Metropolitan Melting Heat Islands are normally the result of a built-up, urban area that is hotter than surrounding rural areas. Average annual air temperatures in cities of with 1 million people can be 1-5 degrees Fahrenheit higher than circumferential expanses, in the evenings that difference can be up to 22 degrees. Heat islands develop when urbanization spreads, once…
I had a pretty exciting Earth Day. I spent the morning on assignment for the US Forest Service Northern Research Station documenting installation of a treatment device that uses filters filled with tree bark to clean urban stormwater. The filter boxes were installed by the Parks and People Foundation under the guidance of their Green Infrastructure…
Vector Vexation Depending on where you live different species of mosquitoes will be prevalent and they can carry various diseases. Mosquitoes are one of the most common and virulent vectors (insects or organisms which transmit pathogens). They are responsible for spreading diseases like malaria, West Nile encephalitis, western equine encephalitis and dengue fever. Mosquitoes can also…
Developing and maintaining a good lawn requires a team effort. In some cases, it can call for a professional team, Lawncare.net being just one of many. Today, many homeowners are realizing that it is possible to create and maintain a thick, uniform lawn by working in harmony with these four factors that will help you…
Days of Planet Past Up until the 1970s there was no EPA, no Clean Water Act nor a Clean Air Act. It was perfectly legal to unendingly spew toxic smoke into the air and dump pernicious waste into rivers and streams. But the tides were turning, a movement was growing that would force environmental issues…
Advantageous Animals Not all insects are pests to the plant kingdom, in fact, many species have evolved alongside plants and participate in a a mutually beneficial relationship. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are the most commonly known among the beneficials but also helpful in the microcosm of your landscape are insectivorous insects; insects that…
Last week I was doing field work for a client and came across a large white oak. The tree was not in the limit of disturbance (it was about 40′ away), but the local ordinance called for it be called out in the report. The tree was very large (53″ in diameter) with an elliptical…
Make Your Dwelling Dapper After many long months, the snow has finally melted only to reveal your home and landscape greatly in need of some TLC. Not knowing where to start makes improvements seem like an insurmountable task. If you are looking for inspiration, pricing, advice and the latest innovations for both your home and…
It’s that time of year again when you drive down the road and you might think, “How pretty!” All of the “pretty” white flowering trees all along our road sides and neighborhoods are more than likely the Bradford Pear, Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’. The 1980’s were an important beginning for the Bradford pear. It gained…
Floral Fungus When it comes to plants and shrubs, especially fruit trees and landscape quality cultivars, disease can frequently be attributed to fungus. Some of the more common fungal diseases includes root rot, cankers, black knot, anthracnose, cedar-apple rust, apple scab and various blights. Various conditions favor disease development; warm, damp weather can be very…
