Backyard Tree Planting Program

A common myth about urban trees is that they cause damage to pipes and foundations. Roots can’t break through intact foundations or pipes. However, they can be attracted to areas where cracks in pipes or foundations offer the resources that trees are seeking, namely water and oxygen. There are two ways to greatly reduce this risk – ensure your property is in good repair and plant the right trees in the right locations.

Ever wonder who the superheroes are behind our residential tree planting programs? From helping homeowners select the right trees and planting locations for their properties to scheduling our long field days, they’re growing our urban forest one tree at a time!

When a tree is uprooted from the ground at a nursery, potted up, transported and replanted in your backyard, it will undergo a period of stress called transplant shock. Trees communicate this stress through a range of physical cues, which may become severe in certain cases. Thankfully, there are some easy steps you can take before and after planting that will help reduce the transplant shock in your newly planted tree!

A multi-seasonal landscape tree showcases a plethora of changing colours and textures throughout the year. The red maple, also known as the scarlet maple, presents an array of attractive features throughout all four seasons- spring, summer, fall and winter. It is also one of the most abundant and widespread maples in North America with its range extending across Ontario to eastern Canada and down along the American east coast to southern Florida.