August is Tree Check Month—Here's What You Can Do - Dave Lund Tree Service and Forestry Co Ltd.

Communities all across North America celebrate Tree Check Month in August every year to help keep Canada’s trees healthy and free from invasive species and pests. This 2021, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) encourages everyone to take an active role in protecting Canadian plants by joining plant health enthusiasts in looking for and reporting any signs of insects, invasive plants, or signs of disease that can damage plants, shrubs, and trees in Canada.

Take time out of your day to celebrate Tree Check Month and go out and inspect the trees in your yard and around your community. Not sure what to do? We’ve listed a few things you can, besides posting #TreeCheckMonth on your social media!

Look Out for These Canada Insects!
The main point of Tree Check Month is spotting invasive species in your backyard and your environment. This is because early detection can help manage plant pests, and the key to this is public involvement. A report by a Toronto resident in 2013 helped CFIA put mitigation measures to contain the Asian long-horned beetle, and successfully eradicated the bug in Mississauga and Toronto in 2020.Reporting a pest to a local CFIA office or posting online leads them to where they are needed most and helps them respond before the pests can spread. That’s why your participation does a huge service not only to the CFIA but also to your trees and the plants around them.In order to help, you need to know what insects are deemed “pests of concern” in Canada. Here are some of the CFIA’s pests of concern:

Emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer, or EAB, has a metallic green back and an emerald green underside. It is fairly small and difficult to spot. Due to its small size, detection may be easier if you look for S-shaped lines formed by this beetle larva or unhealthy ash trees. It is most commonly spread through the movement of firewood and other infested ash wood products.

Oak wilt
Oak wilt is caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum which develops in the outer sapwood of the tree. The infected tree reacts by developing tyloses and gums which subsequently restrict the flow of water and nutrients in affected vascular tissues with the result that the tree wilts and subsequently dies.Common signs and symptoms of oak wilt include discolouration of leaves, wilted or curled leaves, complete leaf drop that occurs by mid summer, dead crowns in the upper portions of the trees, or suckering at the base of the tree. As oak wilt results in eventual death of oak trees, it is important that you report all sightings when you see any of the signs and symptoms.

Hemlock woolly adelgid
Hemlock woolly adelgid is an aphid-like insect which attacks and eventually kills hemlock trees. The egg sacs of hemlock wooly adelgid, which look like cotton balls or clumps of snow, can be found at the base of needles, and can be spread by wind, animals, and human movement of nursery stock, logs, and other wood products including firewood.

Spotted lanternfly

While impressive and colourful, this spotted lanternfly has been recognized as a potential threat to the grape, fruit tree, and forestry industries in Canada. It is not known to have reached Canada just yet but was added to the regulated pest list in an effort to prevent its introduction from infested areas in the United States and elsewhere.

Box tree moth
Box tree moth is native to Asia and is an invasive pest currently causing severe damage to boxwood. It was first detected in Toronto in 2018, and the CFIA is working with other organizations to stop its spread. If you see any feeding damage on boxwood outside the Greater Toronto Area, quickly report to the CFIA.

Japanese beetle
The japanese beetle is an invasive plant that was first introduced to eastern North America from Japan, and can significantly damage landscape plants, ornamental plants, fruit and vegetable gardens, nurseries, orchards, and agricultural crops.

LDD moth
LDD moths, commonly known as European gypsy moths, are a concern because the larvae feed voraciously, mostly on the leaves of deciduous Canadian trees, but als on some conifers. During the larval stage, a single moth caterpillar can eat an average of one square meter of leaves.

After an invasive species arrives, it is almost impossible to remove. This can cause irreparable damage to important habitats and ecosystems. If you find any of these pests, you can report to the CFIA or post and tag them on Twitter via @InspectionCan. Let CFIA know what you found and where, and include a photo or sample if you can.

Additionally, take the initiative to put up mitigation measures to control and stop the spread of these pests by calling for professional pest control services in your area.

Inspect the Health of Your Tree

Now that you know what to look out for, you need to know how to inspect and assess the health of your tree. As a tree owner, you are responsible for preserving the health of your trees. You must learn how to look for possible risks, recognize hazardous signs, and implement strategies to prevent accidents and the death of your tree.

Inspect the central leader
Most landscape trees should be pruned to only have one central leader because more than one leader may, eventually, cause the tree to split, creating a wound for insect or disease infiltration.

Check for yearly growth
A healthy tree will produce new growth every year on both its trunk and branches. You need to inspect the progress yearly by checking the distance between the current season’s buds and last year’s buds.

Look for broken or dead branches
Broken or dead branches left in place invites insects and diseases to move in, so you need to prune dead and broken branches as soon as they appear. Test any suspect branches by scraping the branch with your thumbnail. Living branches will be green underneath, and dead ones will show brown.

Look at the health of your tree’s trunk
The bark of your tree should not come loose or peel, and should be free of fungi or moss. Be careful when using garden equipment as damage to the trunk can leave an open wound for insects and disease to attack.

Check for proper leaf colour, shape, and size
A good indicator of good tree health is the appearance of the leaves. You need to make sure that the leaves contain the right colour hue for the season, should not be stunted, or irregularly-shaped. These characteristics can be a sign of nutrient deficiency, insect damage, pesticide damage, or disease.

Learn the signs of disease
Warning signs of either invader include visible insects, a lack of fruit or flowers on a fruit tree, distortion in the leaves, holes in the bark, irregular growth on the branches, and oozing sap on evergreens.

Plant Native Species in Your Garden

Trees and plants native to Canada are very important. Planting native tree species is highly encouraged in Canada because they are the best natural invasive species which can attract unwanted pests that can, in turn, ruin your local ecosystem.Protect your garden from disease and pest infestation by planting any of these Canadian native plant species:

Sugar Maple
Sugar Maple is native to Ontario and Quebec and is one of ten maple species in Canada. It is one of the largest Maples in Canada. In the spring, you can harvest its sap for syrup and sugar.

White Pine
Natie to Ontario, white pines can grow up to 30 meters tall. Of the pines, white pine is the softest and lightest, with white sapwood and straw brown to light red brown heartwood that weathers to light gray.

Paper Birch
The paper birch tree, also known as canoe birch or white birch, covers the map of Canada. This tree does not do very well in heat and humidity, but give it a harsh winter, and you will see it flourish.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

Also known as okanagan sunflower, most of the balsamroot is edible. It is mostly used extensively as food and medicine.

Douglas Fir
This evergreen conifer is native to western North America and flourishes all across the Rocky Mountain region extending into Latin America. Douglas fir has been economically important throughout Canada’s history as a source of lumber. It grows best on well-drained deep soils and will not thrive on poorly drained or compacted soils.Remember that climates can vary all across Canada and the native species you can plant in your garden can vary from province to province. Before buying seedlings and other plant materials, make sure to check whether the species you desire for your garden is a great fit for your climate (i.e. a native species to your locale).

Buy and Burn Local Firewood
Moving firewood from one location to another can inadvertently move forest pests to new areas resulting in the destruction of forests and urban trees. These pests will move slowly on their own but can go long distances very quickly through the transportation of firewood. Avoiding the long distance travel of firewood helps us have the upper hand in protecting and managing the trees not just in our backyard, but in our forests as well.The Buy Local, Burn Local initiative is a campaign focused on helping firewood producers, retailers and campgrounds to prevent the spread of invasive forest pests through safe firewood practices. Wherever you live, you are encouraged to buy and burn firewood that’s sourced from a supplier immediately accessible to you.Besides firewood, pests can also be transported via other means. If you travel often, make it a point to declare food, plants, soil and seeds at the border.

Get Your Trees Serviced
You need to make sure your trees are free from invasive species so they remain happy and healthy for a long time. Seek the help of a professional arborist to perform a thorough assessment of your trees, so you can rest assured that your trees are properly taken care of.For root-to-foliage tree care, book an appointment with Dave Lund Tree Service & Forestry via these channels: