The City of Richmond is delighted to announce the return of its highly anticipated tree sale for residents. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural tree sale, the City has doubled the amount of trees available to 1,000, all at a reduced price of $10 each. And based on popular feedback from residents last year, there will be a number of assorted fruit trees offered in addition to non fruit species. In addition, residents can now purchase up to two trees per residence.

The online registration and ordering period begins Monday, August 28 and ends Friday, September 22. Tree pick-up is on Saturday, September 23.

"The success of our inaugural tree sale last year confirms our residents are interested in playing a vital role in further expanding the city's urban forest and enhancing its tree canopy coverage, which offers many benefits for all,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “At the heart of our city's ongoing resiliency lies our commitment to sustainability and community engagement. Planting a tree is a gift to both current and future generations—a meaningful step towards enhancing air quality, fostering wildlife habitats, providing shade and leaving a lasting legacy."

The following eight species are available (chosen for their suitability in Richmond's unique urban environment) on a first come first serve basis:

• assorted apples (M. domestica)
• assorted fruiting cherries (Prunus sp.)
• Garry oak (Quercus garryana)
• Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
• paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
• serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
• shore pine (Pinus contorta)
• Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis)

The trees, which are nursery-grown quality, will be in five-gallon sized pots and will range in size from three to six feet tall.

Purchasing a tree

Richmond residents may purchase a maximum of two trees per residence, through the MyRichmond online portal or via www.richmond.ca/treesale. Registration to purchase trees begins Monday, August 28 until 5 p.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023. The subsidized cost to residents for a tree is $10, a price set to ensure cost is not a barrier and to partially recover the City’s cost of the purchase of the trees. 

Tree pick-up and planting instructions
Once registrants select and purchase a tree online, they will be assigned one of three, one and a half hour (1.5 hr) time slots to pick-up their tree:

• Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023
  
• Time: Between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
  
• Location: City of Richmond Works Yard, 5599 Lynas Lane, Richmond.

Trees are being offered to City of Richmond residents only. Residents will be asked to provide proof of residency at time of pick up. 

City staff will be onsite distributing the trees, and will provide a tree-planting brochure specifically for the species purchased, as well as advice, where to find additional supplies at local garden centres and respond to any tree-planting related questions. The event will proceed rain or shine. 

The City’s commitment to sustainable tree management
The City’s urban forestry canopy grows every year as new trees are planted throughout the community. In addition to trees being planted to replace trees removed due to decline, age or storm damage, the City is adding trees annually through capital projects including new parks, such as Minoru Lake Renewal, South Arm Park and Garden City Land.

On private property, through development, an average of 1,400 new trees are planted annually. An additional 550 are planted on private property, which are associated with the replacement of trees removed due to non-development homeowner tree removal permits. 

For additional information: 

• Visit tree sale info at www.richmond.ca/treesale 
  
• Search for  the City’s Public Tree Management Strategy to 2045 at www.richmond.ca to learn about the City’s commitment for growing and managing the urban forest on City-owned, public land 
• Search for the City’s Tree Protection Bylaw at www.richmond.ca