Home - Greening the Landscape

About the Program

The Greening the Landscape Research Program at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre brings together expertise on urban soil improvements, tree physiology and ecology, and nursery production. The establishment and survival of plants and trees to improve environmental performance and counter climate change pressures, while increasing the competitiveness of the nursery landscape sector, is the foundation of the research program. Working with partners across Canada, Vineland develops models and specifications to improve the performance of vegetation and green infrastructure design to ensure impact for the industry.

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Why Register?

Join a growing number of municipalities, companies and institutions that are planning for long-term success of their tree planting projects by utilizing findings from practice-based scientific research. By registering, you will be part of a network that is evaluating their soil quality prior to planting. More informed decisions can be made with a better understanding of how soil quality can impact tree survival and growth. You can choose not to register and simply use the tree species selector at your convenience. However, by registering you gain the ability to use the soil restoration calculator, save your previously entered soil testing results and quickly recall soil restoration recommendations from current and previous projects.

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What's New @ Greening the Landscape

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IPPS 2020 - Air-Pruning Trays and Trees: What's it All About?

October 27, 2020

The Greening the Landscape team is excited to be at the 2020 Virtual IPPS North American Summit! Our very own Dr. Darby McGrath presented at today’s Eastern Region Annual General Meeting, sharing research findings on the effects of air-pruning “levels” on tree root systems in propagation and in the field. Check out the Root Research page for additional updates, as well as the Growing in RootSmart Guide for some helpful tips and tricks to support the management of RootSmart within your operation.

For more information on RootSmart™ visit www.rootsmart.com.

State of the Industry Report on Soil Management

October 23, 2020

We are pleased to share the State of the Industry Report on Soil Management for Ontario Field Tree Nursery Producers! The report follows our recent Soil Management Survey for Nursery Growers and outlines the range of soil management practices implemented by growers throughout the province, identifying areas of interest where our research may contribute toward advancing soil health and management for tree production. Special thanks to Landscape Ontario, Walker Industries and our five nursery partners: Connon Nurseries, Hillen Nursery, Kobes Nurseries, NVK Nurseries and Winkelmolen Nursery for their openness, patience and guidance in developing and producing this research.

New Publication: Compost improves soil properties and tree establishment along highway roadsides

September 24, 2020

Check out our latest publication in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. This paper comes out of 6 years of data collection on our study sites located just off the 406 near Brock University. Highway roadside landscapes can be used to increase urban canopy cover by way of tree planting and successful tree establishment. Soil compaction and topsoil removal resulting from construction activities along roadside sites contributes toward extensive and prolonged transplant stress; limiting the survival and effective establishment of planted trees. Findings pertaining to individual tree and soil level impacts support the incorporation of moderate volumes of stabilized, high quality organic amendment prior to planting as an effective method for providing immediate and sustained improvements to bulk density and soil organic matter.

Use of the urban soil toolkit for plantings across Canada

Tell us about your planting project! Send us an email providing your organization name, number of trees planted, planting date and location, and a brief background of the project - including which species you selected and whether you restored the soil on your site before planting. With this information we will add your planting onto the map!

Trees planted

legend for tress planted within one year

Less than 1 year

legend for tress planted between one to two years

1-2 years

legend for tress planted for more than two years

2+ years

Airdrie

48

Calgary

48

Edmonton

48

Port Hope

156

Cobourg

208

Trenton - Greening the Greenbelt Planting

50

Veteran's Memorial Parkway Tree Planting

100

Site 3 - Vineland Soil Remediation Research Plot

72

Site 4 - Vineland Soil Remediation Research Plot

84

Site 5 - Vineland Soil Remediation Research Plot

72

Site 6 - Vineland Soil Remediation and Species Selection Research Plot

160

Site 7 - Vineland Soil Remediation and Species Selection Research Plot

220