Spring: The Ideal Time for Pruning in Ontario

We are now well into spring! Our trees are waking up from the dormancy of winter, making plans for new growth, and the air is alive with the energy of renewal. Every spring we get the urge to start fresh, get organized, and prepare our landscapes for a season of outdoor fun and relaxation. In this early part of the season, before you start planting, it is a good idea to have your trees cared for: 1. Deadwooding : Removing dead branches not only reduces the hazard of falling objects on your property, it also reduces the amount of habitat for pests and pathogens and gives your tree a fresh, healthy look. 2. Removals : On a practical level, removing dead or dying trees on your property reduces hazards and creates space for something new in your landscape. On a more subtle level, it is deeply satisfying to see your landscape bursting with green, and not full of dead sticks, twigs and peeling bark. 3. Maintenance pruning : Pruning overgrown, interfering, diseased, damaged and dead branches accomplishes many goals. It prevents structural problems in the future, reduces hazards, increases airflow through the tree (reducing the amount of damp fungal habitat) and lets more sunlight filter through the canopy. This all translates to a safe, healthy and productive landscape. Removing dead branches, removing dead trees, and performing maintenance pruning where needed leaves your landscape safer, tidier, and refreshed. It's hard to explain the subtle feeling of peace of mind that this creates, but it's well worth the effort and investment. Call us for a free assessment and quote! (905) 827-9103

Start the year right with resolutions for homeowners! Learn how to identify and care for your trees for a healthier, greener home in 2024.

Yes, we work through the winter! Does that surprise you? There are actually a few good reasons to schedule your tree services for the dormant season! First: what is dormancy? For a tree, it means that it is no longer actively growing. Sometimes there is a little bit of activity, but in general, when temperatures are cold enough to damage the leaves, the tree stops providing them with clorophyll (one of the key reactants in photosynthesis) and slowly cuts them off from the branch or twig to which they are attached. Trees' leaves are productive organs. If too many leaves are removed during summer pruning, the tree may not be able to store enough reserves to make it through the winter and emerge into the spring with new, healthy growth and strong defences. When we prune during the dormant season we are not removing productive leaves, and when the spring comes, the burst of new growth can help to speed the healing of pruning wounds. Another good reason to prune during the dormant season is that disease-causing fungi and bacteria are less likely to be active and spreading. From a homeowner's point of view, there is another reason why you may want to consider having your tree services performed in the winter. We make every effort to minimize the damage that dragging brush has on grass, but there usually is a little bit of disturbance when heavy wood or brush is being moved. Having tree services performed when the ground is frozen can minimize dents and scrapes in your lawn.

It's no wonder that we are obsessed with trees! Aside from being a beautiful and peaceful addition to a landscape, trees are critical for our well-being. Here are just a few things that trees do for us: Filter air pollutants Provide us with oxygen Cool the streets and the city Help prevent soil erosion and water pollution And, of course, they provide us with material goods as well. You can read more about the benefits of trees HERE if you like. On the other hand, our urban trees do come at a special cost. In urban or suburban settings they must be maintained regularly to reduce the risk of a limb or a whole tree failing and possibly injuring a person or damaging property.

Summer Branch Drop (SBD) is a little understood phenomenon that is gaining some local attention as of late after a recent tragic incident in Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto. SBD has been reported in Australia, Europe and the US since the early 1970’s. In these incidents, limbs fall for no apparent reason on calm, hot summer days.

After a very dry spring and summer you may be noticing symptoms of drought in your trees: Yellowing and/or wilted leaves (like the River Birch, Betula nigra, pictured below) Smaller leaf size towards the ends of branches Leaves turning colour and falling too early Dead spots on leaves

"It's important to regularly fertilize your trees to maintain their health and appearance." Trees are an important part of our landscapes, however due to their slow growth and response rate we may not be immediately aware when they are under stress. It is important to regularly fertilize our trees to maintain their health and appearance. Whether your trees are young or old, fertilizing them is an essential part of their regular maintenance. Nutrients are delivered to the root systems of trees almost all season long. As new growth is encouraged through fertilizing it may not be wise to fertilize too late in the season, as that new growth needs time to harden off before winter. At Arborcorp, we inject a specially formulated fertilizer designed specifically for trees and woody plants in the urban landscapes of Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga and Milton. Our formulation is designed to be released slowly and will last the duration of the season and sometimes into the next. Fertilizer is injected into the fibrous root zone of your tree, right where it needs it most. While some companies concentrate their fertilizing efforts only at the tree’s drip line, we inject throughout the entire root system, providing maximum benefit to your tree’s health. Contact Arborcorp today to discuss the trees in your yard and what we can do to make them healthier and even more beautiful than they already are.