Letter to the Editor
It is good to see our MPP Ted Arnott promoting tree planting in Ontario this year. I congratulate him on getting Queen’s Park on board and partnering with Forests Ontario on this program.
As he points out in the story in this week’s Advertiser, tree planting helps each of us address Climate Change. This is true.
However, if you are talking about planting in urban areas, this is easier said than done.
First, you need to consider where to plant. Here in Centre Wellington, if you are thinking about building an urban forest to bring beauty, shade and wildlife to your new subdivision, we wish you luck. Tract builders scrape the earth and drive over it with heavy equipment, leaving once-fertile soil degraded and a highly-challenging habitat for young trees.
Let’s assume you find a location for your new tree; be prepared to invest because
your tree was grown from a seed—some of which are in scarce supply these days. It took TLC, water and energy to grow that seedling you are able to plant, so handle with care.
Tree Planting Steps
1) Ensure that your tree is planted correctly – not too high or low.
2) Protect its tender bark from careless whipper snippers by adding a donut layer of mulch each spring.
3) Slip on a tree guard to protect it from rodents and other browsers before winter sets in.
4) Water your new young tree for at least 3 years during dry spells.
5) Be prepared to re-visit your tree in a few years. In all likelihood, it will need a pruning to ensure that it has good architecture to see it through a good long life.
Does this sound like a lot of work? Yes, your new tree is an investment —and there is no guarantee that your tree will survive to adulthood.
Clearly it is easier to protect the trees that are established and gracing our community today. But that’s a topic for another letter.
Toni Ellis
NeighbourWoods Coordinator
Toni Ellis
