Greenscape Gardens Green Blog

THE GREENSCAPE GARDENS FAMILY WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE MOST BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND PEACE ON EARTH!!

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LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION 200 YEARS AGO TODAY 12/24/1804

The fence around Fort Mandan is finally completed. The captains present three visiting chiefs with pieces of sheepskin they had brought along to use as sponges. Captain Clark states that one of the sponges is as valuable as a fine horse.

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LAWN FACTS

A Gallup Survey reported 62% of all U.S. homeowners felt that investing in their lawns and landscaping was as good or better than other home improvements. The investment recovery rate is 100-200% for landscape improvements, compared to a deck or patio that will recover 40-70%. Attractive and well maintained landscaping adds 15% to a home’s value according to real estate sources.

Lawn areas quickly affect people’s moods by creating feelings of serenity, privacy, thoughtfulness or happiness. Its yearly cycles of growth and color change lift human spirits and link urban inhabitants with their countryside heritage.

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KEYS TO GOOD PRUNING

1. Prune early in the life of the tree so pruning wounds are small. Control the growth of the plant early.

2. Begin your visual inspection at the top of the tree and work downward.

3. Identify the best leader and lateral branches before you begin pruning and remove defective branches before pruning for form.
4. Don’t worry about protecting pruning cuts. For aesthetics, you may feel better painting larger wounds with a neutral color tree paint. Evidence shows that it does not prevent or reduce decay.
5. Keep your tools sharp. Hand pruning shears with curved blades work best on young trees.
6. Make safety a number one priority. For high branches use a pole pruner. Major pruning on a large tree should be done by a professional arborist.
7. When you prune back to the trunk, prune to the collar of the branch. Otherwise, follow the rules of good pruning of larger limbs by cutting just outside the branch ridge and collar and at a slight down and outward angle (so as not to injure the collar). Do not leave a protruding stub.
8. When simply shortening a small branch, make the cut at a lateral bud or another lateral branch. Favor a bud that will produce a branch that will grow in a desired direction (usually outward). The cut should be sharp and clean, and made at a slight angle about ¼ inch beyond the bud.

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PINE NEEDLE DISEASES

Brown Spot Needle Blight of Scots Pine

This fungal disease of pine needles primarily affects Scots pines in St. Louis. Symptoms begin as yellow bands on the needles. These bands later become brown and are often resin soaked. Needles begin to brown from the tip back. This occurs most often on the lower branches of the tree. Browning becomes apparent in late summer. Severely affected trees may lose most of the needles on lower branches. Control is aimed at protecting young needles because mature needles are resistant to infection. Consult a tree care professional if this problem is noticed.

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Why A Christmas Tree Is Better Than A MAN!

A Christmas tree doesn't care if you had other Christmas trees in the past.

Even a small Christmas tree gives satisfaction.

A Christmas tree always looks good, even with the lights on.

A Christmas tree has pretty balls.

A Christmas tree doesn't follow you around begging if you decide to choose a different one.

A Christmas tree stays up for 12 days and nights.

A Christmas tree is always happy with its size.

A Christmas tree doesn't care if you sit around in your pajamas and watch soap operas all day.

A Christmas tree doesn't get mad if you break its balls.

You can throw a Christmas tree out when it starts to get old and droopy.

You don't have to put up with a Christmas tree all year!

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GREENSCAPE GARDENS JOKE OF THE DAY!

A small boy wrote to Santa Claus:

"Please send me a brother", the little boy requested very earnestly.

Santa wrote back:

"Send me your mother..."