unrealestate said:
Also does anyone know what happened to the trees along this part of the waterfront? almost half are dead or dying, really sad. Many are marked to be cut down
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Which ones?

I was here just 5 weeks ago, and they were the healthiest I've seen in ages:

From July 22nd, 2025:

DSC05775.JPG


DSC05776.JPG


There are certainly a few that are distressed/dead, but I would have said maybe a dozen or so....or ~7-8%

Edit to add: It wouldn't surprise me if a few additional trees look stressed at this point, Just out on a walk and I can clearly see some trees showing drought stress. We did get some rain of note in the last week or so, but we had an extended stretch of heat where rain was relatively scarce. So far as I can recall, these trees are not irrigated, so they would feel it. FWIW, the new streetscapes / promenade being built on a go-forward basis will have a lot more open soil beds which will likely get at least passive irrigation (water will drain from the area towards to the trees (up to a point).
 
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xmyth_ said:
Stupid question but… should folks just come out and water the trees during dry spells? Is that a thing?
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Not a stupid question.

It's a great question.

The answer is 'yes'.

Ideally you would know if the tree is getting water and it looks stress-free...........in which case, leave it to nature.

But by default, in the heat of summer, if it hasn't rained in a while (more than a week) .....the trees probably need water, look at the soil around the base, if it's dry, water it!

Trees, when established will reserve water and manage tight supply to a point. ..........surprisingly little can help. A big watering can is 6L and will do wonders for one mature tree though in drought-stress conditions, you may need to make up to six trips, if you don't have a hose.

A few notes:

Established trees (more than 2 years in the ground) should generally be watered infrequently (every 1-2 weeks) but deeply. Trees vary in their water needs so take any statement here with a big grain of salt, but the rough formula is 38L per watering for a tree with 25cm diameter (if you measure round the outside of the trunk, at roughly your chest height or 4ft off the ground).

You don't need to be precise, just understand the object is not to drown the tree, but to let the water work its way deep into the soil to reach lower roots.

You have no way of knowing how wet the soil is when it has paving almost up to it, so I'd use restraint, with common sense.

***

Drought stress in trees, particularly from mid-summer on, generally shows up as pre-mature fall colour change and/or browning of leaves. You may also seem some wilting or slumping of new growth.

If only one tree in the area looks like that, unless there's an obvious explanation.....it probably isn't drought.........but if you see multiple trees showing it in the same area....there's a very good chance.
 
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Northern Light said:
Not a stupid question.

It's a great question.

The answer is 'yes'.

Ideally you would know if the tree is getting water and it looks stress-free...........in which case, leave it to nature.

But by default, in the heat of summer, if it hasn't rained in a while (more than a week) .....the trees probably need water, look at the soil around the base, if it's dry, water it!

Trees, when established will reserve water and manage tight supply to a point. ..........surprisingly little can help. A big watering can is 6L and will do wonders for one mature tree though in drought-stress conditions, you may need to make up to six trips, if you don't have a hose.

A few notes:

Established trees (more than 2 years in the ground) should generally be watered infrequently (every 1-2 weeks) but deeply. Trees vary in their water needs so take any statement here with a big grain of salt, but the rough formula is 38L per watering for a tree with 25cm diameter (if you measure round the outside of the trunk, at roughly your chest height or 4ft off the ground).

You don't need to be precise, just understand the object is not to drown the tree, but to let the water works it way deep into the soil to reach lower roots.

You have no way of know how wet the soil is when it has having almost up to it, so I'd use restraint, with common sense.

***

Drought stress in trees, particularly from mid-summer on, generally shows up as pre-mature fall colour change and/or browning of leaves. You may also seem some wilting or slumping of new growth.

If only one tree in the area looks like that, unless there's an obvious explanation.....it probably isn't drought.........but if you see multiple trees showing it in the same area....there's a very good chance.
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Thanks for that. I wonder if the parks dept would ever coordinate with neighbourhood groups to ensure this kind of stuff is tended to. It’s not as if parks will ever get the kind of budget police does (to ignore everything) and I know there’s plenty of folks who would volunteer if it meant keeping their neighbourhoods in good shape
 
xmyth_ said:
Thanks for that. I wonder if the parks dept would ever coordinate with neighbourhood groups to ensure this kind of stuff is tended to. It’s not as if parks will ever get the kind of budget police does (to ignore everything) and I know there’s plenty of folks who would volunteer if it meant keeping their neighbourhoods in good shape
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In general, Parks waters trees (or more likely has contractors that are supposed to) up to 2 years after installation (which is the most critical period). After that, for the most part, they are on their own.

Contractors installing new trees on behalf of the City are required to warranty them for 2 years. IF the City is diligent in inspecting as the 2 years are coming to a close, contractors are required to replace any deeply distressed or dead tree.

Some diligently water to mitigate the risk (or have temporary irrigation), many don't bother and take their chances.

***

Parks does have irrigation (permanent) in some locations, typically formal gardens such as Rosetta McClain.

Some streetscapes and most of the golf courses have this as well.

Routine watering of non-irrigated, mature trees is not quite unheard of........but very rare.

BIAs can be as attentive as they want to be to planting beds they assume responsibility, but most are not. The SLNA, on the other hand is quite good.
 
Northern Light said:
In general, Parks waters trees (or more likely has contractors that are supposed to) up to 2 years after installation (which is the most critical period). After that, for the most part, they are on their own.

Contractors installing new trees on behalf of the City are required to warranty them for 2 years. IF the City is diligent in inspecting as the 2 years are coming to a close, contractors are required to replace any deeply distressed or dead tree.

Some diligently water to mitigate the risk (or have temporary irrigation), many don't bother and take their chances.

***

Parks does have irrigation (permanent) in some locations, typically formal gardens such as Rosetta McClain.

Some streetscapes and most of the golf courses have this as well.

Routine watering of non-irrigated, mature trees is not quite unheard of........but very rare.

BIAs can be as attentive as they want to be to planting beds they assume responsibility, but most are not. The SLNA, on the other hand is quite good.
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It is actually the Old Town Toronto BIA that does most of the street gardening in St Lawrence, the SLNA (the neighbourhood assn) does have 'gardeners' but they restrict themselves to smaller beds (e,g. the raised planter at The Esplanade and Lower Sherbourne.)

One 'problem' with street trees is that the City often forces developers to install irrigation to street trees adjacent to new developments. Good idea but the building managements seldom know how to turn these on or off so they soon cease working, or leak 24/7 Of course, the City never does follow-up inspections or monitoring.. One on King East (just east of Bauhaus) leaked for months as the building had no idea of how to turn off the water (or that it was their water that was being wasted and was drowning the trees.)
 
DSCToronto said:
It is actually the Old Town Toronto BIA that does most of the street gardening in St Lawrence, the SLNA (the neighbourhood assn) does have 'gardeners' but they restrict themselves to smaller beds (e,g. the raised planter at The Esplanade and Lower Sherbourne.)
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👍

DSCToronto said:
One 'problem' with street trees is that the City often forces developers to install irrigation to street trees adjacent to new developments. Good idea but the building managements seldom know how to turn these on or off so they soon cease working, or leak 24/7 Of course, the City never does follow-up inspections or monitoring.. One on King East (just east of Bauhaus) leaked for months as the building had no idea of how to turn off the water (or that it was their water that was being wasted and was drowning the trees.)
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The idea that one even has to turn the valve manually now is bizarre.......this stuff can all be managed by the BAS (Building Automation System)

It should be set to turn off in our area by Sept 30th each year (you don't want to water in late fall usually, but you could set it a bit later if desired), you set it to turn on May 1st, and you have it water when required by having moisture sensors in the soil beds. Developers are as antiquated as the City sometimes....

***

Leaks are also monitorable through a proper BAS interface by reading anomalous volume or pressure in each pipe and each riser.
 
Northern Light said:
Which ones?

I was here just 5 weeks ago, and they were the healthiest I've seen in ages:

From July 22nd, 2025:

View attachment 677884

View attachment 677886

There are certainly a few that are distressed/dead, but I would have said maybe a dozen or so....or ~7-8%

Edit to add: It wouldn't surprise me if a few additional trees look stressed at this point, Just out on a walk and I can clearly see some trees showing drought stress. We did get some rain of note in the last week or so, but we had an extended stretch of heat where rain was relatively scarce. So far as I can recall, these trees are not irrigated, so they would feel it. FWIW, the new streetscapes / promenade being built on a go-forward basis will have a lot more open soil beds which will likely get at least passive irrigation (water will drain from the area towards to the trees (up to a point).
Click to expand...
A lot of the dead or dying ones visible from 3:40 onwards

It looked even worse when i was there last week too. A ton of trees are marked with spray paint to be cut down
 
unrealestate said:
A lot of the dead or dying ones visible from 3:40 onwards

It looked even worse when i was there last week too. A ton of trees are marked with spray paint to be cut down
Click to expand...

The yellow leaves in the tree below are drought stress:

1756923333135.png


This above shot only shows 3 dead ones though, see below, the majority around Sherbourne Common are in good shape:

1756923411213.png


I'm following along w/the video..........next shot (south side of the building shows 1 distressed tree)

1756923523652.png


Next shot further along.... really doesn't look too bad:

1756923616583.png


Still looking pretty good at Sugar Beach:

1756923702535.png


This is the section just east of the Yonge St Slip - 1 severely distressed/dying tree:

1756923830740.png


Thanks for the video tour.

I will say though, I think the trees are in better health, overall than you think. There is a small concentration of problematic ones in/around Sherbourne Common and a few others could be better, but really the majority are doing pretty well, especially when compared with 2-3 years ago.
 
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