Arbor Day….let's get out and plant something!

Arbor Day has been celebrated since 1872. In California, Arbor Day is more like a week, running March 7-14, and if you are planning to plant a tree(s) this year it is important to make the proper tree selection for the area you have chosen. I know you have seen those lifting sidewalks being ramped by the root structure of a tree, or even a lifted street gutter. I’m sure you have also noticed oddly shaped or even topped trees under power lines, where, a better tree selection would have been a shorter grower. Perhaps you have experienced having to cut tree branches away from your home because the tree was just planted too close. Placing the right tree, in the right place is as important as planting the tree itself.

A few benefits of properly located trees are:

• wildlife habitat • home energy savings • clean air

• natural growth pattern • increased property value • erosion control
• beauty ...and the list goes on.
  

Here are some additional resources on tree selection and placement: http://www.arborday.org/trees/righttreeandplace/righttree.cfm http://pge.com/myhome/edusafety/diggingyard/planttrees/index.shtml http://www.canopy.org/forestbenefits.html
http://ourcityforest.org/

Irrigation Control Settings for March

March is here and so is the potential need for supplemental irrigation. Your irrigation controller should be set to deliver only 5% of what it would in July. However, with the consistent soaking rainfall we've been experiencing in the bay area, the need to flip the switch to ON or RUN could certainly be delayed. My controller has been off since early November and not going back on until a more significant dry period, maybe, 1 1/2 - 2 weeks...