Trees are very important for the well-being of a community and our environment. They improve the quality of our neighbourhoods, air, trails, and other areas around the Township.
All of us are responsible for their care and ensuring they can thrive in our community. Residents can help take care of trees by:
Watering
Pruning
Removing dead branches and/or leaves
Monitoring their health and raising any critical concerns
When the Township plants a new tree on the boulevard, it is important to water it appropriately so it can grow to be a mature healthy tree. We typically plant trees in the fall to maximize their chances of surviving, and it is critical to water them at this time.
You should water a newly planted tree every week for the following two years after it is planted. When trees are transplanted, they lose the majority of their root system, which can lead to discolouration and overall poor health. If you water weekly for two years in the spring, summer and fall, your tree will re-establish its roots and should grow to be healthy.
The following documents from the University of Minnesota and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute provide excellent information on caring for newly planted trees:
Proper tree pruning while your tree is young will make it more likely to resist damage from wind or ice and make it much easier to maintain. Low-growing branches can obstruct driveways or sidewalks, which can raise accessibility concerns and other issues.
Here are some tree pruning tips:
Start at the top of the tree and work your way down
Identify the best leader and lateral branches before you begin pruning
These are called the scaffold limbs (main tree branches)
You don’t need paint to protect pruning cuts, there is no scientific evidence to support that paint prevents or reduces decay
Use sharp pruning tools such as single handed pruning shears (curved) for young trees
Stay safe! We care about your safety more than anything else
Cut outside branch ridges and collars (swollen areas at the branch base)
Do not leave a protruding stub, instead, cut at a slight angle so the collar is not damaged
Do not make such cuts on larger branches – doing so can lead to decay and sprouting
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
Emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle that has caused millions of trees in North America to die, including in Waterloo Region.
The Township of Wilmot has removed several trees that have died because of this infestation over the past decade. Some qualities of an infested tree include: loss in canopy size, large lesions, feeding holes from different birds and new twig growths on the trunk.
Spongy Moth
The European Spongy Moth is an invasive species that presents a challenge to the health of forests and trees across the Northeastern United States and Southwestern Ontario, including here in the Township of Wilmot.
Outbreaks of Spongy Moth occur every 7 to 10 years, intensifying the level of damage to foliage they are normally responsible for. Residents are expected to manage pests on their property, including trees fronting their property.
To control the pest, it is important to understand its life cycle. The most effective methods will vary based on the time of year and the size and type of tree in question. We encourage residents to periodically inspect trees on or in front of their property for signs of Spongy Moth and take the appropriate actions detailed below.
Control Strategies
Strategy
Effective Range
How To
Remove Eggs
Egg Stage of Life Cycle
(Late August - Late April)
This is the most effective stage to manage the pest, destroying the eggs will prevent the hatching of hundreds of caterpillars.
Identify Spongy Moth eggs on the bark of tree. They look like relatively flat beige/tan lumps about the size of a loonie.
Carefully scrape eggs off the bark without damaging the tree, dropping the removed eggs into soapy water.
Leave the eggs in the soapy water for a few days to neutralize them. After which, dispose of the contents.
Burlap Banding
Caterpillar to Moth Stage of Life Cycle
(Late April - Late August)
This method can be used over the later spring/summer period. It is an effective method to trap caterpillars that seek shelter during the day as a part of the feeding cycle. This method can continue to be used to trap female moths trying to climb the tree to lay eggs later in the summer.
Wrap a piece of burlap completely around the circumference of the tree trunk and tie it in the center with twine or rope.
Allow the top half of the burlap above the twine/rope to "fall" downwards so it drapes over the lower half of the burlap creating a downwards facing envelope for the caterpillars to crawl up into to seek shelter during the day.
Check the trap every afternoon, remove any caterpillars (or moths) and place in soapy water for a few days to destroy them.
Spongy Moth Burlap Trap How To (Credit: City of Toronto)
Picking Caterpillars
Caterpillar Stage of Life Cycle
(May - July)
On smaller trees, this method is especially effective and recommended. Additionally, ensuring your property is attractive to natural predators like birds and keeping your tree well watered (if young) and healthy will boost natural resistance to the pest.
Identify Spongy Moth caterpillars. They are about 5 cm long with 5 pairs of blue and 6 pairs red dots along its back
Using gloves, pick the caterpillars off the trees and drop them into soapy water for a few days to be destroyed.
Boulevard Tree Species
The list is as follows:
Gingko (Male)
Rubrum Maple
Bur Oak
Red Oak
Redmond Linden
Standard Serviceberry
Freeman Maple
Honeylocust
Hackberry
Ironwood
Details
Standard Serviceberry (Amelanchier Arborea)
Leaves are oval or round (less than 8 cm long) with fine teeth on edges
Clusters of white flowers appear in spring
Tasty berries ripen early to mid-summer
Fun fact: Serviceberry fruits were a staple food of the Cree tribes of the Prairies, who mixed the dried berries with buffalo meat to make pemmican
Redmond Linden (Tillia Americana)
Dense, pyramidal and symmetrical tree with big, dark-green leaves and a straight trunk
The branches show a reddish colour in winter
Excellent for street tree plantings
Large glossy, green leaves turn yellow in fall
Mature size is around 12.2m – 15.2m tall x 7.6m – 9.1m wide
Red Oak (Quercus Rubra)
Displays vibrant red fall colour
Is a fast-growing tree that offers great shade and works well as a street tree
Tolerates pollution and compacted soil
Acorns from this tree are at the top of the food preference list for blue jays and squirrels
Mature height is 18.3m – 22.9m
Bur Oak (Quercus Macrocarpa)
Offers dense shade
Produces acorns that are popular with wildlife
Is a long-lived tree
Tolerates pollution and heat stress
Rubrum Maple (Acer Rubrum)
Grows to height of 12.2 m – 18.3 m and a spread of around 12.2m
Its flowers, petioles, twigs and seeds are all red to varying degrees
The fruits (samaras) provide food for squirrels and many other rodents
Rabbits and deer eat the tender shoots and leaves of red maples
Ginkgo (Male) (Ginkgo Biloba)
Both a shade tree and an ornamental tree
Features a spreading canopy capable of blocking sunlight
Grows to a height of 7.6m – 15.2m and a spread of 7.62m – 10.7m at maturity
Freeman Maple (Acer x Fremanii)
Hybrid Species of Rubrum Maple (Acer Rubrum) and Silver Maple (Acer Saccharinum)
Adaptable to a range of sun (partial to full sun) and water conditions (can thrive in moderate to wet, well drained soils, resistant to short term drought).
Relatively rapid growth
Grows to a height of 12 - 15 meters and a spread 9 - 12 meters
Honeylocust (Gledistsia Triacanthos)
Native Species
Will thrive in a range of conditions however they require plenty of sun
Relatively rapid growth
Grows to (and beyond) a height of 30 meters
Hackberry (Celtis Occidentalis)
Native Species
Very resilient and hardy tree, tolerant to drought. Can tolerate full and partial sun
Grows to a height of 12 - 18 meters and a spread of 12 - 18 meters
Ironwood (Ostrya Virginiana)
Native Species
Can tolerate a range of water conditions if in shade, if in full sun, the tree can thrive with reasonably wet soil
Grows to a height of 8 - 12 meters and a spread of 6 - 9 meters
New Developments (Subdivisions)
If you live in a new development (subdivision), please check with your builder and/or developer before requesting a tree from the Township.
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