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Archive for the ‘Green Care Industry Issues’ Category
Look for Invasive Insects In Your Swimming Pool
The following article is courtesy of the NH Cooperative Extension.
Dear Friends of Trees and Enemies of Asian Longhorned Beetles,
The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) is a serious threat to our forests and trees. As far as we know it isn’t in New Hampshire, yet. We need many people looking for it so we can take steps to limit its spread, if it arrives. ALB was found in trees in Worcester MA in 2008, but experts estimate it was in the trees for about 10 years before they identified the problem. Some Worcester homeowners subsequently reported they collected ALB in their swimming pools for years prior to the 2008 identification.
Because there isn’t a reliable trap for ALB and using the Worcester-experience, we are looking for ALB in swimming pools. Last summer, we tested this approach with 34 public pools. Thankfully, we didn’t find ALB, but we found many longhorned-type beetles, so we know this survey method works. If ALB is New Hampshire, we think we will find them in swimming pools.
Help us by looking at the debris from your swimming pools. In addition to a swimming pool, you need:
• A digital camera
• An email address that you actively use
• Enough computer skills to follow instructions to upload pictures to this website: http://extension.unh.edu/FWT/ALBpool.htm
Here is an overview of the project:
Step 1: Sign up to participate NOW by sending us your name, physical street address and town, and email address to: foresthealth@dred.state.nh.us .
Step 2: From July 11-August 26. At least once a week¬or whenever you clean your pool¬look at the debris you collect in your filter and skimmers. Look for longhorned beetles.
Step 3: Use a fact sheet (posted at http://extension.unh.edu/FWT/ALBpool.htm) to compare collected insects to common insects.
Step 4: Take a picture of any insect you think is a longhorned beetle. We need a good view of the insect’s back.
Step 5: Once a week send a picture of the insect that most looks like a longhorned beetle. We need to hear from you every week.
Step 6: Send the picture through this website http://extension.unh.edu/FWT/ALBpool.htm
Step 7: If you send us a picture, freeze the insect in a tupperware-like container until you hear from us (about a week). We will either tell you to throw the insect out or give you instructions about mailing it, delivering it or arranging for pick-up.
Then What?
We will post interesting pictures and sightings to the web and send you a weekly email reminder and report.
Questions about the project?
foresthealth@dred.state.nh.us or call Kyle Lombard at the Forest Health Office 464-3016
Questions about the project and the website?
karen.bennett@unh.edu or call Karen Bennett at UNH Cooperative Extension at 862-4861
Thank you for your interest and your help.
Kyle Lombard Karen Bennett
Forest Health Program UNH Cooperative Extension
Karen P. Bennett, Extension Forestry Professor & Specialist
UNH Cooperative Extension
212 Nesmith Hall, 131 Main St.
Durham, NH 03824
(603)862-4861, (603)312-6695 cell, (603)862-0107 fax
karen.bennett@unh.edu
www.nhwoods.org
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Be alert to what’s happening in your landscape….
This week our region has been hammered by intense thunderstorms and many clients have been calling regarding storm damage to trees and shrubs. Sometimes there is no forewarning about which trees in your yard may be vulnerable to high winds, but for others there are signs. Trees that are close to buildings, especially softwoods like pine and fir, are particularly susceptible to storm damage. Specimens with dead or dying limbs spell double trouble. When you have a chance go outside and inspect your mature trees – do you see things that don’t look right to you? If so, contact one of our arborists for a complimentary consultation.
The Color Purple May Save OUr Ash Trees!
Another question that has come up a lot is about the purple boxes hanging throughout the region near stands of mature ash trees. This year the VT Department of Agriculture and the USDA collaborated to hang 2200 traps to monitor any presence of the invasive and destructive Emerald Ash Borer. So far this destructive insect has not reached Vermont but if it does it will be absolutely devastating to our ash trees. The number one preventative measure is ‘DON’T MOVE FIREWOOD’!!! Firewood is a product that should be sourced locally to help keep hidden larvae from getting into the state. You cannot tell if wood is infected with a cursory examination so the best policy is to never import it for any reason.
Last but not least, due to the wet spring conditions we’ve had this year, anthracnose disease is affecting hardwoods such as maple, ash, sycamore and oak. The most noticeable symptom of the fungi is the browning and curling of young leaves. The disease does not usually kill the trees but makes them unsightly and susceptible to other types of damage in the planted landscape. We recommend protective measures performed in the fall to reduce potential exposure the following spring – our consulting arborist has more information: consulting@chippersinc.com.
Typical appearance of leaves infected with anthracnose (photo courtesy of VT Dept of Ag)
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An Insider’s View: 2011 Lawn Care Trends
The clock is ticking as companies prepare for the snow melt and the onset of the 2011 lawn care season. In this blog post I shall briefly cover compost tea, kelp, fertilizer pricing, Mycorrhizae, and other trends worth exploring.
As petroleum prices rise, so does the cost of manufacturing basic fertilizer components. Lawn care companies can expect to pay more for their fertilizer products in 2011, thus increasing the need to execute an effective and efficient turf program. There has been one price increase already with perhaps another expected midyear. Those companies unable to make sound business decisions may become a thing of the past. Some price increases may inevitably be passed onto the consumer as pressure builds to make a profit in a highly competitive industry.
The bell continues to toll for fundamental changes utilizing basic soil and environmental processes in the lawn care industry to move further away from petroleum dependency. These options include inoculating seed with beneficial fungi called Mycorrhizae. One inoculation allows this fungus to multiply and spread within a lawn area. Long used in the tree industry, Mycorrhizae sets up a friendly relationship on the turf root system, breaking down surrounding nutrients and minerals. The end result generally becomes a lessened demand on the quantity of fertilizer required due to this helpful relationship below ground.
There are still more options available beyond standard fertilizers such as compost tea and kelp both of which utilize actual plant material, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and much more to help improve soil structure and thereby create a healthier lawn. Compost tea usually contains beneficial bacteria, sugars, and kelp, all helping your grass become stronger while simultaneously improving the defensive mechanism to fight off insect and disease pressure. Although there are lots of blends and types of compost tea, the general idea is to strengthen the lawn so it can withstand drought, insect, and disease pressure as it appears during the growing season. Compost tea and kelp both help build the soil which is very often a large limiting factor in improving a lawn. With many lawns containing high amounts of sand or minimal top soil, adding kelp and or compost tea becomes a very sound decision.
Both sea kelp and compost tea are not inexpensive, but they provide key materials not found in some fertilizers and they improve soil infrastructure. Compare the investment in compost tea, kelp, or Mycorrhizae versus renovating your lawn and you are looking at saving thousands of dollars at a minimum. Any lawn treatment that can help reduce fertilizer demand and build the soil is certainly worth exploring and perhaps even using in 2011.
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Analog In A Digital World
Have you ever missed seeing a clock, with hands? Hearing the tick, tick, tick as the second hand works its way around the circle. What about a little hiss (just a little) while listening to recorded music or even the notion of a space between the notes. How about a test that didn’t require a #2 pencil or a drive thru restaurant that isn’t duplicated around-the-world?
I have the antidote. Tree pruning! Pruning is all analog; every cut and snip is thoughtful and different. Each species requiring a different set of considerations; with location, age and client expectations all a part of the mix. Cookie cutter pruning just doesn’t work!
So what’s the big deal?
Our lives have been co-opted by the digital age. Think about it. Computers are everywhere. I use one at work, one for the office at home, and one connected to the television for streaming. My work phone thinks it’s a computer, telling me I have mail, an appointment or someone to talk to. And there’s an on-line social network with so many “friends”.
I’m no Luddite; I actually enjoy the anticipation of the next Apple device and how I might use it. I even plan to install an iPad in the kitchen for recipes and to Skype (live video) my mom.
My antidote? Get outside! I can’t think of a better analog activity than pruning. But a close second could include…working in the garden, snowshoeing, climbing a tree, riding a bike, badminton on the lawn, building a snowman, flying a kite, sailing, a walk in the forest – and so many more!
At chippers we mulled over creating a new tag line. I liked “see you outside”. What could be a better yang for the yin of this digital world?
So at chippers, even though we are armed with our smart phones and computers that help keep us on time for our appointments; we understand that our real strength is when we “see you outside”. And we promise to leave the “cookie cutter” approach in the office and give you only the best analog work in your: Trees, Turf, Garden, Land and Forest.
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Winter is the time to renew your Turf and Plant Health Care programs.
Long and cold winter days and nights often have me daydreaming of once green lush lawns, gardens and trees. And despite the recent blasts of cold and healthy snowfalls, now is time to think about and prepare for your 2011 Turf and Plant Health Care programs.
Review your Turf and Plant Health Care proposals this winter
The weather plays a large role in the spring, relative to what and when certain treatments can be applied; and success or failure is linked to temperature and moisture levels. High heat speeds up insect, weed, and disease development; and in some cases by days not weeks. While this may not seem of great importance, temperature plays a huge role in advancing or retarding certain pathogens, ultimately affecting your landscape. If you do not have a program “online” or ready to go, this tight window can easily be missed. Cold weather can slow down the ability of your lawn to recover and green up fast. The later the first application of fertilizer, compost tea, or lime is applied; the more your grass would be absent the time needed for improved color and recover from winter damage.
I have seen several years in April and May where the temperature rose into the high 70’s to lower 80’s. This type of rapid spring warm-up can make some types of weed control applications harmful to turf without proper precautions. The same precautions need to be taken when scheduling early plant health care spray applications. If not prepared, you simply miss the window of opportunity for obtaining decent results relative to a variety of insect and disease issues.
Moisture content can also wreak havoc on turf and shrubs in the spring; especially if the spring is cold and rainy. Such weather greatly advances snow molds and leaf spot on turf while creating apple scab on fruit trees. Low moisture can reduce seed germination without proper irrigation. Scheduling of overseeding or aeration during the winter insures completion at the proper time frame in the spring. A great green care company will watch weather trends and activate services during the appropriate time frame. You deserve and should demand this level of service.
Peace of mind is another reason to have your Turf or Plant Healthcare program set-up during the winter months. You can relax and rest assured, knowing that your green care needs will be taken care of. We will insure that all applications are timely and you will see the results.
The last fabulous reason to schedule your green care treatments during the winter includes financial incentives. You may qualify for multiple incentives. For example, if you prepay or return a signed contract before a certain deadline, you may qualify. Look for these kinds of financial incentives; and look to see if you are partnering with an accredited, licensed, high quality and diversified ‘green care’ company.
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Support Environmental Stewardship & Green Industry Jobs Creation
The Green Industry needs your help to plant millions of trees! The Small Business Environmental Stewardship Assistance Act (H.R. 4509) would reauthorize the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) “National Tree Planting Program.” Administered by the SBA, this matching grant program would leverage federal resources to allow state forestry agencies to contract with local nurseries, arborists and landscape professionals to plant trees around retail storefronts, rental housing complexes and community parks. During the program’s brief existence in the 1990s, more than 18,000 companies were employed to plant more than 23 million trees across the country. These projects created green industry jobs, promoted energy efficiency, contributed invaluable environmental benefits and made retail and commercial areas more appealing.
The program is under consideration for funding again, and we need your help! Passage of H.R. 4509 would reauthorize SBA’s National Tree Planting Program at $50 million annually for FY2011 through FY2015. In addition, H.R. 4509 would provide the funding necessary for the costs of administering the program, a past oversight that led to the program’s demise over a decade ago. This is our chance to demonstrate that our industry stands ready to deliver on federal investments in green infrastructure. Congress must hear from you, your employees, your colleagues, your family and your friends to make this bill a reality.
A House version of the SBESA Act, H.R. 4509, was introduced by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) on January 26. Yesterday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a Senate version.
Elected representatives listen to messages from voters back in their states. Contact your U.S. House or Senate Member today and urge them to support Small Business Environmental Stewardship Assistance Act.
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Insurance for Tree Care Providers: Look Carefully!
It has come to our attention that some unscrupulous tree care providers purchase liability and worker’s compensation coverage, copy the Certificate of Insurance from the issuing agent, and then quickly cancel the policy and continue to provide unaware consumers with copies of the policy, claiming to still be fully insured.
The only protection you have as a consumer is to work with a reputable company that provides those dated certificates directly from an insurance agent, with you as a named insured on the policy. Contractors without insurance often have much better pricing – it sounds like a great deal until the true risks are revealed! Companies accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association will always provide current and valid insurance information: www.tcia.org.
Hello World!
Welcome to This Old Yard, the blog for Chippers Inc. Here you will find conversations about a variety of topics related to tree, turf, soil, land and forest care in Vermont and New Hampshire. Ask us a question, send us your information, share your thoughts about our blog – we’re available!
