Cedar hedges are everywhere in the GTA because they grow dense, stay green all year and give you privacy. But every spring, plenty of homeowners walk outside to find hedges that are splayed open, snapped at the top or covered in brown, crispy patches. Most of that damage happens...
Markham has some of the strictest private tree rules in the GTA. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that a fairly modest backyard tree, one they could almost wrap their hands around, may need a City permit before it can be removed or seriously cut back. This guide covers...
If you own a home in Toronto with a mature tree on the lot, the rules around that tree just got stricter. On September 1, 2026, a package of amendments to the City’s tree bylaws came into force, and several of them affect everyday homeowners, not just developers. This...
Most homeowners think of spring as planting season, but fall is actually the better window for trees in the GTA. Cooler air slows top growth, while the soil stays warm enough for weeks after the leaves drop, giving roots time to establish before winter without the stress of summer...
If you own property in Markham and you’re planning to remove or prune a mature tree, there’s a good chance you need a permit first, even if the tree is on your own land. Markham’s Tree Preservation By-law 2023-164 regulates private trees across the city, and the rules catch...
Most tree failures don’t happen without warning. A tree that snaps in a windstorm or drops a limb on a driveway usually gave off signals for months, sometimes years, before it happened. The challenge for most GTA homeowners isn’t a lack of concern — it’s not knowing what to...
Fall in the GTA moves fast. One week you’re still mowing the lawn, and a few weeks later the first frost has already hit Vaughan, Markham, or Newmarket. Trying to do everything at once in late October is how homeowners miss the window for pruning, planting, or catching storm-damaged...
A dead tree in the yard feels like an easy call — it’s not coming back, so why not just cut it down? In the Greater Toronto Area, the answer depends entirely on which city you live in, and getting it wrong can mean a fine of up to...
If you’ve walked under a maple tree in the GTA this August and noticed leaves covered in round, shiny black spots that look like someone splashed tar on them, you’re not imagining things. This is one of the most common tree questions homeowners across Richmond Hill, Toronto, Markham, Vaughan,...
If you live in Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, or Aurora, your outdoor watering is already limited by a municipal bylaw — and most homeowners only think about it in terms of their lawn. Your trees are affected too, and unlike grass, a mature tree that goes through a...