TREES

Celebrating the Oak Tree on National Tree Day

Anelia’s Tree Corner Interesting facts and tree care tips from certified arborist Anelia Tichkova

We recommend compost or fine mulch on the surface around the tree or shrub after planting, to help plants get a good start by preventing drying and keeping out unwanted plants (weeds). Be sure to watch our how-to video on planting young trees below.

Anelia’s Tree Corner Interesting facts and tree care tips from certified arborist Anelia Tichkova How to deal with Spongy Moth around your property A new common name for Lymantria dispar, spongy moth, replaced the prior name of this insect, gypsy moth, in 2022. The Spongy moth is an invasive pest, native to Europe, that was introduced to North America accidentally in 1869 and has expanded its range over Eastern United States and Canada. It is now well established throughout southern Ontario and as far north as Sault Ste. Marie. The spongy moth larvae or caterpillars will feed on a variety of deciduous tree leaves as soon as leaves appear in the spring. If the larvae population is high, they can defoliate whole trees and forests in a short amount of time. Repeated spongy moth outbreaks and defoliation of trees cause significant stress to trees, especially to oaks that are the most susceptible but highly valuable trees for sustaining healthy ecosystems. During the summer, the female moth lays eggs in masses of 100 to 1000 on tree bark, crevices, houses, fences, rocks, etc. The eggs are covered with fine light brown hairs. The egg masses will remain all winter and caterpillars will hatch in the spring, from late April to mid-May. What you can do to protect trees on your property or neighbourhood? Homeowners are encouraged to monitor their hardwood trees like oak, birch, maple, beech, crabapple, basswood, willow and many other types of trees for the presence of larvae, or egg masses. Between the months of August and April, physically remove spongy moth egg masses. Use a putty knife or any other scrapping tool to gently remove the eggs into a container and destroy the eggs by leaving them in soapy water for several days. In the spring, wrap burlap bands at chest height, around trees. The caterpillars will crawl to seek shelter during the day. Use gloves to hand-pick caterpillars and crush or destroy by soaking in soapy water for 48 hours. Contact a professional tree care service provider if you believe manual removal is not sufficient.

Anelia’s Tree Corner Interesting facts and tree care tips from certified arborist Anelia Tichkova Common Winter Issues for Trees There are a number of common tree problems that occur in the winter so tree care is essential to ensure trees stay healthy. Frost Heaving - Frost heaving occurs when soil freezing and thawing happens repeatedly. As a result, the soil moves and pushes sometimes tree roots above the ground which can leave roots exposed and weakened. A layer of mulch in the fall around the tree can serve as an insulator and can protect roots from exposure and damage. Winter Drought - This condition is actually very common and it happens when trees lose more water than they can absorb from the frozen ground. Evergreen trees are especially susceptible to drying out as they lose water through their needles in the dry winter air. As a prevention, water your trees thoroughly in the fall, and apply a layer of mulch around the stem to help out with moisture retention. Sunscald - Similar to sunburn but for trees, this condition is caused when the tree bark is heated up by the sun on a cold day but then there is a sudden change of temperature once the sunshine is gone. The tree is not able to regulate itself and the inner cells activated initially by the heat are damaged, resulting in deep cracks in the tree bark. Delicate trees should be wrapped up for the winter, especially trees with south or southwest exposure. Salt Damage - The salt used on roads and sidewalks during the winter can leak into the soils and can cause severe decline in the trees’ health. It can also harm the branches of evergreens directly and burn the foliage. Try to aim for more eco-friendly de-icing alternatives to salt. If you end up using salt, always shovel well first and then use a small amount. Animal Damage - Food and resources are scarce for animals during the winter and some of these animals, including rabbits, deer, rats, and mice sometimes target the bark of trees. Prevention includes some sort of protection, especially for young trees, such as metal mesh or any other type of a tree guard wrapped around the stem. Snow and Ice Breakage - Snow, ice or wind can pose a high risk for trees and sometimes make it unbearable for tree branches to resist the pressure. Regular “crown cleaning” pruning technique is recommended which involves selective removal of dead, diseased, broken, or weakly attached branches from a tree crown. Trees are resilient and if we choose to plant native trees that are suited to local climate, they have a higher chance to withstand winter conditions. With the changing climate in recent years, it is also a good idea to consider species with a broad range of environmental adaptability so they can persist in altered conditions in the coming decades.

Anelia’s Tree Corner Interesting facts and tree care tips from certified arborist Anelia Tichkova  How to Deal with Exposed Tree Roots Today we’re diving into the underground world of roots - not often considered, but a very important part of urban tree health.

Anelia’s Tree Corner Interesting facts and tree care tips from certified arborist Anelia Tichkova