Ask West Kelowna
Leave the loading to us – pick up your pre-purchased Urban Re-leaf tree this weekend
Residents who purchased one of 200 at-cost trees through the City of West Kelowna’s Urban Re-Leaf Program are reminded that collection day is Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mount Boucherie Community Centre gravel parking lot at 2760 Cameron Road.
To ensure social distancing and well-being, masked city staff will direct traffic and load trees into purchasers’ vehicles. Remember to bring proof of purchase, which will also indicate for staff the type of tree purchased. Once, trees are loaded, motorists can pull forward to a separate area to secure their load. Remember to bring rope, straps, marker ribbon and any other equipment and supplies you need to safely secure and flag your load before leaving.
Since staff will be loading trees, they request that purchasers bring pick-up trucks or trailers, if possible. Trees range in size from six to 12 feet tall, in pots of up to 10 gallons. It may not always be possible to load trees in car trunks or inside storage areas within a vehicle.
How to plant your tree
What are the benefits of the Urban Re-Leaf Program?
Trees are important! Trees create the very air we breathe and act as filters, attempting to keep it clean.
Trees do this by helping to remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the air, which in turn cools the earth. In fact, a mature canopy tree absorbs enough carbon dioxide, at a rate of about 21.6 KG/year, and releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.
Trees also build soil and help soak up storm water which can prevent flooding, and they offer energy-saving shade that reduces global warming and creates habitat for thousands of different species.
Therefore the benefits of expanding the West Kelowna tree canopy are many and include:
- Improving air quality
- Mitigating climate change through absorbing carbon dioxide
- Water conservation through absorbing rainfall and reducing runoff
- Energy conservation from shading
- Economic benefits associated with attractive tree cover and landscaping
Available 2021 Tree Options
| Armstrong Freeman Maple |
The Armstrong Freeman Maple is a fast growing, upright tree with attractive silver-grey bark. Green, star shaped leaves put on a show in fall with colours of yellow, orange and red that lasts for several weeks. Armstrong can reach up to 60 feet tall.
Water Needs: Moderate Light Needs: Full Sun Height: 50'+ Spread: 10-20'
Care and info:Prefers a moist well drained woodland soil. Water regularly as needed. Feed in spring with an all purpose fertilizer prior to new spring growth. Little pruning is necessary. Prune broken or damaged limbs. |
| Maidenhair Tree |
The Maidenhair Tree is extremely durable, disease and insect resistant deciduous shade tree with uniform upright branches. Bright green fan shaped foliage turns brilliant yellow in fall. The oldest simplest leaf structure of all known plant life.
Water Needs: Moderate Light Needs: Full Sun Height: 40-50' Spread: 20'+
Care and info:Young Maidenhair trees in particular need care. Older ones don’t make special demands and can cope with virtually no care. Neither parasites nor snow and frost can do them any harm. Maidenhair Trees prefer deep, well-aired and drained, sandy clay soil, which provides them with moisture year round. Regular watering and a balanced fertilizer is recommended. |
| Snowbird Hawthorn |
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Snowbird Hawthorn's are small, upright rounded trees with deep dark green glossy spring foliage and yellow fall colour. Double white clusters of flowers in spring are followed by sparse red berries in the fall. The Snowbird is described as a hardy ornamental hawthorn and is recommended for small home landscapes. This tree grows at a medium rate and can live for more than 40 years under ideal conditions.
Water Needs: Moderate Light Needs: Full Sun Height: 10-20' Spread: 10-20'
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| Chanticleer Pear Tree |
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Chanticleer pear, like all Callery pear trees, is shallow-rooted and will tolerate a wide range of  soils including periodically dry, moist but not continually wet, clay, and alkaline. It produces profuse white spring flowers followed by small, round, hard, bitter fruits. The shiny dark green summer leaves turn orange or gold red to red purple in the fall.
Water Needs: Moderate Light Needs: Full Sun Height: 25-35' Spread: 16-25'
Care and info:A densely growing, narrow selection suitable for street plantings. It is resistant to fire-blight and much less susceptible to wind breakage. Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. The Chanticleer pear grows in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well-drained and clay soils. While it prefers moist soil, this tree has some drought tolerance. |
| Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac |
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An upright compact oval tree with cherry like bark. Large panicles of creamy white
Water Needs: Moderate Light Needs: Full Sun Height: 20-30' Spread: 10-20'
Care and info:Water regularly as needed to establish. Tolerant of most soils and drought when established. Feed in spring prior to new growth. Little pruning is required. If pruning is required, cut back after blooming to promote strong new growth and flower buds to set for the next year. |
flowers bloom in early summer. Useful as a small specimen tree or as a large multi-stemmed shrub. Urban Re-Leaf FAQs
| Where can I purchase a tree? |
| Starting March 8, 2021 trees can be purchased online using our Active Network system. Trees must be purchased before April 1, 2021. |
| How do I purchase a tree online? |
| As of March 8, 2021 you will have to create an account on Active Network to purchase a tree. Follow the online tree purchasing instructions. |
| How much is a tree? |
| A tree is $63 plus tax. |
| Who is eligible to buy a tree through the program? |
| All residents of West Kelowna are eligible to purchase a tree. |
| How many trees can I purchase? |
| Trees are limited to one per property. |
| How do I get my tree after purchase? |
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Residents who purchased one of 200 at-cost trees through the City of West Kelowna’s Urban Re-Leaf Program are reminded that collection day is Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mount Boucherie Community Centre gravel parking lot at 2760 Cameron Road.
To ensure social distancing and well-being, masked city staff will direct traffic and load trees into purchasers’ vehicles. Remember to bring proof of purchase, which will also indicate for staff the type of tree purchased. Once, trees are loaded, motorists can pull forward to a separate area to secure their load. Remember to bring rope, straps, marker ribbon and any other equipment and supplies you need to safely secure and flag your load before leaving.
Since staff will be loading trees, they request that purchasers bring pick-up trucks or trailers, if possible. Trees range in size from six to 12 feet tall, in pots of up to 10 gallons. It may not always be possible to load trees in car trunks or inside storage areas within a vehicle. |
| Can I cancel my tree order after purchase? |
| No, tree orders cannot be cancelled or refunded once processed. |
| What trees are available this year? |
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Five species are available this year:
For more information on each tree click here. |
| How large are the trees when they are picked up? |
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Your tree size will vary. The trees are large and planted in a 10-gallon pot so expect to pick-up a tree that is approximately 8 -10 feet tall. You can view the tree descriptions above to see how large each tree will become once fully grown. |
| Can I get a refund if my tree dies? |
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All trees will be verified healthy upon delivery, but aftercare and maintenance are the sole responsibility of the tree purchaser. No refunds or replacements are provided for dead trees. A tree planting guide will be provided when you purchase the tree and demonstrations will be available during pickup. |
How to plant your tree
Step by step guide to planting your new tree:
- Locate all underground utilities prior to digging. Remember to call or click before you dig!
- At least three business days before digging, click on bc1c.ca or call BC 1 Call at 1-800-474-6886. BC 1 Call will notify all member companies that have buried utilities in your dig area.
- Once digging in the area is determined to be safe, dig a hole that is the depth of the root ball and 2-3 times the width of the root ball.
- Note: Identify the trunk flare. The trunk flare is where the trunk expands at the base of the tree. This point should be partially visible after the tree has been planted.
- If the tree is planted too deep, new roots will have difficulty developing because of a lack of oxygen.
- Cut away the burlap/twine from the root ball.
- Place the root ball in the centre of the hole on top of the undisturbed soil.
- Fill in the hole with backfill and cover the entire disturbed area with 2-3 inches of mulch.
- Fill the remainder of the hole, firmly packing the soil to eliminate air pockets that may dry out roots.
- Further reduce air pockets by watering periodically while backfilling.
- Avoid fertilization at the time of planting.
- Stake the tree, if necessary.
- Studies have shown that trees establish more quickly and develop stronger trunk and root systems if they are not staked at the time of planting.
- Water.
- Keep the soil moist, but not water-logged.
- Check out the long-term care instructions above for your type of tree.
| 2020 Re-Leaf Program |
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Our Parks staff hand delivered all 150 trees for the inaugural Urban Re-Leaf program. We are so grateful to this community for your support of this new initiative. It was a big success with all 150 trees selling in just a few weeks and we look forward to next year being even bigger and better. Don’t forget, we want to see our urban tree canopy grow! Post a pic of your newly planted tree and tag the City of West Kelowna on social media or email us the picture to communications@westkelowna.ca. |
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