Category Archives: Trees

Guelph, Ont., May 8, 2018 – We made it to the other side of the wind storm, but that doesn’t mean our trees are out of the woods. Now is a good time to inspect the trees around your home for wind storm damage and to report issues with City trees if you see them. Even healthy trees can be damaged in a wind storm. Here are three things you can do to assess your trees: Search for broken branches Check trees for broken, cracked, or split branches. This damage can often be overlooked after a storm and may still pose a threat. Look for leaning trees Even if a tipped tree survives, it is often unstable and can shift or fall and cause serious… Continue reading Check your trees for any wind damage

Guelph, Ont., April 13, 2018 – We are prepared for the forecasted freezing rain expected this weekend.  The following list will help you prepare too. Roads and sidewalks City crews will monitor the weather throughout the weekend and will apply salt and brine to the roads and sidewalks as needed. If you must drive, give yourself plenty of time to get around. You can follow our trucks at guelph.ca/snow. Report a road and sidewalk Trees Ice buildup can make trees heavy, causing branches to break and trees to fail. Even healthy trees that are structurally sound can fall under the weight of ice. Keep an eye on your private trees. Our forestry crews will be dealing with tree issues on City property, as they become… Continue reading Freezing rain is coming: here’s what you need to know

December 20, 2017 Over the next three weeks, the City will be identifying and marking public trees in ash dominated wooded areas that are dead or have the likely potential to become a hazard. Only trees that could fall on trails, private property, sidewalks, or roads are affected. The identification and marking of hazardous public trees is part of the City’s regular, ongoing tree maintenance, and aligns with the Emerald Ash Borer plan. Hazardous trees located in wooded areas within local parks and woodlots across Guelph will either be marked with an orange ‘X’ for removal, an orange dot for pruning, and blue paint to identify a potential wildlife tree. Removals are scheduled to begin in 2018. Natural areas include: Ellis Creek Hadati Creek Margaret… Continue reading City identifying, marking hazardous trees for removal

The City of Guelph has recently received a request for the removal of 700 trees on private property located at 120 Huron Street. The removals have been requested to allow for the cleanup of contaminated soil. The site currently includes a wooded area dominated by Balsam Poplar, White Ash, Manitoba Maple and Eastern White Cedar. This wooded area has been studied and while it provides canopy cover, it is not a protected natural heritage feature. Furthermore, the soils underneath this wooded area are contaminated and the trees need to be removed for it to be cleaned up. There is no redevelopment application at this time. Future development proposals will include opportunity for public input. The requested tree removals have been approved by the City and… Continue reading Notice of tree removals: 120 Huron Street

Guelph, Ont., October 23, 2017 – Starting this week, the property owner of the former LaFarge lands, located at 35-40 Silvercreek Parkway South, will begin the first phase of compensation plantings and restoration work in areas adjacent to Howitt Creek. The work will include: removing invasive buckthorn shrubs, including the roots; improving the existing soils to help new plants establish and grow; and planting new native shrubs and trees. It is expected the work will take about three weeks to complete, weather permitting. “We’re working with the property owner to make sure the new shrubs and trees survive on the site,” explains April Nix, environmental planner with the City of Guelph. “We’ll be working with the property owner to monitor the plantings over the next… Continue reading Tree planting and restoration work at 35-40 Silvercreek Parkways South starts this week

Guelph, Ont., July 14, 2017 – The City will issue a tree permit allowing the property owner of 35-40 Silvercreek Parkway South, also known as the LaFarge lands, to begin tree removal in July. The tree permit, to be issued in accordance with Guelph’s Tree Bylaw, allows for the removal of 1,950 trees. Those trees along the Howitt Creek stream corridor and the railway lines will remain untouched and the large bur oak on the site will be protected. “We are working with the property owner to ensure compensation is provided for the removed trees,” explains April Nix, environmental planner with the City of Guelph. “Throughout the process, we will continue to ensure the property owner complies with Guelph’s tree bylaw, while providing protection of… Continue reading Tree removal at 35-40 Silvercreek Parkway South starts late July

Guelph, Ont., March 28, 2017—This week, the City is removing as many as 162 trees in advance of construction of sidewalks, a multi-use path and storm sewers on Eastview Road between Starwood Drive and Watson Parkway North. The City worked with its contractor to minimize the number of trees to be removed. Trees will be replaced through a tree management plan in coordination with the Pollinator Park. The location of the multi-use path is restricted by adjacent significant wildlife habitat. The multi-use path route has been located to protect this habitat. All trees to be removed are within 8.5m or less of the road. This includes 30 trees in poor or very poor condition. Care for wildlife Tree removal will be completed before bird nesting season begins, and the… Continue reading Tree removal along Eastview Road for multi-use path

Read Guelph’s private tree bylaw and submit applications early in the season Guelph, Ont., February 22, 2017– The City reminds property owners who plan to remove any trees this spring, to review Guelph’s private tree bylaw to determine if a tree removal permit is needed. “Removing a tree on your property isn’t as straightforward as one might think, Guelph’s tree bylaw is a good resource that explains the tree removal permit process and when a permit is needed,” explains April Nix, environmental planner with the City of Guelph. “Spring is a busy time for construction and landscaping projects that often include removing trees, so it’s best to plan ahead and submit your tree removal permit early to avoid delays.” Ready to remove a tree on… Continue reading Prepare for springtime tree removal

Guelph, Ont., February 8, 2017—Tree thinning in the red pine plantation at Arkell Springs forest is complete. This work is part of ongoing groundwater protection and forest care. Tree thinning will encourage the growth of a healthier and more natural forest. About 10,000 red pine trees (1,150 cords of wood) were removed from the plantation from November to January. This amounts to about one third of the red pine plantation. Trees at Arkell Springs forest were marked for removal in September 2014 and removal was scheduled to minimize impacts to local wildlife by avoiding work during breeding and fledging seasons. All trails in the Arkell Springs forest have reopened. What’s next? The City plans to plant a mixture of shade tolerant trees—largely maple and spruce species—in… Continue reading Arkell Springs forest red pine plantation thinning complete

Guelph, Ont., February 6, 2017—The City is removing a cedar hedge (about 39 cedars) and four trees form the Burke Well property at 176 Arkell Road. Tree removal begins the week of February 6 and is being conducted in accordance with the tree management plan prepared by certified arborists and approved by Guelph’s Site Plan Committee and the Environmental Planning department. Tree removal is being completed before bird nesting season and in advance of coming upgrades to the Burke Well site which will begin later this year. As per the tree management plan, and once construction at the Burke Well site is complete, the City will plant about 56 trees, 135 shrubs and 25 perennials. For more information Karl Cober, Project Manager Water Services 519-822-1260 extension… Continue reading Tree removal at City well property on Arkell Road

Guelph, Ont., November 25, 2016 – At the December 5 Committee of the Whole meeting, Council and the community will learn about the findings of the tree inventory project before an online tool is available on December 6. The tree inventory project began in 2014 as an initiative of the Urban Forest Management Plan to better understand the number, health, species and ownership of the City’s trees, and to assist the Parks Operations and Forestry division in managing and budgeting for its year-round tree maintenance program. The City spends $1.8 million annually to maintain the urban forest. To date, staff have inventoried more than 50,000 street and park trees, and an estimated 737,000 trees in City-owned and managed forests. The tree inventory, which is about… Continue reading City shares street tree ownership information with residents through online map

Preventing damage caused by invasive insects The City monitors both termite and Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) populations. Guelph’s insect control programs vary due to key differences between the two species, and the different objectives for each program. Termites can do more damage than EAB Termites attack houses and other wooden structures, while EAB attacks one species of tree. While we are working to minimize the damage to Guelph’s urban forest, the potential for damage caused by EAB is not as detrimental as that of termites. Left unchecked, a termite population could have a significant impact on the overall infrastructure in Guelph. Dealing with termites: control the spread Guelph seeks to prevent the spread of termites and control their population, perhaps eliminate them altogether. Termites move… Continue reading How Guelph deals with termites and Emerald Ash Borer

Guelph, ON, May 7, 2014 – The emerald ash borer (EAB) is present throughout Guelph and the City has developed a plan to handle the infestation of City-owned ash trees over the next 10 years. The EAB is a highly destructive, non-native, wood-boring beetle that feeds under the bark of ash trees. The City has been monitoring its presence since it was first discovered in Canada in 2002. The EAB was confirmed in the south end of Guelph in the fall of 2011. In 2013, testing confirmed the EAB was present throughout the city. Once established, it is expected that close to 100 per cent of Guelph’s untreated street, park, and woodland ash trees will be killed over the next 10 years. Guelph’s EAB plan… Continue reading City has plan to contend with emerald ash borer

City Forestry staff have found conclusive evidence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle activity in Guelph’s south end. A total of 15 juvenile ash trees have been confirmed as having been infected by the EAB beetle Continue reading Emerald ash borer discovered in Guelph’s south end

The City has confirmed the Emerald Ash Borer — an invasive and destructive insect — has been found in four trees along Gordon Street boulevards near Clair Road. The trees were less than 10 years old and have been removed. Continue reading Emerald Ash Borer confirmed in Guelph’s south end