Ladybug Arborists

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A As the weather changes from winter to spring, it is a great idea to check out your garden shed for pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that have either expired or have been taken off the registered product lists. For information about pesticide management in Alberta, or to answer questions about the pesticide container collection program or collection site locations, please contact a pesticide specialist at: Lethbridge (403) 381-5511 Fax: (403) 382-4008, 2nd Floor, Provincial Building 200 – 5th Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4C7 City of Lethbridge Hazardous Waste link Watch for notices about TOXIC ROUND-UPS in your Community. CONTAINER DISPOSAL LOCATIONS IN LETHBRIDGE AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES Lethbridge, County of Coaldale Waste Transfer Station (403) 328-5525 Lethbridge, County of Iron Springs Waste Transfer Station (403) 328-5525 Lethbridge, County of Nobleford Waste Transfer Station (403) 328-5525 Lethbridge, County of Picture Butte Waste Transfer Station (403) 328-5525 Taber, MD of Enchant Waste Transfer Station (403) 223-8735 Taber, MD of Grassy Lake Waste Transfer Station (403) 223-8735 Taber, MD of Taber Waste Transfer Station (403) 223-8735 Taber, MD of Vauxhall Waste Transfer Station (403) 223-8735 Warner, County of Border Seed Cleaning Plant (403) 642-3636 Warner, County of Sunshine Seed Cleaning Plant (403) 642-3636 Pincher Creek, MD of Cowley (Regional Landfill) (403) 627-4151 Pincher Creek, MD of Pincher Station (403) 627-4151 Cardston County Spring Coulee Waste Transfer Station (403) 653-4977 Most municipalities have additional sites not listed here where pesticide containers can be dropped off. Contact local authorities for additional locations. #lethbridgepesticidedisposal #lethbridgetoxicroundup

Maureen Sexsmith-Wests ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A When we purchased a home a few years back, the yard had been neglected. It was late spring. I was curious about what the wilted leaves would reveal. As the days of summer unfolded, I was disappointed to find among some of the beautiful lilies, plants listed under the provincial prohibited and noxious weed list. In Alberta, the list includes grasses, flowers, aquatic plants and some woody plants (yes some trees/shrubs were included on their list). It has been a long term project hand digging and hoeing. In some instances, herbicides were needed to gain control. Since seeds can remain dormant for many years, every time the soil is disturbed, there are a few new ones to contend with but it is becoming less each year. Recognizing the plant is half the battle. The Invasive Plants Council of Alberta has complete list and fact sheets on each one to help with identification and control methods. “Why are invasive plants a threat? The World Conservation Union has identified invasive alien species as the second most significant threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss. More than simply “plants out of place” as many weeds are referred to, these invaders are much more far-reaching in their impacts. Invasive alien plants are species introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside of their natural habitats. In a new environment, free from their natural ’enemies’, some non-native plants have advantages that allow them to out-compete native plants and agricultural crops for space, moisture and nutrients.” (Source: Alberta Invasive Plants Council website). I have added a link under the Recommended Websites in the right hand column. They only recently launched their updated website this month and it is full of excellent information. Here is a short list that are included. Be sure to check local weed by-laws for lists of additional plants that may be prohibited in your community. Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) Dames’ Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) aka Wild/Perennial Morning Glory Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum syn. Leucanthemum vulgare) Scentless Chamomile (Tripleurospermum perforatum syn. T. inodorum) Yellow Clematis They also have a brochure that highlights an invasive and gives examples of safe alternatives which is available on line or in print. Great Alternatives #albertainvasiveplants #albertanativeplants #lethbridgegardening

Lethbridge Hort Society Events you May want to Take In During Their Monthly meetings at the Public Library, 7 pm: March 25 Dennis Connolly a professor at the U of L Dept. of Mathematics & Computer Science will talk about his passion – sundials. Today most people who have sundials in their garden use them for decoration rather than as a way of keeping time. The sun will always rise in the morning & set at night, making sundials one of the most reliable methods of telling time. Dennis hopes to tell everyone how to make a sundial that works in Lethbridge. You may want to look at the Analemmatic Sundial at the back of the Chinook School on the west side before the meeting. April 22 Lori Harasem was selected as one of 100 Canadians to train with Al Gore on the Climate Reality Project in 2012. She lives in Coalhurst with her husband, pets and children, and has tried to live as earth-friendly a lifestyle for as long as she can remember, after seeing the effects of clear-cut logging as a teenager growing up in the Okanagan in the 1980s. She is excited to share with people that while the climate is changing, it is not too late to change the impact we are making and that everyone can do some things to make a difference. A greener lifestyle also means living healthier and more affordably so it makes sense for many reasons. Lori will include information about how climate change, not only is the temperature changing, but also the moisture events that effect the growth of plants. Plants are important as being the thing we rely on to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as well as being a major food source. OTHER EVENTS OF NOTE Video conference series presented at the West side Crossing library, times 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This series of horticulture presentations is hosted by Olds Municipal Library. Wednesday April 3 – Before Pesticides Wednesday May 1 – The New Face of Ancient Grains ***** April 13 is the date for the first clean up of the Galt Museum garden of the season. We’ll start at 10:00 a.m. & go till 3:00 p.m.; the Galt will give us lunch. Bring your own tools like gloves, hand pruners, trowels, kneeling pads, etc. Hopefully the weather will co-operate. ***** Annual plant sale is May 25th so as you plant seedlings or divide your perennials please keep the sale in mind. We would appreciate it if everything you bring is potted up & labeled. Of course we can always use help the day of the sale & I will keep you informed as to the venue, etc. ***** The Board has been thinking about a possible van/bus tour in June to gardens such as the Reader Rock Garden in Calgary. If we can organize it are you interested? Marion Jankunis is the director looking into this; let her know if it’s worth her work to plan. Contact Marion at 403-381-9118 or email mjankunis@chr.ab.ca. ***** July 6 will be the date of our Lethbridge Hort Society Annual Garden Tour. The tour will run from 9 a.m. to noon at which time ticket holders can have lunch & hear Lyndon Penner speaker about ‘Lessons Learned in the Garden’. Marion is currently working on obtaining the gardens. Would you like your garden on the tour? Do you know of a wonderful garden? Give Marion Jankunis a call at 403-381-9118 or email mjankunis@chr.ab.ca. #Uncategorized

JOIN ME FOR TWO INFORMATIVE TALKS Friday, March 15th at 4 pm and Saturday, March 15th at noon Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A I was delighted to be asked to speak again this year at that Lethbridge Home and Garden Show. I have prepared two presentations: Protecting Trees Near Construction, Landscape and Renovation Projects This informative presentation will cover tree biology, plant health care, identifying trees at risk, typical types of damage, preventative and remedial measures that can be undertaken to preserve trees during home construction, landscaping and renovation projects. Bug Off! A Formula for Healthy Trees Insects are indicators that something is not quite right with your tree. This presentation will review tree biology, early warning signs and symptoms, pest management approaches, pruning techniques, cultural solutions and best management practices for the care of trees in the urban landscape. #Uncategorized

Style and Form Dictate Aftercare Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborirst, PR4600A There are lot of potential uses for a hedge: living fence or wall, border a walkway, create privacy or block wind. When selecting your plants think about the space limitations of the sight (how wide will your plant spread and how tall will it grown), the amount of sun, and the zone rating. Decide if you want a formal hedge (requiring more maintenance to keep tidy looking), or an informal hedge (that optimizes on the plants colors or growing habits). It is always best to match the plant to the growing location. By making minor adjustments to shape of your hedge, you allow better sun to the entire plant. You can use pretty much any plant for borders – the key is embracing its natural growth habit and you will keep your maintenance requirements to a minimum. Here a few ideas: Boxwood sets the standard for formal clipped hedges. It is a marginal plant in our zone requiring special care and attention to be successful. Yew: This zone 4 evergreen plant provides year round colour in part to deep shade locations. It is slow growing and requires a protected location and a bit more attention in the garden. It needs consistent moisture. It makes a great feature plant in the right location. Shearing distorts it form. Cedars (Thuja occidentalis): Available as either globe for columnar forms. Plant location will keep maintenance costs down. Globes should have room to spread along walks or driveways and columnars should hot have any overhead barriers. Light shaping keeps them tidy but over shearing will leave holes that are unlikely to leaf back out. Shaping should not remove more than 1/3 of the current year growth. Thickened ends will droop particularly under snow loads. Selective tip thinning helps prevent breakage. A favourite browse for deer, particularly in winter. Few pest problems. Lilac (Syringa) : Lilacs are best as an informal hedge with full sun. Hedge trimming minimizes their best feature – flowering. Lilacs flower on old wood. Annual thinning and reduction pruning are the best means of size/form management and to promote flowering and to allow for air circulation to prevent disease problems. Typical insect issues include leaf miners, mites and scales. Lilac borers are the larvae of the ash borer moth, a wasp like moth with translucent brownish wings. They create small holes near the base of stems. Caragana : A drought hardy plant with bronze bark, bright yellow flowers in late Spring and pods that spread seed in late summer. When the seeds are ripe the plant releases the seeds – sounding a little like popping corn. It is drought tolerant and can grow in any soil. They fix nitrogen into the soil. Chinook winds and snow loads are only an issue if the stems are allowed to get too tall. It does best in a sunny location. It is subject to powdery mildew. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster acutifolia): Drought hardy, vibrant fall color. They are susceptible to a variety of insects includes scales, aphids, mites and leaf rollers, and disease issues such as powdery mildew and fireblight. Spirea: These pretty shrubs lend themselves well to borders. They can be rejuvenated regularly to keep them compact. Some flower in spring and others in summer which will dictate when to prune them. Few pest problems. Viburnum: This includes cranberry, nannyberry, wayfaring tree and snowberry. Great plants for our zone that offer both flowering and fall colour. Best pruned during the dormant season, not shaped. Subject to a variety of insects and disease issues. #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #lethbridgetreecare #lethbridgetreehealthcare #lethbridgetreepruning

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600A I took advantage of a snow day to visit some of our local green houses and to drop off tree care information for their clients. County Blooms opened for the 2013 season this week. Country Blooms, which is located on Broxburn Road, 5 km east of Lethbridge on Highway 3 and 1 mile South. Formerly known as Dyck’s Greenhouse, Country Blooms Garden Centre has been serving and helping southern Albertans with their garden interests since 2007. Erich Dyck and his staff were busily unpacking gift ware and garden decorations and setting out tender new plants. The owner of Country Blooms Garden Centre, Erich graduated from Olds College in 1980 with a diploma in Horticulture specializing in Greenhouse and Landscape Management. He has been a speaker at many horticultural club meetings. His staff are eager to help you find a plant to suit whatever space you have. They specialize in annuals and perennials, beautiful hanging baskets and veggies. They do bring in a small assortment of trees and shrubs each season. Take a peak at Erich’s Home Garden His yard was featured in Garden’s West, September 2010. Erich shared that they are in the process of launching an updated website this month and will be contributing regularly to their facebook page. You can find them at: www.countryblooms.ca/ erich.dyck@countryblooms.ca You can also find them on facebook Customer Appreciation Day 1st Friday of the month, 15% Discount Phone: 403-331-5660 Another feature about their location is they are located adjacent to Broxburn Vegetables and Cafe. They grow vine ripened tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. A remodelled barn acts as both a produce counter and a cafe. Their website includes an availability list for fresh produce grown year round. They have a great photo gallery of their facilities and offerings. The café is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm October to March. Café hours for April to September are Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Lunch is served from 11 am to 3 pm. Their produce is also available at the Lethbridge Farmers Market #Uncategorized

Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR-4600A I am glad to be one of the old dogs that is open to learning new tricks. I enjoy learning techniques I can test out in my own space and share this knowledge with clients. While trees are my first love, I appreciate a pretty flower outside my office window. The best landscapes allow for a balance of plant materials, color, form and uses. Recently, I participated in a Xeriscaping Workshop sponsored by the Oldman Watershed Council. At the head of the classroom of enthusiastic students was Steve McRae, M.Sc. P.Ag, instructor at Lethbridge College. Steve also operates his own consulting company, Prairie Xeriscape Designs. We were welcomed with hot coffee, muffins and a great lunch by local businesses (thanks Andrea). Steve brought along a great display of inspiring books to investigate. I know what to ask the Easter bunny for this year – a new item for my reference library. Steve’s slide presentation was excellent as he covered all the key elements in planning a Xeriscape design. What was especially great was the series of slides that showed the progress of his own yard from a bare canvas to an incredibly lush, low maintenance display over the past 5-6 years. It highlighted proper plant spacing for mature growth. This is key to keep your initial investment and the aftercare needs lower. What was most surprising was the absence of any irrigation systems. Aside from watering during the establishment period (two seasons), he rarely has to put a hose to his front yard. This resulted in an initial savings and reduced water usage over the life of the installation. He capitalizes on snow capture and overwintering sites for ladybugs by NOT pruning down perennials until March annually. The design provided for spaces to push snow drive walks and drives so that he didn’t have to risk damaging shrubs. Perennials can tolerate the weight of snow much better since the crown is dormant. His design provided a bouquet of colors from early spring to frost with trees and shrubs to provide vertical, year round interest. Students were able to test soil samples from their proposed growing sites for pH levels and composition to help in making appropriate plant selections. He covered the importance of selecting foundation plants (TREES and SHRUBS) as well as a wide range of native grasses and flowers great for our region. You do want to be careful to check out local weed by-laws and the provincial prohibited plant list (Invasive Plant Council of AB), especially if you are planning to participate in plant exchanges this spring or visiting big box stores. When you shop at your local garden centres, you can be more confident that they don’t sell invasive plants. The OMWC has published a great little booklet that includes 50 plant suggestions. You can also check out the demonstration garden at the Lethbridge College (on the east side of the Cousins Building). Visit the Galt Museum’s garden for inspiration as well. Most of the plants have labels to help you put together a shopping list. The OMWC will have a display at the upcoming Lethbridge Home and Garden Show (March 13 – 16th) where you can pick up a wealth of information. They are also organizing a tour of Lethbridge Gardens in June, 2013. Watch their site for more details. For more information or to purchase their booklet, contact the OMWC Andrea Vaxvick, Program Coordinator Phone: (403) 381-5801 http://www.prairieurbangarden.ca/ More ideas on xeriscaping can be found on the City of Lethbridge web: #Uncategorized

Putting Nutrients Where They Are Needed Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR-4600A Our Prairie landscape had very few trees – there were no natural microbes that benefit trees. The few trees that scattered the landscape were found along river or tributary valleys. Grasses were the primary plant in the landscape. In an urban yard we have a huge desire to incorporate trees into our ‘Urban Oasis’. We continually remove organic matter such as lawn clippings, leaves and organic matter to keep a ‘tidy’ appearance. Your plants are competing to extract whatever nutrients exist in the soil. These need to be replaced. Deep root fertilization is an excellent alternative. There is much more to a good fertilization program than picking up a “garden variety” product. It has been our experience that tree spikes rarely break down in our clay soils – rather, they can create hot spots which can actually cause damage to sensitive roots. Surface applications seldom reach the root zone. In newer developments, where the ‘top soil’ is stripped for construction and then massive machines are driven repeatedly over the base layer, compacting the soil to the point where it better resembles cement,. What tree could grow well in this environment? Moisture cannot be absorbed readily and roots have difficulty penetrating where there is no oxygen available. This condition can also occur during landscape renovations or home improvement projects. Deep Root Fertilization (DRF) is intended to be a supplement which combined with better composting/yard practices, appropriate irrigation and routine pruning methods will ensure your trees and shrubs remain healthier. DRF serves many purposes. It adds missing elements to the soil – each species has different needs and understanding this is the key to a successful program. The high pressure injection helps break up the soil making it easier for roots to uptake water and nutrients. It is applied at a depth where the roots are found. Surface applications are often used up by turf and flowers before any benefits can reach your tree’s root system. Over application of nitrogen can cause excess leaf development which will attract a wide range of insects. Understanding this balance is very important. A healthy tree in a natural stand can live well over 100 years. Urban stresses such as “gravel” landscapes, reflected heat and radiation, compaction, pollution, improper watering for the species, improper pruning (stubbing/topping) and planting locations will reduce this. Stressed trees invite pests and diseases to your plant and this become costly to control. The cost of a good fertilization program is substantially less than the cost of a removal or annual applications of pest control products. It is always best to consider addressing what may be the cause of changing health of a tree. This can be a combination of soil amendments and fertilization and a program of cultural remedies such as pruning or modifying your irrigation practices. We offer vast knowledge of local growing conditions in combination with the species typically grown in our region. Our Certified Arborists are trained to recognized declining health and identify diseases and pests. We will explain why we are recommending a plant health care program for your site. #Uncategorized

Stumped on what to do in a small garden area? Here a few ideas. Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborists PR-4600A Having a smaller yard doesn’t mean you can’t have a great landscape. There are many great small and medium sized trees and various of forms of filler plants to choose from. The key is to balance the number of trees, shrubs, vines and flowers in proportion to the space. Examine your site to determine the number of daylight hours each area gets since this will influence what you can grow. Get out your real property report and make yourself a few copies as worksheets. What I love about this method is it already has all the measurements and all the structures shown. Check for the amount of sunlight in each zone and look at what may already be growing in neighbouring spaces. This may impact the space at fence lines as well as the competition from adjacent trees for space, light and roots. Your neighbours may not appreciate having your apples dropping into their yard. Consider the function your tree will play – shelter, shade, privacy??? Limit the number of trees you incorporate into your plan by selecting a few feature trees. This will reduce your long term maintenance costs. Place a stake where you anticipate planting it and then draw the tree at its mature size. This will allow you to see into the future -whether you live there in 20 years or not. Great small to medium sized trees: Maples: Amur, Crimson King, Tatarian, Sugar (fast growing, seeds, fall color) Ohio Buckeye (flowers, produces nuts, fall color) Mountain Ash (flowers, bronze bark, berries and fall color) Muckle Plum (flower, fruitless) Birch.: Dakota pinnacle or Young’s Weeping (white bark, compact form, winter interest) Larch: nice fall color, Sheds needles in fall Columnar Varieties: Aspen & Poplar: With the arrival of Bronze Leaf Disease this may not be a long term tree Many new forms of compact ornamentals exist – inquire at your local garden centre Evergreens – great for year round coverage Columnar Cedars – avoid planting under eaves or maintenance needs will be higher Pines: Swiss stone, Limber, Bristlecone, Eastern White Upright junipers and select dwarf or ornamental spruces Don’t Forget Your Veggies! Incorporate Food into your landscape. Why not grow swiss chard or kale instead of petunias or tomatoes, currants or honey berries instead of spireas? GROW UP to maximize your square footage. By incorporating lattice, trellis or tripods (made from any three pieces of wood lashed together – broken hockey sticks will do). Get creative and recycle – I have use an old wrought iron headboard, an easel and an old metal CD holder for climbers. I have even used an old ladder that wasn’t safe for household repairs anymore for climbers and a hanging basket – the finished product was quite stunning with a minimal footprint. Vertical gardens require less soil and water, limit bending and reduce weeds between plants. Ideal for peas, tomatoes, pole beans, scarlet runner beans, cucumbers and some squash. To reduce mildew and moisture damage when planting along buildings, install a trellis that allows air circulation between plant and the structure (2 inches or more). My husband built me a one of a kind arbor out of pruned off branches for my grape vines. Use your imagination. Grow bags, hanging baskets, half barrels and window boxes can be utilized where ever the appropriate sunshine exists – just don’t forget to water regularly. A pulley allows you to lower containers for easy tending. Edible hedges and screens – consider planting corn or sunflowers instead of shrubs or trees between driveways or along fences. Minimal cost, no pruning from year to year, space to put snow in winter and you can feed yourself or the birds. Create a ‘raised garden’ with frames or by using an old table allowing persons with limited mobility or arthritis to pull up a chair and sit while tending. Plant carrots right next to your peas. They are not competing for the same space, peas provide shade and carrots will out compete some of the weeds. When your pea crops is done, pull them out and compost. Plant in blocks (onions or garlic for example) rather than in lines. Incorporate a few flowers to attract pollinators and repel insects. Do some reading on square foot gardening and companion planting. The yield is considerably higher than traditional row gardens, conserves water and suppresses weeds. There are several opportunities to attend workshops or listen to speakers in March: Xeriscaping – Oldman Waterhsed Council March 2nd and many others http://oldmanbasin.org CLCLC – offering several throughout the Lethbridge region http://www.communityclasses.ca/CLCLCpages.pdf Speakers at the Home & Garden Show March 13-16 Lethbridge Horticultural Society Last Monday of every month Check the Public Library Calendar of Events Pruning Workshop: March 23rd, Sponsored by the Coaldale Community Garden Society #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #treeselectionlethbridge #consultingarboristlethbridge #lethbridgegardening #lethbridgetreeplanting #yardcarelethbridge #lethbridgetreeservice

Preventative Care Can Save Lives and Property Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist PR-4600A I came across this recent article by Dominique Browning which I thought would be worth sharing about trees and weather events. (click on the link at the bottom). In Lethbridge, we are no stranger to extreme weather – high winds, spring flooding, out of season snow. As mentioned in the article, the best defence to keep your tree standing – and not on your roof or car – is to adopt a good routine maintenance program, select trees that are suited to the site and to have a Certified Arborist trained in Tree Risk Assessment, inspect your trees from time to time. My experience is that most trees, or parts of trees, fail because of pre-existing issues. Dealing with problems can be as simple as removing a limb, thinning the crown or removing a dangerous tree before it fails. This is far more efficient and safer for the tree care professionals left with the responsibility of working on a failed tree. Routine preventative care is far less costly than dealing with the damage and danger associated with reactionary tree care. I have included a few photos from my personal experiences. If you are interested in learning about the safety or condition of your tree, our Certified Consulting Arborists would be pleased to provide you with a written assessment with recommendations for future care. This affordable service is considerably less than dealing with insurance claims, inconvenience during repairs or the high clean-up costs associated with high risk emergency response tree services. It doesn’t matter if they are trees on your own property, your business or a managed condominium complex, if the public could be injured or property damaged a risk assessment can reduce your liability. We are here to help keep both you and trees safe. For the online version: http://ideas.time.com/2012/11/01/when-trees-become-lethal/ “When Trees Become Lethal By Dominique BrowningNov. 01, 2012 And then they kill us. A large number of fatalities from Hurricane Sandy were caused by falling trees—two teenage boys in North Salem, NY; a man killed in Pearl River, his family injured; a young couple walking their dog in Brooklyn. We all know we’re supposed to be careful about old and dying trees, but somehow there’s nothing worse than paying a large bill to remove a maple on its last legs. With Sandy creating winds up to 90 MPH, many of the trees that fell weren’t old; all over the tri-state area, young trees have snapped in two, or dropped large limbs. So like this storm itself, whatever we thought we knew about trees and how to protect ourselves may in fact be changing. The biggest problems are twofold: healthcare for trees, and planting viability. People tend not to prune, feed, and stay on top of tree health. Trees can be expensive to maintain, but it is critical that they be cared for. Rot begins to spread, and once it is working its way unseen through a trunk or a limb, trouble can hit by surprise. People also hire pruners who are cheap but who don’t know what they are doing, and bad pruning jobs, with limbs lopped off midway, contribute to bad tree health. And then there’s the places we plant them. As a rule, in this day and age, large trees shouldn’t be hanging over a house, unless you don’t mind living dangerously. Trees near a house are okay, so long as they have lots of space for their roots. But all too often we’re squeezing trees into lousy spaces, especially trees on the strips next to sidewalks in cities and towns alike, or the trees growing out of rocky outcroppings, whose roots are compromised. What usually makes these trees vulnerable is poor drainage. The ground gets very wet, water doesn’t drain properly because there’s nowhere for it to go, and then the trees lose their footing, so to speak. Up and over they go. Tree roots are surprisingly shallow. If you go look closely at an overturned tree, you’ll be amazed at how little root system there is for such a big creature. Especially if the roots have been constricted by substructure concrete for roadbeds. Trees need to spread their roots to be more stable. Stick with trees that are suitable for the area you live in; trees that aren’t hardy in freezing temperatures may look okay for a couple of winters, but their growth will be compromised and you’re asking for trouble down the line. And even though we all love instant gratification, you are better off choosing a smaller tree and letting it establish itself over time into its patch of earth rather than trying to plant a large tree whose roots might not take hold for a while. Don’t stake your trees for too long; trees need to sway in the wind and make other adjustments to weather conditions — it actually helps their root systems grow more stable. We need to learn how to better live with our trees and move away from our simplistic understanding of them. Yes, trees are pretty and useful but they’re also a responsibility that too often people shirk. We’re well aware that cars can be dangerous and take safety precautions not to drive recklessly or in risky conditions. We have to show similar respect to these giant, powerful beings around us. They do so much for us. Let’s do more for them.” Dominique Browning @Slowlovelife Browning, the former editor of House & Garden, is the author of Slow Love. The views expressed are solely her own.|TRACY A. WOODWARD / THE WASHINGTON POST / GETTY IMAGES #lethbridgetreepruning #lethbridgecertifiedarborist #consultingarboristlethbridge #lethbridgestormdamagedtrees #lethbridgetreeservice #lethbridgetreeinspections

WHY YOU SHOULD USE APPROVED PRODUCTS APPLIED BY A LICENSED APPLICATOR Maureen Sexsmith-West ISA Certified Arborist, PR4600 Before you know it, those nasty weeds will begin to pop up and the buzz of insects fills the air. There is an increasing consumer trend towards ‘biologicals’ instead of traditional chemical pesticides and herbicides. Some of you will be surfing the internet or turning to friends for ‘home made’ solutions to these sometimes frustrating problems. Many think that using something created in your kitchen is less harmful than approved treatments. This may not be the case. In some instances you may be creating new problems for your plants, adding toxic elements or changing your pH levels. An excellent article, published by Health Canada, who oversees the rigorous testing of pesticides and herbicides outlines the potential risks of using ‘homemade’ products. They highlight the potential health risks both from the product itself to you, the environment and reviews improper application practices. There are strict rules with respect to storage, use and application techniques, all designed to protect the applicator, the homeowner, their neighbours, pets and wildlife. You may be able to purchase some approved products at garden centres or hardware stores. Keep in mind that these products have been diluted for public application to safeguard against improper use or application techniques. The results may be slower and there is a tendency to reapply to get the desired results. Stores may only stock items that are approved for use in the current year. You may be surprised to find that products you purchased previously and still have in your shed may be banned for use in urban areas this year. We use a licensed pesticide applicator who is formally trained in arboriculture, turf and horticulture. He follows the government regulations with respect to the products, target (pest or weed), plant and methods necessary to address insect and weed infestations. Understanding tree biology helps ensure that the product applied will not harm the tree in your attempt to treat the pest. We only recommend treatments when populations are sufficient to warrant it. A garden hose is great ally when it comes to aphids and other pests. Consider these cultural practices first. We have a wide range of products and methods of application that will suit your personal beliefs, while addressing your concerns. Some problems you may encounter may only be remedied by a licensed professional who can accurately diagnose your problem in order to know what course of action is required and when treatments should be used. REMEMBER: A HEALTHY TREE IS FAR LESS VULNERABLE TO PEST AND DISEASES. BY INCORPORATING CULTURAL METHODS SUCH AS REGULAR PRUNING AND PROPER IRRIGATION, YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. Mulching helps suppress weeds by preventing germination. If you are having problems with pests in your yard – give us a call. Below is an excerpt from this article: “IT’S YOUR HEALTH The Issue Preparing, storing, and using homemade pesticides could pose risks to your health and the environment. Background In recent years, more and more homeowners and gardeners have been looking for alternatives to traditional pesticides for use in their homes and gardens. As a result, you can now find many recipes for pest control products on the Internet and in published literature. These recipes are for products that claim to address a wide variety of situations, from controlling insects to repelling large animals. Health Canada is advising consumers to be aware that preparing, storing, and using homemade pesticides may pose health and environmental safety risks; and reminds Canadians that any pesticide should be used judiciously, be it conventional or homemade.” Too see the full article click this link http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/alt_formats/pacrb-dgapcr/pdf/iyh-vsv/life-vie/homemade-artisanaux-eng.pdf #Uncategorized

SOURCE TO TAP DIALOGUE Water Matters the Oldman Watershed Council and SASCI* wish to thank everyone who participated in the first round of Source to Tap community conversations in November and December, 2012. Your contributions to the dialogue about the importance of the Oldman headwaters and the issues affecting headwaters health and integrity are appreciated, and the key themes have been captured in a brief report. Our second round of community conversations will be held in the coming weeks. Building on the results of the 2012 meetings, the focus of this important final phase is to gain local input on ways to protect the health of the Oldman watershed, with the goal of generating solutions and building support for necessary stewardship actions in the headwaters. The dialogue will address the following questions: · What specific stewardship practices or actions are currently happening in the headwaters? · What else is required? What are the opportunities? · How can watershed stewardship activities be further fostered and supported to increase their effectiveness over the long term? We encourage you to attend any of the eight sessions, with dates and times listed below. And please, bring along a friend, neighbour or colleague to join in! Participants in this second round need not have attended the first round. All are welcome to share their voices. Round Two ‘Source to Tap’ Schedule Wed, Feb 27: Springpoint Hall* 5:30 supper followed at 6:30 by dialogue session RSVP to Pat Ness: 553-2625 Thurs, Feb 28: Stavely Community Centre 5:30 supper followed at 6:30 by dialogue session RSVP to jnbeeflady@gmail.com Fri, Mar 1: Lundbreck Hall* 5:30 supper followed at 6:30 by dialogue session to RSVP to Ted Smith 628-2004 Wed, Mar 6: Pincher Creek,* Heritage Inn 7:00 PM Thurs, Mar 7: Crowsnest Pass,* Country Encounters 7:00 PM Tues, Mar 12: Lethbridge, Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre 7:00 PM Wed, Mar 13: Cardston Seniors Centre 7:00 PM Thurs, Mar 14: Picture Butte, Warren Kleeman Hall, Prairie Tractor and Engine Museum 7:00 PM * Sessions Co-Sponsored by Southern Alberta Sustainable Communities Initiative For more information please contact Jacqueline Nelson at: jnbeeflady@gmail.com or Carole Stark at (403)538-7785. Copies of the 1st report available. Thanks and looking forward to seeing you soon. OLDMAN WATERSHED COUNCIL #Uncategorized