Guelph staff to plant trees in response to emerald ash borer, National Forest Week

guelphmercury.com
Sept. 22, 2014

In celebration of National Forest Week and in response to the emerald ash borer, the City of Guelph will be planting trees in the Clairfield West neighbourhood over the next month.

National Forest Week runs from Sept. 21 to 27. Its purpose is to encourage a greater public awareness of Canada's forests.

In honour of this week, and as part of the emerald ash borer canopy recovery program, city staff will be planting 366 trees including silver maple, red maple, sugar maple, hackberry, serviceberry, red oak and tulip tree. This planting will continue until the end of October in neighbourhoods and parks where ash dominates the treeline.

A recent city release said the plantings are to replace those trees impacted by the emerald ash borer. The ash borer plan is a part of the city's urban forest management strategy to increase the tree canopy.

Much of the community's urban forest is located on private land. Residents can hire a certified arborist to find out the health of their ash tree. If it's not showing signs of infestation, treatment may still be an option.

More information about the city's emerald ash borer plan at guelph.ca/eab.