Winter in Calgary can be tough on our trees. The combination of freezing temperatures, Chinook winds, and heavy snowfall can lead to a lot of tree problems. To keep your trees healthy and thriving during the cold season, it's essential to recognize and address these common winter tree issues...
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As the snow blankets the city of Calgary, our trees face the challenges brought on by the frosty embrace of winter. Open Canopy Tree recognizes the importance of providing proper care to your trees during this season. To help you protect and maintain the health of your trees in the midst of the winter wonderland, […]
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If you've ever strolled down our city streets and admired the grandeur of the Elm trees, you probably already know how important they are to our urban landscape. These big beauties provide shade, character, and that sense of home we all love. But did you know that keeping them in top shape involves more than […]
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Live beside a tree that’s encroaching on your property? Neighbours trees can have large root systems that impact soil quality, impact grass growth and create a mess. The question is: can you actually do anything about it if it’s not your tree? Here’s how we recommend you go about it. Can a solution be reached […]
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When’s the best time to prune or trim your trees? Why, right now, in early spring! Why Early Spring? Trees are still in their winter dormancy right before they bloom, making it the best time to clean them up. They are not actively growing, which means as soon as they come out of dormancy, wounds […]
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How can you improve the quality of the soil around established trees? Here are all of the easy wins: Mulch the area around the roots. Mulching promotes healthy bacteria within the root structure and also combats the growth of harmful weeds. Use natural compost. Adding compost from the kitchen or pelletized manure adds essential nutrients […]
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A dangerous tree could not only cause damage to your property, but could also cause injury and create liability. If you notice any of the following signs, it’s important to have it taken care of professionally as soon as possible: Large broken limbs or branches tearing from the tree or entangled high up in other […]
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We love what we do and couldn’t do it without our trusted tools. From chainsaws to rope, here’s a list of our favourite tools, which have been created by some of the best brands in Canada and make our jobs easier and safer everyday. Chainsaws: Stihl. Stihl’s exceptional chainsaws are reliable, start effortlessly and allow […]
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Salting side-walks and roads is important in the winter to prevent wipe-outs, but can be extremely harmful to our trees. Salt (especially the kind that contains sodium chloride) can cause long-term damage to not only our trees, but also most vegetation. Here are some tips on how to prevent damage from happening: Use an alternative. […]
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It may seem straight forward, but you would be surprised how hard some of these signs are to spot: An abundance of random sticks and branches on the ground. Although it is normal for some to be shaken loose seasonally, the tree dropping is also a sign that it is not healthy. The bark is […]
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Looking to stay cozy this winter but also spend some time outdoors? Calgary’s local firepits are open until 9 p.m. most days and some even allow drinking! Here are a few of our favourite spots and how to book them, courtesy of The City of Calgary. S.E. Inglewood - Mills Park: 1508 - 9 Ave. […]
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We see them everywhere in the winter, but what exactly are they—and are they edible? The resilient, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that bears these berries is usually used for decoration, but also spreads extremely easily. Although they have a slow growth rate, they can also last up to 40 years with the right care. When it […]
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When it comes to bringing Christmas to the front yard, one of the best ways to do it is wrapping trees in sparkling, bright lights. However, this job is not always an easy endeavour. We’ve got you covered with all the yays and nays: Do: Calculate how many lights you will need. Christmas Lights Etc. […]
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The cold has officially arrived and our trees are feeling it, too. What practices can we do to make sure our trees and properties emerge just as beautiful in the spring? Pruning: Our trees fall dormant during this season, making it an ideal time for you to have them pruned. Pruning helps establish strong structure […]
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Doing our part to protect Canada’s furry and feathery creatures is of key importance to us. While on the job, there are many measures we take to ensure all wildlife is protected: Taking nesting seasons into account. If protected species are actively nesting during a certain season, then jobs may need to be postponed-- especially […]
Read Article →The cold is about to knock on our doorstep. What practices can you do during the fall season to maintain healthy trees? 1. Regular Pruning: Prune any dead or decaying branches or limbs to avoid them becoming an issue once frozen. Pruning helps establish strong structure by removing dead or diseased branches, which could become dangerous: […]
Read Article →The Open Canopy Team is officially on HomeStars, and we are pretty excited about it. Our team of arborists has a 98% star rating and tons of reviews. “Staff is friendly, professional & efficient. Had 2 large trees (40+ feet) & stumps removed arrived on schedule and worked fast, leaving the site spotless when complete. […]
Read Article →Bad storms and accidents can happen, and being proactive is key to making sure your property remains safe and beautiful. Weak or rotting limbs can pose a harm to surrounding buildings, gardens and even vehicles. Here are some ways to stay proactive about the health and safety of your trees: Yearly arborist visits: Our team can […]
Read Article →Let’s just say you can’t be afraid of heights. What does a day in the life of the Open Canopy Team look like? Living for the weather. As we use a variety of different (potentially dangerous) tools at high heights, the weather matters and dictates our day to day schedules. For instance, if there is […]
Read Article →We see them every day, but what are they actually called? Here are the most popular Coniferous trees in the Calgary area: Siberian Larch The Siberian Larch is a deciduous conifer that does the best in full sun environments. They are the fullest in the summer and often drop needles in the fall and winter […]
Read Article →The Christmas tree is a staple of every holiday season, but where did it all start? Essentially, plants that remained green through the winter were somewhat of a spectacle to those in the early ages. Ancient peoples began hanging evergreen boughs on doors and windows to keep evil spirits away, which eventually evolved into using […]
Read Article →Here’s why we recommend using the season to your advantage: The frozen ground minimizes damage to yards and properties Bare trees (no leaves) allow us to easily see the entire structure, resulting in being able to identify dangerous, dead or diseased limbs more quickly and efficiently Trees are dormant and therefore not as affected from […]
Read Article →We don’t want to burst your bubble, but here’s a few problems that can arise for your trees during the icy season: Winter Burn. You know the discolouration you see on evergreens during cold snaps? That is winter burn: the brown/bleached appearance of evergreen trees caused by loss of moisture and tissue damage. Salt damage. […]
Read Article →The cold has officially arrived and our trees are feeling it, too. What practices can we do to make sure our trees survive the winter? 1. Pruning. Our trees fall dormant during this season, making it an ideal time for you to have them pruned. Pruning helps establish strong structure by removing dead or diseased […]
Read Article →As the frost edges closer and closer, now is the time to check up on our trees before they go to rest for the winter. Are they prepared for the cold, and more importantly: what timelines for treecare are the most important during the fall season? Fall Pruning: Pruning trees makes them more resilient to […]
Read Article →The white fluff and pollen floating through our streets and parks may add to the beauty and glow of summer, but sure isn’t a friend to those with allergies. Working in the treetops, we understand just how bad they can get. Many of us are familiar with the symptoms pollen allergies create: the dreaded sinus […]
Read Article →Calling all of #YYC! Now’s your chance to win $500 worth of free tree work. Summer is on it’s way and as the temperature climbs, so do we! Win $500 worth of either pruning, removal or stump grinding. What would you choose? How to enter: 1). Follow us on both Facebook and Instagram at @opencanopytree. […]
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Notice your cotoneaster hedge looking sparse, bare, dry or brown? Your hedge may be suffering from an Oystershell Scale infestation, and it’s deadly. Thriving in the spring season, this pest eats hedges whole and spreads at an alarming rate. In some cases, hedges can be treated with a dormant oil to control the spread. Yet, […]
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The Black Knot Fungus is striking Calgary with a vengeance. What is Black Knot? It’s a fungus affecting thousands of trees in Calgary and surrounding areas, infecting trees in the prunus family (Schubert Cherry, Chokecherry, Mayday, Plum, and Cherry trees) and shrouding them in what appears to be lumps of black coal. Over time, this […]
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Canadian winters can be as hard on our trees as they are on us. The cold wreaks all sorts of havoc: ice damage and build-up can lead to branches snapping off due to heavy weights, landing on structures and causing property damage. Additionally, having tree care done during the winter (dormant season) provides important benefits: […]
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