We need larger tree species in Vaughan

Thornhill letter to the editor

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 8, 2015

I am very upset to see trees that mature to such a small size being planted around Vaughan, such as: Serviceberry growing to about 15 feet; Flame Amur Maple 20 feet; Ornamental Pear 10 feet and Ivory Silk Lilac 20 feet.

I can understand when one of these trees is planted beside a lamppost, or on a very small boulevard, or even when a large tree is already planted on a homeowner’s lawn.

But I have seen many of these smaller trees planted in areas that could easily accommodate a large tree, such as an Oak, Linden, London Plane, Tulip Poplar, Maple, Zelkova etc.

Streets in Vaughan will never look mature. The streets will have all these small trees that look stunted.

Serviceberry does not handle urban spaces well, and start to decline about a decade after they have been planted and they don’t create any shade whatsoever.

The Flame Amur Maple looks like the messy weed tree Boxelder, and is very weak and prone to snapping in an ice or snowstorm. This is also a non-native tree that reseeds, just as the Norway Maple does.

Don’t get me started on Ornamental Pear, which never make it past 20 years. They either die from diseases or the whole tree snaps in half.

Look at Bentoak Crescent in Thornhill Woods. After the ice storm, almost all the Ornamental pears had to be removed. They couldn’t have been more than 12 years old. They also stink in the spring.

Ivory Silk Lilac trees are nice, but in moderation and in appropriate spaces, for instance, next to a light post, or where a large tree has already been planted on a lawn.

I did not see any Tulip Poplar, London Plane, Bur Oak or Zelkova planted in my neighbourhood this year.

I saw many locations that could have easily supported a large tree, but instead a Serviceberry, Amur Maple, Ivory Silk Lilac or Ornamental pear was planted.

I also noticed this year that the tree diversity was far lower.

I really hope to see trees that grow large planted in the future or Vaughan streets will never have that mature feel to them. It is quite upsetting.

Mary James
Thornhill