June 02, 2021
Brenna Anstett
The pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), is a smaller growing species that is often planted as an ornamental or centrepiece in many gardens. It is aptly named for its layered, horizontal branching which often resembles a pagoda (a tower-like, tiered structure). The pagoda dogwood is a beautiful native understory species that can be readily found in many forests across eastern North America.
June 01, 2021
Janet McKay
Tags: Urban Forest Champion
Tooba Shakeel has recently joined the LEAF Board of Directors. In this blog, our Executive Director, Janet McKay interviews Tooba about her experience and her motivation for becoming a LEAF Board member.
May 21, 2021
Adriana Rezai-S...
Transforming our urban forests into landscapes with various tree species is in our best interest as diversity helps make our cities more livable. Planting a variety of trees can improve wildlife habitat, help build resiliency and support various benefits that nature provides to humans.
May 19, 2021
Brian Millward
Does your nearby subway station host an Urban Forest Demonstration Garden? If so, look for our new signs! LEAF and our volunteer Garden Stewards plant and care for small gardens outside five subway stations. These native plant gardens showcase the beauty and importance of green spaces within an urban environment and are open for anyone to visit – local community members and passing commuters alike!
May 01, 2021
Jess Wilkin
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.
April 13, 2021
Mikayla Richards
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!
April 01, 2021
Brian Millward
With temperatures already warming up, it feels like spring is already here and it is time to start preparing for a new gardening season. However, while we might be ready to get to work in our gardens, it’s good to remember that many creatures are still using them as habitat before the spring thaw. Our volunteers came up with a great way to remind people of how important our gardens are for local wildlife during the winter.
March 29, 2021
Lam Tran
Becoming a Young Urban Forest Leader (YUFL) proved to be a formative experience for Natalie Secen. She joined the YUFL program with an interest in urban forestry and now, four years later, has a fulfilling career working for a private tree care company. How did this all happen? Natalie shares with us how joining the YUFLs helped root her career in urban forestry.
March 23, 2021
Jess Wilkin
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!
March 19, 2021
Brenna Anstett
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.