Backyard Tree Planting Program

Have you seen a colourful new growth on the bark of your tree? Your initial thought may have been that it was moss or a fungal disease. While both are possible, it may be something much more interesting: lichen.

The white pine (Pinus strobus), also known as the eastern white pine or northern white pine, is considered the tallest eastern conifer and one of the most valuable trees in northeastern North America. With its iconic, windswept form, unique ecological significance and highly desirable wood, it’s no surprise the white pine holds outstanding value.

Fall is here but don’t pack away your garden hose just yet! Newly planted trees should be watered throughout the fall season up until the ground freezes. Fall watering supports root development in newly planted trees and helps evergreen trees combat the stress of winter conditions.

Trees and shrubs provide us with many amazing benefits, such as privacy, food and habitat for wildlife and increased property value. But did you know that a strategically planted tree or shrub can also help you conserve energy, reduce your heating and cooling costs and fight climate change by reducing atmospheric carbon?

One of the major issues facing urbanized areas today is an abundance of stormwater runoff flowing into waterways. Buildings, roads and compacted urban soils create hard surfaces generating a greater amount of runoff than on undisturbed or undeveloped surfaces. As a result, urban infrastructure can become overwhelmed during storm events with high volumes of precipitation, leading to increased flooding, soil erosion and pollutants in our waterways.