Toronto Arborist Tips and Tricks

Your Tree Resolutions for 2024


FREE QUOTE >
Tree Services in Toronto » DIY Tree Care » Your Tree Resolutions for 2024

Your Tree Resolutions for 2024

In early January, the only tree on your mind may be a drying-out Christmas tree and how long you’ll hold out before taking it down. But the beginning of the year is the perfect time to think about your outdoor trees and how you’ll care for them this year!

1. Get Your Tree Pruned

Man's hands with long pruning shears trimming branches Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

You can start this one now! Many people think tree pruning needs to wait until spring or summer. On the contrary, winter is a great time to prune your trees. Without leaf growth, it’s easy for arborists to see the state and shape of branches and prune the tree to a healthy shape.

Winter pruning lets the tree benefit most from new spring growth, especially if the goal is to direct leaf and branch growth in a certain direction. Cold weather also means that any pest or fungal infections aren’t active, so these won’t interfere with pruning.

Bonus: You’ll have less of a wait time for work than when your neighbours decide to get on top of their pruning in spring!

2. Plant a Tree

Ohio buckeye tree

As you start to think ahead to spring, think about giving your family a new addition this year: a new tree. Whether you have a large space or a small space, there are options for small-space trees or container trees that will work for you.

Planting trees helps your yard fight climate change and can keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter naturally. They help decrease air pollution and fight heat islands in the city. A new tree in your yard can also help with noise pollution if you live near a busy street or noisy neighbours, and provide a physical privacy barrier.

3. Avoid Storm Damage Before It Happens

Broken tree limb after storm on gladstone ave

Both winter and summer storms can cause extensive damage to trees. Trees with weakened or broken branches are most at risk. You can get ahead of any potential damage by checking your trees regularly and conducting maintenance.

Look for broken, damaged or loose branches, as well as those that may be touching a roof or building. Regular pruning can help stop storm damage before it starts. Keeping on top of watering and fertilizing also helps keep your tree healthier, making it more resistant to damage.

4. Fertilize Trees and Shrubs

Boxwood plant closeup

Cooler weather in spring and fall is the best time for fertilizing your plants. If you haven’t taken advantage of a fall fertilizer service in the past season, you can get ahead by fertilizing in the spring.

Regular fertilizer application helps recover missing nutrients in city soil. Urban trees are exposed to a lot and soils don’t receive the benefit of nutrients from decaying leaves and plants that trees do in nature. Fertilizing your trees makes them grow faster and stronger. If you have young or mature trees, ensure booking a fertilizer service is on your 2022 to-do list.

5. Remove Stumps

Stump grinding stump grinder toronto

Have you been waiting years for old tree stumps to rot away? Perhaps you removed the tree years ago…maybe a former owner of your home removed the tree. Make 2022 your year to deal with this tripping hazard and eyesore! Stump grinding is an affordable and efficient way to remove a stump from your yard.

Bonus: It’s way faster than waiting a decade or so for the stump to rot. [link] Learn more about stump grinding and whether it will work for you!

6. Treat Seasonal Pests

Scale insect on stem with hairy face and corrugated white body vijay cavale http://www. Indiabirds. Com

Trees can be host to a wide variety of pests and fungi — phytophthora root rot, maple tar spot, LDD moth, spider mites, aphids, and more. Most of these issues crop up at specific times of the year. Some homeowners’ instinct is to ignore these problems until they become too big to ignore.

That’s a mistake. Many of these infestations can get worse if left untreated: LDD moth, for example, can eat the foliage of an entire mature tree in a few days. When you notice signs of damage, it’s time to call an arborist to diagnose and treat your problem.

Many pest issues need to be treated seasonally — if you wait, you may learn you’ll be waiting until the fall or even next year before the appropriate treatment can be applied. In 2022, commit to fixing your plant problems before they invade the whole block!

7. Water Your Trees

White skinned person holding green hose

It’s easy to remember to water your flower or vegetable garden when the long hot days of summer are here, but do you think about your trees? Trees need water too, especially in urban yards that don’t drain or absorb water as well as in natural settings.

In times of low or sporadic rainfall (this includes flash storms), trees need extra water to stay healthy. This especially goes for newly planted trees and those in their first years of life. Trees benefit most from a deep watering once or twice a week, rather than lighter daily watering.

8. Use Eco-Friendly Pest Control

Two ladybugs and a green aphid on a plant

Pests are a pain, but there are less harmful ways of dealing with them! Gone are the days of blinding spraying pesticides over yards and sticking a “do not walk here” sign on top. There are many more eco-friendly ways to manage infestations now.

Tools like insecticidal soap are made from natural products like potassium salts and are safe for humans, pets and garden animals. There’s also biological pest control, which means using natural predators to eat invasive or harmful pests. This includes releasing insects like lacewings, ladybugs, or predator mites into your garden, depending on the issue you’re treating. The natural predators will help treat your problem while benefitting the local ecosystem, a win-win!

Need help keeping your 2022 tree resolutions? It’s easier than going to the gym or cutting out sugar — call Vista Tree Management to plan ahead for the season!

author avatar
Michael Co-Founder
Michael is a Certified Arborist and founder of the company. He holds a Certificate in Urban Arboriculture (Honours) from Humber College, Certificate in Project Leadership from Cornell, has post-graduate studies in Urban Forestry and Arboriculture from Oregon State College of Foresty and holds a BAH in Ancient History with a minor in Business. In addition to being an ISA Certified Arborist, he is a TCIA Certified Tree Safety Professional, Tree Appraisal Qualified by Arboriculture Canada and holds a Landscape Exterminator license. Michael sat on the Board of Director for the Ontario Commercial Arborist Association in 2022 and 2023. He worked at some of the top arboriculture companies in Southern Ontario before starting Vista Tree Management. Before that, he was an award-winning Executive Director in the nonprofit sector and published marketing consultant. On the rare days off, Michael can be found at home with his family - a loving wife, two daughters and two cats in Central Toronto.
The Ultimate

Homeowner Toolkit

DOWNLOAD NOW

1 thought on “Your Tree Resolutions for 2024”

  1. As we enter 2024, consider making tree resolutions! Commit to planting a new tree each season to enhance your local environment. Pledge to regularly prune and care for your existing trees, ensuring they thrive. Educate yourself about native species to promote biodiversity. Finally, get involved in community tree-planting events to inspire others and foster a greener future for all.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Top-Rated Hedge Trimming Company in Toronto
Get a Free Quote

Affordable Excellence

Transparent Pricing

Meticulous Clean-up

Outstanding Service

Custom Solutions

Fully Certified and Insured

What Our Clients Are Saying

google
James and his team from Vista tree services were extremely professional, they arrived on time, completed the job of trimming my large oak tree, cleaned up the area, worked with all safety personnel protection equipment and were very friendly to deal with. i would highly recommend their services.
google
THRILLED with the work done by James and the team at Vista! Detailed responsiveness, and a wonderful team!
After buying a house on a ravine, we were at a loss for what to do with trees/shrubs/etc., that had not been managed for decades (seriously). It was a mess.

We couldn’t be more pleased with the results: our ravine looks beautiful and wild, healthy AND manicured, yet still “natural”. We WILL be recommending Vista to our friends and neighbours, and look forward to a continued relationship with this excellent team.

Thanks for the great work! Thanks for the GREAT cleanup. Thank you, thank you..
google
Simply not professional .
They have no concerns about timelines and seem to have little interest in expediting anything.
Forget attempting to expedite anything they will not even file documents in an expediant mater.
They have no respect for your time they pull the same crap Bell Canada pulls and demand that you sit at the site for the afternoon without a specific appointment time. This really speaks for itself when a company hold themselves above their customers.
Once you contract with them you are at their mercy and ypu may like me just end up needing to find a professional firm.
Lasting having parted way i now finally have my permit and my tree will come down nxt business day. It would be weeks more with them. They simply think this is all about themselves.
google
Simply not professional .
They have no concerns about timelines and seem to have little interest in expediting anything.
Forget attempting to expedite anything they will not even file documents in an expediant mater.
They have no respect for your time they pull the same crap Bell Canada pulls and demand that you sit at the site for the after without a specific appointment time.
Once you contract with them you are at their mercy and ypu may like me just end up needing to find a professional firm.
google
James came to remove a tree adjacent to our property that was quite sick and unstable. We wanted him meticulously remove it over a two day period and James was nothing but professional and thorough! He also did his best to clean up the scene. Highly recommend!
google
Recommended from someone in my neighborhood. Quick follow up as well as on-site visit. Very professional and thorough walk through of work options. Completed within a few days of quoting and a great job all around.
google
Great, fast and reliable service, I have used Vista for both trimming and tree removal, they have a hard working and super friendly crew, we are very satisfied with their services
google
I was very pleased with their service. We received helpful advice and the crew who pruned the tree was great. They had to carry all the cuttings through the house which they did without dropping a twig. Everyone was friendly and professional throughout.
google
Overall I am satisfied with the work done by James May and his crew. I will definitely call on them again to work on another tree in my backyard.
google
I am beyond delighted with the work done by this company at my home to prune a very large mulberry tree located in my backyard that was impacting the sunlight on our Swimspa.

I received a clear and concise quote from James May who suggested additional pruning to what I asked for and his recommendation was spot on.
His crew were extremely professional and did a superb job taking care not to damage several blooming Rose of Sharon trees below the large limbs of the mulberry. Their cleanup was impeccable and I highly recommend this firm.
google
Vista Tree's motto is "We are committed to building a strong and positive relationships through service excellence." They truly live up to this. James May is such a professional guy, he spoke to my neighbours before, during and after - all phases of the work to ensure they were aware of the dead tree removal at our property, and the work might impact theirs'.
The team made sure to complete the work on time, and clean up.
Would recommend 100%.
Kudos to James and his team!!!
google
Rosedale job with a tree hanging over multiple properties and worries about neighbors. They did a great job!!
google
The whole experience was excellent, from estimate visit, quote, scheduling, and watching two professionals eliminate so many problems with bushes and trees around my property. The care and concerns for me and the trees were wonderful.
google
James and his team from Vista Tree are absolutely fantastic. From start to finish, they demonstrated professionalism and expertise. We had a dead tree on our property that needed to be removed, along with the stump. James and his crew handled the task efficiently and with great care.

They arrived on time, which is something we greatly appreciated, and worked diligently until the job was completed. Not only did they remove the tree and stump, but they also ensured that the entire area was cleaned impeccably afterward. Our property looked spotless, as if no tree had ever been there.

The team’s attention to detail and commitment to quality service truly set them apart. I would highly recommend James and Vista Tree to anyone in need of tree services. They exceeded our expectations in every way, making what could have been a stressful experience remarkably smooth and worry-free.

Thank you, James and Vista Tree, for your outstanding work!

Frank
google
I had the pleasure of working together with James @ Vista Tree Management. My experience with them is simple, they were honest, informative and over the top helpful to our family throughout this process from beginning to end. We had a huge Manitoba Maple tree fall suddenly in our yard. James responded to our request rapidly and was able to sight the down tree. A quote was provided to remove the destruction along with the remaining unsafe portions of trees still standing. The challenging part for our family was not so much removing the down tree but to remove what we felt was the unsafe reminder of the tree still standing. Thier expert knowledge and information provided lead to us making connections and follow the proper processes with the City and was successful in expediting the permit process require. We are very grateful to have had such a knowledgeable company on our side during this unsettling difficult time. Thank you to James and his crew who worked diligently today at our home in extreme heat conditions. We appreciate you all. We highly recommend Vista Tree Management not only for their ability to get the job done but for their professionalism and unmatched customer service. Thank you again to James and your crew
google
The crew did a great job! They were quick and professional and did exactly what we were looking to have done. It was a job done well at a very reasonable price. I would definitely hire them again and I will certainly refer them to friends and family!
google
James and his team did an excellent job trimming my Walnut and other trees on my property. They removed all the branches and tidied up very nicely before they left. I will absolutely use Vista Tree Management again.
google
Michal was very pleasant to deal with during the quoting process and he conveyed the most knowledge from the 3 companies I approached. James and his crew did an excellent job with the removal of two trees and pruning of a large Manitoba Maple that totally covered my deck. Great to see sunlight again! James is very friendly and also knowledgeable. When the work was completed we did a walk through and he thoroughly explained what they did. The clean up was also fantastic.
Thanks very much!
google
VISTA do good work. I've used then for clients and all work gets done on time with an industry competitive budget. Their customers service is always excellent as well
google
Showed up on time. Scoped the work with us. Cleaned up nicely. Decent price. We will use them again.
google
Had great experience with Vista Tree for pruning of our tree. Super quick response to seamless execution. Highly recommend!
google
James was extremely helpful in helping us get the right tree for our backyard and was very friendly and professional
google
Outstanding Service! The arborist who came to provide an estimate gave very helpful with suggestions on how we should proceed to trim a very large tree - keeping in mind privacy with neighbours and ensuring shade over our home in the summer. He even took photographs to mark up to guide the crew coming to do the work. The crew showed up as scheduled and did its work very efficiently and we were extremely pleased with the results. Very reasonable pricing - great value for the money. Vista Tree Management will be my one and only supplier of these services in the future.
google
Vista Tree Management provided an excellent service of removing a large tree from a backyard of my property in Toronto. The whole process of quoting, and doing the job was very efficient, clearly explained and provided as promised. Their price for the serviced was very competitive.
google
My parents used their service to cut a tree down in their backyard. This tree was in such an awkward position where it was interfering with 2 other neighbors. James ensured me that the service would be done in a very professional manner and no damage would be done. Im glad to say he was right and had a group of 6 hard working individuals made the job done safely and efficiently. I would highly recommend this company for anyone needing tree removal.
google
Everything went smooth, from the initial assessment visit to the email communication to the job getting done! Thank you guys for your professionalism and quality work!!
google
Vista is an excellent company to deal with. The owners went above and beyond expectations to help deal with a unique situation. The guys who did the work were not only professional but also very polite. I will be using them again to help with other work in the future.
google
We are very happy with all the work Vista Tree Management accomplished on our property.  James was very professional and gave us excellent advice concerning the trimming of our 12 foot cedar hedges and the pruning of our mature silver maple trees.  The crew was very friendly and hard working, they did a tremendous job on the work required and they did an excellent job with the clean up.  We would highly recommend Vista Tree services to our family and friends.  We will definitely use them again for all of our future projects.
John & Sonja
google
They just did my front lawn, and boy, did they leave a lasting impression!

They were straightforward with the plan - clear and precise, ensuring that I was well informed of the process and outcome. The execution was meticulous and exceeded my expectations. Moreover, the cleanliness post-service was remarkable, leaving no trace of debris or disruption.

They were on time and was the epitome of friendly and cheerful—felt like I had friends over for a garden party!

Overall, their service was excellent at every stage. The inquiry, consultation, customer support, day-of service, follow-up, and payment process were all seamless.

I had peace of mind and very happy with Vista. I highly recommend them to those in need of reliable and thorough tree management service.
google
I can’t say enough positive comment about James and Vista Tree. We were “ghosted” by 2 other tree management companies last fall. James came by and provided separate quotes for two very large trees on our property, both of which were a challenge to severely prune. They were a hazard and had to be addressed. The quotes were delivered the next day after assessment. The team was here on two separate days (April 30 and May 7). They were efficient, professional and most importantly safe. Hollis, the arborist who climbed the trees was friendly and communicated everything he was doing to the trees as well as any changes he made once he was up in the tree. The other members of the crew (Syd and Pete, I can’t remember the others) were professional and friendly. They cleaned everything up and were open to any suggestions we had regarding disposal of the wood. I would highly recommend this company. We will be having them back again to do more work, in the fall.
google
Leaside neighbours take note!! Exceptional and professional service from start to finish. The team at Vista Tree Management responded to an urgent and critical situation. They were efficient, skilled and courteous. They handled the tree removal with precision and left our backyard immaculate. I highly recommend this team for your tree removal needs. They beat the competition by $1000+
google
James and his team did a great job pruning and trimming our old silver maple. James answered all my questions, provided expert advice and had his team do the work shortly after. The workers were professional, cleaned the space well, and were really efficient. Would definitely recommend Vista Tree management!
google
James was great! Very professional and you can definitely tell he knows what he’s talking about. They provided a quote in a timely manner booked us in for the tree pruning within a few days afterwards. The job was done quickly, professionally and the crew was friendly and polite. They cleaned up everything once the work was completed. Highly recommend!
google
Safe, fast, personable team - did a great job with tree trimming and removal! Note: the removal of a tree was not on the original scope and they still made it happen!
By the end of the day, I wouldn’t have even known they were there.
google
Very Happy with the professional advice and service we received from Vista which was promptly done. The follow-up to ensure we were happy with the work was appreciated.
google
Highly recommend! Michal came by first to take a look at things and provide the estimate. He’s obviously passionate about what he does and I learned a ton about my tree that I had no idea about! He gave me the confidence I needed to schedule the work. James and the “J-Crew” arrived on the scheduled day and were super friendly. The team did an amazing job with trimming my large overgrown maple and a fantastic cleanup job. My yard looked better than before they arrived. Will definitely have them back for future maintenance! Thanks Vista!
google
Great service from a great crew of people! The team was amazing from consulting on best ways to tackle the project, safely removing the trees and making sure the job was done to satisfaction. Would highly recommend and definitely use them again.
google
These guys are incredibly professional and by far the best arborist that have visited our home. And we've had many!

What impressed me the most was throughout their only concern was safety for my family and our property. With that and that only in mind they made all the cuts and changes that were required. When they left, I felt the most relief I felt about the trees in our backyard in a long time.

Truly appreciate your hard work and will highly recommend you in the future!

Self-Serve Appointment Booking

Use our convenient online booking to choose a date that works best for you to receive your free hedge trimming quote and site assessment from a tree care services expert.

This In-person appointment is your opportunity to plan the outdoor space you’ve been dreaming of and have all your questions about Toronto hedge care answered by a top-rated company.

BOOK NOW

Professional Associations

We are proud members of many organizations and networks dedicated to skilled labour, small businesses, the arboriculture industry, and professional tree care and landscaping in Ontario.