OK, I confess- I am passionately, and up until now, quietly, working to remove toxic chemicals and toxic practices from the wonderful world of arboriculture (the art, science technology, and business of tree care). Most of us think trees are good, but we don’t all know why. We also don’t, for the most part, think much about them until they fall down, break something, turn brown, begin to lift the driveway, or start dripping sticky stuff on our cars. Sadly, most of us don’t know how to care for our trees and other landscaping. We trust that the mow and blow guy is a genius in all things and would never dream of doing anything to hurt our precious plants. This may not the way to handle these leafy creatures that can shelter, cool and please us, and make our properties look spiffy. We probably spend more time deciding where to eat lunch than we do making sure that the landscape we are responsible for, that we paid for, is well cared for by people who truly specialize in such things.

 Not to say that there aren’t mow and blow guys who know about trees, but I guarantee they are not likely to know the latest and most prudent practices of eco-friendly landscaping. Perhaps you have had such an experience in your own yard, where your prize ornamentals were all treated equally-sheared off at the knees, sprayed with who-knows-what and left gasping for proper attention. Proper pruning will never look bad.

It is finally becoming “chic” to be ecologically responsible for your trees, for your property-no matter how large or small. Many of you have been doing this forever-greenies to your souls. Not using toxic chemicals and unnecessary fertilizers on your trees and other landscape plants is the way to be “IN“, although millions have been living this way for totally different reasons having nothing to do with popularity-only a growing sense of comman sense. I assure you, this does not mean that you have to have a shabby looking landscape, insect riddled gardens, or anything less than absolutely beautiful! There are hundreds of very fine products out there that work without polluting the water sources, giving your children and pets cancer, killing every earthworm for miles, or murdering the birds that come to your place looking for a snack.

There are amazing professionals–gardeners, arborists, ecologists out there who specialize in these marvelous things and can guide you towards healthy and beneficial personal green spaces. You will have the best of gardens, “Eco-Chic” gardens, environmentally responsible practices abounding, birds galore (without hanging feeders), butterflies, ladybugs (without buying them in bags) and your friends, secretly jealous, because you thought of it first.
 2010 Shades of Green Horticulture

The American public is quick to grab the quick fixes when it comes to killing insects, and most  stores are more than happy to arm them with something like Merit rather than discuss other options more friendly to the environment and us as well. A vendor  of this and other toxic products  shared with me that he had indeed used Merit to combat bark beetles in a very large Ponderosa pine on his property. A couple weeks after using the product as a soil drench, he was stunned to find thousands of dead honey bees at the base of the treated tree. I know that many of my  arborist colleagues use this product, perhaps not knowing the fatal outcome. I hope they read this story, written by Paul Tukey on Thu, Sep17,2009. I also hope my readers will think twice before buying and using products such as this one.

Pesticide Implicated in Widespread Bee Deaths  

While environmental activists including the SafeLawns Foundation claimed a temporary victory Wednesday, Sept. 16 in the emerging battle concerning the widespread use of imidacloprid in Worcester, Mass., beekeepers and many other observers across North America are deeply concerned about the precedents being set in the rural community.

As the threat of exotic invasive pests spreads- just as more alarming information becomes available about the pesticides currently in use - it is imperative correct decisions be made in situations for which no easy answers exist. Read the rest of this entry »

Talking about trees is one of the most joyful things I do and helping people learn more about how to care for them is my passion. There are many misperceptions about what an arborist does or does not do, and Tree Clinics can help. This time I will be discussing general tree care using organic methods and will include watering, fertilizers, pests, pruning, planting, tree selection, mulching, staking and more. You can bring your questions and any concerns you may have about your trees and join us for a casual but informative session in the historic persimmon orchard at Cold Spring Ranch in Newcastle. 

 The 100 year old trees offer cool shade and respite from the summer heat and they are managed without chemicals pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. There is a large population of bluebirds hanging around right now as well as many other delightful birds. You can also see the organic vegetable garden plots, all in raised beds.  Please bring drinking water with you and wear a hat! There will be many helpful (free) handouts available and you may register for a free 1 hour  Arborist consultation at your home or business. I hope to see you there and I know you will enjoy this friendly gathering of tree lovers, tree huggers and those wanting to learn more about our leafy friends. The class will be held across the street from A&A Stepping Stone    at 10240 Ophir Road, Newcastle on Saturday, July 18, 9am-11am. Look for the big blue house!

 Please contact me at (916-663-2872) or email me at vickypepper@att.net    for further information.

Whenever someone asks me about Miracle Grow™ being sold by the billions of gallons to unsuspecting “newbie” gardeners, I always say the same thing: it is like putting your plants on speed, methamphetamine, crack! The more you use, the more the plants need. In addition, this particular salt-based liquid fertilizer will continue to degrade the soil and soon nothing organic will live there. By this I mean earthworms and other beneficial organisms that improve the quality of the soil naturally.  Synthetic fertilizers NEVER improve the soil. Although it is true that plants don’t know the difference between these and organic fertilizers and soil amendments, the soil and all of the billions of friendly organisms living there are very aware of the chemical changes taking place, and they get to the point where they show their displeasure in a logical way–they leave! The soil becomes lifeless and dry, empty without nutritive value–like really cheap white bread. It looks like bread, but check  the ingredients and you’ll find nothing you even recognize as being a component of anything edible. Read the rest of this entry »