Commercial Trees: Sustaining the Urban Canopy through Maintenance, Co- Operation and Understanding
Introduction: Who are we? Urban Forestry Operations, Commercial Trees • We plant and maintain City- owned trees in hard surfaces : tree pits, raised beds, containers and continuous soil trenches on paved boulevards • We primarily work in commercial zones, including 82 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
Our jobs include: • Planting • Watering • Mulching • Pruning • General Tree care
And… • Removing stems and root masses using hydro vac excavation to replace trees
And… • Installing, maintaining, replacing, removing, restoring various components of tree planting infrastructure
…all of which requires: • Co-ordination with a wide range of stakeholders : BIAs, City Divisions, the Public, Contractors, City Council, Utility Companies
Our role in the Urban Forest • After design and construction of tree infrastructure are complete, it is our job to help trees in hard surfaces grow to maturity • Tree survival, health and longevity depend on ongoing maintenance • In partnership with businesses and residents, we protect tree infrastructure investments • The future of Toronto’s hard surface tree canopy is in our hands
Our Workload • Commercial Trees is responsible for approximately 20,000 trees City-wide in tree pits , raised beds and raised concrete containers • Our group also maintains trees on traffic medians , in hard surface urban parks , and other public spaces where trees are integrated with paving • In 2016, 23,191 service requests were assigned to our group for maintenance of trees and tree planting infrastructure • We provide maintenance services for trees in the majority of Toronto’s 82 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) • We play a key role in streetscape development projects , offering input, oversight and maintenance services
Newly Planted Tree Care • To sustain the urban forest, caring for newly planted trees must be one of the City’s maintenance priorities • Newly planted trees take years to establish significant root systems • Until trees establish strong root systems, they rely on watering by maintenance staff in order to survive
Contending with Urban Stress • Trees in hard surfaces face many unique stress factors , which contribute to decline and mortality: • Poor soils, compaction, limited water, limited sunlight, pet waste, de-icing salts, utility conflicts and wind tunnels • A common problem for hard surface street trees is physical damage from bicycle locks , vehicles, vandalism and, in this case, a marketing sign
Infrastructure Challenges • Commercial Trees deals with a wide range of tree planting infrastructure developed at different points in time by private developers or through City projects • Co-ordinating and implementing maintenance solutions can be time and labour intensive • Some issues can’t be resolved without major construction
Maintenance Priorities • The highest priority for commercial tree maintenance is to mitigate and eliminate risks to public safety caused by damaged trees or damaged tree infrastructure
Routine Maintenance • Routine maintenance such as replacement planting, watering, mulching and pruning are planned according to seasonal factors , logistical efficiency and utility clearances • Requests for maintenance of individual trees may be grouped into maintenance for larger areas in order to efficiently address the high volume of service requests assigned to our group • Tree removal may be done in two stages , with the majority of the tree being removed except for a 1.5 metre stem left as a visual indicator as well as to facilitate stump removal
The Urban Forest: Valuable Resource and Living Legacy
Value of the Urban Forest • Toronto boasts the largest number of Business Improvement Areas in North America, and BIAs help make us one of the most liveable and economically important cities in the world • Trees contribute to the beauty , character , and unique identity of streets and neighbourhoods, making Toronto a more attractive place to live, work, play, visit, shop, dine and do business • Trees also add significant value to the City through environmental benefits and energy savings • A TD Economics Special Report prepared in 2014 found that Toronto’s Urban Forest provides residents with over $80 million dollars in environmental benefits and cost savings (From Urban Forests: The Value of Trees in the City of Toronto , prepared by TD Economics dated June 9, 2014, https://www.td.com/document/PDF/economics/s pecial/UrbanForests.pdf)
Legacy and Stewardship • Many of Toronto’s street trees have survived through decades of urban development as the City has grown and neighbourhoods have evolved • Trees are living legacies that provide connections to our past, made possible through generations of stewardship by City staff, businesses and residents • The small tree depicted here was likely planted around the time the photo was taken in 1972 in front of the Riverboat Coffee House in Yorkville ( Toronto Star Archives , https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07 /16/once-upon-a-city-yorkville-home-of- torontos-original-indie-music-scene.html)
Legacy and Stewardship cont … • An image of the same location in 2014 shows what appears to be the same tree in front of a new generation of buildings and storefronts • Decades of care and maintenance helped this tree survive and remain healthy (Image is from google maps: https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6705381,- 79.3941131,3a,75y,31.86h,110.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1 s-oBz5cSRLI_8LJ3yqWiPtw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)
Legacy and Stewardship cont … • An image of the same location in 2016 shows another generation of development underway with the same tree fronting the property • This long-lasting presence on a changing streetscape is an example of the legacy our City can leave for future generations through proper care, respect and understanding of the urban forest (Image is from google maps: https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.6705381,- 79.3941131,3a,75y,31.86h,110.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1 s-oBz5cSRLI_8LJ3yqWiPtw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)
Hard Surface Street Tree Stakeholders: Sustaining Our Canopy through Understanding and Co-operation
Landscaping, Décor and Lighting • Decorative installations and landscaping can enhance tree planting environments, provided that roles , responsibilities and guidelines are understood and agreed upon • In some cases, added landscape features compliment tree health and maintenance by reducing soil compaction , reducing trunk damage , mitigating tripping risks , and beautifying streetscapes to promote civic pride and respect for trees
Importance of Guidelines • When proper guidelines are not followed, decorative installations can damage trees and obstruct maintenance • Decorative lighting that is wrapped too tightly or not adjusted regularly can girdle trunks or branches, restricting water and nutrient flow, adding stress to trees that already face a range of urban pressures
Complying with City Standards • The City of Toronto has standard decorative tree lighting details available on the City’s website • These details specify annual adjustment , loose application of tape , and draping rather than wrapping wires around tree branches
Obtaining Approvals • Landscaping and installations in tree pits, beds and containers may require approvals from different City Divisions • Transportation Services requires permits for work taking place in public right of ways • Locates from utility companies may be required wherever excavation is involved • Where tree roots, trunks, branches or growing conditions may be adversely affected, a tree injury permit or written clearance may be required from Urban Forestry, Tree Protection and Plan Review
Letter of Understanding Roles, Responsibilities and Guidelines
Roles, Responsibilities and Guidelines • Urban Forestry is willing work with BIAs to enhance hard surface tree planting and growing conditions • Modifications to tree pits, beds or containers should always be done in consultation with our group • Urban Forestry, Commercial Trees, requests that a Letter of Understanding be signed by the BIA Chair, and a motion approved at their board meeting, whenever landscaping , lighting or decorative installations are planned within hard surface tree pits, containers or raised beds • The Letter will outline roles and responsibilities of the BIA and the City, as well as guidelines to be followed
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