green tip: ARCHIVE
Winter Landscaping Ideas
Just because old man winter has announces himself doesn't mean you have to forget about your landscape. We've got some ideas for improving your outdoor space, even when there's snow on the ground.
Look for Hardy Plants that can Withstand Cold Weather
When you think of winter, you usually think of Sprice Trees, Pines, Holly shrubs, and other evergreens. While these are all great winter plants, there's more to winter landscaping than the same old evergreens. Red Twig Dodwood and its cousin, Yellow Twig Dowood, are two plants that produce pleasant color in the winter months. Winterberry Holly, which is related to the more familiar Blue Holly, retains its colorful, red berries throughout winter. Fruit-bearing plants are less common in winter months, so plants like Winterberry Holly will attract birds looking for a food during this time of scarcity.
Plan for Spring and Summer
Winter months are a great time to plan your lawn, garden, and patio projects for the warmer months. Start brain-storming, researching, and drawing up your plans now. Before you know it, the snow will be melting and the ground will be thawing. Having a landscaping plan together will ensure that you maximize your precious time during the milder months.
Read more tree care and landscaping tips in our Green Tip Archive.
By: Chris Arader
Uh Oh, It's Tick Season...
Tick bites can be serious business in Spring and Summer. In the eastern United States, one tick bite can cause a myriad of health problems, most notably Lyme disease, so it is important to be aware and prepared.
Did you know 4,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported every year in Pennsylvania alone?
It is important that you do what you can to protect yourself, your family and your pets from ticks. Below are some helpful suggestions to keep safe:
- Inspect yourself daily - check your entire body for ticks or tick bites.
- Use a tick repellent containing permethrin
- Reduce tick populations in your yard by deer proofing, raking and removing leaves.
- Hire an arborist to spray approved pestisides around the yard perimeter and high exposure areas. High pressure sprayers give the best results.
- Trim your tree canopy above to allow more tick drying sunlight in
Winter Landscaping Ideas
Just because old man winter has announced himself doesn't mean you have to forget about your landscaping. We've got some ideas for improving your outdoor space, even when there's snow on the ground.
Look for Hardy Plants that can Withstand Cold Weather
When you think of winter, you usually think of Spruce Trees, Pines, Holly shrubs, and other evergreens. While these are all great winter plants, there's more to winter landscaping than the same old evergreens. Red Twig Dodwood and its cousin, Yellow Twig Dowood, are two plants that produce pleasant color in the winter months. Winterberry Holly, which is related to the more familiar Blue Holly retains its colorful, red berries throughout winter. Fruit-bearing plants are less common in winter months, so plants like Winterberry Holly will attract birds looking for a food during this time of scarcity.
Plan for Spring and Summer
Winter months are a great time to plan your lawn, garden, and patio projects for the warmer months. Start brain-storming, researching, and drawing up your plans now. Before you know it, the snow will be melting and the ground will be thawing. Having a landscaping plan together will ensure that you maximize your precious time during the milder months.
Read more tree care and landscaping tips in our Green Tip Archive.
Avoiding Summer Storm Damage
Summer is a season of unpredictable and sometimes violent storms � often bringing very high winds and heavy downpours. In the aftermath, major tree damage can result. While some trees are more prone to storm damage than others, proper planning and maintenance can help head off any potential disasters before they occur. By having your trees assessed by a certified arborist, you can identify potential hazards which may cause a tree to fall.
Certain trees are more prone to storm damage due to structural weaknesses in their growth patterns. A tree may experience branch failure when the branch is poorly attached to the tree trunk, possibly causing additional damage to the branches below. Other trees may have shallow root formations, causing them to fall over in rain soaked-soil and high winds, possibly damaging a house or car. A tree may also experience crown twist when there is more wind loading on one side of the tree. Over time, this will produce a twist or torque in the tree and branches may collapse. Lightning damage is also a hazard with older, taller trees.
The single most important thing your arborist can do to prevent storm damage in your trees is thinning! Thinning allows more wind to pass easily through the tree, making them less likely to blow over in high winds. Not overcrowding your trees and proper cabling and bracing of weakened branches will also be good protection, since trees need to be able to move in the wind. With proper maintenance, your trees will build a wind firmness and improve their stability for years to come.
