Hello!
I have a backyard in North York area of Toronto with an abundance of trees. The previous homeowners planted numerous trees including magnolias, a plum, 2 mulberry trees, 2 varieties of apples, 2 quince trees and about 2-3 varieties of cherries and more. There is also a very large maple over handing the house. However quite a few of these trees are struggling due to the overcrowding and density. The previous homeowner had planted them so close to each other and it has become a challenge to try and help them succeed. I am also unsure if the fruit trees are able to fully bear fruit as some have not grown any and some of the trees are for sure struggling with a disease. I want to ensure nice tree growth to help the environment but the trees are a tad overwhelming.
Do you recommend we remove some of the trees to help the others prosper and if I remove any trees are there any plants that you recommend I plant instead that can help the environment?
(ideally plants that are low, easy to maintain and would do well in shaded areas because there are so many trees!) I would say the soil is more loam and is very rich as for years there was many tulips and other plants growing very well.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you kindly in advance,
Thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners.
You have raised several issues in your post. It is sad when trees are not given enough room to spread out and flourish, as you’ve described. I’m concerned that you indicate that some are diseased, which could be a threat to your currently healthy-looking trees. Disease could be the reason the fruit trees have not borne fruit since you’ve owned the property, or the trees may simply be unhappy in the spot they’ve been planted. There could be several other reasons.
I’d suggest that you consult an arborist to help you decide the next steps for your garden. The arborist can determine which trees are healthy, which are planted in the proper spot for continued good health, and which (if any) are likely best to be removed. They can advise on proper maintenance for the trees and prune those that need a little TLC. Landscape Ontario has an easily searchable site so it is easy to find an arborist in your area.
It is lovely that you want to encourage healthy tree growth to help the environment. The City of Toronto has published CanopyTO, which discusses the importance of tree and shrub canopy coverage. By having these plants in your garden, and ensuring that they are healthy, you’re contributing to the urban forest, which is good for the environment.
If you do decide to remove some of the trees, you may have more sunny or partially sunny spots available, as opposed to only shady spaces. Once you know which trees are to be removed, and the light conditions in these areas, you can select appropriate plants. It sounds like the soil is very good, and the fact that tulips used to grow in the garden suggests that before the trees provided so much shade, it may have been quite sunny – and may still be, once certain trees are removed.
In any event, Toronto Master Gardeners has detailed guides to help you select the right shrubs for your property. Bear in mind that it’s important to check the needs of each plant (sun, soil, water) as well as the final height and spread of each (to avoid crowding), prior to choosing and planting, see links below:
Ornamental Shrubs for Various Light Conditions: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide
Gardening with Native Shrubs: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide
All the best with your garden