Living Green Barrie, with the help of the City of Barrie, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) and our generous sponsors and volunteers plant native trees and shrubs to increase Barrie’s forest canopy. Our goal is to plant 10,000 trees for Barrie and so far we have planted 5147 trees!
Trees are vital to our very existence. They make oxygen, clean the air and help fight against climate change. Roots soak up pollutants making the waters that flow into Lake Simcoe cleaner. They provide habitat for birds and wildlife and make the air feel cooler. Plain and simple, more trees mean a better Barrie.
2023 Pine Tree Real Estate Halloween Community Tree Planting
Saturday, October 28th, 2023 starting at 10:00 am | Pringle Park, 30 Pringle Drive, Barrie
Members of all ages of the community are invited to plant trees with us. Special thanks to our presenting sponsor Pine Tree Real Estate. Help us reach our goal of planting 10,000 trees for Barrie. Dress in costume for a chance to win prizes.
Snacks and warm/cold drinks will be available to all volunteers. Please bring your reusable water bottle and wear long pants, sturdy, closed-toed footwear and dress for the weather. This event is free. Donations are welcome!
How to Plant a Tree
Remember to plant the right species in the right places the right way with the right after-care. Right?!?
Right Species:
- Check your soil. Is it sandy or clayey? Perhaps a mixture of both (loam)?
- Is your planting space sunny or mostly in the shade?
Underground Locates
To ensure you know the locations of any buried cables/wires on your property, we recommend you contact Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 to request an underground utility check before planting. On some occasions, the utility companies may send someone out to visit your property to mark these lines.
Space Requirements
Trees and shrubs require space below ground for root development and above ground for crown development. Buildings, decks and paving can interfere with a tree or shrub’s ability to absorb nutrients and water. Cramped space, compacted soil, overhead wires and competition with other plants can stress them further and leave them susceptible to pests and disease. We will help you select appropriate species for your property based on the available space, rather than trying to fit in species that do not suit your property conditions.
The planting site you have in mind must meet the following minimum space requirements:
| Site Conditions | Shrubs | Small Trees | Med-Large Trees |
| Area of soft surface required | 5′ x 5′ | 10′ x 10′ | 15′ x 15′ |
| Distance from fence/property line | 3′ | 5′ | 5′ |
| Distance from hard surfaces (deck/paving) | 3′ | 5’ | 7’ |
| Distance from buildings with foundations | 3′ | 10’ | 10’ |
| Distance from existing trees | 8′ | 15’ | 20’ |
| Distance from stumps or existing ash trees | 8’ | 8’ | 8’ |
| Distance from swales | 5’ | 5’ | 5’ |
| Overhead wires | Not an issue | Avoid | Avoid |
| Raised beds or container planting | Not recommended | Never | Never |
10 000 Trees for Barrie
In accordance with Living Green Barrie’s mission, we are excited to reach our goal of planting 10 000 Trees for Barrie campaign! We are already well underway with almost 5000 trees planted since 2019. Our goal is to plant 10 000 trees for Barrie to make the city more resilient to climate change. Help us reach our goal by attending our tree planting events, or donate today!