York region - Wanted: healthy seeds to spruce up pine tree crop

Wanted: healthy seeds to spruce up pine tree crop

Pine cones are being sought so new red and white pine trees can be planted along the Oak Ridges Moraine.

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Regional News

March 20, 2008 07:10 AM

By: Jessica Young

There are two simple requirements to become a potential earth hero: live near the Oak Ridges Moraine and have trees on your property.

Some trees like red and white pine haven’t had healthy cone crops, so Trees Ontario and the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation have joined forces to collect healthy seeds to help planting more of these trees.

“If you’re a property owner and you have seeds, you can notify us and we would be pleased to pass on the information,” Trees Ontario seed and stock coordinator Brian Swaile said.

His organization contacts the Ontario Seed Tree Plant in Angus and professional collectors arrange to go to private properties and remove healthy cones for proper storage and planting later.

“If I’m a collector and I’m driving around (and see a good cone crop), I can’t proceed on private property. You would be giving permission to have someone come have a look at (your cone crop),” Mr Swaile said.

The collaboration between Trees Ontario and the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation is something Kim Gavine, Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation executive director, is thrilled about. She says it’s important residents are aware they have a vital role in helping to keep Ontario’s tree population healthy. The best thing to do if someone has red or white pine trees with cones, for example, is not to crack them open, but to leave them alone and let the experts do their job.

“We don’t want people picking seeds. We will send someone out to them,” Ms Gavine said. “We want to ensure there’s enough seeds available so that they can be grown out at nurseries and then our Oak Ridges Moraine stake holders can use that stock for reforestation with the Oak Ridges Moraine.”

Even if there is no such pines on your property, Trees Ontario welcomes information on any kind of tree species you have. On the chance that a particular tree is in need, your participation may result in helping to keep another tree population healthy.

The cost of the two-year project is $137,400 and is funded by the $15-million grant the province awarded the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation in 2002, Ms Gavine said. Trees Ontario is a non-profit foundation that began in 1994 to help increase tree planting.

For more information, contact Trees Ontario at info@treesontario.on.ca or 416-646-1193.

Brian Swaile, Trees Ontario seed and stock coordinator, gives the 411 on red and white pine trees:

• A white pine seed crop happens every one to seven years; red pine occurs every three to seven years.

• Drought, insect infestation and frost can determine if a crop can be used.

• The last healthy crop of red pine was in the 1970s. There are still seeds saved from the 1970s that are being used now for reforestation.

• Seeds can be saved for up to 30 years.

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