Farewell to Our Backyard Giant: The Story of a 98 cm Catalpa Tree

 Yesterday, I shared the story of my cherished in-house plant, the China Doll. Today, I’d like to take you outside—into our backyard—for a story of a very different kind. It’s about a huge tree, a Catalpa, that once stood tall and proud behind our home. Measuring 98 cm in diameter, it was a real giant and had likely been there for decades before we even moved in. But in 2020, we had to make the difficult decision to remove it—for safety reasons.

A Towering Presence, A Growing Concern

The Catalpa tree was magnificent in its prime. With its large heart-shaped leaves and long bean-like seed pods, it gave generous shade in summer and character to our backyard. Birds loved it. Squirrels made it their playground. We had grown fond of its presence. But as the years went by, our affection slowly turned into concern.

On windy days, we’d often find ourselves nervously peeking out the window to watch how much the trunk swayed. During winter snowstorms, especially the heavy ones that coated its wide branches with thick snow, I’d lie awake at night, worried that a loud crack might suddenly echo in the darkness.

We knew that if this massive tree ever came down—especially in the wrong direction—it could easily damage our house, garage, or even pose a danger to people nearby. The risk became too real to ignore.

The Tough Decision to Remove It

After several consultations with arborists and city officials, we applied for a removal permit. In Richmond Hill, any tree with a trunk diameter over a certain threshold requires official permission to cut down. It’s a way to protect the urban canopy, and rightly so. But in cases like ours, where safety is at stake, they do make exceptions.

The whole process—getting the permit, hiring a certified tree removal service, replanting a new tree, and disposing of the old one—cost us around C$5,000. That did not include stump or root removal, which would’ve cost more. We opted to leave the roots in place for the time being.

It wasn’t just a financial cost—it was an emotional one. Watching the crew dismantle the Catalpa limb by limb was surprisingly painful. Trees are more than just landscaping; they’re living beings that grow with you over time. It felt like saying goodbye to an old friend.

What We Learned (and What Others Should Know)

If you’re dealing with a similar situation—an aging or dangerously large tree close to your home—here are a few things you might find useful from our experience:

1. Don’t ignore early signs. If your tree starts leaning, losing large limbs, or showing signs of rot or disease, call in an arborist for an inspection.

2. Know the rules in your city. In many municipalities, tree removal requires a permit, especially for larger or older trees. There may be fines for removing trees illegally.

3. Budget realistically. Tree removal is not cheap, especially for big trees. Costs include not just cutting it down but also hauling it away, grinding the stump, and planting a replacement (which some cities require).

4. Consider insurance implications. A tree that damages your home might be covered by your home insurance—but preventive removal might save you from disaster in the first place.

5. Plan for the aftermath. If the roots are left behind (as ours were), you may need to decide later whether to grind them down or let nature take its course.

A New Chapter

We did not plant a new tree in its place and we opted to pay C$250 in lieu. And while we miss the old giant, there’s also a sense of peace now—especially on stormy nights—knowing we’ve made a wise, if difficult, choice.