It official, 2011 was the driest year on record and the second hottest.  It is estimated that throughout Texas we lost as much as half a billion trees. That’s 500 million beautiful living trees people. Tough to imagine it getting hotter than last year or losing that amount of trees on a yearly basis. Estimates come in at roughly 2-10% loss of our 4.9 billion trees.

..”an estimated 100 million to 500 million trees with a diameter of 5 inches or larger on forestland were estimated to have succumbed to the drought. That range is equivalent to 2 to 10 percent of the state’s 4.9 billion trees.” Full release here

The drought is obviously the main culprit in these deaths as these numbers cover our forest, which do not benefit from irrigation. There has also been a great amount of residential tree death as is apparent during almost any stroll or drive around town. I believe many of the tree deaths in residential areas could have been avoided if the right species were chosen and irrigated properly.

I have seen a lot of death in trees with higher water requirements such as the Bald Cyprus, Cedars and Willows. In addition we lost a great many Palms from the winter cold, especially those that were not suited for this area. Windmill Palms and those protected from wind did the best last year.

High water trees suffered greatly but what about the other trees that have died. Native and adaptive varieties still have to be watered regularly for at least the first 2 seasons. The most common mistake is allowing new trees to go without the proper amount of water. Gatorbags (those green sacs you see at the base of trees in the medians) can be used to water the tree during restrictions.

I have assessed several properties for damages this year and from the information I have gathered many of those deaths are the result of improper irrigation. In some cases the inhabitants mainly tried to save money by not watering as much or not maintaining the sprinkler system. Sadly the end result is that in most cases it costs far more to replace the plant material then what the water or maintenance would have cost, especially if it’s a mature tree that can be upwards of 20,000. If this is you – Do Not expect to get that deposit back.

Links

Texas Forest Service: New video shows how and when to water drought-stricken trees. – Watering tips help you show your trees some love.

Is your tree dead or not? That depends. When most trees are stressed, especially after drought conditions, they go dormant and shed some or even all of their leaves. Typically when the leaves all stay on and turn brown – it’s a bad sign. You want to see the tree shed and go dormant as this is a sign that the tree is trying to reserve energy and stop growth by going dormant.

Most tree companies will give you a free estimate to have an arborist come out and take a look at your trees. That’s truly the only definitive way for knowing whether or not your tree is dead. You should not trim a tree you think is distressed as it will have to use energy to repair the wound and take away from its efforts to heal itself. In addition, you should not let dead or dying trees remain in place as they become a hazard not only to you but for anyone trying to remove it. Here are some general things to look for when a tree is dead.

Deadwood: This is harder to do in the winter on tall trees. For smaller ones you can feel if branches are dry by how light they are. It will snap off fairly easily without arching. It will also be brown and dry on the inside when performing a scratch test. If you have a high percentage of dry, brittle, trunks or branches with a brown core, there’s a very good chance that your tree has met its end.

Decay or Rot: Sometimes this can be very apparent. It may be an open wound, crumbling wood, soft spots etc. Other times it’s a lot harder and may require an expert. By looking at a tree it is hard to tell if it is structurally sound. Rot usually occurs from the inside out and makes it difficult to tell. The telltale signs of holes from insect are a good indicator that wood boring insects are present.

Cracks: Large cracks at the branch collar or center of the trunks are usually an indicator that a tree is structurally compromised. Mix in our heavy winds and dry contracting soils and you have a very dangerous mix.

You should never attempt to diagnosis and take down a tree on your own. Not all trees need to be removed. A dormant or diseased tree is not a dead tree. Call a certified arborist to get recommendations on how to proceed.  In addition it can be extremely dangerous to take down a structurally compromised tree as you have to climb the tree in order to cut the top.

We now have a site dedicated exclusively for our Irrigation services. Lawn Sprinklers Dallas.Com was created to offer our clients and the public at large, information on sprinkler related topics such as: installation, repair, backflow testing, water audits, system upgrades, drainage solutions, and most importantly water conservation. There you will find blog posts on a variety of helpful topics like:

• The difference of spray and drip irrigation
• How to upgrade your existing system
• New controller technology
• Foundation Watering
• Trouble Shooting
• FAQ’s
• Water efficient sprinkler heads
• New irrigation regulations
• Drought warnings, stages, and watering schedules
• Drainage Solutions and much more.

The site has an integrated blog which will be updated frequently to offer you the latest in water related topics.

Licenses LI0016405, BP0011273, IT0000956

We now have a new website dedicated exclusively to Outdoor Lighting. The Outdoor Lighting Expert.Com is loaded with information such as:

• How to pick the right fixtures for your home
• New LED fixtures and their benefits
• Landscape Lighting Design
• Common FAQ’ s
• Troubleshooting help
• How to choose a transformer and more..

This site has a blog format and will be constantly updated with tips and information. Whether you want to Do It Yourself or call in a professional, The Outdoor Lighting Expert will help you travel the maze of options that are now available to you in this ever changing market.

In the summer my family spends most of our time out-of-doors. We work and play outdoors. We eat outdoors. Sometimes we even sleep outdoors. But when winter comes, our house is our haven.  My wife and I do everything we can to make our home comfortable and enjoyable for our children. We want our kids to want to stay at home and to bring their friends here, especially now that they are teenagers and have interests of their own.

Here’s what we do to get the house ready for family time in the winter.

Safe and Warm

We heat with wood, mostly. (We do have a gas furnace for the really cold days, or days when we are gone all day.) I cut and split wood all year round to make sure we have enough dry, seasoned wood for the winter. Well before winter comes the wood is neatly stacked and ready to be used.

I also keep a supply of kindling in a wooden storage bench. I make sure the bench and anything else that’s flammable is at least 18 inches from the wood stove.

The wood stove is the center of family life in winter. Before we use it I clean it all out and make sure it’s in perfect working order. We have a new stove, and it burns much cleaner than the older ones. I also make sure to check the fireplace damper to ensure it’s working properly.

I have a chimney sweep come in to make sure all’s okay in that department. Because we only burn seasoned hardwood, our chimney stays pretty clean, not much creosote buildup. Creosote, as you probably know, is a major cause of chimney fires.

I also put up winter drapes. We live in the country and don’t have near neighbors, so in summer we go curtain-less. But in winter we need the extra warmth. We had thermal-lined curtains made to order for the family room; they are quite attractive and they keep the cold out at night.

Unseen Safety Chores

I do a number of chores to keep my family safe that they don’t even know about. But, believe me, if I didn’t do them, we might all be very unhappy.

What I’m talking about are things like:

·      Replacing batteries in smoke alarms, flashlights, and carbon monoxide detectors;
·      Inspecting the fire extinguishers and replacing them if they are not in good working order;
·      Making sure we have a good supply of ice melt, and that it’s easy to get to;
·      Stocking up water in case we lose power. A gallon a day for each of us, including the dog, for three days;
·      Checking and refilling the emergency kit. We’ve never used it, but sometimes things get “borrowed” and not put back; and
·      Sealing foundation cracks and holes so rodents can’t get in. Rodents aren’t just annoying pests, they can chew the insulation off electrical wires and cause fires.

Winter Fun

We also stock up on the latest games that we can play as a family.  Last year we got a ping-pong table for the basement. Maybe we’ll get something smaller this year for the family room. That’s the kids’ job – to recommend games.

When it comes to games, the old standbys still come out on top. Monopoly, Clue, Scrabble, and card games are still popular with our teens and their friends.  This winter we’re all going to learn chess.

I hope you and yours enjoy your winter and stay safe.

Author Bio

Stan Horst lives and works in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He and his family enjoy outdoor activities, including winter sports.  Stan is a former cabinetmaker. Now he shares his knowledge of fine carpentry on his website www.betterbenches.com, where he helps people choose the perfect bench. Stan’s personal favorite is the Kingsley Bate bench.

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Sprinkler leaks,  Broken Heads,    How long does a sprinkler installation take?    Sprinkler leaks How to tell if you have a leak,   How much does a sprinkler system cost?     How do I know if my contractor is licensed? Texas water news

What is a French Drain?

The French drain is not from France. In fact it was popularized by Henry French (1813-1885), a lawyer and assistant US Treasury Secretary of Concord, Massachusetts, in his book Farm Drainage.

A French Drain is a trench dug in the ground either around the perimeter of your house or between your house and your neighbors property. The drawing shows the cross section of a French drain.

Gravel is used to envelope the perforated pipe to slow down and filter the water and debris that enters into the pipe. The pipe is to be installed with a sufficient slope to move the water to the desired location, usually an alley or to a pop up in the lawn area.

French Drains are the most popular and affective form of drainage solution used today. The most common installation area is between two neighboring properties. In most cities it is against local ordinances to drain onto someone else property. Always take that into consideration when adding additions, pools, or any other type elevation change. Not doing so is a good way to turn Neighbor into your enemy.

It is good to plan your annual flower bed says Dallas Landscape DesignerMaria Bargellini, President of Dallas Curb Appeal.  Dallas Curb Appeal offers a variety of landscape services to clients in Dallas and Collin county Texas. Dallas Curb Appealis a Landscape Company that has been in business for over 10 years providing a variety of landscape and and design services.  If you want the very best, trustworthy, reliable, and professional call Maria Bargellini at 214-257-8155 and learn how you can make sure to have the most beautiful yard on your block.

How do you know when you need a French drain?

There’s a difference between having a drainage problem and too much water overwhelming your landscape. In North Texas we have heavy clay soil. Once the clay soil is saturated with water any additional rain or sprinkler water will have nowhere to go but to run off or stand in place if the drainage slope is not corrected.

How to Recognize if you have Drainage Problems

• Standing water around the perimeter of your house
• Standing water between your house and your neighbors house
• Consistently muddy areas around your property

Types of Drainage Solutions

• French Drains
• Dry River Beds
• Catch Basins
• Ponds
• Rain Barrels

It is good to plan your landscape drainage says Dallas Landscaper Maria Bargellini, President of Dallas Curb Appeal.  Dallas Curb Appeal offers a variety of landscape services to clients in Dallas and Collin county Texas. Dallas Curb Appeal is a Landscape Company that has been in business for over 10 years providing a variety of landscape and and design services.  If you want the very best, trustworthy, reliable, and professional call Maria Bargellini at 214-257-8155 and learn how you can make sure to have the most beautiful yard on your block.