- On the north side of Argyle Avenue, west of Givens Street.
- Photo: © Liz Forsberg
Getting into a car on a hot summer's day after it has been sitting in the sun with the windows up is like putting your head in an oven. The first things most people do in this situation is start the car and crank the air conditioning. Fortunately, people who park along this short stretch of road don't have to go through this unpleasant experience because their cars are covered by the dense spreading canopies of a row of healthy, vigorously growing silver maples (Acer saccharinum).
These trees were recently planted along the boulevard when the road was narrowed to calm the traffic on the street. Many of the mature trees in declining health that line the residential streets of Toronto are silver maples that were planted in the early part of the last century. These young trees of the same species are several of their replacements. Silver maples are native to the region and in their natural setting would be found bordering streams, in swamps, and along lakeshores. They are often planted as street trees because they are able to thrive in challenging urban conditions. However, their ability to thrive is also their greatest drawback in an urban setting. For instance, because their limbs quickly grow large, the wood is weak and more susceptible to breaking off in storms. They also produce copious amounts of seeds that litter the ground and have extensive root systems that can damage sidewalks and underground infrastructure.
This row of silver maples will serve the street well in the short-term but will pose problems as they grow. When planting trees, it is important to consider how large they are going to get. In 50 years, the trunks of these particular trees could potentially reach three feet in diameter, thus growing into the nearby sidewalk and curb.
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