Urban forests face many challenges from development, climate change and extreme weather, invasive species and disease. These challenges become particularly pronounced when one or two tree species dominate a woodlot, and even more so when they are non-native. This very fact became apparent with the detection of pine wilt disease at Russett Park, a woodlot once dominated by the non-native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).
December 19, 2023
Sarah Halonen
November 21, 2023
Jeremy Lewis
Since 2018, LEAF has been working with Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) tenants to improve canopy cover and community ties through the TCHC Planting and Stewardship Program. The program offers shrubs and trees free of cost to TCHC tenants and supports tree stewardship activities carried out by tenants who care for their newly planted trees.
October 18, 2023
Sarah Halonen
In the face of climate change, many of us wonder what actions we can take to combat its effects. The simple act of creating a native garden that puts biodiversity and pollinators first can bring us one step closer to a healthier and more climate resilient urban forest ecosystem.
October 18, 2023
Doreen Malapitan
Avoid heavy and tight decorations on your tree.
Walking through neighbourhoods during the fall is always a fun sight-seeing excursion, with spooky decorations adorning people’s homes. However, hanging heavy décor on trees can weigh down branches, potentially leading to breakage. Décor that is tied too tightly and left too long can also girdle a tree, causing damage to the tree that could be life-threatening.
October 04, 2023
Justin Lewis
Fruit Abundance
Finding fall fruit is essential for mammals and birds. Native trees and shrubs in Ontario have evolved to provide the right nutrition, in the form of acorns, nuts, berries and other fruits, precisely when they need it. This benefits both plants and animals. Animals that eat nuts and berries gain energy to survive, and they also help plants grow by dispersing seeds through their droppings or by forgetting where they buried them.
October 04, 2023
Jon Curtis
What are girdling roots?
Imagine wearing a belt around your waist and it starts to feel tighter and tighter. This is what happens when tree roots start to circle, or girdle, the base of a tree. Girdling roots are circular or spiral roots that appear at or just below the soil surface at the base of the main trunk of a tree. These roots can encircle the trunk, effectively strangling the tree by restricting the flow of water and nutrients from the roots up to the leaves. Trees that experience girdling often decline in health before eventually dying.
October 04, 2023
Jeremy Lewis
As part of the TCHC Planting and Stewardship Program, LEAF supports tenants' efforts to take care of newly planted trees in their communities. One of these incredible tenants, Jason Sinclair, cares for 12 trees that were planted through the program.
September 07, 2023
Jess Wilkin
When a person has access to enough safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs, they are considered food secure. Food insecurity is on the rise with millions of Canadians already having trouble putting good food on the table. Recently, the availability and access of nutritious food has been undermined as food costs rise in response to inflation and the impacts of climate change on our global food system.
September 07, 2023
Jon Curtis
Myth #1: Spring is the best and only time to plant a new tree or shrub.
False! While spring is a popular time for planting, it is not the only suitable time. In fact, fall is just as ideal.
Summer, however, is typically undesirable for planting as it brings hot temperatures and less precipitation. These conditions can compound the normal transplant shock a tree or shrub experiences after planting, making it more challenging for them to establish.
September 05, 2023
Doreen Malapitan
Of the many native edible shrubs we have in Southern Ontario, LEAF offers ten species, with a range of different types of tasty fruit. All this variety leaves room for so much diversity in your garden and creativity in your kitchen! Here are three edible native shrubs and some ways you can cook with them!