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News – Page 2

MLF Supports Special HOH planting in Trenton

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 September 30, 2020

St. George’s Anglican Church in Trenton is celebrating its 175th anniversary, and they wanted to commemorate the event with a tree planting celebrating our Canadian heroes. The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign will plant 175 native maple trees at Bain Park, home to Trenton’s Afghanistan Memorial.

As one of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign’s founding sponsors, Maple Leaves Forever is excited to be able to support the planting project as well.

(Please note, plans for a public planting event have been canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.)

News

Fall colour driving tours in Ontario

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 September 25, 2020

Native Maples – the Monarchs of Colour!

Are you a ‘leaf peeper’ (vs. royal watcher?)   If you drive many kilometres to witness the magnificent fall foliage displays in Southern Ontario, you can be proud to be a leaf peeper! 

Driving tours are a great way to spend a fall day appreciating the landscape of Southern Ontario when it is ablaze in magnificent colour.  

Different types of native maples display varying colours of yellow, red, orange and burgundy colours in the fall.  The colour of an individual tree can sometimes vary from year to year. Factors such as location, weather, and genetics also play a role in timing and colour intensity.  Colour is generally better when trees are healthy and not stressed by drought or pests.  

While it is difficult to predict when colours will peak, Ontario Parks has a nifty fall colour report that might help you plan your trip to various parts of the province:

www.ontarioparks.com/fallcolour

For suggestions on driving tours, check out the following links! Please be sure to post your photos on social media and tag #canadianmaples or #mapleleavesforever so we can share them!

www.wheels.ca/top-ten/10-best-fall-drives-in-ontario/

www.ontariotravel.net/en/play/tours/fall-colour-and-harvest-tours

www.discovermuskoka.ca/things-to-do/driving-tours/

All About Maples News

Fall Update from our Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 September 23, 2020

Canada is a nation of forests – approximately a third of Canada is covered by forest! This year is the 100th anniversary of National Forest Week (NFW) which is celebrated this week from September 20-26, 2020 and National Tree Day which is on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

I think it’s a wonderful coincidence that our founder, Ken Jewett is celebrating his 90th birthday on National Tree Day this year!

One of the best birthday gifts for Ken would be to plant Native Canadian Maples through our Thank you Rebate program this fall! Fall planting applications will be accepted until November 6, 2020.

Thank you for contributing to Canada’s rural landscape by choosing to purchase Native Canadian Maple Trees!

Deb Pella Keen
Happy 90th to our Founder,
Ken Jewett!
News

MLF’s resident “Tree Guy” Carl Mansfield retires

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 August 14, 2020
Carl Mansfield

We will miss Carl Mansfield, who is retiring after serving as Maple Leaves Forever’s arboreal consultant for the past 5 and half years. Carl has provided the organization with his immeasurable expertise in his treecare and planting notes, and has kept our relationships with partner nurseries strong and healthy. Carl’s careful attention to detail and gentle manner has been a great asset to our team.

Carl brought with him thirty-plus years of comprehensive experience dedicated to the production of bare root seedlings and nursery stock at provincial nurseries in Ontario. He spent most of his career with the Midhurst Forest Tree Nursery, later moving to the St. Williams Forest Tree Nursery. He served as Operations Manager at both nurseries.

 In 1998, Carl was hired by Somerville Nurseries Inc. to lead the development of its new Bare Root Seedling Division in Everett. It was during this time that he was introduced to Ken Jewett and Maple Leaves Forever and began providing native Canadian maples for our program when it was formalized in 2000. A strong friendship developed leading Carl to officially join the Maple Leaves Forever team when he retired from Somerville in 2014.

We sincerely thank Carl for his dedicated service to Maple Leaves Forever! His will be difficult shoes to fill!

News

Maple Leaves Forever proud to be founding sponsor of Highway of Heroes tree campaign

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 July 10, 2020

From hohtribute.ca/sponsors-2/maple-leaves-forever-partnership

Maple Leaves Forever founder, Ken Jewett, presented awards of appreciation to Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign founders, Mark Cullen, Michael de Pencier and Tony DiGiovanni. (April 2017)

“Maple Leaves Forever is one of the founding sponsors of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign. With one of the first ever gifts at $25,000, Maple Leaves Forever helped to launch our campaign back in 2015/2016. A second gift of $10,000 in April of 2017 was highlighted at a community planting event that took place at Downsview Park, Toronto. At this event, Maple Leaves Forever founder, Ken Jewett, presented awards of appreciation to Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign founders, Mark Cullen, Tony DiGiovanni and Michael de Pencier. Without these generous donations and this partnership, Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign wouldn’t be where we are today.

To ensure the tree tribute flourishes, our experts are choosing the right mix of native species for each specific site and a significant number of these are maples.  The various species of maples we’ve planted include Sugar Maples, Silver Maples, Red Maples, and Freeman Maples. Nearly 7,000 (or almost 30%) of the 24,000 trees we planted directly along the highway in 2019 were of various species of Maple.

Maple Leaves Forever have pledged a third gift of $10,000 to support the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign and this gift will be highlighted at a special event in Trenton, later in the fall of 2020.

For more information on Maple Leaves Forever check out www.mapleleavesforever.ca.”

News

Summer News – Summer tree care, watering, pests and more

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 July 2, 2020

HOW CAN YOU HELP? TELL A FRIEND!
If you recently received our Thank You Rebate, or you find our tree care information helpful – please share this email with your contacts!

SHARE YOUR MAPLE PHOTOS – We love seeing photos and stories about your maple plantings – please send them along to info@mapleleavesforever.ca.

WATERING YOUR MAPLE TREES
Slow, deep watering
 is key to establishing young trees through the hot dry summer months.
Tree watering bags can save trees from summer heat and drought . Or use this special hack – a tree-watering bucket you can make yourself!
Find out more >

Our THANK YOU REBATE gives you 25% towards the cost of approved native maples.

Applications for Spring Planting are now CLOSED.

Fall Applications will open
  Wednesday, August 15, with a deadline of
 Friday, November 6th.

Click here for Rebate Details
Lymantria dispar dispar
(also known as Gypsy Moth)

PEST ALERT
We found Lymantria dispar dispar (also known as Gypsy Moth) caterpillars (larvae) on several young sugar maples when we inspected a recent tree planting site last week. They can do a lot of damage in a very short time, so we encourage you to check your trees. Forestry professionals are expecting an increased presence of these pests in parts of southern Ontario in 2020.

Read more about these pests and what to do about them >

Summer Maple Care & Planting Calendar

July – August

  • water as needed, keep trees well-watered during times of heat & drought, especially newly planted trees. Water weekly, supplement when no natural rainfall occurs.
  • add or restore mulch as needed & clear surrounding weeds
  • the recommended time for pruning young maples is mid-July through early August
  • fertilize established trees as recommended but not newly planted trees
  • seek assistance if trees appear to be stressed
  • monitor regularly for presence of insects or other pests

late August

  • if you are considering planting trees in the fall, visit our Rebate page.  You may be eligible for a Thank You Rebate for planting native maples on your rural property

early September

  • water trees slowly and deeply to help trees store nutrients & prepare for winter
  • inspect tree form, prune only lightly, as needed

Sign up to receive this helpful Newsletter via email, right to your inbox 3-4 times a year.

News

Caterpillar and Moth pests – update Summer 2020

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 June 30, 2020

This article is a follow up to Carl Mansfield, tree consultant for MLF farm visit on September 7, 2019.  On June 22, 2020,  Deb Pella Keen, Executive Director, MLF visited the MLF farm with Ken Jewett, founder of MLF.   We again observed the Lymantria dispar dispar (also known as gypsy moth) larvae feeding on several trees, and one unusual host tree, a larch.   Digging in the internet we found some interesting information on gypsy moths.  There are now two known species of gypsy moth invaders in North America: the European Gypsy Moth (EGM; Lymantria dispar dispar) introduced to Canada over 130 years ago and now the Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM; Lymantria dispar asiatica) which while not known to be established in Canada, was first recorded in 1991 in North American at the port in Vancouver, BC according to the US Department of Agriculture (see PDF).

Although in many ways similar to the EGM, the discovery of the Asian gypsy moth strain (AGM) in Canada has raised new concerns. According to Health Canada, the Asian gypsy moth prefers coniferous trees, is better adapted to colder climates, and the female is able to fly longer distances. These traits make the Asian gypsy moth a serious threat to Canadian forests.

The spread of the gypsy moth has been largely attributed to the movement of firewood, as well as outdoor recreational and household articles.  Knowing how to detect, report and manage gypsy moth could significantly reduce and limit the spread of gypsy moth to new areas.  So if you find gypsy moth larvae (caterpillars) this summer, do your part for citizen science and download this app (EDDMapS Ontario) and report your finding. 

EDDMapS is a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species and pest distribution. It was developed by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia, and since its launch in 2005 has now expanded to include the entire US and Canada. As of June 2020, EDDMapS had over 4.9 million records.

We did our part in reporting our finding of a gypsy moth larvae at the MLF farm and while it is highly unlikely (we certainly hope!) that the gypsy moth we found was an AGM, it is important that we all learn more about these destructive invasive species.

For more information on gypsy moth in Canada and how you can control and prevent the spread of the gypsy moth see these links:

  • forestinvasives.ca/Meet-the-Species/Insects/European-Gypsy-Moth
  • www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/pest-control-tips/gypsy-moths.html

All About Maples Caring for your maple News

Spring News – Nurseries, MLF Rebate and COVID-19

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 April 15, 2020

Spring is planting season!

A message from our Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen

Deb Pella Keen, MLF Executive Director

First and foremost, I hope you and your families are safe and well. The last few weeks have been unprecedented for all of us as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt closer to home – in the communities in which we live, work and serve.

We recognize our spring newsletter will not be a top read for many of you.  However, we thought it might be helpful to those who may be trying to complete their tree planting plans this spring.Our staff at Maple Leaves Forever are continuing to work from home, so if you have any questions please contact info@mapleleavesforever.ca.

All the best and stay safe,
Deb

Nurseries and COVID-19

Maple Leaves Forever is still accepting Rebate Applications at this time. Many retail nurseries are closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you call or emailyour local nursery, you may be able to arrange for the purchase and pick up or delivery of your trees. Given the exceptional circumstances, if you are unable or choose not to acquire your trees, Maple Leaves Forever will hold applications until Fall 2020 or Spring 2021.
We appreciate your continued interest in planting native maple trees.
Check out our Partner Nurseries on the MLF website

Our THANK YOU REBATE gives you 25% towards the cost of qualifying native maples.

Spring Planting Rebate Applications Due

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 
for  bare root stock

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 
for container grown and B&B caliper trees

CLICK HERE for Rebate Details and Application Form

TELL A FRIEND!

If you recently received our Thank You Rebate, or you find our information helpful – please share this post with your contacts! We’d also love to see photos and stories about your maple plantings – send them along to info@mapleleavesforever.ca and let us know if we can share!

How to plant your native maples

It’s planting season! For detailed instructions and tips for planting native maple trees, please check out the comprehensive PLANTING GUIDE  in the CARE AND PLANTING INFO section of our website.

In-Person Envirothon Events Cancelled for April

Maple Leaves Forever is a proud sponsor of the Ontario Envirothon. Forests Ontario recently announced: “In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person Envirothon events that had been scheduled for April have been cancelled. However, the Online Presentation Challenge has been extended to April 30th. With the wonders of technology, it’s never been easier to work together online with your team to compile a presentation video from the comfort of your own homes.”
Find out More at ForestsOntario.ca

New MLF Envirothon Award

On February 14, 2020, Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen presented the “Maple Leaves Forever Envirothon Award” to Terry Schwan, a Registered Professional Forester and an outstanding contributor as a forestry specialist and Ontario Envirothon supporter.

Note: The Ontario Envirothon is a team-based competition for high school students who love the outdoors. It is an incubator for tomorrow’s environmental leaders, designed to prepare students for future green careers.

Landscape Ontario Congress & Forests Ontario Conference

Maple Leaves Forever was proud to once again attend the LO Congress in January 2020 and the Annual Forests Ontario Conference in February.

Carl Mansfield (MLF’s Arboreal Consultant) mans the MLF booth.

News

Forests Ontario Conference – We the Forest!

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 February 18, 2020
MLF Executive Director Deb Pella Keen with the Maple Leaves Forever display

Maple Leaves Forever participated in Forests Ontario’s annual conference held on February 14th at the Nottawasaga Inn and Convention Centre in Alliston, Ontario. 

More than two hundred and fifty forestry professionals, woodlot owners and educators and college students from across Ontario took in the day-long event.

Our Executive Director Deb Pella Keen and Arboreal Consultant Carl Mansfield provide information on the Maple Leaves Forever program and a Rebate that is available to rural landowners who plant native maple trees on their rural properties. It was an educational and productive event.

News

Fall-Winter tree care PSA – protect from animal damage

Posted by MLF Webmaster on
 October 22, 2019

In the later fall and winter, when other food sources are scarce, voles, mice and rabbits eat the bark and underlying tissue of young trees. Voles frequently girdle a tree by removing a continuous strip of bark and cambium around the circumference of the tree, usually within 30 cm of the base of the tree. Trees do not recover from this girdling and usually die during the following year.

Some commercially available repellents used by fruit growers can effectively  discourage voles, rabbits and deer from feeding on trees. SKOOT and other brand name repellents contain Thiram, a distasteful but harmless fungicide that discourages animals from taking a second bite. With a paint-like consistency, the repellent can be painted onto the tree’s bark from below the original soil line to a height of 150-175 cm to discourage deer browsing, and feeding by rabbits and voles.

Before applying the fungicide, the bark mulch and a few centimetres of soil is removed from the base of the tree to allow the property manager to paint the trunk of the tree from below soil level to a height of 150-175 cm with the repellent to discourage feeding by voles, rabbits and deer.

Ensure complete coverage when applying the repellent and follow the  package directions.

Where there is a known threat of vole and rabbit damage, a galvanized hardware cloth cylinder with a 6-8 mm square mesh can be set in place around the base of the tree and buried to a depth of 5 cm into the soil.

The soil and mulch is then returned to its original form and depth, covering a few cm of the painted trunk at the base of the tree before three 15-20 cm wire staples are used to fix the cylinder in place, centrally around the trunk of the tree. Short pieces of poly-coated wire secure the cylinder to a 125 cm stake, driven at least 25 cm into the soil.

Individual Tree Wraps and Tree Guards may be more effective where vole and rabbit damage is concerned, in areas where there is a low deer population and minimal risk deer browsing.

Rabbits and voles gnaw the bark of young trees, consuming the outer and inner bark, exposing the inner wood. If the chewing extends more than half way around the trunk, the tree may not survive.

Protect the tree by wrapping a soft, flexible plastic tree wrap around the trunk. Starting at the bottom, bury at least 5 cm of the wrap below soil line and work your way upward. Be sure to wrap beyond the typical snow line. Remove the wrap in the spring.

In areas where deer may be a problem from browsing or rubbing their antlers against the tree trunk, use a tree guard 100-125 cm in length.

Tree guards also offer some protection from winter sunscald

Many different tree wraps and protectors are available from garden centers and farm supply outlets. A flexible plastic tree wrap is shown above on the left. A ventilated, corrugated tree guard is shown on its right.  We used both of these tree protectors to protect the native maples that were planted recently. Both installations include the use of a hardware cloth cylinder supported by a sturdy stake.

More information available at:

Protecting Trees from Animal Damage: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/science-and-innovation/agricultural-practices/agroforestry/diseases-and-pests/protecting-trees-from-animal-damage/?id=1198877618448

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MLF News Posts

  • Get to know our Staff – Allison Hands
  • Ken Jewett and Maple Leaves Forever Celebrate 20 Years of Advocating for the Native Canadian Maple Tree
  • Get to know our staff – Mary Bella
  • Q&A for Potential Nursery Partners this week!
  • Winter Update from our Executive Director, Deb Pella Keen

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