Landscaping
Fall tree planting in the GTA: the city's street tree, your own yard, and watering to freeze-up
The short answer
Ontario's Tree Atlas advises planting trees in the fall if possible, because fall-planted trees have more time to root before the next season's dry spells. Before buying a tree, check whether the spot is city road allowance: Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Toronto will assess it on request and plant a street tree where one fits. On your own lot, file a free Ontario One Call locate five business days ahead, mulch in a ring clear of the trunk, and keep watering until the ground freezes.
September and October are one of the two windows in which GTA municipalities put trees in the ground, and Ontario's own planting tips go further: plant in the fall if you can. That makes fall tree planting a sound plan for a front or back yard this month, with two checks before anything is bought. The spot you are looking at may be city road allowance, where the municipality assesses the site on request and plants the tree itself. And a tree planted in September still has to be watered on purpose: Mississauga's instruction is once a week until November, the first snowfall, or until the ground freezes.
Is autumn a good time to plant a tree in the GTA?
Yes — it is the season the province recommends. The planting tips in Ontario's Tree Atlas, published by the Ministry of Natural Resources, put it plainly:
Plant trees in the fall if possible. Trees planted in fall have more time to root before they are exposed to dry periods the following season. They are more likely to flourish and may need less watering.
The municipalities' own planting calendars line up with that. Oakville's Urban Forestry section says planting takes place in the spring and fall of each year. Toronto's Free Tree Program hands out native trees and shrubs to residents each spring and fall. Milton restricts its commemorative tree program to the same two windows: planting will only take place in the spring or fall planting season to maximize the chance of survival, and each tree carries a two-year warranty.
Autumn planting does not shorten the aftercare. Toronto asks residents to water a newly planted tree for its first two to three years, and Burlington says support stakes stay on for the first two. A tree that goes in this month is watered from now until freeze-up, and again from spring.
Is the spot in front of your house yours to plant?
Part of it may not be, and that is the first thing to settle. Toronto defines street trees as trees planted on the road allowance — the City-owned portion of land between the roadway and private property — and its Free Tree Program warns that a portion of the front or side lawn may be owned by the City as road allowance and is not eligible for a program tree. The strip you mow every week is not automatically yours. Our post on whose tree is it and where the property line runs covers how to settle it with a survey or a call to 311.
If the spot is city land, three things follow. A tree growing there is a public tree: Oakville states that all street trees on municipal property are protected by Town by-laws, and Mississauga states that residents are not permitted to prune or alter City-owned trees. Anything else you place there is at your own risk — Mississauga points to its Encroachment By-law and says the City is not responsible for damage to private property placed on the road allowance. And the municipality will assess the spot on request and, where a tree fits, choose the species and plant it; in Mississauga the request is free and City contractors water the tree for its first two years.
How do you ask the municipality for a street tree?
You phone or file a request, forestry staff assess the site, and the municipality picks the species and the exact spot. Every entry below was read off the municipality's own page on 11 September 2026.
| Municipality | How to ask | What the municipality says happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Mississauga | 311 (905-615-4311 outside city limits) or the online request form. The service is free. The stump of any previous tree must be removed before you ask for a replacement. | Forestry staff inspect within 30 business days and leave a notice with the inspection date, number of trees, location and species. Planting is usually in spring, summer and fall, and City contractors water the tree through the growing season for two years. |
| Oakville | ServiceOakville, 905-845-6601. | Urban Forestry plants replacement trees where earlier trees and stumps were removed and where there is growing space. Town trees are planted at least six metres from one another, and some sites cannot take a tree at all. |
| Burlington | The Street-Side Tree Planting program: 905-335-7777 or city@burlington.ca. | A Forestry Investigator assesses the right-of-way, and a suitable address joins the list for the upcoming planting season. You can state a species preference, but it is not guaranteed. The City's release for the 2024 program took requests from January to April, so ask which season a request made now would join. |
| Toronto (incl. Etobicoke) | 311 or the online Request a City Tree Planting form. | Staff assess the spot for species and position. If a tree is planned you receive a hand-delivered notice with the location, species and an approximate timeframe. |
| Milton | Street tree concerns go through the Town's Operations contact form. | The Trees page says dead young street trees are removed and stumped in the fall, with replacements planted the following spring. |
The Mississauga inspection window is the reason to ask in September rather than November. Thirty business days from mid-September runs into late October, so the inspection alone can take that long, and the planting may land in a later season. Filing now puts the address in the queue before the next planting season.
Free and subsidized trees for your own yard
Oakville and Toronto both publish help for trees on private land, and the Toronto giveaway has an Etobicoke date this month.
- Oakville's street tree partnership. If you do not have a Town tree in front of your house, the Town will contribute $300 towards a larger tree that you buy and plant yourself on your front yard, in a location the Town approves. The route is the Street Tree Partnership Application Form plus a signed Street Tree Partnership Agreement, both sent to service@oakville.ca.
- Toronto's Free Tree Program. Residents can register for up to two trees or shrubs per household each spring and fall, in 1- or 2-gallon pots from 1 to 4 feet tall. They must be planted on privately owned land in Toronto — not on the road allowance. Preregistration is required. The fall 2026 list includes eastern hemlock, ironwood, serviceberry, sugar maple, white oak and white pine, plus shrubs such as black chokeberry, common elderberry, New Jersey tea and ninebark.
- The Etobicoke pickup is Saturday, 26 September, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at West Deane Park, 376 Martin Grove Road. On 11 September its registration link was open; the city says registration is open while supplies last.
- Toronto's subsidized planting through LEAF. Full service — an in-person consultation with a LEAF arborist, delivery, planting and mulching — is $160 to $230 per tree plus HST; do-it-yourself, with a virtual consultation and delivery of tree and mulch, is $110 to $180 plus HST. Trees are 5- to 8-foot native deciduous or 2- to 4-foot native evergreen.
Wherever the tree comes from, the species question has a free answer. Oakville, Burlington and Milton all point residents to Ontario's Tree Atlas: pick the spot on its map closest to your planting site and it lists the native trees that grow in that area, each with its preferred growing conditions. Its planting tips add two more rules worth following — plant locally sourced trees, and plant a variety of species to lessen the effect of pests and diseases.
What has to happen before you dig on your own lot?
A property-line check and a utility locate, in that order. Planting a tree is one of the jobs Ontario One Call names directly, and the locate request has to go in at least five business days before the digging. The rest of the list below is what municipal forestry staff weigh when they pick a spot, applied to your own yard.
- Confirm the spot is inside your property lineA survey shows the distance from the house to the property line and the curb. If the spot turns out to be road allowance, go back to the street-tree request above instead of planting.
- File the Ontario One Call locate five business days aheadThe service is free. Public locates do not cover privately owned lines — a gas line to a BBQ or pool heater, electrical out to a shed — and those are the homeowner's to arrange. Our post on renting equipment versus hiring a one-day yard job goes through the locate step by step.
- Look up and around before you look downToronto lists what its staff check at every planting site: available space, soil conditions and sunlight, underground utilities, overhead wires, paved surfaces and other structures. Stand at your spot and go through the same list.
- Match the tree to the room it will haveOakville will not plant its own street trees closer than six metres to one another. A spot squeezed between the house, a fence and an existing tree may be a place for one of the shrubs above rather than a shade tree.
- Choose the species from the Tree AtlasLook up the native species for your area and the growing conditions each one prefers. Note your soil while you are at it: Oakville gives different watering amounts for its clay north of the QEW and its sandier ground south of it.
How much water does a newly planted tree need in the fall?
Enough to keep the root zone moist without soaking it, counted in litres rather than in minutes of hose. The municipal figures differ because they describe different trees and different soils, so use the one closest to your tree and your ground:
| Source | How much | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Mississauga | About 60 litres poured slowly at the base, or refill the watering bag | Once a week until November, the first snowfall or the ground freezes; twice a week in hot, dry spells; less in rainy periods |
| Oakville — 6 cm trunk on clay (typically north of the QEW) | About 45 litres | Every 10 to 14 days |
| Oakville — sandy soil (typically south of the QEW) | Twice as much as on clay | Every five to seven days |
| Milton | 40 litres per watering for most trees | Once or twice a week when there is little or no rain; less often in cooler weather |
| Burlington | A good soaking that leaves the soil moist, not soaking wet | Once every three to five days, adjusted for rain that has fallen or is forecast |
The practical method is a 10-litre pail and a count, poured slowly so the water soaks in rather than running off. Oakville asks for the water to go into a berm of mulch at the edge of the planting hole, moved outward as the tree grows. Mississauga asks you not to spray the leaves, which can scorch in direct sun. Too much is its own problem: Burlington says over-watering can create as many issues for a new tree as drought, and Milton notes that yellowing leaves may indicate too much water.
In Oakville, Burlington and Milton, Halton Region's odd/even rule is written for lawns, and on 11 September 2026 the Region's page showed Level 1 — careful use, meaning no serious shortage and a voluntary reduction in outdoor use. The level can change in a dry spell; the page and 311 carry the current one.
Mulch, stakes and a guard before the first snow
Every municipal care page we read covers mulch, and every one of them warns against the same mistake: mulch or soil heaped against the trunk. The rest of the list is about keeping damage off a thin young stem through its first winters.
- A wide, shallow ring that stops short of the trunk. Oakville says a 2- to 4-inch layer with a 1- to 2-inch mulch-free gap at the trunk; Mississauga says up to 10 centimetres deep and at least 10 centimetres away from the trunk; Burlington describes about 10 centimetres from just off the trunk out to the dripline. A volcano of mulch against the bark can cause rot at the base.
- Nothing planted inside the ring. Toronto says flowers planted around the base damage the roots, and Burlington says any plants in the mulched area, grass included, compete for resources the tree needs while it establishes.
- Mowers and trimmers stay off the bark. Oakville, Burlington and Toronto all warn about mower and trimmer damage to the trunk — Toronto notes young bark is easily injured, and Burlington that severe bark damage can eventually kill a tree. Milton suggests flexible trunk protectors plus the mulch ring against string trimmers. A ring wide enough to keep the mower back protects the bark on every lawn mowing visit.
- Stakes come off on schedule. Milton says stakes are needed for two full growing seasons and should then be removed; Burlington asks residents not to remove stakes from boulevard trees within the first two years.
- A guard before the first snowfall. For trees on your own property, Mississauga suggests a tree guard around the stem before the first snowfall for the first few years, left on until the tree outgrows it, to prevent damage from rabbits and rodents. What else autumn yard work changes for rodents is in our post on rodents moving toward the house.
- Nothing tied, nothing paved. Toronto says not to tie rope, string or other objects around the trunk or branches; Milton says stones, pavers or bricks around a tree lead to stress and can kill it.
When to plant it yourself, and when to hand it over
A potted tree or shrub of 1 to 4 feet — the size Toronto's program hands out — going into an open bed after the locate is a spade and an afternoon. Do that yourself. The watering and the mulch ring are yours to keep up whoever plants it.
It is worth handing over when the planting is part of a larger change: an old shrub or stump comes out first, several shrubs go into a bed that needs reshaping, or soil and mulch have to reach the back of the property. Planting shrubs and trees, shrub removal, bed work and mulch are part of our landscaping service, alongside the autumn bed cutback. A large tree close to the house or near an overhead line is a job for a certified arborist.
The order to work in this fall
- Settle whose land the spot is on.
- Road allowance: file the street tree request now.
- Toronto yard: register for a fall pickup — Etobicoke is 26 September.
- Own lot: file the locate five business days before planting day.
- Plant, mulch in a ring, and water by the litre until freeze-up.
- Fit a guard before the first snow, and resume watering in spring.
Frequently asked questions
Is fall a good time to plant a tree in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario's Tree Atlas advises planting trees in the fall if possible, because fall-planted trees have more time to root before the next season's dry periods and may need less watering. GTA municipalities plant in the spring and fall too: Oakville plants street trees in both seasons, Toronto runs its free tree giveaways in both, and Milton limits its commemorative tree planting to the spring or fall season to maximize the chance of survival. A tree planted in the fall still needs watering until the ground freezes and again through its first two to three years.
Can I plant a tree on the boulevard in front of my house?
The boulevard is usually municipal road allowance, so a tree there becomes a public tree protected by the municipality's by-laws. The better route is to ask for one: Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Toronto all take requests, assess the spot, choose the species and plant it. Toronto's Free Tree Program trees are not allowed on the road allowance.
How often should I water a newly planted tree in the fall?
Mississauga says once a week until November, the first snowfall or the ground freezes, with about 60 litres poured slowly at the base, and twice a week in hot dry spells. Milton says 40 litres once or twice a week when there is little rain. Oakville gives about 45 litres every 10 to 14 days for a 6 cm tree on clay, and twice as much every five to seven days on sandy soil.
How do I get a free street tree in Mississauga?
Call 311, or 905-615-4311 from outside the city, or use the online request form. The service is free, but the stump of any previous tree has to be removed first. Forestry staff inspect within 30 business days and leave a notice with the number of trees, location and species, and City contractors water the new tree during the growing season for two years.
Do I need to call before digging a hole for a tree?
Yes. Ontario One Call names planting a tree among the jobs that need a locate request, which must go in at least five business days before digging and costs nothing. Private lines such as a gas line to a BBQ or electrical to a shed are not covered by public locates and are the homeowner's to arrange.
How deep should mulch be around a new tree?
Oakville says 2 to 4 inches with a 1 to 2 inch gap at the trunk, and Mississauga says up to 10 centimetres deep kept at least 10 centimetres from the trunk. Mulch piled against the trunk can cause rot, and nothing should be planted inside the mulch ring.
Sources
- Town of Oakville — Tree Planting — Street trees planted in the spring and fall; replacement trees on the road allowance at least six metres apart, requested through ServiceOakville 905-845-6601; $300 street tree partnership for a larger tree on the front yard; 45 litres every 10 to 14 days for a 6 cm tree on clay north of the QEW, twice as much every five to seven days on sand south of it; mulch 2-4 inches with a 1-2 inch gap at the trunk.
- City of Mississauga — Request a new or replacement tree — Stump must be removed before a replacement request; inspection within 30 business days with a notice of date, number, location and species; planting in spring, summer and fall; contractors water for two years; clear the planting area; Encroachment By-law note on private property on the road allowance.
- City of Mississauga — Caring for new trees — Water once a week until November, the first snowfall or the ground freezes, twice a week in hot dry periods, about 60 litres; mulch up to 10 cm deep and at least 10 cm from the trunk; tree guard before the first snowfall against rabbits and rodents; residents may not prune or alter City-owned trees; requests are free.
- City of Toronto — Tree Planting on City Property — Road allowance defined as the City-owned land between roadway and private property; request through 311 or online; site factors assessed; three weeks from notice to cancel; 1.5 m by 1.5 m clearance on planting day; water new trees for the first two to three years; no flowers at the base, nothing tied to the trunk.
- City of Toronto — Supports for Tree Planting on Private Property — Toronto Free Tree Program: up to two trees or shrubs per household each spring and fall, 1- or 2-gallon pots, 1 to 4 feet, private land only; fall 2026 species list; Etobicoke pickup 26 September at West Deane Park; LEAF subsidized planting at $160-$230 full-service or $110-$180 do-it-yourself plus HST.
- City of Burlington — Tree Planting and Care — Water a new boulevard tree once every three to five days with a good soaking, moist but not soaking wet; about 10 cm of woodchip mulch from just off the trunk to the dripline; no plants in the mulched area; do not remove stakes within the first two years; Ontario Tree Atlas for native species.
- City of Burlington — Street-Side Tree Planting program release — Request a tree on the right-of-way through 905-335-7777 or city@burlington.ca; a Forestry Investigator assesses the site; species preference not guaranteed; the 2024 program accepted requests between January and April.
- Town of Milton — Trees — Street tree concerns through the Operations contact form; dead young trees removed in the fall and replaced the following spring; 40 litres once or twice a week in dry periods, less when cooler; mulch ring 2-4 inches deep; no stones or pavers around the tree; stakes for two full growing seasons.
- Town of Milton — Commemorative Tree and Bench Program — Tree planting only in the spring or fall planting season to maximize the chance of survival; two-year warranty on each tree.
- Halton Region — Outdoor Water Use Restrictions — Odd/even lawn watering rule; restriction level shown as Level 1, careful use, on 11 September 2026; current level on the page or through 311.
- Ontario One Call — Homeowners — Planting a tree requires a free locate request at least five business days before digging; private infrastructure such as a gas line to a BBQ or electrical to a shed is the homeowner's responsibility.
- Government of Ontario — Tree Atlas — Planting tips: plant trees in the fall if possible, because fall-planted trees have more time to root before the following season's dry periods and may need less watering; plant locally sourced trees and a variety of species. Map lists native trees near a chosen planting site with each species' preferred growing conditions.
Programs, request windows, dates and watering guidance are set by each municipality and change. Everything here was read off the municipality's own page on 11 September 2026; confirm with your municipality before you plant.
