6) My house is in a new survey and my tree is dead or dying. Should I request a new one?
Trees planted in new subdivisions after October 2001 by Contractors authorized by the Developers generally have a two year warranty supplied by the Landscape Contractor. Please call your Builder \ Developer during this time. Once the two year period has ended and the City has assumed responsibility for these trees, you may call the Customer Contact Centre to be placed on a list for inspection of any tree health concerns you may have. Dead trees which appear to have been watered and properly cared for will continue to be replaced a maximum of three times although alternate species which are perhaps more suited to the soil conditions will be suggested.
(top)
Tree Choices and Request Facts
1) Can I have the tree planted off the road allowance on my own property?
All trees planted by the City under the Street Tree Planting Program must be planted within the Road Allowance of your property. The measurement of the Road Allowance varies depending on the survey or neighbourhood you live in. A Forestry staff person will make that determination and set out the planting site according to our guidelines. Please feel free to plant other trees at other locations on your property, keeping in mind the size of the tree as it matures. All trees planted on the road allowance are considered assets of the city and will be maintained according to the Forestry department’s policies and procedures.
2) May I have a tree planted beside an existing tree on the city portion of my lot?
Tree spacing is determined by tree species and overall mature height and width. We are unable to confirm planting requests where there is less distance than 6 meters for smaller species or 10 meters for larger species between existing city trees or trees currently planted on private property. With this in mind Forestry staff will confirm available space and make recommendations accordingly.
3) Can I have more trees planted on the city road allowance around my home?
The number of trees a homeowner may receive depends on the size of their lot, generally one tree is planted in the front of your home unless you are on a corner lot. In this case, two more trees may be planted on the side if spacing requirements are met. The maximum number of trees provided to Homeowners is three. These must be planted on the city portion of your property and are subject to our spacing guidelines.
4) I have had landscaping done on my lot. Can I have a Street Tree planted in the new garden/bed?
All trees must be planted on City property. We generally do not plant trees in existing beds due to potential conflicts with existing plant material such as bushes, ground covers or bulbs. In some cases exceptions may be made in consultation with Forestry staff. We strive to maintain a distance of 6 to 10 meters between your new tree and any exiting trees which are on City or Private property, depending on the species requested.
5) My neighbour just had a tree planted. Your planting crews are in our area. Can I get a tree planted too?
Planting locations must be approved prior to installation, cut off of June 15 has been established to allow for these required inspections. Lists are provided to contractors well ahead of the actual planting dates and new additions can not be made to the lists that are active at the time of planting. If your request for a tree originated as a result of the removal of a mature tree, then the stump must be removed prior to the cut off date.
6) Can I place a request for a tree after the June 15 deadline for Spring planting or after the June 15 deadline for Fall planting?
All requests made after the June 15th cut off of date each year will automatically be processed in the following year. Please understand that stumps must be removed prior to planting deadlines to be included in the next planting season.
7) The tree that I want is not on the street tree planting list. Why?
The inception of our enhanced Street Tree Planting program was an opportune time to shift away from the small list of mostly non-native species which had wide appeal yet limited value to our Urban Forest. We now offer up to 40 choices of Native and some non-Native trees which will provide diversity to our streets and ensure that the “Right Tree for the Right Place” policy can be managed more effectively. Diversifying the Urban Forest reduces the loss of tree canopy due to disease and insect damage and increases the sustainability of our Urban Forest.
(top)
Tree Care Facts
1) I have noticed Maple Trees with black spots and other trees with a powdery coating on the leaves. Will my new tree be affected?
The fungus, Tar Spot ( black spot ), appears as a single black spot in a larger yellow spot by early August. These spots increase in size until late September and begin to cause premature leaf drop. Although unsightly the fungus does not decrease the overall vigour of the tree.
The fungus, Powdery Mildew ( white coating ), becomes apparent late in the growing season and is a result of dense growth and periods of high humidity. This fungus may cause a distortion of the leaves and growing tips but similar to Tar Spot has minimal affect on the health of the tree.
To manage these fungi, rake up all leaves in the Fall and remove. This practice reduces the release of fungal spores in the Spring that over winter on fallen leaves. The Forestry Section does not spray or inject for either Tar Spot or Powdery Mildew.
2) How do I care for my newly planted tree?
Door knocker information cards are left at the residence at the time of planting. These cards provide an overview to the needs of your new tree and contact numbers to reach us if you believe there is a problem. The information will instruct you to water the tree, avoid fertilizing it in the first year after planting and avoid using weed killers near its base. Most importantly avoid striking the tree with your lawn mower or weed eater as these are major causes of young tree mortality. A few common sense precautions will go a long way to ensuring the health of your new tree. For more information please click here.
(top)
Tree Facts
1) Where can I find more information on trees?
The Forestry and Horticulture sections Pictorial Directory of Trees contains descriptive information and can be found here. The internet is an exceptional source of tree information; click here http://forestry.about.com/od/thecompletetree or visit our links section to find the URL of many educational sites.
2) What value do large trees have considering the maintenance required?
A: The benefits of having trees planted on your property far outweigh any inconvenience or work created. These benefits are numerous and can be summarized in the three areas of influence as shown below.
ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS
Carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen supplier
Function as retention/detention basins
Acts as air condition/purifier by absorbing air-borne dust particles
Carbon dioxide absorption, "carbon sequestration", aids in the reduction of
Global Warming
Root systems hold soil in place to minimize erosion
Absorb storm water to reduce flash flooding
Reduce wind speed and lower smog production
Controls Climate through moderation of sun, wind, and rain
Provides shade in summer and heat in winter
Adds natural beauty
Lessens amount of chemicals transported into streams
Reduces consumption of electricity for Air Conditioning
Tree roots increase soil permeability
SOCIAL and HEALTH BENEFITS
Provide oxygen and clean air by absorbing CO2, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
Carbon dioxide absorption helps reduce the Greenhouse Effect
Acts as buffer against urban noise pollution
Provides privacy in residential areas
Provides background, softens, aesthetically complements or enhances architecture and landscapes
Provides shade in summer and heat in winter (moderates the Heat Island Affect of pavement and buildings in residential areas)
Reduces glare on sunny days
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Reduces cooling/heating energy costs near surrounding buildings by supplying shade in summer and windbreak in winter
Reduces the use of fertilizers and fossil fuels by preventing soil erosion
Mature trees raise property values
Proper tree placement and maintenance can reduce crime
Can be recycled
(top)