From Grey to Green Spaces: Our Guide on How to Plant Urban Trees

Western Canada’s cities are growing fast, but is our tree canopy keeping up? ​Urban tree canopy coverage varies significantly across Western Canada's cities, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for urban forestry initiatives.

For instance, Calgary's tree canopy covers approximately 8.25% of the city, with plans to double this to 16% by 2060 as part of its climate strategy. Meanwhile, Winnipeg's canopy stands close to 18%, with plans to reach 25% by 2065.

If we want greener, healthier cities, planting more urban trees just makes sense. But urban tree planting comes with its own set of challenges. Where should they go? What species thrive in city conditions? How do we ensure they survive for decades, not just a few years?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through best practices for planting and maintaining trees in Western Canada’s urban landscapes

How to Improve Urban Tree Growth in Western Canada

Western Canadian cities face unique challenges when it comes to growing healthy urban trees, from harsh winters to limited planting space.

Here’s what’s standing in the way and what we can do about it:

• Limited Soil Volume & Quality: In urban settings, trees often grow in compacted soil with low organic matter, making it harder for roots to expand and access nutrients. We may need to use structural soil systems or tree vaults to create an ideal root environment beneath sidewalks and streets.
• Heat Stress: Concrete, asphalt, and buildings trap heat, creating “heat islands” that increase water evaporation and stress tree growth. Hardy trees like Bur Oak, Honey Locust, and Green Ash can withstand urban conditions and fluctuating moisture levels.
• Lack of Water. Many urban trees suffer from inconsistent watering, especially during hot summers when water shortages can lead to dehydration and weakened root systems. Installing drip irrigation systems to provide deep, slow watering can combat the issue without wasting resources.
• Restricted Root Growth: Underground utilities, sidewalks, and roadways limit root expansion, leading to stunted or unstable trees. It’s important to aerate the soil regularly, avoid compacting it with heavy equipment, and plant trees with enough space for root expansion.
• Increased Pollution Exposure: Vehicle emissions, road salts, and industrial pollutants can damage tree health and slow growth. Create green buffer zones with shrubs and vegetation to shield trees from direct exposure.

Selecting the Right Tree Species for Western Canada

In Western Canada, trees must be able to withstand cold winters, periodic droughts, and exposure to urban pollution while still providing shade and aesthetic appeal.

Top Trees for Urban Areas in Western Canada

Firstly, there are the drought-resistant species. These trees can handle dry summers and inconsistent rainfall and are ideal for urban areas where irrigation may be limited. For example:

• Bur Oak – A tough, long-lived tree with deep roots and strong resistance to drought.
• Honey Locust – Thrives in urban environments, tolerates compacted soil and provides light, dappled shade.
• Green Ash – Hardy and adaptable, but should be planted carefully in areas where Emerald Ash Borer is not a concern.

Cold-hardy trees are perfect for Western Canada’s harsh winters, as they can withstand freezing temperatures and strong winds. Some trees worth considering:

• American Elm – Known for its beautiful canopy and disease-resistant cultivars.
• Colorado Spruce – A great choice for evergreen coverage and wind resistance.
• Black Hills Spruce – A dense, slow-growing spruce that performs well in urban settings.

For sites near roads, parking lots, and industrial areas, you want to plant pollution-resistant trees like:

• Linden – A highly adaptable tree with fragrant flowers and strong resistance to urban stress.
• Manchurian Elm – A hardy, fast-growing tree that handles drought, salt, and pollution well.
• Scots Pine – Known for its rugged appearance and adaptability, they thrive in poor soils and high-pollution areas.

Which Trees to Avoid

There are some trees that might seem like attractive options on the surface but should be avoided at all costs.

• Oversized Trees. Species like Cottonwood grow too large for urban spaces and can damage sidewalks and underground infrastructure.
• Weak-Wooded Trees. Poplars and Willows are prone to storm damage and can drop large branches unexpectedly.
• Disease-Prone Species. While the American Elm is a fantastic tree, it should only be planted in areas free from Dutch Elm Disease to prevent outbreaks.

How to Choose the Right Location for Urban Trees

Even with the right tree species and ideal soil conditions, where you plant a tree can make or break its long-term success.

Prioritizing High-Impact Planting Areas

To make the biggest environmental and community impact, focus on areas where trees provide the most shade, cooling, and aesthetic value.

• Heat-prone areas: Parking lots, commercial districts, and high-traffic streets benefit from trees that reduce pavement heat and provide relief from extreme temperatures.
• Pedestrian walkways: Trees along sidewalks and transit stops make walking more comfortable by reducing heat exposure and improving air quality.
• Residential neighbourhoods: Streets with low tree canopy coverage can benefit from more greenery, improving property values and reducing energy costs.
• Parks and recreational spaces: Trees in public spaces enhance mental well-being, provide shade for outdoor activities, and contribute to biodiversity.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Planting Location

Choosing the right location isn’t just about finding an open space—it’s about creating the best conditions for a tree to grow.

• Trees should be easy to water, prune, and inspect without being obstructed by nearby buildings or traffic.
• Urban soil must be deep and loose enough to support root expansion. Avoid areas with excessively compacted soil unless soil vaults or structured planting solutions are used.
• Choose tree species that match the sunlight levels of the location. Some trees thrive in full sun, while others need partial shade.
• Avoid planting trees too close to underground pipes, power lines, or sidewalks, as roots can interfere with infrastructure. Using root barriers can help guide roots away from hazards.
• Consider how strong winds affect certain locations. Trees planted in open, exposed areas may require windbreaks or staking to ensure stability while they are established.

Urban Tree Planting Process

Urban tree planting requires careful planning to ensure trees survive and thrive in their new environment. Here’s a step-by-step guide for urban tree planting:

1. Assess the Site: We determine soil quality, drainage, available space, and surrounding infrastructure. Our arborists also consider whether root barriers or soil amendments are necessary.
2. Select the Right Tree: Next, it’s about choosing species suited to Western Canada’s climate and urban conditions (e.g., drought-resistant, cold-hardy, or pollution-tolerant species).
3. Plan for Growth: It’s also important to ensure the tree has enough space for both its roots and canopy. Avoid planting too close to buildings, sidewalks, or underground utilities.
4. Prepare the Soil: If the soil is compacted, aeration is recommended, and then organic matter over it to improve drainage and nutrient availability.
5. Coordinate with City Officials: For public spaces, you may need to work with municipalities to ensure trees are planted according to urban forestry guidelines and won’t interfere with infrastructure.
6. Schedule Planting for Optimal Timing: Trees should be planted in either spring or early fall when they have the best chance to establish strong roots.
7. Plan for Ongoing Maintenance: Establish a watering, pruning, and monitoring schedule to ensure trees stay healthy in their early years.

The Best Time to Plant Urban Trees in Western Canada

Early fall and spring are the best times to plant trees because the temperatures are cooler, and the soil retains more moisture.

• Fall Planting (September–October): This is the ideal time to plant urban trees because the roots can be established before winter dormancy. With cooler temperatures and increased soil moisture, trees experience less transplant shock and require less watering than in summer.
• Spring Planting (April–May): Also a good option, but it must be done early, before the summer heat sets in. Trees planted in late spring often struggle with drought stress and require frequent watering to survive.

• DO NOT Plant in Summer (July–August) and Winter (November–March): In summer, the high heat and dry conditions put too much stress on newly planted trees. In winter, on the other hand, frozen soil prevents root establishment.

Best Practices for Urban Tree Planting

Planting a tree properly is the difference between a thriving, long-lasting tree and one that struggles from day one. Here’s how we give urban trees the best start:

1. Digging the Right-Sized Hole: The hole should be twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the root flare. Planting too deep can suffocate the roots, while too shallow can leave them exposed.
2. Positioning the Tree Correctly: We need to make sure the root flare (where the trunk meets the roots) is at ground level—not buried.
3. Backfilling with Native Soil: It’s important not to over-amend the soil. Trees need to adapt to the local soil conditions. We only compact the soil gently as we backfill to eliminate air pockets while facilitating root growth.
4. Watering Immediately & Adding Mulch: Next, we give the trees a deep watering right after planting, applying 2–4 inches of mulch around the base but keeping it away from the trunk to prevent rot.
5. Staking (Only if Necessary): Most trees don’t typically need staking, but if wind exposure is high, we’d use loose, flexible ties and remove them after a year.

How to Maintain Planted Trees in Urban Settings

Planting a tree is just the beginning; consistent care is what ensures its long-term survival in an urban setting. Unlike trees in forests, urban trees face unique challenges, and proper maintenance helps them thrive despite these obstacles. Here’s what you need to do:

• Watering & Mulching: Newly planted trees need deep, consistent watering for the first 2–3 years to establish strong roots. Apply 2–4 inches of mulch around the base to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds—but keep it away from the trunk to prevent rot.
• Pruning & Structural Maintenance: Regular pruning helps remove dead or weak branches, reducing the risk of breakage in storms. Proper shaping during early growth prevents future structural issues and enhances resilience.
• Protecting from Damage: Install tree guards or barriers in high-traffic areas to protect against lawn equipment, vehicles, and vandalism. Keep an eye out for pests or disease (e.g., yellowing leaves, cankers, or abnormal growth).
• Soil & Root Health: Avoid soil compaction by keeping heavy equipment off tree roots. Use deep root aeration to improve oxygen and nutrient uptake.

Common Issues with Urban Tree Planting

Planting trees in urban environments brings a host of benefits—cooler streets, cleaner air, improved mental well-being—but it also comes with unique challenges.

Here are some of the most common obstacles urban forestry programs face and how communities can work to overcome them:

• Limited Funding and City Budgets. One of the biggest barriers to successful urban tree planting is simply finding the money to do it. Trees are often viewed as "nice to have" rather than essential infrastructure, which makes them easy to cut from municipal budgets. This underfunding impacts everything from initial planting to long-term care, including watering, pruning, pest control, and replacement.

Advocates and city planners can help shift public perception by framing urban trees as green infrastructure with measurable ROI—like reduced stormwater runoff, improved public health outcomes, and lower cooling costs. Securing grants, partnering with environmental nonprofits, or integrating tree planting into climate resiliency plans can also unlock new sources of funding.

• Conflicts with Infrastructure and Urban Planning. Urban environments are dense and heavily developed, which leaves little room for roots to spread or canopies to grow. Tree planting often runs up against underground utilities, above-ground power lines, sidewalks, roads, and buildings. Poor planning can lead to root damage, uneven pavement, and costly repairs—fueling resistance to planting in the first place.

Integrating arborists and urban foresters into the early stages of development and infrastructure projects can prevent future conflicts. Using innovative planting techniques—like structural soils, suspended pavement systems, or permeable surfaces—can help trees coexist with hardscapes more harmoniously.

• Vandalism and Lack of Long-Term Maintenance. Even well-planned tree plantings can fail without ongoing care. Newly planted trees are particularly vulnerable to neglect, improper pruning, and vandalism. In some cases, trees are damaged by people intentionally or unintentionally—from broken branches to being used for posting signs or locking bikes.

Creating a long-term maintenance plan is key. This can include public education campaigns to build community appreciation for urban trees, as well as “adopt-a-tree” programs where local residents or businesses take stewardship over specific plantings. Investing in protective measures like tree guards, watering schedules, and trained maintenance staff can greatly increase survival rates.

How to Promote Urban Tree Planting

• Adopt Minimum Soil Volume Standards. Establishing soil volume minimums ensures that trees have sufficient space to grow. Cities like Edmonton and Kelowna have set such standards to promote healthy urban forests. ​
• Invest in Proper Tree Maintenance Programs. Allocating funds for ongoing tree care is essential. Initiatives like Calgary's Branching Out Program focus on planting and maintaining street trees to enhance urban greenery.
• Engage the Community. Encourage residents, schools, and businesses to take part in tree-planting initiatives. Programs like Winnipeg’s Million Tree Challenge empower communities to help expand the urban canopy through volunteer planting events and sponsorship opportunities.
• Integrate Trees into Urban Planning and Development. Ensure tree planting is considered in the early stages of development approvals and infrastructure projects. Mandating green infrastructure as part of zoning or permitting requirements helps make tree planting a built-in priority rather than an afterthought.
• Offer Incentives for Private Landowners. Encouraging homeowners and businesses to plant on private property extends canopy coverage. Edmonton’s Root for Trees program offers residents low-cost trees and community planting events, while Winnipeg provides residents with free trees through its annual giveaway. Expanding such incentives across other cities could boost planting rates without straining municipal budgets.
• Educate the Public on the Value of Urban Trees. Raise awareness about the economic, environmental, and health benefits of urban forests. Campaigns, signage, or interactive online tools can help residents understand how trees contribute to cleaner air, lower temperatures, and improved mental well-being—get the kids involved!
• Develop Tree Equity Strategies. Ensure tree planting efforts are distributed fairly across neighbourhoods, especially in underserved or low-canopy areas where residents often face higher temperatures and poorer air quality. Equity-based planting ensures everyone has access to the benefits of urban trees.
• Partner with Nonprofits and Local Organisations. Collaborate with environmental nonprofits, community groups, and local businesses to leverage expertise, volunteers, and funding. Partnerships expand reach and help sustain long-term tree care beyond the planting stage.
• Track Progress with Urban Tree Inventories. Maintain a centralized inventory of city trees to monitor health, diversity, and coverage. Digital mapping tools and data collection help cities make informed decisions, schedule maintenance, and measure impact over time.

Transforming Urban Landscapes with Smart Tree Planting

Urban trees are essential infrastructure that cools our streets, cleans our air, and enhances the livability of our cities. But planting trees is only half the battle. Without proper planning, the right species selection, and ongoing care, even the best-intentioned tree-planting projects can fail.

That’s where Green Drop’s municipal tree care services come in. Our team of certified arborists has worked with cities, municipalities, and developers to strategically plant, maintain, and protect urban trees for long-term success. We help communities in Western Canada grow healthier, more resilient urban forests.

If your city or organization is looking to expand tree coverage, restore canopy loss, or implement a long-term urban tree strategy, we’re here to help. Contact Green Drop today for a consultation in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Regina.

Let’s build greener, healthier cities—one tree at a time.