Pruning

As trees grow, they need direction. This may be in the form of pruning, thinning, or removing deadwood. The Central Tree Care’s professional arborists are experienced, with the skill and equipment to complete each job above industry standard. Pruning enhances the appearance and value of landscaping, as well as providing many benefits to the tree itself.

Proper pruning is important because it:

1. Removes weak, dead, storm damaged, diseased, or interfering branches – limiting the chance of branch/limb failure
2. Can be used to train growth patterns of young trees – ultimately improving their form, and creating a stronger better balanced tree
3. Minimizes the risk of storm damage and subsequent property damage
4. Provides clearance for streets, sidewalks, driveways, structures and overhead lines

Pruning Large Established Trees

When pruning large established trees, we consider the natural form of large trees whenever possible. Most hardwood trees have rounded crowns that lack a strong leader, and such trees may have many lateral branches. This expansive branching canopy provides our arborists with numerous options and possibilities for meeting your pruning needs.

The most common types of tree pruning are:

1. Crown Thinning — Selectively removing branches or limbs throughout the canopy to create space. This promotes better form and health by increasing light penetration and air movement. While pruning, a strong emphasis is placed on removing weak or suspect branches.
2. Crown Raising/Lifting/Cutback — Removing lower branches on developing or mature trees to allow more clearance from the ground. This practice is common above lawns, sidewalks, over roofs, etc.
3. Crown Reduction - Removing larger branches at the top of the tree to reduce the total canopy height. When done properly, crown reduction pruning removes branches immediately above lateral branches, leaving no stubs. This allows the lateral branch to form a new leader, while lowering the height of the tree.
4. Topping - Removing a tree mid-stem to reduce the height. This is considered bad practice and is not carried out by Central Tree Care. When selecting a tree service for a crown reduction please be aware of the dangers of topping trees.
5. Crown Cleaning - Removing any damaged, hazardous, or suspect limbs in the interest of safety.

Cabling & Bracing

When a tree grows two or more large stems from the same location they can sometimes grow in such a way that they overlap and create a fault within the tree, this is known as a co-dominant union. This poor union can cause wounding at the point of contact and the accumulation of organic matter inside the union which will lead to rot and decay.

Another common occurrence with co-dominant limbs is included bark. Bark inclusions look similar to cracks and leak rot causing microorganisms into the trunk wood of a tree. Early identification of co-dominancy, bark inclusions and hazardous limbs is recommended to prevent limb failure.

There are two methods of stabilization: cabling and bracing. Cabling involves the installation of a steel cable between major limbs to add support and reduce strain. Cabling is highly recommended as a preventative measure. Bracing is similar to cabling but more extensive; involving the installation of metal rod(s) into the trunk wood to prevent bark inclusions and cracks from splitting the entire tree in two. In modern arboriculture practice, bracing is a last resort to save a valued tree due to its invasive nature and the potential to encourage decay. Neither cabling nor bracing is ever recommended if the split/failure has already occurred. Both function to create artificial support for structurally weak or injured trees and branches. Mechanical supports like these lessen the likelihood of crotch and branch, failure and subsequent stem decay.

It must be stressed that some structurally weak trees (green ash, silver maple, cottonwoods, willows and most coniferous trees) do not benefit as much from cabling or bracing. If the split has just begun and is relatively even, a through bolt can be installed, split portions can be held together and secured by steel bolt or threaded screw rod placed through the split section. If the split is severe, and the split portions cannot be held together, good practice would see the removal of the more damaged or weaker limb via proper pruning technique. In severe cases the tree may have to be removed due to a compromised canopy.

Tree Removal

Sometimes trees need to be removed due to health, location or liability reasons. Our certified arborist can assess your particular situation and determine the right course of action for your needs. We are trained to identify unsafe trees and use the appropriate measures to remove them.

A permit may be required to remove a tree in the GTA and other municipalities depending on the diameter and location of the tree. Our staff will inform you if a permit is required and will complete the application process for you if required. Tree removal is a natural part of the conservation of our urban forest, we do encourage replanting of new trees whenever a tree is removed.

Stump Grinding

After removing a tree you are left with a stump on your property. The majority of our clients choose to have the remaining stump ground out to make room for replanting or to re-landscape their property. Our stump grinding machine uses a spinning wheel with blades to break the stump down into mulch. The stump is ground down approximately 10” below grade. The mulch can then be taken away, or used around the garden.

*Stump grinding is dependent on sufficient access.

Deep Root Fertilization

Deep root fertilization is a specialized process in which high quality nutrient solution is injected directly into the root zone of a target tree. The materials are injected into the root zone under pressure which helps to aerate the soil increasing the pore space of the soil to allow for root development into compacted areas and increased uptake of nutrients. The soil injection begins just below the surface and goes to a depth of 12 – 14 inches, where the majority of root activity is located. Each soil injection is placed about 3 feet apart in a grid pattern throughout the canopy area and beyond the drip line in some cases.

Trees require essential elements to function and grow. Trees within the urban landscape often grow in compacted soils that do not contain sufficient nutrient levels for healthy growth and development. In these situations, it may be necessary to fertilize to improve plant’s vigor, and stability. A deep root fertilizer treatment also may be recommended after a tree has been injured, to aid in recovery.

Different fertilizer mixes and additives are recommended for different trees. Typically, our spring fertilizer mix predominantly helps to promote canopy growth, where as our fall mix better promotes root development. Mycorrhizae treatments may be used as an additive; this helpful fungus increases the uptake of essential nutrience. Once the mycorrhizae enters a trees root system it will remain there until the tree dies.

Planting

Trees play an important role in our environment; the proper placement of trees (especially in urban areas) is all of our responsibility. Central Tree Care supplies and installs a full range of trees and shrubs. Our expert arborists will make recommendations based on your particular micro-environment while observing your preference in look, and design. Installation includes triple-mix backfill, mulching, mycorrhizae treatment, first watering and staking as required.

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Central Tree Care will always recommend the planting of Native tree specimens over Non-native specimens. Trees native to our geographic location share an evolutionary history with the insects in our environment. Non-native plants are inedible for our insects because they do not share this evolutionary history. Birds of Ontario eat these insects so the planting of Native specimens is strongly recommended to keep our bird populations from dropping. Please consider this when selecting your next tree.

Pest Management

Like us, trees and shrubs get sick and occasionally need some extra help to get better. There are a number of solutions available for dealing with infestations, funguses, and diseases. Our licensed spray technician can make an assessment and provide an appropriate remedial measure. Whenever possible we prefer green/natural products to red products to minimize the effects felt by our environment.

Consulting / Permits

We offer the following consulting services:

• Arborist Reports for Permit Tree Removal (Private and Construction Related)
• Arborist Reports for Construction Projects (Small renovation to large developments)
• Tree Protection and Preservation Plans
• Tree Health Assessments
• Tree Inventories
• Natural Heritage Impact Study
• Ecological Land Classification

*The requirements for permits differ based on the location and condition of a tree across the City of Toronto and GTA. Please contact us for more information.

Ravine Stewardship

The health of Toronto’s ravine system is under threat. The predominant problem is that invasive trees and shrubs are over populating our ravines and outcompeting the native species. Invasive trees and shrubs are trees that grow ‘too well’ within our local environment. Ravine stewardship planning allows us to measure and analyse the health of the ravine, and create a plan for improvement.

Typically the ravine plan is executed as follows:

• Inventory – Define what is growing on the slope and analyse its condition
• Plan creation – Create a removal plan for the invasive and non-native trees and shrubs
• Execution - Stewardship plan execution can take place over a number of years
  • Removal – invasive and non-native trees shrubs and ground covers are removed
  • Replanting – the slope is replanted with a variety of native trees and shrubs specifically catered to the microclimate of your ravine
• Maintenance - Inevitably invasive and non-native trees and shrubs will try to recolonize the area. A regular maintenance program is critical to the establishment of your newly planted trees

*Each ravine is unique, please set up a free consultation with one of our specialists to discuss your specific needs.