range from $0.80 to $2.00 in conifers and deciduous trees.

In 2009, the LTVCA facilitated the planting of a total of 75,000 trees within their jurisdiction. Neighbouring Conservation Authorities supplied trees to landowners in municipalities beyond the watersheds of the Lower Thames Valley and region.

For further information about this program and to receive the 2010 price list and order form please contact:

Randall Van Wagner lt7@mdirect.net Ext. 230

Bob Pennington lt8@mdirect.net Ext. 229

Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority

100 Thames St. Chatham. ON. N7L 2Y8

Phone: 519-354-7310. Ext.229 Fax: 519-352-3435

ELIGIBILITY

Landowners who own property within the Lower Thames Valley watershed are eligible to purchase tree seedlings to be planted by the landowners or by the LTVCA staff. Over 30 species of softwoods (conifers), hardwoods and native shrubs are listed subject to availability from the nurseries. The deadline for accepting orders is mid March.

Minimum order of $100 required.
Minimum order of 25 seedlings PER SPECIES.
Availability – If species become un-available from the nurseries then substitutions of similar size and price will be offered.
Warranty – There is NO warranty on seedlings purchased through this program.
Apply for a 2010 price list and agreement forms to the LTVCA. Payment is required with each order placed. Cheques can be post dated up to February 28^th. 2010. We do not accept credit cards.
For larger orders a tree-planting machine is available for renting at a cost of $75.00 per day (plus taxes) for trees supplied by the Authority.
Planting by LTVCA staff – On approval, larger projects may be planted by LTVCA staff at a cost to be agreed between the landowner and the LTVCA.
Preparation and maintenance – It cannot be stressed enough that preparation and maintenance of the land is extremely important. Site preparation should commence in the Fall prior to the Spring planting. Roto-tilling and pre-emergent weed and grass spraying is recommended. The first three years are key to successful tree seedling survival. Space the trees to allow ongoing maintenance until the trees have grown high enough to be able to compete against weeds and grass.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Technical information is available at all times. For 2010 we anticipate that various funding programs will be available. For updated funding program information and to find out which programs would apply to the area you are in, please call the LTVCA Administration office in Chatham, Telephone number 519-354-7310, and speak with either Randall Van Wagner (ext 230) or Bob Pennington (ext 229).

Make sure that when selecting tree species for your property that you pick trees that are adaptable to the types of soil you have. An information sheet showing tree species under different soil type headings will be included with your price list and agreement request.

We are emphasizing the purchase of native trees only. These have proven to be much more adaptable to the conditions found in this area. The LTVCA watershed is in the Carolinian zone and as such has a diverse selection of trees some of which are becoming endangered.

Trees usually arrive from the nurseries around mid-April over a two-day period. However, if some of the nurseries experience bad weather two days can become two weeks. Therefore it is very important that trees are picked up for planting as soon as they come in. Trees ordered in the Western part of our watershed can be picked up from the Versacold Cold Storage warehouse in Chatham. Trees ordered from the Eastern part of our watershed can be picked up from our Longwoods Conservation area on Longwoods Road (Hwy. # 2) near Mt. Brydges.

Do’s and Don'ts

Do plant the trees as soon as possible after picking them up.

Do not store them for more than two days and only in a cool, dry area.

Do not keep them in water this drowns the trees.

Do spray or mist them if they look like they are drying out.

When planting do keep the trees in bags and in shade where ever possible.

Do eliminate air pockets by tamping the soil down around the tree, preferably with your toe, after planting.

Do not lay the trees out and then go back to plant later.

Do not transport the trees in an open truck or vehicle; keep covered to prevent windburn and /or extreme temperatures.

Do water the trees after planting and for ongoing maintenance where water is accessible.