The US Forest Service Northern Research Station has just launched a toolkit to help agencies, NGOs, and community groups with vacant lot restoration efforts. The Green Pattern Book and Green Pattern Registry were developed and launched in support of the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership. The Green Pattern Book is a planning and implementation guide for…
A welcome relief to recent and prolonged dry period came this past week and now many are actively working on recovering from summer stress. Soil moisture should have been replenished and now with cooler weather and lower solar radiation, the turf systems should have some moisture reserve that might allow for a more aggressive approach…
Last Sunday we sponsored a Touch-A-Truck event at the Jewish Community Center’s Rock the Block in West Nyack, NY. Families with young children were with us all day long to ride our bucket truck. We were by far the biggest attraction of the day. Have a look at some of our photos below:
Insect damage is often masked during periods of heat and drought in late summer. In fact, we often talk about damage from chinch bugs and sod webworms manifesting when temperatures cool and the rains come in late summer. The change in the weather causes the grass to “wake up” from summer dormancy. The insect damaged…
As the season changes, you’ll be able to enjoy autumn’s signature foliage. If you’re living where the summer cools you’ll be able to see leaves change color before they fall. Below are some of the most beautiful trees to watch out for during the fall transition. 1 – Gingko Biloba – (Ginko biloba) 2 –…
As tree growth slows during a drought, it decreases a tree’s ability to take in enough carbon to stay alive. When the tree doesn’t reverse this trend, the health progressively declines and over time it slowly dies. These declines are more gradual than the unfavorable die-offs that have become increasingly common after major droughts, but…
Nutsedge, also known as nutgrass, is a perennial, grass-like weed that pursues the moist, poorly drained parts of your lawn and grows much faster in hot weather than the grass. Its leaves are grasslike and yellow-green, while the spiky head is purple or yellow. It’s a really tough weed to control because it grows from…
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Brownfields program, and I was fortunate to be a part of the Brownfields 2015 Conference in Chicago this week. I got a warm welcome from everyone including my in-room tablet. Mayor Rahm Emanuel shared his vision for a green Chicago and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy talked about how Brownfields…
This week, 90 degree temperatures are expected to deliver the warmest and driest conditions for summer. Even for many that have been “wet” this season, but are already seeing dry areas, expect more drying to occur. As Labor Day weekend approached, USDA top soil moisture shortages continue to grow. “Normally we would recommend renovation…
Trees are always under a variety of stresses due to the environment. The stress factors can range from nutrient deficiencies, storm damage, and even poor service practices. Under normal conditions, trees are fairly well equipped to handle these stresses and in most cases can recover. However, during prolonged drought conditions a tree’s resources are often…
