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ville-marie

12 Montreal boroughs are giving out free plants or soil in May — Here's where to stock up

Montreal boroughs are helping residents spruce up their gardens by distributing free plants and soil this spring. Personal balconies and communal green spaces can benefit from the program that requires participants to show a proof of residency, like public utility account or driver's license, to take advantage of a seasonal perk.

From Verdun to the Plateau, Montreal is distributing flowers, herb plants, seeds, and essential gardening supplies like compost and wood chips — all at no cost. The items are available on a self-serve basis, and residents mustbring their own shovels, wheelbarrows, and containers to transport the goods home.

Anjou

People shovel compost into bins in Anjou.

People shovel compost into bins in Anjou.

Arrondissement d'Anjou | Facebook

When/Where:

  • May 9, from 9 a.m. | Parc Lucie-Bruneau, 7051, ave. de l'Alsace
  • May 10, from 9 a.m. | Parc Roger-Rousseau7501, ave. Rondeau
  • May 11, from 9 a.m. | Parc des Roseraies, 7070, ave. de la Nantaise

What you can get: Free compost made from garden waste and dead leaves gathered via green waste collections.

More at montreal.ca

​Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce​

\u200bSeedlings in pots along a ledge.

Seedlings in pots along a ledge.

Christinahswanson | Dreamstime

When: June 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m

Where:

  • Aréna Doug-Harvey
  • Parc Martin-Luther-King welcome centre
  • Parc Saidye-Bronfman welcome centre

What you can get: Free flowers, plants, compost and wood chips.

  • Plants
    • Snow Princess Marigolds
    • Nasturtiums
    • Cucumber plant
    • Sweet red pepper plant
  • Seeds
    • Asclepias Incarnata
    • Asclepias Syriaca
    • Helliopsis Helianthoides
    • Monarda Fistulosa
    • Symphyotrichum Novae-Angliae
    • Verbena Hastata
    • Chamomile Matricaria recutita

More at montreal.ca

Lachine

\u200bA white flowering plant in fresh mulch.

A white flowering plant in fresh mulch.

Ehrlif | Dreamstime

When: May 4, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Centre technique de Lachine, 2200, rue Saint-Antoine

What you can get: Compost that comes from garden waste and fallen leaves picked up in green waste collections.

More at montreal.ca

Lasalle

Tree branches being loaded into a shredder for compost in Montreal.

Tree branches being loaded into a shredder for compost in Montreal.

Benoit Daoust | Dreamstime

When: May 11, 8:30 a.m to 3 p.m.

Where: Stationnement des ateliers municipaux André-Traversy, 7277, rue Cordner

What can you get: Free compost and wood chips.

More at montreal.ca

Outremont

Rows of orange potted flowers and green leafy plants.

Rows of orange potted flowers and green leafy plants.

Arrondissement d'Outremont | Facebook

When: June 2, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 1311, ave. Saint-Viateur

What you can get: Free ornamental vines, herbs, flowers, vegetable plants, wood chips and compost, as well as gardening tips.

Facebook Event

​Pierrefonds-Roxboro

\u200bPeople line up along tents for free plants.

People line up along tents for free plants.

Courtesy of Pierrefonds-Roxboro.

When: May 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: 4950, rue René-Émard

What you can get: Free vegetable and herb plants, including boxes of six vegetable and herb plants.

  • Tagetes (edible flower useful for pollinators)
  • Basil
  • Swiss chard
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Sweet pepper
  • Parsley
  • Strawberry plants for kids

More at montreal.ca

Plateau

Gomphrena purple flowers.

Gomphrena purple flowers.

Elwynn | Dreamstime

When: May 25, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Where:

  • The House of Friendship: Duluth Avenue East, between Saint-Dominique and De Bullion streets
  • La Maison d’Aurore: rue Garnier, between boulevard Saint-Joseph Est and rue Gilford
  • Friends of the Champ des Possibles: Gaspé land, north of 5605 De Gaspé

What you can get: Free flowers, compost and mulch. You can pick one of the following plant combinations.

  • Annuals 1
    • Gomphrena (Las Vegas Purple)
    • Salvia (Summer Jewel Lavender)
  • Annuals 2
    • Rudbeckia hirta (Prairie Sun)
    • Verbena bonariensis (Buenos Aires)
  • Perennials 1
    • Asclepias incarnata
    • Aster novae-angliae
  • Perennials 2
    • Anaphalis margaritacea
    • Agastache foeniculum

Facebook Event

Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles

Someone holding a pitchfork stands in the back of a truck filled with compost.

Someone holding a pitchfork stands in the back of a truck filled with compost.

Alisonh29 | Dreamstime

When: May 4

Where:

  • 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Don-Bosco Park
  • 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Parc de l'école secondaire de la Pointe-aux-Trembles, 15180, rue Sherbrooke Est

What you can get: Compost, wood chips and edible plants, but registration is required ahead of time here.

More at montreal.ca

Saint-Laurent

Basil plants.

Basil plants.

Loonara | Dreamstime

When: May 11, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Boisé Library, 2727, boul. Thimens

What you can get: Free vegetable plants and seeds to start your own edible garden.

  • 1 basil plant (Genovese and Crimson King Basil)
  • 1 cherry tomato plant (Suncherry)
  • 1 strawberry plant (Dynamik)
  • 1 Lebanese cucumber plant (Magic)

More at montreal.ca

Saint-Léonard

A shovel filled with compost.

A shovel filled with compost.

Brad Calkins | Dreamstime

When: May 4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 9430, boul. Langelier

What you can get: Compost that comes from garden waste and dead leaves collected in green waste collections.

More at montreal.ca

Verdun

A shovel in compost with the Verdun logo in the bottom right corner.

A shovel in compost.

Maison de l'environnement de Verdun | Facebook

When: May 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where:

  • Verdun municipal greenhouses, 7000, boul. LaSalle
  • Nun's Island Station, 201, rue Berlioz

What you can get: Free compost and mulch. Anyone bringing a car must register for a timeslot online ahead of time (here for the greenhouses and here for the station).

Facebook Event

Ville-Marie

Pink petunias.

Pink petunias.

Courtesy of Ville-Marie.

When: May 18, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Where:

  • Parc Prudence-Heward, 1531, rue Paxton (west part of the borough)
  • Walter Stewart Park, 2455, rue Larivière (east part of the borough)

What you can get: Free flowers and herbs.

  • Flowers
    • Nasturtiums
    • Knapweeds
    • Coleus
    • Marigolds
    • Begonias
  • Herbs and vegetable plants
    • Basil
    • Chives
    • Mint
    • Parsley
    • Kale
    • Swiss chard
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Baby peppers
    • Strawberries

More at montreal.ca

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

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