The Credit River Watershed is feeling the effects of climate change. These are some of the ways we might notice climate change in our communities this summer:
It’s Getting Hotter
Since 1938, the average annual air temperature in the Credit River Watershed has increased by 1.8 degrees Celsius. We’re now experiencing more days with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius during the summer months. Hot weather can make outdoor activities less comfortable and increase the risk of heat-related illnesses. If you plan to spend time outside, try to avoid the hottest part of the day, typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Be sure to dress for the weather and stay hydrated. Find more tips from Health Canada.
It’s Getting Wetter
Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air. This can lead to more precipitation, especially in the form of short, intense rainfall events. A high volume of rain in a short amount of time can overwhelm stormwater management systems, increasing the risk of flooding in our communities, causing damage to homes and infrastructure.
It’s Getting Buggier
Warmer temperatures are influencing the range of wildlife populations. Ticks, including, black-legged ticks which carry Lyme disease, have expanded their range across Ontario, and are now more common in our watershed. Take precautions and check your body for ticks after spending time outdoors.
It’s Time to Act
Climate change is affecting our communities, but there are steps we can take to adapt. Read our Caring for Your Yard column to learn how simple actions in your backyard can help build resilience to a changing climate.
Plant of the Month
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
Distinguished by its mitten-shaped leaves and spicy smell, sassafras is a unique, fast-growing tree native to the Carolinian Zone.
Sassafras and Climate Change
The southern edge of the Credit River Watershed, along Lake Ontario, is at the extreme north of the Carolinian Zone and the distribution range of sassafras. But with a changing climate, more southern species are spreading north into new habitats.
Seasonal Highlights
In early spring, bees, flies, beetles and wasps visit the small yellow flowers of sassafras for nectar and pollen. By late summer, birds, such as the eastern towhee, and mammals, like the eastern grey squirrel, snack on the dark-blue berries that hang off red stems.
In the fall, its lobed leaves turn stunning reds, oranges and yellows, and when crushed, produce a spicy, musky smell. Leaves can have one to three lobes, with the classic mitten shape more noticeable on leaves with two lobes.
Care Notes
Growing up to 15 metres tall and wide, sassafras is an ideal shade tree that grows best in a sunny part of your yard with dry to slightly moist sandy or loamy soil. Cut or mow suckers at the base to prevent spreading.
Consider planting sassafras alongside eastern red cedar, wild strawberry and Virginia creeper for a successful and striking garden grouping, or consult our Plant List: Woodland Plants for Landscaping for more inspiration. Find sassafras at your local native plant nursery.
Caring for Your Yard
New, Hot Summers at Home
A changing climate means adapting how we care for our gardens so they continue to thrive and bring us enjoyment. Here are some ways to keep your garden healthy and resilient in a hotter, wetter and buggier summer.
Water Thoroughly to Encourage Deep Root Growth
For newly planted gardens or during dry periods, water plants at soil level using a drip hose or watering can rather than a sprinkler. This reduces water loss through evaporation and encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, where they will be less prone to summer droughts.
Protect Your Soil From
Heavy Rain
To protect soil from pounding rain and reduce erosion, maintain a five-to-eight-centimetre layer of organic mulch, such as bark, wood chips or leaves, in the garden and around trees and shrubs. Mulch also protects soil from extreme temperatures and helps it retain moisture during droughts. As mulch decomposes, it will improve the structure of the soil and its ability to hold water.
Plant Native Species to
Deter Ticks
More biodiversity means more natural predators to manage populations of ticks and their animal hosts. Keep the borders around your garden neat and tidy and add paths through your gardens to decrease the chances of encountering ticks.