Year after year, Mapleton has become a greener and greater township as landowners work with Trees for Mapleton and the Grand River Conservation Authority to take part in local tree-planting initiatives.
Since 2006, Trees for Mapleton has helped to connect farmers with foresters, offer educational workshops, presentations and field-trips, and provide funding for tree-planting projects.
In 2016 alone, a total of 7,700 trees were planted on nine different farm and rural non-farm properties within Mapleton, representing a value of $28,300 and a distance of 15.5km in windbreaks.
These nine landowners were not on their own when it came to paying the bill, however, with grant programs like the Forests Ontario: 50 Million Tree Program and the Wellington Rural Water Quality Program reducing costs by as much as 80%.
The Green Legacy Program also provides free trees for all landowners within Wellington County, which is a great opportunity for Mapleton dwellers with little forest cover on their land.
As Mapleton is covered with mostly prime agricultural land, it is no coincidence that the most popular tree planting projects are field windbreaks on crop or property boundaries. Scientific research has shown how windbreaks can benefit crop yields by slowing the wind and reducing moisture loss in plants and soil. In winter, the trees increase snow deposition for additional soil moisture.
Many farmers are quick to dismiss windbreaks due to the amount of land they would lose by planting trees. However, a single row of white spruce may only take up to six metres when fully grown, which is far outweighed by the benefits of increased crop yields, slower wind speeds, better spray applications, and decreased early frost risks.
A single row of spruce, which can grow 30 feet high, will reduce wind velocity by 70 to 80% within a 600-foot distance. The increased crop yields will largely be seen in the first 200 feet from the windbreak, with only a small section of crops next to the trees that will shrink back from shade.
While many farmers are concerned about tree roots clogging tiles, they can rest assured knowing only certain tree species will clog the drains with their shallow, spreading roots (e.g. poplars, willows, white cedar, silver and red maple). Trees that rarely clog field tiles include white pine, white spruce, sugar maple, black cherry, red oak and many others.
Despite the continued commitment of Mapleton farmers to protect their fields with windbreaks, it is still common to drive down the country roads and see field after field without any form of windbreak in place. Ideally, all 100 acre farms should be wrapped with windscreens, which Trees for Mapleton aims to achieve. By establishing windbreaks or planting other trees on their property, local residents can make Mapleton a grander and greener community.
A forestry specialist from the GRCA is available to visit local properties and create a planting plan, which includes a map and instructions on site preparation, species selection, design/layout and future tending requirements. The GRCA staff applies directly for grants to reduce the landowners’ overall payment and time spent on paperwork. Depending on availability in the spring, the GRCA can either coordinate the plantings with qualified contractors or help landowners prepare to plant trees.
Mapleton landowners may call or email Joseph Heeg with any questions about windbreaks or for assistance with tree planting projects.
Heeg is currently booking summer and fall site visits for planting in the spring of 2017. He can be reached by phone at 519-621-2763 x2259 or email: at jheeg@grandriver.ca.
