Our Purpose and Responsibility

At Tree Time Services, our purpose is to Steward and Shape the Landscape.

Through our e-commerce division, TreeTime.ca, we offer a diverse selection of peat plug seedlings featuring both native and non-native species, helping you shape your landscape with ease. We pride ourselves on being “Your landscape delivered.”

Fulfilling our purpose requires extra care and responsibility in our actions and providing guidance to our customers. One area extra care is needed is with invasive plants. Invasive plants are any plant whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm to the local landscape. It’s important to understand that invasive plants may also be referred to as exotics, noxious weeds, or alien species.

Quality of Life

At TreeTime.ca, our customers aim to enhance their quality of life, or that of others, by using our seedlings to create better landscapes. We have a duty to help you make informed decisions to achieve this goal.

While we provide high-quality seedlings and systems designed for successful establishment, it is crucial to plant the right species in the right place.

Understanding the potential risks and benefits of introducing non-native plants can be complex. Native plants are generally better adapted and easier to manage in their traditional areas, having co-evolved with local conditions, plants, and wildlife. We can assist you in finding more information about the species you are growing and connect you with local authorities for additional guidance.

We don’t plant tree seedlings for today, we plant them for the future; to ensure we have a better quality of life down the road. Which is our corporate purpose.

Assessing Risk

Assessing the risk a plant may cause is complex and other experts have devoted more resources to doing this than we have here. However, here are some broad strokes about what we know about assessing risk.

Plants can spread through various methods such as seeds, rhizomes, roots, fruits, or berries. Wind, water, animals, insects, explosions, and fire can all aid in their dispersal.

When assessing the risk of a particular plant, consider the following questions:

  • Impact on Ecosystem: How will this plant affect the existing plant community and ecosystem? Does it reduce interactions with insects and wildlife? Does it inhibit the growth of understory species or shade out other plants? Can it harm wildlife or humans, or affect local genetics?
  • Invasiveness: How quickly does the plant spread, especially following disturbances like floods or fires? What is its reproductive potential? Will human activities nearby increase its spread? Are nearby regions struggling with its spread? How might climate change affect it? What are the potential impacts to nearby ecosystems?
  • Distribution: Can the plant adapt to various growing conditions? What local factors might limit its growth? Will it remain in the planted area or spread to more desirable locations nearby? If it does spread, is it easily manageable to control?
  • Cost of Removal: What resources might be required to remove the plant later? Will it regenerate from the roots? Will significant machinery be needed for removal if it becomes a nuisance?
  • Regulatory Status: Is the plant already listed or likely to become listed as prohibited or noxious, necessitating costly removal or incurring regulatory fines after planting?

Examples of Invasive Plant Behavior

  • Plant 1: Often underestimated, its seed pods dry and twist in mid-summer, flinging seeds up to 20 feet away and in rich soil, it suckers a lot and is very drought tolerant. Seeds are easily flung into and onto vehicles which may carry this species even farther.
  • Plant 2: While manageable in colder northern climates, it becomes a costly removal problem in warmer regions due to its ability to drop seeds into watercourses where it can take over entire watersheds over time. It also displaces native riparian zone species that feed wildlife.
  • Plant 3: Popular for cold climate hedges, this non-native species outcompetes local plants and can invade watersheds, making it difficult to remove once established.
  • Plant 4: A native climbing vine with attractive red foliage, it can damage buildings and requires significant maintenance to prevent it from invading windows, HVAC ducting, vents, and gutters.

Featured plant examples included Caragana, Russian Olive, Peking Cotoneaster, and Virginia Creeper

Regulations

Tree Time Services is committed to observing federal, provincial, and local regulations to prevent the spread of invasive species and to protect our natural ecosystems.

Federal Regulations:
  • We comply with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) guidelines, which regulate the import, export, and movement of plant species to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
  • The CFIA enforces quarantines and restrictions on certain species, and we ensure our product offerings are in line with these regulations.
  • We also adhere to the USDA’s Plants for Planting Manual for export requirements, ensuring our products meet all necessary standards for international shipping.
  • We work closely with the CFIA to ensure our compliance.
Provincial Regulations:
  • Each province in Canada has specific regulations regarding the sale and planting of various species.
  • For instance, Alberta’s Weed Control Act regulates noxious and prohibited noxious weeds, and we ensure none of our offerings are listed under these categories.
  • We work closely with provincial authorities to stay updated on changes in regulations and adjust our website and processes accordingly.
Regional and Local Regulations:
  • Municipalities, counties, and regional districts may have their own regulations and bylaws regarding landscaping and plant species.
  • We encourage our customers to check with their local authorities for any specific restrictions or requirements in their area.
  • Our team is always available to help customers navigate these local regulations and ensure compliance.
  • Some Home Owners Associations, strata, condo boards, and housing co-operatives also have regulations or restrictions on what may be planted and where.
Legislative LevelWho is Responsible?Comments
Federal – Invasive PlantTreeTime.ca takes responsibility hereTreeTime.ca is observing restricted shipping guidelines for invasive plants as per the CFIA regarding Canadian and USA shipments. These items are already pre-screened by TreeTime.ca to ensure compliance.
Federal – Shipping RestrictionTreeTime.ca takes responsibility hereTreeTime.ca is observing restricted shipping (quarantines) put forth by the CFIA regarding Canadian and USA shipments. These restrictions include the potential for invasive insects, plant diseases, and domestic plant protection measures to protect economic impacts of sensitive agricultural products.

These items are already pre-screened by TreeTime.ca to ensure compliance.
ProvincialTreeTime.ca takes responsibility hereTreeTime.ca checks provincial lists of legislated invasive species and brings them to your attention on the website. We will also not allow you to send those plants to that jurisdiction.
Regional and Local

– Counties, municipalities, regional districts and similar.
– Homeowners associations, strata associations, condo boards, housing cooperative guidelines, and more		You need to take responsibility for compliance with these types of regulators and suitability for your planting locationTreeTime.ca can’t ensure the suitability of the plants you choose at this level. If you’re unsure about the suitability of the plants you are interested in, try checking with regional and local authorities that may shape the plants you select prior to purchase.

Educational Resources and Support

Understanding and complying with these regulations can be challenging without knowing where to look. We provide educational resources and links to governmental and environmental websites to help you make informed decisions about your landscaping choices.

By adhering to these regulations, Tree Time Services aims to contribute to the health of our natural ecosystems on public lands and support sustainable landscaping practices on private lands. We are dedicated to helping our customers make choices that increase quality of life while remaining ecologically and economically responsible.

The Canadian Council on Invasive Species – https://canadainvasives.ca/

The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation – https://ccipr.ca/

The Invasive Species Centre – https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/

Call Us With Questions

For those less familiar with plants, these considerations may be overwhelming. These links are helpful resources to assist in your decision-making. You can also call our team (1-844-873-3700) to discuss if your chosen plants are the right ones for you.

If you have further questions on where to find information to help you make your decision if your chosen plants are the right ones for you, give our team a call. 

Visit www.TreeTime.ca for all your tree seedling needs.