This week spring is here

Wow, who would have thought. March 13th and it sure feels like spring. The forecast is showing days in the 70's ahead, into and over the weekend. And beyond. I'm pretty sure we did nothing to deserve this, so might as well sit back and enjoy it. Don't worry, we will get paid back in some fashion for this. You could get to work on some of those projects around the yard. I've already started cleaning up some mulched perennial beds in front of my house. Kind of hated to cut down the Miscanthus (silver feather grass), but it has to go sometime. It stood tall and proud all winter long, a showy golden specimen well into April most years.

Okay, let's stop right there.Turns out that cleaning out those beds too early (mid-March) is not a good idea. Removing that layer of leaves, and old vegetation allows the warm sun to penetrate and heat up the ground, which leads to new growth, which leads to sad faces when that new growth gets frozen out a week or two later, when the temperature plummets, as it inevitably will this time of year. Oh wait, did you think spring was here to stay? In mid March? Well, you can think whatever you want, just don't act on it, like I did (paragraph above).

These are photos of a job we did near Chetek, WI in '11, The flat red-colored area is for seating around a fire-pit, and we hydro-seeded the black dirt areas elsewhere. The slope we covered with random boulders, a much less expensive option than building walls and terraces. As things green up and fill in with vegetation it won't look quite so stark.

Got three phone calls for prospective jobs today. It seems as though there may be a bit more activity this year, just based on my informal polling data. People are by no means ready to throw caution to the wind and start writing checks hither and yon, but after a few years of sitting on their hands, it may be safe to venture outside again. If gas prices go over $4 a gallon, as they're expected to, I'll get back to you on that nascent economic recovery. One way or another, I'm pretty sure, things will work out. They always do when I realize I'm not in charge, that I've got to hold up my end of things, but that one a lot bigger and better than I is calling the shots. Liberating, that view.

Deja vu -- Again

Here we go again. Gas is closing in on $4 a gallon, locally, and all we do is wring our hands and complain about it. Diesel, my fuel of choice (need) has already hit that mark, and will no doubt move higher as we get closer to summer. This certainly raises concerns for me and others in my business, as well as any business that relies on the movement of goods or services. What effect will this higher price for fuel have on my business, and our economy in general? Hard to quantify, but it's probably safe to say that the effect won't be positive. Less money in the pockets of consumers is rarely good for anyone, let alone a business like mine. The sad thing is that this need not be the situation we find ourselves in, I believe.

Our President appears to be, and even claims to be, helpless in the face of this increase. What would you propose as a solution, Drill more? As if that were somehow too ridiculous to merit serious discussion. This while talking up algae--yes algae--as a viable energy source. Yet drilling is precisely the solution to the problem. Oil doesn't drill itself.

If I were in his shoes, I would have a fire-side chat with the American people. I would look directly into the camera--from my bully-pulpit--and announce to all of America that energy exploration and production just became my highest priority. I would announce my goal to turn the United States around, in an energy sense, from an importer of two-thirds of its oil, into an energy exporter. I would set a timeline of five years for this, and I would make every attempt to open areas for exploration--federal lands--that have been closed for years and decades. As the Bakken oil reserve in N. Dakota, and the Marcellus natural gas finds have shown us, there is more oil and gas under our feet if we're willing to look.

By some estimates we now have a hundred year plus supply of natural gas at our disposal, due in large part to a practice known as "fracking", that has revolutionized the gas drilling business. By some estimates (the U.S. Geological Survey for one) the Bakken reserve in N. Dakota holds many billions of barrels of recoverable crude. There is more to be found and drilled, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic, on our shores (or off-shores). If our President made such a statement to the American people, the price of gas--driven by the futures markets--would come down very soon. By demonstrating a resolve and committment to solving this problem using our own land and resources, and eliminating any dependance on foreign sources (most of them unfriendly) we also strengthen our country from a national security standpoint. The Straits of Hormuz (yawn)? Sorry, doesn't affect us. No more wars fought for oil.

Then there's the potential revenue to our Treasurey from the sale of all that oil to foreign customers. Those numbers could put a serious dent in our now approaching 16 Trillion dollars of national debt. Like nothing else I know of. How about creating millions of new, high paying jobs? Also goes with the territory. Ask N. Dakota about that.

But don't worry, none of this will happen under this President. He has demonstrated, time and again (Keystone pipleline shoot-down among many others) where his priorities lie (algae). So the price of gas will continue to rise until, or if, we decide to fire him in November. Perhaps you can guess my political persuasion by now; sorry, I didn't intend to turn this blog into a political forum, but one can only ignore the obvious for so long. I make my living in a green industry, and consider myself something of an environmentalist, whatever that means. I also recognize our need for energy and oil, and would rather that we control our own destiny in those arenas than rely on the whims of the world marketplace. I guess that makes me what I would call a "Pragmatic Environmentalist", rather than the radical kind. A pragmatic environmentalist balances the needs of people with the needs of the planet. Building a bridge over the wild and scenic St. Croix river valley (next to a coal-burning power plant)? Bridge one, radicals zero. We have oil needs that will cripple and bankrupt us if we don't drill a lot of wells? Drilling two, radicals zero. You get the picture.  

Landscaping in a tough economy

We are in a tough economy currently, and the housing market is a particularly difficult place within that tough economy. I've witnessed first hand the decline in the market(s), and have struggled to adapt and survive, like most other small business owners. I'm still here, so apparently I'm doing a few things right. What will the economy be moving into 2012? Hopefully improving, hopefully beter than 2011, though your guess is as good as mine. Maybe better.

So, in an economy and markets like ours, who has any interest in landscaping? Not as many people as in a good economy, is the right answer. But life goes on, and in the interest of writing a coherent, relevant post, I'll illustrate why landscaping may just make more sense now than before. To landscape or not to landscape, the answer can be summed up in a single word: value. If the project adds value, either real or perceived, then the project makes sense.

Let me cite a real world example; they work the best. A couple of years ago I had a client (a repeat client who wanted more work done) who wanted to clean up and update the outside of his house. He lives in Grant Township, on acreage, and the original plantings were way overgrown, and the landscape rock was dirty and weedy, the edging shot. We came in and tore all the old stuff out, replacing old plants with new ones, the plastic edging with steel, new poly and rock over the old stuff, with an assortment of sizes to add interest. We did the north (front entrance) and west sides of the house, the sides first seen upon entering their driveway, and the bill came in around 5k. The effect was a jaw-dropping, absolutely dramatic transformation. A scruffy looking yard (and house by connection) was cleaned up and rendered more than presentable, impressive rather. For 5k.

Does that sound like value to you? It does to me. I know that if we were talking about a kitchen remodel, that amount may have covered the cost of new granite countertops. Then again, maybe not. The cost for new electrical work? Maybe. Here's my point: landscaping gives you more bang for the buck than anything else you can do by way of home improvements. By a long shot, usually. Now I can't promise that kind of transformation for everyone, but you might be surprised what can be accomplished for more modest sums. And it's why, in a tough economy, I'm glad to be in the business I'm in. A business that provides value.

The photos below are in no way representative of the article you just read. I apologize for that, but I couldn't find the photos that correspond with the work we did, as described above. I'll try to fix that later. These photos are from a job we did W. of River Falls, WI. Fun job, a lot of stone to retain and render interesting and useful a steep hillside.

Someone's Autobiography

Came across this piece years ago, don't remember exactly how or where, only that it struck a chord in me. I've had it hanging on the wall in my office for a long time, something I wrote out on a sheet of paper. It was hanging there so long that the words faded to nothing, and I had to work hard to make them out so I could re-write it. It has almost nothing to do with landscaping, a lot to do with the landscaper. Written by someone named: Portia Nelson. Hope you enjoy it, if you don't already know it.

                                            Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters

Chapter 1:  I walk down the street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                  I fall in.
                  I am lost.  I am hopeless.
                  It isn't my fault.
                  It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2:  I walk down the same street.
                  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                  I pretend I don't see it.
                  I fall in.
                  I can't believe I'm in the same place.
                  But it isn't my fault.
                  It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3:  I walk down the same street.
                  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                  I see it is there.
                  I still fall in. It is a habit.
                  My eyes are open. I know where I am.
                  It is my fault.
                  I get out immediately.

Chapter 4:  I walk down the same street.
                  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                  I walk around it.

Chapter 5:  I walk down another street.    

Tree Trimming: Part 2

Okay, admit it, some, most or all your trees need some work. If you've inherited trees then it's not your fault. Blame it on the previous owner. Maybe you've been focused on other things... like your job, paying the bills, and surviving in a dismal economy. It's alright, but maybe it's time to actually do something about the situation, and try to salvage some of what you've invested in. If you don't have a clue, or much of one, about what distinguishes a well trimmed tree from one heading in the wrong direction, then it might be a good idea to look for some help. Find someone or something (uncle Google) that can provide some insight on the matter. Some things to look for are: crossing or rubbing branches, branches that are too close together, too many branches on one side of a tree, double leaders (depends on the species, some, like most maples, don't produce a single leader).

If a tree needs a lot of trimming, it may have to be spaced out over a few years. You can't cut half the branches off a tree and expect it to survive. If you've never done much or any tree trimming seek out some written material on the subject. I'm only trying to sell you on the concept--that it might be a good idea. Another advantage to winter trimming is time: winter is long in these parts, and if you singled out a tree a week, or a month, in your yard, you could work your way through all of them in the course of one of our interminable winters. Give you something to do outdoors, get some fresh air and exercise, do some good to your property in the process.

Ten different tree trimmers (or services) might trim a given tree ten different ways; there is no one right answer necessarily. Personal taste factors into the equation; I like to remove lower branches (anything below eight feet or so) to encourage vertical growth and to keep my hat on while mowing or walking in the summer. This drives my wife nuts; she wants to be able to climb the tree (nevermind that she never will, but she likes the idea--call it dreams of a second childhood). So you may have to develop tastes of your own to a certain extent. Some branches are no-brainers, and need removing for reasons listed above; some are matters of taste: what's your idea of the ideal shape for the tree? And a little bit of education about the variety of tree factors in: for example, an understory tree (like a Redbud), or an ornamental (like tree-lilac or flowering crab) are never going to look like a towering oak or basswood, and would be pruned differently.

I could spend some time talking about tools, but again that gets into the how's, and I wanted to avoid that. I do use a pole saw a lot, however, especially to reach higher than I otherwise would, or eliminate the need for a ladder. Of all my tree trimming tools it's close to the most useful one I own. It pays to keep it sharp, to speed up and make the cuts cleaner. In closing, I hope I've persuaded you to at least consider your trees and their needs.

This photo is a bench we built into a retaining wall (Chilton, Ashlar). The seat is a piece of stone I was lucky enough to find at Rivard Stone -- a natural piece, no cutting necessary.

Tree Trimming: Winter Is The Time

One of the things that winter is good for is tree trimming. The reasons are somewhat obvious, but a couple bear stating: you can see what you're doing, and see the structure and shape of the tree in question quite well when there are no leaves to contend with. From a disease or plant health standpoint it's without question the best time of year for trimming. So winter is my time to trim my yard full of trees I've planted over the years, or inherited when I bought the place. On our three-acre lot I've planted literally hundreds of trees, most of them conifers (spruce, pine and firs), but mostly hardwoods in the yard adjacent to the house. And it's the hardwoods that need trimming the most; I rarely touch the conifers--they don't need it.

I'm not going to bore you with all the details on the how's of tree-trimming, there are other sites for that. Let me simply focus on a few why's, and see if I can convince you. If I do, you can visit those other sites and get the minutia on the how's. The why's are pretty simple, and can be summed up in one or two questions: #1 Do you want your tree(s) to look like crap, or to look good? (There's a sub-question wrapped up in that: do you know the difference?) #2 Do you want your trees to be healthy and live long?  Now I ask these questions assuming that you care about your trees; maybe you don't, and have already moved on and aren't even reading this. If so, ciao. But let's assume that you care, and have a regard for most things living, which extends to the tree kingdom. If so, read on.

If you have trees in your yard, and especially trees you've planted or had planted, and it's been a while since they've been trimmed, or perhaps they've never been trimmed, there's a 100% chance that they need it. Trees are like kids: without adult supervision they go to hell in a handbasket in pretty short order. Let me continue the analogy: the younger the tree, the more trouble they get into. As they grow and mature there comes a time when you can let go. You've done your job. And some trees need more attention than others (wow, this analogy refuses to die); maples, oaks and birch are particularily challenging. They tend to over-branch and develop structural defects. Sometimes years of inattention can be overcome and corrected, though it may take a succession of years to accomplish. I've seen young trees so misshapen and mal-formed that they're beyond redemption.

So, in the interest of time and space, and as a way to terminate the stubborn analogy, I will close with some before and after photos of a job we did last year (these have nothing to do with tree trimming, btw). It beats looking at misshapen trees. On my next post I'll beat this topic up a bit further.

Inaugural Blog

Welcome to my site, my inaugural blog as it were. Hope you find something here of interest in these waning days of what has turned out to be the easiest winter in many years. Easiest winter ever? Not sure about that one, but the easiest in a long while. On that subject, the USDA is reworking its zone map to reflect changes in climate (perhaps) and to provide more detail in those shaded maps we've all seen over the years. I hope they're not getting too cocky about their maps; all it would take is one cold winter, or maybe a cold snap in a given winter, to play havoc on their maps, and cause a lot of damage.

For what it's worth, the Redbud tree I planted in my front yard which I purchased from a local nursery has bitten the dust. It is a variety of Eastern Redbud, and are considered marginally hardy in this area, though they're listed as hardy to zone 4 in the books. We, however, live in a valley that is routinely 4-5 degrees cooler than, say, Stillwater or Hudson (downtown). Could that have killed our beloved Redbud? Maybe, but it also points up the difficulty with those zone maps, trying to factor in all the variables and small localizations that muck up the works.

Thought I'd throw in a couple of photos from a job we did last year. Nothing quite as dramatic as a good before and after photo. This job provided some interesting challenges (challenge is another word for opportunity) which we made the most of. If you get a chance, check out our website for more photos--click on featured projects.  http://www.outdoorconcepts.biz/  Thanks for visiting my blog--check back from time to time as I'll be updating frequently.