Wood Chip Gardening

So I posted a video called "Back to Eden - A Documentary About Organic Gardening".  This video focuses on a garden in Washington state and its gardener Paul Gautschi.  It's basis is on biblical principals of how nature grows plants.  I thought to myself, "well I've tried just about everything else with less than desirable results".  My journey began today.

On the way home today I stopped at Quail Ridge for a scoop of mushroom compost. Once home, as instructed I laid down a layer of newspaper, and some cardboard as a base layer then using a  pitchfork I covered the base layer with 3-4 inches of compost.  Tomorrow I will pick up a load of wood chips from a pile the power company left after trimming trees near power lines and put 2-3 inches on top of the compost then repeat the whole process until my entire garden area is covered.  I hope to have this done by the end of April.

At some point in the documentary they mentioned worms.  Do worms just start showing up? or Do I go to the local bait shop and buy some for my garden?  I may have to do a bit more research.

The next blog will have some pictures to go along with my progress.

Since this will require lots of wood chips.  Give Goodfellers a call 540-710-9665 to schedule an appointment with our certified arborist or visit goodfellertreeco.com and complete the "I Need an Estimate" section.  We recycle 100% of tree waste!

Climbing Trees, No longer just for kids...

I'm not sure how many children climb trees today, but as a child it was a favorite activity of mine.  My mother, now that's a different story.  I loved having the ability to leap up and reach the lower branches of mature trees or to shimmy up the trunk of a tree to get to a place where I could begin climbing.  No helmet, no ropes, no body harness and up I went climbing to the top where the branches began to narrow and thin; where I could feel the tree move as the mild breeze made it's way through the canopy of the tree.  I can remember being at the top of my favorite tree dreaming about what it would be like to have the ability to fly like a bird and to be able to sit at the top of the tallest trees or to wonder what it would be like live in a tree like a squirrel.  I would imagine I was in the eagles nest atop the tallest mast of an old ship.  Those were fun times, memorable times, times that I could escape for just a little while the realities of my world.

 Fast forward 2014.....I'm a bit older, heavier, and not nearly as agile.  Safety is now a national concern, my daughters wore bike helmets,  and elbow and knee pads when roller skating.  There are plenty of resources on how to do just about anything "safely", and that includes climbing trees.  In fact in 1983 an organization called Tree Climbers International was formed.  It is an organization that is solely dedicated to and for people who love to climb trees.

According to their web site http://treeclimbing.com/ it is a worldwide organization.  I found the information below from treeclimbing.com's about us section.

Tree Climbers International^®, Inc. (TCI^®) is a worldwide organization of people who love to climb trees. We do this safely and with utmost care for the trees we climb. TCI is also the world's first school for recreational tree climbers. We want the sport of "rope and saddle" tree climbing available everywhere so that everyone can experience the joy and wonder of seeing the world from the heights of the treetops!

Peter and Patty (with amazing help) at the top of a Douglas fir.
Portland, Oregon, 2012. (Photo courtesy August Schilling)TCI was started by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins, a retired rock and mountain climber-turned tree surgeon (now an ISA-certified arborist). Peter found that the equipment used in rock climbing did not always fit the needs of climbing something alive and fragile as a tree, and many of the rock climbers' techniques were downright dangerous in the treetops!

It became clear to Peter that an organization was needed which could bring together people who love tree climbing, as well as train them in the techniques necessary to ensure that they climb safely and responsibly. In 1983, he founded Tree Climbers International and opened the world's first tree climbing school in Atlanta with two big white oak trees, Nimrod and Dianna, and a Mission Statement.

Through the years TCI has written safety and training rules that have become standard for recreational tree climbers. Many of our protocols have been adopted by tree climbing schools around the world. Our organization's practices have made it possible for tens of thousands of people to adventure high in the treetops without injuring themselves or the trees being climbed. In fact, to this day there has never been an injury where climbers use TCI techniques and safety protocols for recreational tree climbing activities.

In 2005, Peter's wife Patty took over the "operations end" of TCI. While he teaches and is the climbing expert, she runs virtually every other aspect of our operations, maintains our website, and is usually on site at our events. Patty is not a climber (she had polio as a child), but she loves what she does and the people she meets as Executive Director of TCI.

Click the links at right to read some of the articles that have been written about us, look through our early  publications, and see some of the videos that have been created about tree climbing. There is a great deal of valuable information in those materials, and alot that will make you laugh!

TCI Mission Statement

Tree Climbers International, Inc. promotes tree climbing as a safe recreational activity
suitable for people of all ages.

Our goals are to:

• Discover and promote technical tree climbing techniques that are safe for people and
  do no harm to trees.
• Provide qualified tree climbing instruction by highly-trained instructors.
• Produce and distribute educational and inspiring publications to promote safe recreational tree climbing.
• Create climbing chapters (or "groves" ) in every city, town, or hamlet worldwide.
• Hold periodic regional, national, and international tree climbing gatherings.
• Create a communication network of tree climbing enthusiasts through our website and publications.
• Locate and secure access to climbing trees suitable for recreational climbing.
• Promote respect and responsibility towards trees and the natural environment.
• Have fun exploring the high canopy while sharing adventures with like-minded people.

Tree Trimming Safety

The United States Department of Labor has e-published the OSHA guidelines for tree trimming and removal safety.

 

Tree Trimming & Removal
Safety

Assume that All Power Lines Are Energized!

• Contact the utility company to discuss de-energizing and grounding or shielding of power lines.
• All tree trimming or removal work within ten feet of a power line must be done by trained and experienced line-clearance tree trimmers. A second tree trimmer is required within normal voice communication range.
• Line-clearance tree trimmers must be aware of and maintain the proper minimum approach distances when working around energized power lines.
• Use extreme caution when moving ladders and equipment around downed trees and power lines.

Stay Alert at All Times!

• Do not trim trees in dangerous weather conditions.
• Perform a hazard assessment of the work area before starting work.
• Eliminate or minimize exposure to hazards at the tree and in the surrounding area.
• Operators of chain saws and other equipment should be trained and the equipment properly maintained.
• Use personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, hearing protection, etc., recommended in the equipment manufacturer’s operating manual.
• Determine the tree’s felling direction. Address forward lean, back lean, and/or side lean issues.
• Determine the proper amount of hinge wood to safely guide the tree’s fall. Provide a retreat path to a safe location.
• Inspect tree limbs for strength and stability before climbing. Tree trimmers working aloft must use appropriate fall protection.
• Do not climb with tools in your hands.
• If broken trees are under pressure, determine the direction of the pressure and make small cuts to release it.
• Use extreme care when felling a tree that has not fallen completely to the ground and is lodged against another tree.
• Never turn your back on a falling tree.
• Be alert and avoid objects thrown back by a tree as it falls.

Retrieved on March 13, 2015 from:https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3301-10-05-english-06-27-2007.html 

Seasonal Tree Care and Maintenance

I found this web site after publishing the last blog "Seasons": http://www.theserviceguide.com/pages/tree_care_maintenance_calendar.asp

Providing proper care and maintenance for the trees on your property will enhance their health and well-being for the longevity of their lives. You, too, benefit by having healthy and beautiful trees, as they ultimately help enhance your home’s landscape. Knowing what to do for your trees and when can help. Below is a convenient calendar of tree care maintenance organized for you by season. This information is provided compliments of Rainbow Treecare.

 

Seasonal Calendar of Tree Care Maintenance

for Northern Climates

           

Note that time frames are approximate, variations occur due to difference in the weather every year.

January and February                                

• Winter is a good time to prune most trees.
  • When the leaves are off the trees it is easier to identify structural problems for correction or dead wood for removal.
  • Insects and disease problems are not active in the winter, eliminating the possibility of infection into fresh pruning wounds.
  • Winter is a good time to remove a tree especially if heavy equipment is required to do the work. The frozen ground and snow cover reduces the amount of damage that may be done to the lawn.

March

• Pruning of oaks and elms should be done by the end of the month in most years.
  • Pruning of trees and shrubs without disease or insect concerns will continue the entire season
• When the snow melts we begin to prune shrubs; shaping and removing winter damaged or dead stems.
• When the ground thaws we can begin Rootcare fertilization of trees and shrubs with our slow release fertilizer.

April and May

• We begin monitoring plant development and weather conditions in order to time treatments for insects and diseases. (Proper timing of pesticide applications is key to successful control.)
  • Early spring is the time to treat some insects such as pine saw flies and those that cause galls.
  • Fungal disease sprays like apple scab and anthracnose are done to protect new growth.
  • The systemic insecticide, Merit, is applied in early spring to control some insects later in the season on shrubs and small trees. Your Consulting Arborist will advise you regarding this treatment.
• The lawn care division gears up for another year and as the soil temperatures warm up; a pre-emergent herbicide is applied to control crabgrass and many broadleaf weeds.
  • When the grass begins to actively grow, the first application of lawn fertilizer is applied.
  • Your Consulting Arborist will help you understand your lawn and it´s specific needs.
• Early flowering trees and shrubs like magnolia, forsythia and lilac should be pruned after flowering in order to preserve the flower buds.
• Application of the plant growth regulator, Cambistat is done to control plant size and improve health in many situations.

June and July

• Symptoms of Dutch elm disease or oak wilt begin to show up in infected trees.
  • Injections to prevent Dutch elm disease begin in early June or when the leaves are fully formed.
  • White and bur oaks infected by oak wilt can be treated therapeutically, and red oaks can be protected against a root graft infection if they are near a diseased red oak.
• Spraying for most leaf fungus diseases will be done by early to mid-July.
• We monitor insect populations and apply treatment where population levels threaten plant health.
• Evergreens are pruned after the new growth is completed.
• The lawn care division is in full swing. Late spring lawn fertilization is done by early to mid-June.
• July is too hot for lawn fertilization, which stresses the grass. However, lawns are monitored for diseases and broadleaf weeds and pesticides are applied if warranted at this time of year.

August, September, and October

• Late summer and early fall is a good time to apply systemic insecticides that will prevent infestations next year.
• Dutch elm disease and oak wilt treatments continue until the leaves turn color in the fall.
• Iron injections to treat chlorosis (yellow leaves) are best done at this time of year.
• More can be done to improve or ensure a healthy lawn at this time of year than at any other time.
  • Late summer and fall are the best times to apply fertilizer because the plants are building crowns and root systems as the top growth slows down. This will mean healthy dense grass next year.
  • Aeration to alleviate compaction and to control thatch is best done in the late summer or fall.
  • This is an ideal time to establish a new lawn or to over seed a thin one. Air temperatures are cooler and soil temperature is warm leading to good germination and healthy new grass.
  • Perennial broadleaf weeds are controlled more effectively by herbicides at this time of year.
• Pruning of trees and shrubs continues throughout the entire season.

November and December

• Tree and shrub fertilization continues until the ground freezes. Our slow release Rootcare Fertilization formula will not promote unwanted late season growth.
• The Pruning Division is getting ready for the winter pruning season.
  • Pruning of oaks and elms starts again after the first hard frost.
  • Shrubs will be pruned until the snow depth makes it impractical to do so. Avoid shearing early spring flowering shrubs now so that the flower buds are not removed.
  • When there are no leaves on the trees it is easier to identify structural problems for correction or dead wood for removal.