With today marking the one-year anniversary of the ice storm that devastated Peterborough city and county, an enduring image remains that of the severe damage done to thousands of trees.
For weeks after the March 30th storm, the sound of chainsaws filled the air as homeowners, public works staff and independent contractors dealt with the aftermath that saw countless damaged trees trimmed or, in many cases, completely removed.
Reflecting on the damage caused, Elevated Arboriculture owner Ethan Benson says while the ice storm brought comparisons to the 2022 derecho, there was a fundamental difference in terms of the breadth of tree damage.
Speaking to tree replacement programs that are available, Benson says while options are limited for urban property owners, a Forests Canada tree planting program is a viable option for larger landowners.
Benson says if there’s a silver lining, a new appreciation of the benefits of healthy trees has resulted in the ice storm’s aftermath.
For more information about the Forests Canada’s tree planting program, visit https://forestscanada.ca/en/program/PlantTrees.
Meanwhile, Elevated Aboriculture’s services can be viewed at https://www.elevatedarb.com.
(Written by: Paul Rellinger)
