The Regional Municipality of York and LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) are partnering once again to help landowners replant new trees when replacing those killed by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). EAB is an invasive insect that bores underneath the bark of ashes, cutting off the tree’s water and nutrient supply and killing it in two to three years. It is expected that over two million ash trees in York Region will be killed by EAB in the next ten to fifteen years.
Property owners who have lost ash trees and are planting new trees to replace them are eligible to receive an additional $100 rebate per tree when planting with LEAF. The Region is offering this additional rebate to help residents cope with the effects of EAB.
With support from York Region, LEAF has offered subsidized tree planting to private property owners, through the Backyard Tree Planting Program, since 2009. The program is available to homeowners, property owners and businesses and offers a range of native tree and shrub species. This year, they will deduct an additional $100 when an eligible property owner is planting trees to replace ash trees lost to EAB. Up to five rebates per property, while supplies last.
The LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program is designed to make tree planting easy. Program participants receive a 30-minute consultation with a certified arborist to help them select the species and locations that are right for them and their property. LEAF will then deliver the trees during their spring or fall planting season and participants have the option to plant the tree themselves or let LEAF do the planting.
Trees provide significant economic, social, environmental and public health benefits, and tree planting is recognized as one of the best solutions to climate change. Residents are urged to plant, protect and care for trees and forests so they continue to contribute to healthy communities here in York Region.
Visit www.yourleaf.org to learn more and apply for the Backyard Tree Planting Program.
