Commercial Trees: Sustaining the Urban Canopy through Maintenance, Co- Operation and Understanding

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1 Commercial Trees: Sustaining the Urban Canopy through Maintenance, Co- Operation and Understanding

2 Introduction: Who are we? Urban Forestry Operations, Commercial Trees We plant and maintain Cityowned 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)

3 Our jobs include: Planting Watering Mulching Pruning General Tree care

4 And Removing stems and root masses using hydro vac excavation to replace trees

5 And Installing, maintaining, replacing, removing, restoring various components of tree planting infrastructure

6 all of which requires: Co-ordination with a wide range of stakeholders: BIAs, City Divisions, the Public, Contractors, City Council, Utility Companies

7 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

8 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

9 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

10 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

11 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

12 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

13 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

14 The Urban Forest: Valuable Resource and Living Legacy

15 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, pecial/urbanforests.pdf)

16 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, /16/once-upon-a-city-yorkville-home-oftorontos-original-indie-music-scene.html)

17 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: ,3a,75y,31.86h,110.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1 s-obz5csrli_8lj3yqwiptw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)

18 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: ,3a,75y,31.86h,110.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1 s-obz5csrli_8lj3yqwiptw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)

19 Hard Surface Street Tree Stakeholders: Sustaining Our Canopy through Understanding and Co-operation

20 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

21 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

22 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

23 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

24 Letter of Understanding Roles, Responsibilities and Guidelines

25 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

26 Key Points The key points of the Letter of Understanding are: BIAs and other work groups are responsible for obtaining all required approvals, locates and permits the Letter does not replace other approvals The City s Decorative Tree Lighting Details must be followed; lighting must be adjusted annually BIAs will be responsible for maintaining decorative installations and landscape features identified in the Letter of Understanding When decorative lighting or other installations need to be removed for routine maintenance, the City will notify BIAs or other stakeholders two months in advance of planned maintenance. The BIAs will be responsible for removing the lighting or other installations within this timeframe, and providing written confirmation that the items have been removed The City will make efforts to respect decorative installations and landscape features during the course of tree or tree infrastructure maintenance. However, the City will not be held responsible for any resulting damages to these items that occur despite our best efforts The City reserves the right to remove any items from trees or tree planting infrastructure at any time if deemed necessary The primary purpose of tree planting infrastructure is to support tree growth. Under no circumstances can tree health or growing conditions be compromised by proposed work

27 Conclusion Trees in hard surfaces face a wide range of stress factors and rely on maintenance to survive and reach maturity Maintenance is made more effective and efficient through communication and coordination among stakeholders Trees provide our City with a range of ecological and economic benefits, and help make Toronto a great place to live, work, visit, shop, dine and do business City staff, businesses and residents together are the stewards of Toronto s urban forest, and trees are the legacy we will leave for future generations of Torontonians A sustainable urban canopy can only be achieved when all stakeholders work together in co-operation and understanding Photo is from google maps: ,3a,75y,201.01h,90.08t/data=!3m 6!1e1!3m4!1slyIsrd260W4wwsDT8cTIOA!2e0! 7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1