Arborists are often called tree surgeons because their business bears a resemblance to how a doctor works on people. In the industry, however, the two labels would never be used interchangeably! Despite their title, tree surgeons do not have the same training or knowledge as certified arborists. The difference will show in the quality of the work.
In Ontario, the leaves begin changing colour in mid-to-late September and into October. While we often take them for granted while they’re here, the window to enjoy this seasonal foliage is pretty small. Here are some great places in the province to make the most out of this short time of year!
If We All Planted a Tree, Would Anything Interesting Happen? There are a lot of people on earth – 7.5 billion to be inexact, with more arriving every day. Have you ever thought about what would happen if all 7.5 billion of us did one specific action? Maybe something silly, like we all jump at the same time, or hold hands across the globe, or maybe build a giant human pyramid. The results would either be negligible (for jumping, the earth wouldn’t feel a thing) or hilarious.
But what if everyone did something that was good for the world? Not something corporate, like giving one another a soft drink, but something positive for the environment. For instance, what if everyone planted just one tree?
Sometimes a tree is beyond helping and it needs to be removed. Before tackling the job (and after determining it really is dead), a good arborist makes a plan. This is an important step in keeping everyone safe and preventing property damage.
The work of an arborist takes them high in the branches, and they get up there with rigs and ladders while carrying sharp tools. How a tree is removed depends on the tree’s location, size, and type!
Trees are major parts of landscaping, and they provide much-needed ornamentation to your property. Some trees give shade, some have a great colour to accent the flowers you’ve planted, and some provide the perfect amount of flow to your landscaping plans. But have you thought about which species are edible trees?
You can easily have trees that are both beautiful and tasty, making your landscape an edible one!
Planting popular species of tree is a great thing to do, even if it sounds boring! This is because native trees are important for the general ecosystem, and in looking at what’s most common in your area, you’ll also get a good sense of what tree will thrive after planting.
If you’re having trouble picking out a sapling to plant, or need help identifying a tree in your neighbourhood, these five will probably be your best bet!
It won’t be long until the trees begin to come out of their dormancy and start to bud with leaves, blossoms, and new growth. However, coming out of this long winter’s nap leaves them (no pun intended) very susceptible to fungal infections, many of which start in the bark. These infections can spread to the entire body, and without proper care these trees can lose their leaves, fruit, and limbs as they slowly die.
Fungal diseases in the bark are fairly easy for trained arborists to deal with, but the sooner they are caught, the better! Here are the big five fungal diseases we cope with in Ontario and what you should do to prevent them from harming your tree.
For those in the tree protection business, safety equipment, good rigging, saw, and shears can be the most important pieces of equipment needed to protect and cure trees. On the outside, arboriculture is an occupation that might not look like it’s changed too much, but while the hard work might have stayed the same, the technology has made diagnosing and treating trees easier for us and you.
Tree defense technology doesn’t end with the pruning hook and a ladder; we use computers, too! While much of what arborists use can be fairly basic – we still often protect trees with burlap, for instance – there are new, high-tech tools that can make diagnosing problems simple for us, and even puts some of that ability into your hands.
Canada uses at least $7 million tonnes of salt per year on its roads, and dealing with the damage it does to our cars, homes, and clothing is a regular part of winter here in the Great White North. But this road salt has a huge impact on the environment, too, and while you picture it getting into waterways, you might forget that this salt affects your property’s environment, too. Preventing salt damage should be a priority in order to protect more trees on your property.
While the road salt typically used is all-natural sodium chloride, it being all over the roads isn’t what nature had in mind. While it might be safe for you, it can kill your plants, and if it’s bad enough, even the heartiest of your trees. Here’s how this happens, how you can prevent it and why you should add it to your tree protection plan!