Windsor accepts requests for tree planting through an online application process.

According to the city’s chief forester, since the beginning of the year citizens have been able to apply to plant trees on the municipal portions of their properties – also known as public rights of way.

Yemi Adeyeye says trees are planted twice a year in Windsor – about 3,000 in total. About 1,400 trees are expected to be planted this spring. A second wave of planting will take place in October and November, he said.

Yemi Adeyeye is the forester for the City of Windsor. (CBC)

In 2020, a city-owned tree assessment found that tree canopy cover was around 19 percent.

The portal will ask for contact information and additional comments on your request, among other things. You can also continue to call Windsor’s 311 service.

“For example, we could send some of our staff to your location and drive around your block to look at the other areas and see how many trees there are,” Adeyeye said.

“The reason is to see if it is logistically feasible for us to plant it and set up an irrigation plan.”

Tree justice taken into account

After scouting the property and neighborhood, Adeyeye says tree protection throughout the city will also be given strong consideration.

“We’ve positioned our eyes so that we can see where all of our city trees are. And of course, these trees are unevenly distributed throughout the city.”

“Part of our project is to ensure that new trees are planted in different parts of the city where there may be fewer trees to basically balance things out.”

Windsor’s chief city forester says about 1,400 new trees will be planted in residential areas this spring. (Chris Ensing/CBC)

According to Adeyeye, this spring’s planting season is spread across different parts of Windsor.

“Focused on specific areas in the north, south, east and west of the city.”

He said it would be essentially impossible to address all the streets that need additional tree cover at once, so priority would be given to areas with very little tree cover and residents who really want it.

Which trees will be planted?

The trees planted in Windsor are characterized by their native, Carolina and climate-appropriate characteristics.

The following trees will be planted during the spring planting season:

• Black Maple

• Swamp White Oak

• Chestnut oak

• Kentucky coffee tree

• tulip

• Judas tree

• Red maple

• Sweetgum

• ginkgo

• River birch

• Columnar pedunculate oak

At the time of planting, the trees have a diameter of approximately 50 millimeters.

With good care – through watering, mulching and pruning – the trees can live for over 100 years, according to Adeyeye, although their size varies depending on the tree species.

“Trees that are large enough to easily grow in our city centers, but strong enough to withstand wind or other environmental conditions they may encounter.”

If they are too small, they can break – due to weather, rodents or pests, he says.