News

On June 23rd, 20 people, including representatives from ReForest London, Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) Waterloo, and Longbranch Neighbourhood Association, attended our first-ever full-day Citizen Pruner Workshop. A special thanks to Chris Morrison, an enthusiastic, local, certified arborist. He provided attendees with a full overview of tree biology, structural pruning in a classroom setting, and practical application in the field. As well, a big shout out to Charlotte Rumbell who put many hardworking hours into organizing the event and providing attendees with take-away information.

We are proud of our achievements last year.  Check them out in our Year In Review Report.  A quick but inspiring read.Neighbourwood Year in Review 2018

Saturday, June 23: 9:30 to 3:30 PM in Elora.

Last summer in Elora/Fergus we ran a very successful Citizen Pruner program, with volunteers pruning around 150 trees. Not only did we help those trees avoid more drastic pruning down the road, but we offered up a very successful – and popular –  volunteer program. 

Join us for a Citizen Pruner Workshop on Saturday, June 23 in Elora.  Find out everything you need to know to implement this innovative program in YOUR community. You will learn how to equip your volunteers to safely prune young trees.

The workshop will include:

1. A presentation from certified arborist Chris Morrison (of Storm Water Forestry)  to equip volunteers with information about how at tree grows and how to properly and safely prune a tree,
2. how we organized the program and,
3. field practice with Chris, pruning some local trees.

See you there!

With spring around the corner, it is time to start thinking about having some tree work done. We encourage you to hire a certified Arborist for all your tree care work. They are insured, trained, educated and qualified to determine what measures are needed, how the tree will respond to any pruning cuts and have the skills needed to carry out tree care work. We also encourage you to hire local companies who understand how trees grow and react to our local weather conditions, and many of whom have been very helpful volunteers with NeighbourWoods.

ALSO, PLEASE DO NOT move firewood. This practice is responsible for spreading tree diseases – witness the Emerald Ash Borer. With fatal Oak Wilt at our doorstep in Windsor, our best defence is to keep and use firewood locally. Please share this!

The Elm Recovery Project at the University of Guelph Arboretum

Many people today don’t recall the incredible canopy that the American elm (Ulmus americana) once produced over cities, rural roads and wild landscapes. With the introduction of Dutch elm disease into North America in the mid-twentieth century, hundreds of millions of elm trees were quickly killed- and the fungus continues to cause mortality in this species today.

There is hope.  Some elms appear to tolerate infection and remain healthy into old age; they are the survivors.  Since 1998, the University of Guelph Arboretum has been conducting the Elm Recovery Project to study and archive these special trees.  Lovingly dubbed, “A Dating Service for Lonely Elms” by CBC Radio, the Elm Recovery Project has been bringing these isolated survivors together while providing a helping hand on the path to seeing this majestic species tower over our Ontario landscapes once again.

About our Speaker

Sean Fox is an engaging an knowledgeable speaker and we are delighted he can join us.

He is the Arboretum Manager and Head Horticulturist at the University of Guelph Arboretum where he oversees more than 30 woody plant collections from around the world.  During the past 17 years, Sean has dedicated a significant portion of his time to the Rare Woody Plants of Ontario Program and the Elm Recovery Project, both sited at The Arboretum.  These plant conservation programs ultimately aim to help protect the unique genetics of Ontario’s threatened species.

•  Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2018
• Time:   7:30 – 9 PM
• Location: Minarovich Gallery, Elora Arts Centre, 75 Melville Street, Elora
• Cost:  Free for members, $5 everyone else
• For more info please call: 519-362-9469

Whipper snippers and mowers: The number 1 enemy of young trees everywhere!

Even the most careful of gardeners can nick the tender bark of a young tree. Because the vital channels that transport nutrients in a tree lie just under the bark, these wounds are more serious than you might think. And if the wound encircles the tree, in all likelihood, it will be fatal.

What to do? Apply a 2 – 3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree, and extend it out as far as you can- even to the drip-line. If you add a thin layer of compost underneath the mulch, this will improve the soil structure and help add micro-nutrients over time.

We have put up stakes and small signs to help prevent people from damaging the trees while mowing the grass.

Free Backyard Tree Planting Program coming to CW to Celebrate Canada 150!

Here’s your chance to make a lasting contribution to your neighbourhood by adding a Sesquicentennial native tree to your yard.  NeighbourWoods, in partnership with Green Legacy, Little Tree and four local arborists, is pilot testing a new and innovative program to boost the number of trees in our community. 
Here’s how it works:
Residents who hire one of the participating arborists to cut down a tree – for example a dying Ash – will be offered one free replacement.   Customers have 2 options: 
1)    A 3-4-foot paper birch, white spruce or sugar maple provided by  Green Legacy.  Your arborist can recommend which species is best suited to your site AND will even plant it for you.
2)    For customers who prefer a bigger tree,  a coupon for 15% off a tree purchased from Little Tree Garden Market.  Little Tree offers a delivery and planting service.
 
Participating arborists are:
Arborite Tree Care 519-993-3340
Baum Tree Care 226-383-2286
CREO Concepts Inc. 519-843-2087
Full Circle Tree Service 519-827-9408
MW Tree Service 519-831-9848
Out of Your Tree Care 226-820-3611
If you are interested in taking advantage of this program, call soon because this offer is good until June 30 or until the trees are gone.
 
If this new idea catches on, perhaps it can become a program offered in the future – and even replicated in other communities in Ontario.
 
For more information about NeighbourWoods or this Program, please contact Toni Ellis, Coordinator, at 519-362-9469 or by email at neighbourwoods@eloraenvironmentcentre.ca