Yard Tips
Silver Springs Community Yard Tips
WHY WE SHOULD PROTECT OUR TREES IN THE SILVER SPRINGS COMMUNITY
First, 1 acre of trees will sequester about 2.5 tons of carbon annually. Trees can absorb CO2 at the rate of 13 pounds/tree/year. Trees reach their most productive stage of carbon storage at about 10 years.
2. Trees prevent or reduce soil erosion and water pollution.
3. Trees help recharge ground water and sustains streamflow.
4. Properly placed screens of trees and shrubs significantly decrease noise pollution along busy thoroughfares, parks, and intersections.
5. Depending on location, species, size, and condition, shade from trees can reduce utility bills for air conditioning in residential and commercial buildings by 15-50 percent. Trees, through their shade and transpiration, provide natural “low-tech” cooling that means less need to build additional dams, power plants, and nuclear generators.
6. Trees and shrubs properly placed and cared for on a residential or commercial lot add beauty and can significantly increase property values.
7. Tree windbreaks create a more favorable micro-climate for properties by reducing wind and heat stress, while at the same time preventing topsoil loss and reducing soil moisture losses.
8. During the winter, more moisture is available for use later in the year since windbreaks trap and accumulate snow that otherwise would have blown over and past the property and end up on roads and driveways. (However, French drains will remove this stored moisture and leave your trees and yard dry in the summer when you most need it.) Tree windbreaks have many values including reduction of utility bills for cooling and heating, snow entrapment, wind reduction, aesthetics, and wildlife habitat.
9. Living snowfences, strategically placed, hold snow away from roads, thus effectively reducing road maintenance costs and keeping roads open.
10. Trees add beauty and grace to any community setting. They make life more enjoyable, peaceful, relaxing, and offer a rich inheritance for future generations. Many people enjoy planting and caring for trees simply because they like to see them grow. National Tree Day is July 31st
SPRING - Time to Feed and Nourish
A healthy, well-nourished tree, shrub, or lawn can withstand the climate conditions in our area if the plant has access to the micro-organisms exchanging nutrients between the soil and the roots, and if they are watered correctly they will be far less likely to exhibit stress (needle drop, brown or yellow foliage, stunted growth, or pest infestation). Once a tree or plant begins to exhibit stress it is more likely to be attacked by insects and disease.
Jobe’s Evergreen tree fertilizer spikes are an easy way to keep nutrients flowing to your large evergreen trees. They provide a 16-4-4 ratio to the soil surrounding your trees (16 parts nitrogen, 4 parts potash, 4 parts Phosphoric acid.) Other well-rounded fertilizers may provide a 16-16-8 ratio of nutrients. Another way to provide nutrients to the soil is by layering cool compost onto the top 3 to 4 inches of soil at the drip line of your evergreen branches. Compost, such as Rich Earth, provides 45% humic acid, 14% fulvic acid and 70 trace minerals. Then cover the ground under and around your tree bed with mulch to maintain moisture, shade the roots and protect from weed germination and growth.
Watering evergreens depends on the precipitation we receive during the summer months. Sterling Banks advises that large caliper trees be watered along the drip-line every two weeks to an 18-inch depth. Lawn sprinklers are designed to water lawns and grass roots which are fairly shallow in comparison to tree root depths. Deep watering encourages deep root growth and a more stable tree root system. There is no magic formula for tree and shrub watering. Be aware of your soil type for soil moisture retention capabilities, gauge natural precipitation, temperatures, wind velocities, and other conditions that affect the health and watering needs of your outdoor living environment. Over-watering can be avoided by testing soil for moisture on a regular basis before placing a hose and sprinkler at the drip-line of your trees.
SUNFLOWER GARDEN CLUB
Recycle Utah announced the formation of a new garden club in Summit County, the Sunflower Garden Club featuring an emphasis on native plants, water conservation, and other flora and fauna information. The SGC is open to anyone in Summit County wishing to share their love of gardening, care of the Earth, and their joy in nature. Former Silver Springs resident Linda Karz, and Insa Riepen, master gardeners, helped form the club.
The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 6 pm at the Park City center, 1951 Woodbine Way, followed by monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of every month. Refreshments will be provided. For more information call Recycle Utah at 435-649-9698 or go to www.recycleutah.org.
NOXIOUS WEEDS
Dyer’s Woad
Summit County has published requests in the Park Record for property owners to learn to identify weeds that are harmful to our environment and to the rural lifestyle. They have published a new guide titled: “Weeds of Summit County, A Guide to Weeds and Noxious Weeds.” You can review and/or obtain a copy of this guide at: www.summitcounty.org/weeds Noxious weeds compete aggressively with native plants for water and soil nutrients. If allowed to take hold, these weeds crowd out natural foliage for deer and other wildlife. Some of these invading weeds may be poisonous to animals.
Russian Knapseed - causes Chewing Disease, fatal to horses.
Houndstongue - carries a toxin that makes an animal’s liver cells stop reproducing.
Dyer’s woad is prolific in the area of the pumphouse. This would be a good service project for the Scouts to pull it out, bag it, and dispose of it. [2008 - It has been sprayed and seems to no longer be a problem.]
Noxious weeds should be pulled and treated with herbicide, put in a plastic bag for disposal, or burned.
For further information contact Summit County Weed Control Index at 435-640-4188.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms, fairy rings, and toadstools are all fungal signs of damp and coolness. The spores they produce can be compared to very small plant seeds. If the spores sprout in your lawn or flower beds remove them by putting on gloves before you gather them or use a shovel and throw them away in a container that will not allow for further dissemination of the spores. Fungicides are not often effective as the large part of the fungi is living much deeper in the soil. 
Don’t be tempted to eat these plants. It is difficult to tell for sure which ones are tasty and safe and which are toxic. If a pet or child accidentally eats an unidentified mushroom, get them to a doctor or veterinarian. Take along a sample of the mushroom so a positive identification and treatment can be provided.
LAWN WATERING GUIDE
- Water your lawn only when needed. Push a screw driver six-inches into your lawn soil. When you pull it out feel to know the moisture content.
- During the heat of summer your lawn should be watered twice a week. The every other day schedule is an odd/even days way to regulate when you water not how often to water.
- Set your sprinkler cycles to run several short cycles throughout the night, this way more water will penetrate the soil and less will run off into the street and gutter.
- Cool-season grasses such as Bluegrass may go dormant during the hottest part of the summer. The gras may look golden but will green up as temperatures drop. Dormancy is a natural cycle in the life of grass.
- Grass has a life of ten to twelve year. You may need to re-seed or re-sod every decade or so.
- Consider alternatives to lawns, walkways, and driveways such as ground covers or concrete grass grid or pavers.
- http://www.grasscrete.com/docs/paving/grassconcrete-paving.htm
http://www.belgard.biz/shapes-turfstone.htm and many others sites with more ideas.
CARE OF YOUR GARDEN PLANTS
- Water plants slowly at the drip line (the outside perimeter along the edge of the branches) to a depth of around 12 inches, depending on the size of the plant or shrub.
- Water needs will vary depending on the variety (type), and size of the plant, as well as on how long they have been planted in the ground.
- Apply mulch from approximately four to six inches from the base and stem (trunk) of the plant out 4 inches past the end of the branches.
- Mulch with bark, compost, or other garden materials. Desert plants prefer a gravel mulch.
- Over-watering is just as unhealthy as under-watering.
- Do not water close to the base or stem of plants as this can lead to root rot.
- Apply between 5 and 10 gallons of water along the drip-line for every one-inch of tree trunk diameter (measured at about knee height) so that water reaches 12-18 inches in soil depth.
- Add compost and fertilizer each spring.
- Do not add peat moss to clay soils unless you are producing adobe bricks. Soften clay with gypsum, use at a ratio of 30-40 pounds per one thousand square feet of heavy soil. Mix the gypsum into the soil and water well
FREE ONLINE TREE SELECTION GUIDE FOR TREES THAT WILL GROW IN OUR SUMMIT COUNTY, UTAH MOUNTAIN CLIMATE. See at www.treebrowser.org. Provided by Sterling Banks, USU Extension Agent in Coalville, Utah.
TREE CARE
 Oyster shell scale onthe trunk of an Aspen tree tends to look like a layer of felt attached to the truck. This scale smothers and eventually will kill the tree. Spray with soap water frequently. Call a tree expert to properly diagnose and treat. |
Diseases of Aspen trees Close up of oyster shell scale on twig of aspen tree. The larvae are active and exposed around May of each year. |
DROUGHT STRESS
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ON SPRUCE AND EVERGREENS
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 Spruce gall In the fall the adult gall inserts larvae into the tip buds. In the spring the larvae grows and swell the branch tips. |
Spruce GallBest solution is to snap off the swelling tips early in the spring, place in a plastic bag and dispose of them. This process is highly effective though it may take more than one spring to rid your trees of this pest. Spray only in extreme cases of infestation. Keep your yard as chemical free as possible. Chemicals sprayed are tracked into your home and seep into our water supply. |
TREE-TOP BORERS
| Spruce tip weevil appears on the top most branch tips. It begins by causing the top tree branches to begin to curve and become bare..
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Then the needles on the curved stems turn brown and finally drop off. The attack will follow the main tree trunk down until your tree dies. To get rid of this pest call ISA Certified Park City Arborist #UT-0034A 435-513-2188. |
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Spruce tip weevil upon close examination appears like pin holes along the stem of the top branches. The photo on the left shows a cut tip. Upon close examination pin holes can be seen along the remaining stem. It is necessary to cut the tip below the pin hole infestation in order to be rid of the pest. The two last pictures show the larvae grub that makes the pin holes and saps the energy from your tree. If it can be reached, it is recommended that two tablespoons of Lindane be added to each gallon of water, then saturate your tree branches, especially the very top ones. TAKE CARE OF YOUR TREES |
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TIPS FOR PROTECTING TREES FROM DE-ICING SALT
The winter season often brings heavy snowfall and/or ice. Salt is great for clearing roads, driveways, and sidewalks of ice and snow; however, a good thing for streets and walkways can be rotten for your trees, according to the tree experts at the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Excessive exposure to salt can cause widespread damage to your trees, leading to permanent decline and sometimes death. The problem with salt damage is that it might not show up on your trees until summer, when deicing salt is the last culprit you would expect.
To minimize the damage done to trees by de-icing salts, certified arborists at ISA offer the following tips:
| 1. Use less salt. Mix deicing salt with abrasives such as sand, cinders, and ash, or use alternatives such as calcium magnesium acetate and calcium chloride. | |
| 2. Protect your trees from salt trucks on the street. If possible, set up barriers between the street and your trees to keep salt spray from hitting tree trunks. | |
| 3. Plant salt-resistant trees. Trees such as sycamore maple, white spruce, willow, and birch tend to be more salt-resistant than other species. How well they fare varies from climate to climate across the country. | |
| 4. Improve soil drainage. Add organic matter to your soil to help filter salt deposits. | |
| 5. Irrigate to flush the salts from the soils in spring. | |
| 6. Mulch sufficiently to reduce water loss. | |
| 7. Control pest infestations and destructive tree diseases. |
CUT SNOWBLOWER EMISSIONS
Small two-stroke engines are highly polluting and contribute significantly to our local air pollution. According to the EPA, a snow blower sends almost a pound of carbon monoxide into the air each hour it runs. As a comparison, you would have to drive about 70 miles to match the CO emissions produced in one hour by a snow blower. http://www.utahmomsforcleanair.org/2009/01/25/reconsider-your-shovel/
The main emission concerns with snow blowers’ small engines are hydrocarbons from unburned fuel and carbon monoxide from partly burned fuel, says Nigel Clark, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at
Electric snow blowers are the greener choice. No fuel, no fumes and no deafening noise to harm the operator or the environment. According to the EPA, electric snow blowers do not emit pollution from exhaust emissions nor through fuel evaporation. To reduce the cost of a new blower consider buying one cooperatively with one or more of your neighbors.
Posted by Cherise Udell in the Park Record Letters to the Editor and on the website
• If possible, wait until the afternoon to shovel. Many disc injuries happen in the morning when discs have maximum fluid pressure.
• Take frequent breaks. Stand up straight and walk around to extend the lower back.
• Use a shovel with a shaft that lets you keep your back straight. A short shaft will cause you to bend more; a shovel that’s too long makes weight at the end heavier.
• Avoid twisting and forward bending. The spine cannot tolerate twisting as well as it can other movements. Step in the direction you throw to prevent twisting.
• Lift small loads of snow. Bend your knees and lift with your legs.
• Do standing extension exercises: Stand straight, place your hands on the back of your hips and bend backwards slightly for several seconds.
Here are some options:
Snowmaster Snowscoop (800) 544-7669; www.snowmaster.com
Ergonomic shovels and handles Biggs Corp. Manufacturing (877) 246-3746; www.biggscorp.com
Back-Saver ergonomic shovel (800) 6876575; www.countryhomeproducts.com
Ergo snow shovel Corner Hardware www.cornerhardware.com
The new Folding Frame Sno Wovel™ and Sno Wolf™ are the only snow removal devices, performing equal to or better than a snow blowerhttp://www.wovel.com/
F.Y.I. - February 1999 - Summit County Ordinance 346 Section. 5. Unlawful to Deposit Snow in Public Way It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit, haul, push, blow or otherwise deposit snow accumulated on private property within the traveled portion of any public street in a manner that impedes the reasonable flow of traffic on that street. The traveled way shall be defined as the width of the paved or graveled surface plus ten additional feet on each side of the surface.
Don’t remove the snow from your driveway by depositing it in the path of cars traveling along our streets. Not only is it illegal but it can cause skidding and other potentials for accidents and it is considered rude behavior. Be courteous and move snow onto your lawn or border areas, it isn’t any more work to do it right.
Section 13 Penalties. Any person who violates the provisions of this Ordinance is guilty of a Class “C” misdemeanor. Each day continuing violation occurs shall be deemed a separate offense.
USEFUL YARD CARE AND ENJOYMENT LINKS
The Pergola is a garden feature creating a shaded patio or passageway supported by pillars of brick or stone or heavy timbers. The pillars support heavy cross beams and cross runners to form a sturdy open lattice. As a type of gazebo, it may also be an extension from a house, as protection for a deck or terrace or a link between structures. Pergolas provide elegant privacy and shade. The open slatted roof provides shade while allowing heat to rise and cool air to remain beneath it. During the snow season the open roofing allows snow to pass through so there is little snow load on the open roof.
2007 - Cedar and stone Pergola 2009 - Side Pergola
Handsome pergolas were a feature of the gardens designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll and epitomize their trademark of firm structure luxuriantly planted. The English term was borrowed from Italian “pergula”. It was mentioned in an Italian context in 1645, by John Evelyn at the cloister of Trinità dei Monti in Rome and used by him in an English context in 1654.
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