NeighbourWoods
NeighbourWoods is a residential planting initiative developed to encourage citizens to help grow and preserve Kelowna’s urban forest. Each year, Kelowna residents can purchase one tree per household for the low price of $50 (plus GST) each.
Since 2010, residents have purchased more than 7,500 discounted trees to plant on their properties.
By purchasing and planting a tree through NeighbourWoods, you're making a positive impact on the environment. To learn more about the benefits of urban trees, visit our Urban trees page.
NeighbourWoods 2024
Tree sales for our 2024 NeighbourWoods program are now closed.
NeighbourWoods tree pick-up will take place on 3 separate days depending on the tree variety purchased. Pick-up dates are as follows:
- Wednesday, September 25 for Bur Oak & Northern Acclaim Honeylocust
- Thursday, September 26 for Hot Wings® Tatarian Maple, Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac & Ohio Buckeye
- Friday, September 27 for Ginko Maidenhair, Greenspire Linden & Sugar Maple
For those picking up more than one tree variety, please pick-up your trees on Friday, September 27.
Pick-up on these days is from 12 - 6:30 p.m. at the Mission Recreation Park Arboretum, 4105 Gordon Drive. Please bring your receipt (if applicable), proof of residency and a vehicle that's appropriate for transporting your tree(s).
Quercus macrocarpa
Height: 55 feet Spread: 35-40 feet Sunlight: Full sun Moisture: Drought tolerant Soil type: Tolerates dry and moist well drained soils Hardiness Zone: 3
Description: An impressive stately tree that is ideal for urban landscapes due to its tolerance of pollution and salt.
Characteristics: Bur Oak will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 35-40 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 300 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations! This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. Shape is broadly oval, irregular and open. Foliage is dark green and turns yellow to yellow brown in the fall.
Ginko biloba
Height: 40-50 feet Spread: 20-30 feet Sunlight: Full sun Moisture: Moderate Soil type: Tolerant of most Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Description: The ginkgo is a large, unique tree in the Okanagan. Considered to be a ‘living fossil’; they are the only surviving member of a group of ancient plants that lived about 150 million years ago.
Characteristics: Requiring relatively little maintenance, ginkgos tolerate most urban conditions including salt, heat and air pollution. They are generally pest free and are a great shade tree. A gingko can grow to be over 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of up to 30 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 8 feet from the ground and should not be planted underneath power lines or in smaller spaces. It grows at a slower rate for the first few years but then will accelerate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for over 150 years. Distinctive fan-shaped rich green leaves change to a stunning bright yellow in the fall and stay on for several weeks. Our stock is an all-male (fruitless) cultivar which doesn’t produce messy seeds.
Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'
Height: 45 feet Spread: 30 feet Sunlight: Full sun Moisture: Tolerates occasional drought Soil type: Prefers moist well drained soil Hardiness Zone: 4
Description: A dense shade tree with fragrant flowers that will thrive under a variety of conditions. It has a strong central leader, very uniform branch arrangement and a symmetrical, pyramidal form.
Characteristics: The linden tree is moderately fast growing shade tree that will grow to a height of 45 feet and a width of 30 feet. The pyramidal shape and stunning yellow foliage in the fall will make this an excellent addition to your landscape. Lindens are adaptable to many different conditions and their ability to withstand heat and drought makes them a great choice for the Okanagan.
Acer tataricum ‘GarAnn’
Height: 20-30 feet Spread: 20 feet Sunlight: Full to partial sun Moisture: Moderate tolerance of drought Soil type: Moist well drained Hardiness Zone: 3
Description: This is a smaller accent tree that features blazing red hot seeds in late summer and fiery fall colors; more tolerant of drought.
Characteristics: Hot Wings® Maple will grow to be about 20-30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more. Shape is oval to rounded. Foliage is medium green and turns yellow to orange-red in the fall.
Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’
Height: 20 feet Spread: 10-20 feet Sunlight: Full sun Moisture: Average, but can tolerant periods of drought Soil type: Not particular to soil type or pH Hardiness Zone: 4
Description: A first rate accent tree adorned with frothy upright panicles of creamy white flowers in early summer. Interesting steel-gray bark and a dense upright habit make it an ideal choice for small landscapes. Prefers well-drained soils.
Characteristics: Ivory Silk Tree Lilac will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of about 14 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Shape is upright spreading becoming rounded. Foliage is dark green that turns golden yellow in the fall.
Gleditsia triacanthos 'Harve'
Height: 45 feet Spread: 35 feet Sunlight: Full sun Moisture: Tolerates drought and dry sites Soil type: Moist well drained can tolerate clay Hardiness Zone: 3b
Description: A wide spreading tree that will be sure to lend your property some cool shade in the hot summer months.
Characteristics: The honeylocust can grow to a height of 45 feet and a width of 35 feet. Its small leaves and wide spreading crown are able to provide some dappled shade to your yard. The small leaves will also make fall cleanup a breeze after you have finished enjoying the stunning golden yellow fall colour. Shape is broadly pyramidal. Foliage is fine textured, medium green and turns yellow in the fall.
Aesculus glabra
Height: 35 feet Spread: 30 feet Sunlight: Full sun Moisture: Can tolerate most soil types Soil type: Well drained acidic soil Hardiness Zone: 4
Description: A rounded medium sized tree that can be the star of your landscape with its light yellow flowers in spring. It is know for its shiny brown seeds and distinctive upright habit with branches that droop then bend up at the tips.
Characteristics: With its smaller size and dense crown the Ohio Buckeye is suitable for smaller sites that may not fit one of our larger trees. The buckeye is most at home on a site with moist well drained soil but is adaptable and can tolerate dryer sites as well. The name of the buckeye comes from its small dark brown nut that can resemble the eye of a dear. Shape is broadly oval to rounded. Foliage is dark green and turns yellow to orange-red in the fall.
Acer saccharum
Height: 60 feet Spread: 40 feet Sunlight: Full to partial sun Moisture: Low tolerance of dry soil Soil type: Prefers moist well drained Hardiness Zone: 4
Description: A strong and long lived maple trees with exceptional fall colour ranging from brilliant yellow to burnt orange.
Characteristics: The sugar maple will grow to a height of 60 feet with a width of 40 feet. Its strong wood and upright growth habits make it a great choice for your yard and its striking fall colours will have you looking forward to fall every year. Shape is upright oval to rounded. Foliage is medium green and turns orange, red and scarlet in the fall.
Please note that online tree sales are now closed for 2024.
If you don’t already have a recreation account, you will need to set one up by calling 250-469-8800. You can also pay by credit card over the phone by calling 250-469-8800, or visit the friendly staff at Parkinson Recreation Centre to pay by cash, debit or credit card.
Tree orders can be cancelled as long as there’s someone on the waitlist for a tree. A $5 cancellation fee will apply.
Please note that online tree sales are now closed for 2024.
Trees that were available in 2024 include: Bur Oak, Ginko Maidenhair, Greenspire Linden, Hot Wings® Tatarian Maple, Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac, Northern Acclaim Honeylocust, Ohio Buckeye, & Sugar Maple. Tree size will vary depending on the tree. Expect to receive a tree that is approximately six- to 12-feet tall.
If a tree variety has sold out, you can still waitlist for a tree online, by calling 250-469-8800, or in-person at the Parkinson Recreation Centre. Payment is not required for waitlist.
The 2024 NeighbourWoods pick-up event will depend on the tree variety purchased. Pick-up dates are as follows:
- Wednesday, September 25 for Bur Oak & Northern Acclaim Honeylocust
- Thursday, September 26 for Hot Wings® Tatarian Maple, Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac & Ohio Buckeye
- Friday, September 27 for Ginko Maidenhair, Greenspire Linden & Sugar Maple
Individuals can pick-up their tree on their respective tree's day between 12 - 6:30 p.m. at the Mission Recreation Park Arboretum, 4105 Gordon Drive.
For those picking up more than one tree variety, please pick-up your trees on Friday, September 27.
Please bring your receipt (if applicable), proof of residency and a vehicle that’s appropriate for transporting your tree(s). Trees not picked up by the end of Friday, September 27, will be considered donated to the City of Kelowna for public planting.
The following information is adapted from the International Society of Arboriculture:
- The ideal time to plant trees is during the dormant season (fall or early spring)
- Exercise care in the storage and transportation of nursery stock to avoid stress or mechanical damage. Lift the tree by the root ball instead of the trunk. Don't allow roots to dry out.
- Before digging, locate all underground utility wires. Call (800) 474-6886. Please try to plant the tree where it will shade your home.
- Dig a shallow, broad planting hole, with the hole widest at the top and sloping sides; at least 450-600mm (18-24 in) wider than the root ball diameter (or three to fives times wider than root ball diameter in compacted soils). Dig only to the same depth as the root ball. Identify the trunk flare (point where the roots spread at the base of the tree) to determine the proper depth of the hole.
- Water tree in pot. Remove the pot. Score and loosen the roots. Place the tree in the hole, at the proper height. Don't plant the tree lower than the trunk flare; it's better to plant a few inches higher than the trunk flare to allow for some settling. Straighten the tree and gently backfill the hole.
- When backfilling, use the same soil that came out of the hole; if a different type of soil is used to fill the hole, this may result in problems with drainage around the root ball. If the native soil is extremely poor, topsoil or soil amendments may be necessary, but mix at least 50 per cent of the native soil in with any additional amendments; topsoil should match the same texture as the native soil and the hole should be much wider to allow for growth.
- Firm the soil but don't pack. Water thoroughly. Remaining soil may be mounded into a berm to collect water in the root zone (leave a gap in the berm if the soil is clay). Fertilizer application at the time of planting isn't recommended.
- Stake the tree only if necessary, as staked trees tend to develop weaker trunks and smaller root systems. Remove support staking after the first year of growth to avoid girdling the stem.
- Mulch the base of the tree with 50- 100mm (2-4 in) of organic matter (e.g. straw, bark, peat moss, wood chips, leaf litter) to hold in moisture and protect against extreme soil temperatures. Keep mulch at least 25-50mm (1-2 in) away from the trunk to prevent decay. Don't apply too much mulch.
- Water the tree for the first three years of establishment, about once a week during the growing season (more often during hot weather). Keep the soil moist but not soaked.
- Prune sparingly after planting; corrective pruning should not be done until the tree has experienced a full year of new growth
- Tree spacing will vary depending upon the geometry of the site and landscaping objectives. Consider the volume of soil available to each tree. If the soil volume is too low, then trees will be competing with each other for available water and nutrients. Keep in mind the mature size of the tree so that tree canopies won't become too closely packed as they grow.
- The three main reasons trees die after transplanting are underwatering, overwatering and when they're planted too deeply
