Tree Planting in London

It is safe to say that Spring is here to stay. Apple trees are blossoming. The purple hue of redbuds can be seen around the city. Plus, the leaves have unfurled on maples, oaks, willows and many other trees. Do you know what that means?

IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO PLANT A TREE!

Spring is a great time to get out and plant trees. Typically, days are not too hot and there is still plenty of moisture in the ground. This gives new trees a chance to get established before the punishing days of summer are fully under way. In fact, you can plant trees as soon as the frost is out of the ground. That means now!

And this weekend there are not just one, but TWO opportunities to get out and plant trees right here in our community, through ReForest London‘s tree planting initiatives;

Sat, May 25, 1-3:30 pm, Celebration Forest, Western Counties Road
Volunteers are needed to assist families planting trees in celebration or in memory of loved ones in ReForest London’s Celebration Forest, and to plant trees for people who could not attend this event. Additional help is needed prior to the event; if you can assist in set up for the event, please contact Jessica Danard at volunteer@reforestlondon.ca.

Sun, May 26, 1-4 pm, Murray Marr East, Ecoaction, 707 Exeter Road
We need lots of enthusiastic volunteers to plant 500 native trees and shrubs in this south London natural area. Due to the rough terrain, this is not a good site for children. We recommend volunteers wear long pants and long sleeve shirts to this site. Thank you to Environment Canada for sponsoring this project.

Before you stick your spade in the ground, there are a few things you should know though. The first is to dress appropriately. That means sturdy shoes (think runners, not flip-flops). Depending upon where you are going to be planting, and the weather, wear appropriate clothing as well (long pants, long sleeves, garden gloves and maybe even a slicker in case of rain). The next item in your arsenal should be a shovel, although the folks at ReForest London sometimes have spare ones if you are planting with them. Don’t forget a positive attitude and gentle hands. Tree saplings are delicate things and cannot withstand rough handling.

With that in mind, choose the site for your new seedling carefully. Again, ReForest London volunteers always teach you how to plant trees at the beginning of their tree planting events. Try not to damage roots or the stem of your new tree. Plant seedlings upright and away from rocks, stumps or too close to other trees. No need to have them competing for water and sunlight right off the hop. Make sure that you have an appropriate sized hole to place your seedling into – neither too deep, nor too shallow. Finally, make sure to gently tamp the soil down around the new tree, to remove any potential air pockets from around the tree’s roots. Air pockets can kill a plant.

Now take a sip of your water and give your new tree a slug too. Don’t forget to register the newly planted trees with the Million Tree Challenge when you are through! Londoners have planted almost 98,000 trees so far. CLC Tree Services is one of the Top Planters of 2013 with 71 trees planted. Every tree counts, so make a point to get out and plant a new tree this weekend.

Tree Planting at FSTV, Day of Service 2012

Insects and Firewood: Leave Them Where you Find Them

Asian Longhorn Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We noted back in April on the CLC Facebook page that the Asian Long-Horned Beetle had been eradicated in Canada. That was great news for anyone that cares anything about trees! Sadly, that is but one of the invasive insects that prey on our native trees though.

You will of course have heard of many of the insects that attack trees in Canada. There is the Emerald Ash Borer and its deadly decimation of ash trees in Canada; more specifically within Ontario and Quebec. There is also the Bronze Birch Borer, which targets birch trees, the European Gypsy Moth, which isn’t as picky about which trees it attacks, but can be just as fatal if it defoliates an entire tree, and a relatively new pest on our doorstep – the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

In reality, there are many more insects to be aware of and vigilant against here in Canada. The Government of Canada has complied a list of forest invasive alien species, which you should be aware of. They are;

• Ambermarked birch leafminer
• Balsam woolly adelgid
• Beech scale
• Birch casebearer
• Birch leafminer
• Black stem borer
• Common pine shoot beetle
• Eastern spruce gall adelgid
• Elm leaf beetle
• European pine sawfly
• European pine shoot moth
• European pineneedle midge
• European spruce sawfly
• Gypsy moth
• Introduced pine sawfly
• Larch casebearer
• Larch sawfly
• Lombardy leafminer
• Mountain ash sawfly
• Pear thrips
• Rusty tussock moth
• Smaller European elm bark beetle
• Winter moth

That’s a list we would rather not see, but is a sad reality that arborists are challenged with on a daily basis. While some of these pests are worse than others, there are things that you can do to prevent their spread in Ontario.

The quickly approaching long weekend has always been noted as the unofficial start of summer. Many of you will be packing tents and heading to one of Ontario’s beautiful Provincial Parks to celebrate Victoria Day. Camping is a great activity for young or old, but before you leave you need to double-check one item before it gets packed – your firewood.

One of the most common ways for insects to get introduced into new areas is in the innocuous transportation of wood. While you might look at a log as a perfect addition to your camping experience, what you can’t see are any of the insects that are travelling along with you just under the surface. Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they are any less dangerous though. Sadly it is often humans themselves that cause the worst of our infestations from exactly that method; of unknowingly transporting pests into areas where they may not have existed before.

That is why there are bans across Ontario on transporting any wood that may be infected by harmful insects. You cannot transport ash products of any kind (wood chips, bark, logs, trees, etc) within much of Southwestern Ontario. Likewise, quarantines exist against the Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle, Dutch Elm Disease, European Larch Canker, Gypsy Moth, and the Pine Shoot Beetle to prevent the spread of these noxious pests.

What that means to you as a happy camper this weekend is that you cannot take along your own firewood to add to your campfire in any of Ontario’s Parks. In fact, any wood that you might purchase at a camp is also not allowed to be transported out of the area. IE, No transportation of wood in or out of a restricted area. While you might think a log or two is no big deal, if you get hit with a fine of up to $50,000 you might think otherwise!

So enjoy your long weekend and toast up a smores or weenie for me, but remember that it is up to you and I to do everything we can to keep our forests safe. Be on the safe side and calculate in a few extra dollars for firewood at the campsite. Our trees and the health of our forests will thank you for it.

Happy Victoria Day Weekend!

Related articles

• Arrival of Gypsy Moth: Oakville Takes Action (oakvillenews.org)
• City of Toronto plans aerial spray to control European Gypsy Moth population (local-news.jtn-network.com)
• CLC Tree Services Takes a Stand Against the Emerald Ash Borer (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)

Dangers on the Job

Babies!

Last week during the OCAA Day of Service at Camp Woodeden, a raccoon family was found in an ash tree. The ash tree was dead, having succumbed to the emerald ash borer (EAB). It was hollow in the middle, having rotted out due to the insects’ voracious ravages. Deadly for the ash tree, but perfect for a mother raccoon to create a home to raise her horde of babies in.

Calvin is on the job

While the incident proved to be a great photo opportunity (who doesn’t love babies!), it was also the most dangerous job of the day. The tree was located in between Camp Woodeden’s basketball court and their fire pit, which just happens to be used on a nightly basis. If left, the tree would most certainly have rained down dead branches, possibly upon passing campers, but also served as a threat to the surrounding area as a whole.

The danger to the wheelchair-bound campers was obvious, but there was also danger involved for the crews that worked on the 100+ year-old tree. Due to the nature of the EAB’s attack, ash trees become extremely brittle once infected. Essentially they are eaten from the inside out, leaving the tree vulnerable to other insect attacks and infestations, plus unable to withstand even the merest blasts of wind from Mother Nature herself.

Taking the ash down in sections

For the crew that works on the infected tree, the problem becomes that of how to get near enough to the tree to remove it without it literally falling apart around them. Normally, when a tree services company comes in to prune or remove a tree, they usually climb up into it. When you are dealing with a tree that has the potential to fall apart under any kind of pressure, that means that climbing the tree is NOT a possibility. Not only do you not want to injure the crew in or below said tree, but you also don’t want to damage any potential property in the vicinity.

Animal Rescue

In the scenario at Woodeden, there were several concerns. First off, the tree itself was not safe to climb into. A bucket truck was used to hoist Calvin, our lead hand, close enough to the tree, so that he could safely work on it. The next problem came about when he started cutting the tree down in sections, only to find an angry mama raccoon inside the trunk. While Calvin is a brave guy, we didn’t need to add withstanding animal attacks into his job description. Thankfully mama growled menacingly for only a minute, before skedaddling. Her young pups were left behind. That meant that Cal could add animal rescuer to his list of feats accomplished though, as he scooped the scared babies into a bag and removed them from the tree in order to continue to trim the dangerous ash.

Welcome to your new home babies!

Don’t go thinking that the CLC crew are a bunch of home-wreckers though. We did cut down a good chunk of the offending ash, but left enough standing to allow the raccoon family to safely move back in again. Calvin carefully placed the raccoon babies into the top of the hollow ash, after it reached a safe height for the humans that share the space around the trunk. No errant branches were left to clutter pathways or fall onto surrounding buildings or people.

Another successful day on the job for the men at CLC Tree Services. And happy campers all around, from the intact crew that worked on the tree, to the raccoon family, to the campers, counsellors and Directors of Camp Woodeden.

Danger met and vanquished!

Thanks for the new home CLC

Related articles

• Day of Service: For the Kids (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• CLC Tree Services Takes a Stand Against the Emerald Ash Borer (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• Backlog hits stumped London ash-tree homes (lfpress.com)

Day of Service: For the Kids

The CLC boys have been at it again. They went out and volunteered their time to help another group in need. With a little assistance from the same crews that joined the fun last year at the OCAA’s Day of Service at FSTV (namely Chatham Tree Services, Arbortech Professional Tree Care, and Norm’s Tree Service), the men had a much larger task at hand this round. Where did the crews end up for this year’s OCAA Day of Service you wonder?

Site of 2013 OCAA Day of Service

Some of the smiling faces that benefit from Camp Woodeden

The four crews showed up on Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 on the outskirts of London, at the 106-acre Woodeden Easter Seals Camp. They might not have realized the magnitude of the work at hand, but they were plenty ready to tackle the mighty tree services job ahead of them. If you haven’t heard of it before, Woodeden Camp offers summer camps to children aged 8-18 years old. They have amazing ropes courses, sledge hockey, an indoor gym with a 35′ – 40′ high rock wall as well as space for volleyball and basketball.

Do you have a ghost story to share fireside?

Plus there is an outdoor basketball court, archery range, swimming pool, tree house with a view of the Thames River, amphitheatre and camp fire pit where folks can cozy up for nightly bonfires. The special thing about this camp though is that it is all geared to and specifically designed for kids with physical disabilities.

Anyone care for a tour through the bush?

Sadly, the camp had fallen prey to one of Ontario’s deadliest insects, the emerald ash borer, and there were a host of ash trees that were affected. While that may be a problem for any summer camp, the resident campers that spend 10 days at this incredible location have the challenge of manoeuvring around the grounds in wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility devices.  Paved pathways are a must and safety is of utmost concern.

That is where the members of the OCAA came in.

Timber!

With approximately 35 acres of Camp Woodeden taken up by their 18 buildings and numerous activity sites, there was lots of work to do to make the camp ready for the start of summer camp season. Pathways needed to be cleared. Hazardous trees needed to be removed. Trees that were closest to buildings and activity sites needed to be pruned and a little fertilizing was even added to the to-do list. Collie Patton, the Climbing Program Coordinator, noted that “camp is often described as the highlight of many children’s year, and serves as an incredible confidence building experience”. Ensuring that the over 300 children that come to Camp Woodeden every summer have a place to be safe, have fun and just be normal kids means more than the 24 men that spent the day tending to the trees might ever realize.

Lunch time for all the crews

What the men did appreciate were the burgers, sausages, salad, drinks and cake that the Camp Woodeden staff provided for them. It was a day to work with men from other crews, to learn new or different skills and to feel good about helping out an organization within their community. Our very own Calvin McCallum from CLC Tree Services, not only went to the camp three times evaluating the site’s needs with Site Manager Howard Botten, but was also up in the trees with chainsaw and raccoon in hand himself.

Calvin returns a baby raccoon to his nest in an ash tree

Yes, not only did the work these men provided equal upwards of $20,000- $25,000 in tree services, but they also saved a family of 4 baby raccoons and an angry mom from a dangerous, rotten ash tree (now shortened and far safer for everyone involved). The approximately 20 extra children that will now get a chance to go to this amazing overnight summer camp will certainly appreciate all the hard work that was done, as will their families who benefit from their own respite.

And it couldn’t have been a nicer day for them all…

Working together to clean up the site

At work high in the trees

Anyone hungry?

Homemade cake provided by Camp Director Kim Vallieres’s sister

Lastly, CLC Tree Services wishes to offer a huge thank you to the men that came out from Arbortech Professional Tree Care, Chatham Tree Services, and Norm’s Tree Services, as well as the fantastic folks at the Woodeden Easter Seals Camp. It was another successful OCAA Day of Service!

Related articles

• Day of Service 2012 at FSTV (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• CLC At Your Service (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• Preparing Kids for Summer Camp: Why Communication is Key (activityhero.com)

CLC At Your Service

April showers bring May flowers.

Daffodils in the rain

The flowers should be brilliant this May then one would think. No matter, we just had a few days of sunshine and you can see the evidence of that most places you look. Area residents have been out in droves raking up dead tree branches, spreading spring fertilizer,   deadheading plants that were left for winter interest (grasses, sedums, hydrangeas and the like) and generally doing their darnedest to soak up that sweet spring sun. It is a veritable city-wide spring cleanup!

What about those who are unable to tend to their gardens though? I am thinking about people who are ill, elderly or just plain unsure of how to go about tending to their outside domains. Most trees could use a pruning every once in a while, if not more dramatic bracing or cabling after a long winter with the punishing weather that comes with it. Where do you turn if it is beyond yourself with how to go about it?

At CLC Tree Services, we are all about encouraging folks to get out and get green. Dig in your garden, plant some trees around the city and do whatever works for you to improve the state of the Forest City. When you need a helping hand though, that is when CLC can step in to shine.

Here are some of the many tasks that we undertake on a daily basis;

• Tree Removal
• Pruning
• Cabling & Bracing
• Stump Grinding
• Emergency Tree Care & Storm Response
• Construction Planning & Tree Preservation
• Tree Planting
• Insect & Disease Diagnosis
• Deep Root Fertilization & Aeration
• Tree Injections
• Hedge & Shrub Trimming
• Other Services as required

So if you would like to see your prize magnolia pruned, if that ginkgo gave up the ghost this winter and needs to be removed, or you suspect insects have eaten into your ash tree and don’t know what to do, pick up the phone and call (519) 685-0257. CLC Tree Services can come out to your business or personal property and assess what needs to be done. Estimates are always free and we want you to be happy with any services we provide.

Let us prove it to you.

Related articles

• Spring Tree TLC from CLC (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• London’s Spring Weather (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• Early Spring Garden Clean-Up & Wake-Up (inyourneighbourhood.wordpress.com)
• Tree Planting Season (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• The RISKS and BENEFITS of Owning Trees (treemendousday.wordpress.com)