Trees, Plants & Flowers
The City of Morden takes pride in its Urban Forest, with over 5,500 trees and counting! Our goal is to expand canopy cover (the area shaded by tree leaves) through planting new trees and promoting plant health care activities. Increasing canopy cover provides numerous benefits, including more shade, cleaner air, reduced noise, higher property values, and improved human health.
To ensure the long-term resilience of our urban forest, we prioritize tree species diversity. This helps protect against future pests and diseases. Tree species selection is determined by the City, and you can download the approved tree list here:
Tree Inventory
Community Gardens
Community Gardens LocationThe Morden Community Gardens offer affordable, rented garden plots to residents of Morden. It was developed by Morden Community Development Corporation and is managed by Many Hands Resource Centre.
The land and funding to prepare the plots are supplied by the City of Morden. The community garden is managed by community volunteers. If you have questions you can contact Many Hands Resource Centre at 204-823-1678 or manyhandsrc@gmail.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
The community garden will have a new location to be announced in 2025.
The plots sizes are generally 16′ x 25′. Between all three of the community gardens there are 150 garden plots available.
One garden plot costs $25.00 per year.
Residents can register for a garden plot by completing a short application form, paying the $25.00 registration fee, signing the liability form and selecting an available garden plot. They will then receive a copy of the Community Garden Regulations. The Community Gardens are very popular and plots are booked up quickly each year.
- The garden plot corners are clearly marked by stakes with your garden plot number listed. Please do not remove these stakes during the season. Metal stakes throughout the site are permanent boundary markers and should not be moved.
- Plant your garden between the marked areas. Stay two feet within the boundaries of your plot. Walk only on walkways and on your own plot. Leave areas wide enough for you to walk around the border of your own plots. Anyone walking in someone else’s plot is trespassing.
- There is no garbage pick-up at the garden site. All plastic, paper and other refuse must be taken home. No debris of any kind should be left at the site.
- Each gardener is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their garden plot. Watering, weeding, harvesting and any other garden-related maintenance are all the responsibility of the gardener.
- Each gardener must complete a Release of Claims form before any work in the garden can begin.
- The application of chemical sprays such as herbicides (weed killers) and pesticides is prohibited.
- Plot fees are due in full before the garden season begins.
- Gardeners may harvest vegetables and flowers from their garden only.
- At the end of the growing season, gardeners are responsible for clearing their plot of all plant material and leaving the plot as they found it in the spring.
- Please dispose of weeds and plant materials in designated compost areas.
- Be considerate of your neighbours. Do not plant sprawling crops or tall ones where they might interfere with others.
- If vandalism or theft occurs, notify the garden committee immediately. Help us discourage losses by questioning unfamiliar faces.
- Dogs, except those on a leash, are not allowed.
- Family members are welcome to the garden site. Please supervise young children so they don’t disturb other plots.
- Individual fencing of plots is allowed. Please keep structures under 4 feet tall and neat. They should be removed before fall plowing.
- Notify the garden coordinator if you are no longer able to tend your plot or will be absent for a long period of time.
- Please park only in prescribed areas.
- The bulletin board is a way for all of us to stay in touch. Please use it for any garden-related purposes.
- If you have any questions, suggestions, or complaints, please contact one of the garden committee members.
- Your compliance with the above regulations will help everyone have an enjoyable and prosperous garden. Failure to comply with the above regulations during the season may result in a loss of future gardening privileges.
Release of Liability Agreement
Your participation in this Community Garden Program requires that you read and sign a Liability and Indemnification Agreement. This is to advise you of the risks that you may experience as a result of participating in this program.
🌳 Benefits of Urban Trees
Urban trees are essential to creating healthier, more sustainable cities. By incorporating more greenery into urban landscapes, cities can improve the quality of life for their residents while helping to combat climate change.
Urban trees naturally cool their surroundings through a process called evapotranspiration, where water is absorbed by the tree’s roots and then released into the atmosphere through leaves. This process, combined with the shade provided by the tree canopy, lowers the ambient temperature in cities, often referred to as the “urban heat island” effect. By cooling the air, trees reduce the need for air conditioning, which lowers energy consumption and helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. One small tree can provide cooling equivalent to five air conditioning units, while mature trees can replace the need for ten.
Exposure to trees and greenery has been shown to have significant positive effects on mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Urban green spaces promote physical activity by offering inviting environments for walking, jogging, or cycling, thereby improving physical health. Studies show that even a brief encounter with natural elements like trees can lower blood pressure and improve overall well-being.
Trees along streets can help calm traffic by creating a perception of a narrower road, prompting drivers to slow down. The presence of trees can enhance road safety by reducing accidents and making streets more pedestrian-friendly, fostering a greater sense of community.
Tree canopies provide natural shade, making outdoor spaces more comfortable for people to spend time in. Shaded areas can reduce heat-related illnesses during hot weather. Trees also protect vehicles and buildings from direct sunlight, helping to extend their lifespan by reducing wear and tear.
Urban trees serve as important habitats for wildlife, providing food and shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals. By increasing plant diversity, trees contribute to greater biodiversity within urban environments, supporting ecosystems that may otherwise struggle to survive in concrete-dominated landscapes.
Urban trees help absorb rainwater through their root systems, reducing the load on stormwater systems. Their leaves, branches, and roots intercept rainfall, slowing its movement and reducing soil erosion and flooding. This process, known as bioretention, helps mitigate the risks of water pollution and overflows in urban drainage systems.
Trees naturally filter air pollutants by absorbing gases like nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide, and trapping particulate matter on their leaves. In terms of climate change, trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Over its lifetime, a single tree can absorb up to one tonne of CO2, significantly contributing to climate mitigation efforts.
Properties located in tree-lined areas or near parks tend to have higher market value. The aesthetic appeal of trees, coupled with the increased quality of life they offer, often leads to greater demand for properties in green neighborhoods, making them more desirable and financially valuable.
Tree Mulching
The urban environment (soils, exposure, snow and grass maintenance, road salts etc.) restricts tree establishment and growth rate. We can improve conditions by removing grass and weeds surrounding the tree and replacing them with organic mulch such as wood chips.
Using an organic material such as wood chips helps to maintain soil moisture, decrease weed competition, create a buffer from mowers and trimmers, and moderate soil temperature.
At the time of installation, Parks and Urban Forestry will remove a 1.5-meter diameter area of turf, install a new boulevard tree, and add organic mulch (wood chips) around the tree.
FACT: Placing any material directly against the stem will damage the tree. Always keep mulch materials 5 cm away from the stem at the base.
FACT: Limestone used as a mulch will damage and reduce the growth rate of your tree.
FACT: Rocks surrounding the tree give a different visual appearance, however, rock does not aid in soil moisture retention and temperature moderation.
Helping Your Tree Grow
Urban trees typically need 3-5 years to become established, during this time you can help your tree by:
Leave the woodchip mulch surrounding the tree.
Monitor the soil moisture under the woodchips and water during dry periods. Infrequently, once per week, deep watering is best.
Do not install a raised bed or planter surrounding the tree.
Do not install seasonal decorations or lights on the tree.
Do not stake or install supports on the tree.
Avoid lawn maintenance equipment near the tree. Removing portions of the bark significantly impacts the tree’s growth rate.
Do not prune or remove branches from the tree.
REMINDER: The City of Morden Parks and Urban Forestry Department is responsible for the planting, establishment, and maintenance of trees on city property. Activities such as pruning, staking, insect/disease control and removal are the City’s responsibilities.
If you should have a concern or would like to request an assessment please contact us at Parks and Urban Forestry Department at (204) 362-3999 or sdias@mymorden.ca.
