By Pepper Parr
May 16th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
City sharing tree care tips ahead of May long weekend
The long weekend ahead will see many residents spending time in their yards cleaning up from winter and preparing their lawns and gardens for the summer. The City is sharing tips with residents who are planning on doing tree maintenance in their yard or in front of their home this planting season.
Consistent pruning and proper care produces streets that have this kind of canopy.
Tree maintenance and care
It is against the Public Tree By-law (068-2013) to do any landscaping around the trunk of any City tree that includes large rocks, masonry and tree-surrounds. Stones and bricks placed in and around the base of trees can impact their ability to absorb oxygen and water. This can be damaging to the health of the tree.
“Volcano mulching”, where there is a thick layer of soil in contact with the tree trunk, is prohibited. This can cause bark decay and a root problem called root girdling. The proper way to mulch is in more of a doughnut shape so the tree trunk has room to breathe. The depth of the mulch should be about 5 cm, or slightly less for soils that are poorly drained, like clay.
Storing materials or equipment in the area of a City tree, either above ground or below ground (the root zone), requires an injury permit from the City.
It is against the Public Tree By-law (068-2013) to use any part of any public tree to secure or support an object or structure. This includes nailing, pasting or attaching a sign or poster to a City tree.
Tree pruning
- Pruning or removing a City tree is only to be performed by City staff or a private contractor under the direction of Burlington’s Roads, Parks and Forestry Department. Regular pruning of City trees is done on a seven-year cycle to promote public safety and tree health. For information about the City’s 2024 street tree pruning program, visit: 2024 Street Tree Pruning Program
- Refrain from pruning oak trees until November 1st to minimize the potential spread of oak wilt, a damaging fungal pathogen that can kill oak trees in a number of weeks.
To help guide residents on proper steps to take when conducting work around a City or private tree, the City has created a Guide to Tree Protection. Information about the City’s Public and Private Tree By-law is available at burlington.ca/trees
