Climate change is creating a lot more conversations between home owners and the people at Bartlett Tree Experts, and there will be a lot of those chats happening at the upcoming Ridge Meadows Home Show.
Bartlett will have one of the 300 booths at the annual "Everything Show" at Planet Ice Arenas on May 2-4.
Kaden Camire has worked as an arbourist with Bartlett for about 10 years, and said property owners who approach their booths at home shows are often worried about trees too close to their houses or other structures.
Camire explained that the changing climate brings more heat stress, pest issues, fungal attacks, and problems caused by drought.
"Certain issues tend to happen more when trees are under stress," he explained.
"The general trend we're getting is a lot more water when we don't need it, and less water when we do," he added. "Things are changing."
Some frequent complaints are of discoloured Western Red Cedar trees, cedar hedges with plants turning brown.
People should trust their instincts if they think a tree is not doing well, or could become a hazard.
"Longer term homeowners have a better idea of what to expect from their trees year to year," he said. "We try to get people to get ahead of problems."
Many people are genuinely distraught to see trees come down, he noted.
"Our emotional attachment to trees is so important," he said, adding there is evidence that mental health can be improved by spending time in natural spaces.
Camire is a big fan of the City of Maple Ridge's recent Urban Forest Management Strategy, and its stated goal of having 40 per cent tree canopy cover in urban areas.
The Burnaby-based company is one of the largest tree care businesses in the area, and does tree work for many municipalities in the region. They take soil samples, fertilize, do structural pruning and hazard mitigation, manage insects and disease, assess storm damage to trees, and more.
If there's generalized advice to improve tree health, it's to water trees during dry spells.
"A decade or so ago, you wouldn't need to tell someone to water their Western Red Cedar. They [the trees] would be fine on their own," he said. "But they need more help now."
The Home Show has its family fest, entertainers on stage and wandering the grounds, an amusement park and food trucks. Inside the area is everything for home, renovation, landscaping, backyard, decor, beauty and wellness.
Planet Ice Building B features wellness products, housewares, and the marketplace, while Building C has decorating, home theatre, appliances and much more.
The home show brings great gadgets, innovative household products, lots for foodies to taste, and many experts in their field, like the folks from Bartlett's.
The show will feature a long list of exhibitors, and an alphabetized directory – from Advanced Self Storage to Zoomers Fungalia – is available online at ridgemeadowshomeshow.com. The listings includes links to most of the businesses exhibiting at the show.
The Ridge Meadows Home Show – which features the trade show; the Family Fest complete with amusement rides, live entertainment, and a monster foam party; psychic and wellness fair; food truck festival, and much more – takes place in and around the Albion Fairgrounds.
The event runs May 2 to 4. It’s open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Parking is free. The only admission fee is for the home show component of the event, which is $5 per person or $8 for families.
