Monday, October 31, 2011

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY TREE IS PRONE TO BREAKAGE?





THE ANSWER IS VISUALLY SIMPLE

You see it all the time.  The trees that break are typically imbalanced or diseased.  Observe these photos for example:

THIS TREE WILL SPLIT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE DURING A BAD STORM SUMMER OR WINTER

THIS TREE WILL COMPLETELY UPROOT IN A BAD STORM SUMMER  OR WINTER

THIS TREE'S DEAD FROM DISEASE LIMBS WILL BREAK  OFF  IN  EVEN A MILD STORM

THIS TREES LEFT LIMB IS WEAK IN CALIBER AND IT COULD VERY WELL BREAK IN AN ICE STORM

THIS TREE WILL LOSE THE LOWER RIGHT BRANCHES FROM WEIGHT IN A SNOW OR ICE STORM

THIS TREE WILL LOSE THE VERY BRANCH THE ARBORIST IS BEGINING TO PRUNE IN A WINTER STORM OF SNOW, ICE AND HIGH WINDS

Sunday, October 30, 2011

WHY DO TREE LIMBS BREAK DURING AN UNTIMELY SNOWSTORM AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT IT?

WHEN A SNOW STORM HITS AND THE TREES ARE NOT READY


 We had a lot of rain early fall, followed by unseasonably warm temperatures and the plants perform according to what mother nature deals them. So they absorbed the water and it's organic nutrients and continued to grow and flourish which is why the retained their green leaves so late in the season.  Many of the trees that broke were still in summer color and had not yet begun the process to dormancy. The fall colors occur as the plant draws back nutrients from its leaves to store as food for the the long winter.  So between the excessive water uptake and still being leafed out, these evergreen and deciduous trees had a greater surface for which the snow and ice to adhere.  This added weight and as a result broke the limbs.





WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT 

When it's safe to access the breakage prune back the remaining branch stub, in some cases to the trunks surface.  If you haven't already I might also suggest a deep root feeding of the specimen.   To prevent further damage brace or cable the tree and prune back some of the other branches to reduce the wind load. 


They're prepared, but are we?



If you've observed the chipmunks and squirrels this season then you realized how busy they were collecting food, or best said, destroying your garden.  Thats because they knew we were in for a harsh winter...again.






I will follow up with more informative posts so as not to let this happen to you




Thursday, October 27, 2011

CAN A PUMPKIN GIVE BIRTH?





YES BUT ONLY BY SCULPTURE


I will be away from my posts for a few days for minor knee surgery, but to sign off I had to share this funny and unusual use of pumpkins put together by a hospital staff in a maternity ward.... I suppose to take the edge off.  I thought it would be kind of appropriate.  Ouch!




BE BACK SOON!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY ROTTING PUMPKIN?





Bury It and it Will Grow

If you have an area for a pumpkin patch in full sun and well drain soil or mulch then bury your decaying squash deep enough to recover it with an inch or two. The protected seeds within will germinate and begin to grow the following spring. It's fun and easy!













Monday, October 24, 2011

WHAT ARE SOME NEW OR INTERESTING PLANTS ARE USED IN FALL HOLIDAY DISPLAYS?







EXCITING AND UNIQUE CHOICES IN FALL COLORS FOR YOUR SEASONAL HOLIDAY DISPLAY

Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas'
Japanese Forest Grass

Autumn Fern
Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’


Red Mustard Plant



Physalis alkekengi (Chinese Lantern)


Coleus – 'Sedona'

Red (Pennisetum setaceum)
Ornamental Peppers

Heuchera x 'Caramel'


Panicum virgatum Northwind - Switch Grass

Millet‘Purple Majesty’

'Redbor' Kale


Sunday, October 23, 2011

WHAT MUMS SHOULD I BUY TO LAST THE LONGEST?


THE NEW BELGIAN CHRYSANTHMUM

These are the most dependable. They are strong, (break very little if at all) compact, mounded and profusely covered with small yet vividly rich flowers of many colors which which are grown for early, middle and late season blooms.  And if you do use them as perennials, they require very little, if any, pinching in spring.  


The Very Early Belgian Mums typically flower in the last week of August and the first week of September. Early Belgian Mums flower for two weeks in the middle of September. Mid-Season Belgian Mums bloom in the latter third of September. And the Late Belgian Mums flower through the month of October.  http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/gardening/plants/chrysanthemum/all-about-belgian-mums




SOME OFF THE COLORS
'Conella Orange'

'Savona'



 'Canelli' 


'Coparo'



'Milano Orange' 

'Allegra Yellow'  
'Alcala Red'
'Staviski pink'
'Caprice Pink'