Tree-Tech Tree Technology and Research Company Inc. - a total tree care service serving the communities of Oakville, Burlington, Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas, Grimsby, and others in Hamilton-Wentworth and Halton Region.

Taking Care of Your Trees

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Trees - A Reciprocal Relationship

Trees are vital to our survival

Trees contribute oxygen for the air we breathe.
Trees filter carbon dioxide, thereby helping to counteract global warming.
Trees act as natural barriers to reduce noise pollution.
Trees provide shade to reduce cooling costs.
Trees help prevent erosion by stabilizing soil.
Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife and other needed organisms

... and trees need our help for their survival!

Pruning, fertilizing and moisture is required for proper tree health.
The average tree in urban areas lasts 8 years - a tree reaches its most productive stage of carbon storage at 10 years.
1 million acres of forest area are lost annually to urban growth.
Only 1 tree is replaced in urban areas for every 4 that die or are removed.

Protecting & Treating Urban Trees

Feeding trees and shrubs in urban environments is crucial because they are often growing out of their native habitat, and subjected to compacted soil, poor drainage conditions, restricted root areas, road salts, air pollutants, and competing vegetation. All of these conditions lead to significant tree stress. Urban trees require greater amounts of nitrogen, often most deficient from urban properties. Regular feeding and maintenance will allow healthy growth and make them more resistant to insect pests and diseases.

There are a number of cultural steps that can be taken by property owners to reduce the stress experienced by urban trees or, when problems develop, to treat or protect these trees. When you are planning new construction of homes and buildings, or landscaping improvements to your property, inspections and assessments of your property by a qualified arborist are recommended. Potential hazards to new or existing trees and shrubs, or to you, can be identified and future problems corrected.

Other tree maintenance procedures include applying an 8-12cm layer of organic mulch to condition the soil, improving soil aeration to reduce compaction and stimulate root growth, and the cabling and bracing of tree trunks and limbs for additional support and the protection of the property owner.

If trees become damaged, remove or prune any dead, damaged, split or diseased limbs. If there is damaged bark, remove or cut away any loose bark. If there is construction damage to a tree, maintaining an adequate supply of water and a proper drainage system will go a long way to helping the tree's recovery.

Reasons for Pruning

Safety concerns for people, animals, and property damage
Improve the tree's health by removing dead or diseased limbs
Enhance the tree's appearance
Structural integrity to produce desired growth patterns
Remove tree limbs for utility line clearance
Restore trees affected by storm or physical damage
To remove tree parts obscuring the view

Removal of a tree should always be a last resort, but may become necessary, as in the case of a dead mature tree or for construction. An arborist can help you decide, and (s)he has the skills and equipment to safely and efficiently remove the tree from your property.

Tree Hazards

When checking your trees for hazards, there are many things to consider:

Are there dead branches in the tree?
Are mushrooms present at the base of the tree, or fungus growing from the trunk?
Are any branches hung up in the tree?
Is the soil overtop of the root zone heaving?
Have any branches fallen from the tree?
Have the leaves prematurely developed an unusual colour?
Does the tree have cavities, rotten wood, cracks or splits in the trunk or in major branches?

Those are just some indications of problems developing. See the pictures below for a visual orientation to the types of defects to watch for.....


Examples of Urban Defects Regrowth from topping, line clearance, or other pruning Electrical lines near tree Broken branches Exposed tree cavity Dead or dying branches Branch origin concentrated from one spot on trunk Decay and rot present where previously damaged Recent changes in surrounding soil or landscape	Examples of Rural Tree Defects Recent site construction (clearing, grading) Evidence of recent tree failures nearby Tree leaning near or over a house Forked trunk where branches stem equally Wet areas in shallow soil

Trees and Turf Care

Trees and lawns are constantly clashing: thin grass under shade trees, protruding tree roots, young trees failing to grow and damage to tree trunks from lawn equipment.

To be compatible, primary lawn areas should be kept open to sunlight and moisture, or seed/sod with more shade-tolerant grass. Plant your tree and shrub arrangements in areas where they have the space to grow, and not impact the primary turf areas of your property. Mulching around the base of trees is the preferred alternative to turf.

Since trees and turf roots can share the same upper 10-15cm of topsoil, it is important to be aware that treatments and maintenance for one could unintentionally effect the other. The ideal situation is to have the same knowledgeable person look after both and an arborist from Tree-Tech has the expertise to handle that maintenance.

For More Information ...

If you would like more details or research findings on the care of trees, shrubs and lawns, visit some of the following industry and arboricultural links below.

National Arborist Association
International Society of Arboriculture
Cornell University