Spring has arrived, signalling the perfect time to begin tending to your garden. However, if you are working within a budget, it could be a bit challenging to bring your dream garden to life.
However, you’ll be happy to know that municipalities across the city are giving out free compost, seeds and plants to help you get started on a garden.
Here’s a list of places where you can get these items:
Saint-Leonard:
When? May 24 from 9am to 12pm
Where? Wilfrid-Bastien Park, 9255 Lacordaire Boulevard.
What to know? Make sure to bring your own shovel, containers and proof of residency.
Lasalle:
When? May 11 from 8:30 am to 3pm
Where? André-Traversy municipal works parking lot, 7277 Cordner Street.
What to know? Bring your own shovel, containers and proof of residency. Compost will be limited to two storage bins per household.
Anjou:
When? May 10 and 11 starting at 9am
Where? At Roger-Rousseau Park on May 10 (7501 Rondeau Avenue) and at Des Rosaries Park on May 11 (7070 de la Nantaise Avenue)
What to know? Bring your own shovel, containers and proof of residency. Quantities will be limited to 60 litres per person of compost from garden residue and collected leaves.
Verdun:
When? May 11 from 10am to 4pm.
Where? At Verdun municipal greenhouses (7000 LaSalle Boulevard) and at the Nun’s Island REM station (204 Berlioz Street)
What to know? Reservations are required if you’re travelling by car because of limited parking space. Make sure to bring containers and proof of residency.
Town of Mount Royal:
When? May 11 and 12 from 9am to 4pm
Where? Municipal works building (180 Clyde street)
What to know? You can pick up a maximum of 200 litres of compost per household. Make sure to bring proof of residency and containers.
Ville Saint-Laurent:
When? May 11 (1pm to 5pm), May 18 (8:30am to 12pm) and May 25 (10am to 3pm)
Where? At Boisé Library on May 11 (2727 Thimens Boulevard), at Saint-Laurent municipal works building on May 18 (13001 Cavendish Boulevard) and at Beaudet Park (650 Décarie Boulevard) on May 25.
What to know? You can get free vegetable plants and seeds in all locations. Make sure to bring containers and bags.
Dorval:
When? May 18 from 9am to 1pm
Where? Edgar Rouleau Arena (1450 Dawson Avenue)
What to know? You can get up to 200 litres of compost per person. You will need to have proof of residency and don’t forget your shovels and containers!
Ville-Marie:
When? May 18 from 9:30am to 12pm
Where? At Walter-Stewart Park (2455 Larivière Street) and Prudence-Heward Park (1531 Paxton Street)
What to know? You can pick up flowers, herbs and others plants from these two locations. Make sure to bring proof of residency, containers and bags with you!
Pierrefonds-Roxboro:
When? May 25 from 9am to 12pm
Where? Public works parking lot (4950 René-Émard Street)
What to know? Pierrefonds is giving out compost, mulch, vegetable plants, herbs and even Strawberry plants for kids. Make sure to bring proof of residency.
Ahuntsic-Cartierville:
When? May 25 from 9am to 12pm
Where? Mésy Park (12120 Grenet Street) and Ahuntsic Park pavilion (10555 Lajeunesse Street)
What to know? You can pick up free flowers and seeds. There is also a self-serve station that will be set up as of 4pm on May 23 at both locations.
Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie:
When? May 25 starting at 9am
Where? Lafond Park chalet (3500 Laurier Avenue), Père-Marquette Arena (1600 de Drucourt Street) and Joseph-Paré Park chalet (43rd Avenue)
What to know? You can grab free flowers, herbs and vegetable plants at the three different locations. Make sure to bring proof of residency, a shovel and containers.
Sud-Ouest:
When? May 25 starting at 9am
Where? Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier Square (4550 Sainte-Émilie Street), Oscar-Peterson Park (810 Chatham Street), Hibernia Park (2333 Mullins Street) and Campbell-Ouest Park (1990 de Maricourt Street)
What to know? Advance registration is required and you will need proof of residency with you.
Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve:
When? May 25 from 9am to 4pm
Where? Francis-Bouillon Arena (3175 de Rouen Street), Saint Donat Arena (6750 de Marseille Street) and at Clément-Jetté Arena (8780 Dubuisson Avenue)
What to know? You don’t need registration to pick up compost and mulch, but it is required for plants and seeds.
Montreal North:
When? June 1 from 9am to 12pm and 2pm from 5pm
Where? Rolland Arena (12000 Rolalnd Boulevard), Fleury Arena (3700 Fleury Street) and Garon Arena (11212 Garon Avenue) which is the only location scheduled from 2pm to 5pm.
What to know? You must register in advance if you are looking for free compost, pollinating plants, and flower seeds. Make sure to bring proof of residency, a shovel and containers.
Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce:
When? June 1 from 10am to 1pm
Where? Doug Harvey Arena (4985 West Hill Avenue), Martin-Luther-King Park and Saidye-Bronfman Park (1815 Buchan Street)
What to know? The three locations will be giving compost, mulch, seeds and plants to locals. Residents should bring their own shovels and containers.
Outremont
When? June 2 from 10am to 1pm
Where? 1311 Saint-Viateur Avenue.
What to know? There will be free compost, mulch and plants as well as vines, herbs, vegetable plants and flowers. Make sure to bring containers and proof of residency.