Quick Tree Facts

• There are approximately 25-30 million Real Christmas Trees sold in the U.S. every year.
• There are close to 350 million Real Christmas Trees currently growing on Christmas Tree farms in the U.S. alone, all planted by farmers.
• North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Eighty percent (80%) of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
• Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.
• There are more than 4,000 local Christmas Tree recycling programs throughout the United States.
• For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.
• There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christmas Trees in the U.S.; much of it preserving green space.
• There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry.
• It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of typical height (6 - 7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.
• The top Christmas Tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington. (See a complete list of all 50 states ranked by several variables.)
• The most common Christmas Tree species are: balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and your local Christmas Tree professional.

Lawn Thatching and Thatch
 
Define Thatch:
Lawn thatch is the excessive build up of unwanted material in your lawn that can choke out air, water, and sunlight. Excessive build up of thatch in your lawn can cause grass to stop growing and even become more prone to insects and lawn diseases. Thatch is composed of dead grass build up, pine needles, or moss.  It can also refer to the dead layer of sod that is left over after an insect infestation.

When is the best time to thatch a lawn?

The best time to thatch the lawn with a thatching rake is in the spring and in the early fall. Lawn thatching allows your lawn to recover before it gets too hot or too cold. Most lawns will not look that bad after they get de-thatched. Because lawn thatchers take a lot of moss or bad grasses out of your lawn, the lawn may need to be re-seeded in order for it to heal properly.  (If there is a lot of moss you may also need to add iron to get rid of the remaining moss before seeding.) Lawns with 'dead thatch' can be very tricky to deal with if insect damage is extensive. (See 'dead thatch' below) Lawn thatching can be done using a lawn thatcher or a thatching rake. 
 
Why use a power rake? (Thatch lawn)

Power-raking or dethatching a lawn can remove harmful yard build-up. This can allow water, air and sunlight to reach the surface of the soil. Lawns can grow better once lawn thatch has been removed. This can be done with a machine or by using a thatch rake.


Benefits of Lawn Thatching

In order to maintain a healthy lawn and keep it looking its best it may be necessary to thatch your lawn on a yearly basis. To know whether or not your lawn needs to be thatched annually, you need to be able to recognize whether or not you have a
thatch problem. Below are some of the most obvious signs that a thatch problem exists in your lawn:

 1.   You have a lot of moss in your lawn. Moss is referred to as living thatch.  It causes problems for your lawn because it is ugly and because it can out grow cool season grasses. Often these thatch problems are fairly easy to fix. The best way to fix a thatch problem caused by moss is to thatch it out with a thatching machine. A thatching machine works great because the moss has virtually no roots.  Having a thick healthy lawn going into the Winter, will make it less likely to have a severe moss
infestation.

 2.  Another sign that you have a problem with thatch is if you have dead grasses building up in your lawn.  This relates directly to two factors.  The type of grass you have in your lawn, and varying amounts of sunlight available to your lawn throughout the year.  The way to treat this is to thatch the lawn and then reseed it with better grasses. Unfortunately, this may only be a short term fix and you may end up needing to tear out the whole lawn and replacing it anyway. 

3.   Another sign that you have a thatch problem is if you have pine needles building up around the edge of your lawn.  Not only do the pine needles choke out water and sunlight, but they are also acidic.   You may need to use lime when over seeding these areas to counteract the effects of the acidic pine needles.  

4.   How do I de-thatch a lawn or get rid of thatch?
There are four ways to manually thatch your lawn.  If it is a small lawn, you could do it by hand. De-thatching a one thousand square foot front yard could easily take one man two or three hours. It is really backbreaking work. Most people prefer to de-thatch or thatch a lawn by renting a machine. These machines are called lawn thatchers or power rakes.  Another way is to hire professional to do this for you. Rates vary according to area, but in Seattle we typically charged $100-1$20 for a two thousand square foot yard including clean up.  With two people this will take about an hour. If you are doing this by yourself, you should plan on three to four hours. Bigger lawns will of course take longer. Before thatching make sure to mow your lawn about 1/3 shorter than usual. If you normally cut your grass at 1.5",cut it down to 1".  It is best to thatch when the grass is dry. A wet lawn    can very quickly turn into a messy problem.

5.   If the main problem is moss, try using iron first to get rid of the moss or lawn thatch.  (Sweet soil is an alkali that may raise the PH to inhibit future growth, however it is not very effective once the moss is already there.)  It may be important to stay on top of it, by adding moss out to your lawn in the Spring and the Fall. In Seattle, the best time to put the iron on the lawn is when it is actively growing.

6.   How often do I need to thatch my lawn?
It depends on the lawn and the type of climate. Most experts recommend thatching once every 3-5 years. Some yards may not need to be thatched for many more years.  You can determine if you have thatch by placing your foot on the grass and seeing if your foot makes an impression that stays on the lawn.  

WHAT IS LAWN AERATION?

Lawn aeration softens hard compacted soil by allowing water to penetrate into the lawn rather than just running off of the surface.  As the roots of the lawn grow deeper, you won't need to water it as often.  This can ultimately save you money on
watering your lawn.  It also allows the lawn to stay greener in the Spring, Summer and Fall.  Clay soil expands when the weather gets warm causing the soil to become compacted.  Lawn aeration is the process of using a hand lawn or mechanical aerator to aerate your lawn.  Aerating cuts small holes into the soil of your lawn allowing it to absorb more water, and stimulate deeper root growth thus reducing soil compaction.   A good lawn aeration also allows air and nutrients direct access to the lawns root system.  By removing soil cores from your lawn it gives the soil room for expansion, this reduces stress on the roots and gives you a nice looking lawn throughout the year. 

Five Major Benefits of Aerating a lawn
There are many benefits of core aeration. Core aeration keeps your lawn greener, reducing the cost of watering.

 1)  Improves drainage & reduces water runoff
2)  Reduces soil compaction
3)  Controls thatch development
4)  Reduces drought damage
5)  Allows water, air, and nutrients direct access to the lawns root system. 
 

HOW TO AERATE A LAWN

Knowing how to aerate a lawn is very important.  The best way to aerate a lawn is by using a core aerator.  You can use a hand coring aerator or a mechanical one.  If you choose a hand aerator, it is best to push it into the ground using your foot.   You should insert it to a depth of about two to three inches.   Most lawns are easier to aerate if they are watered the night before you aerate.   Avoid trying to aerate your lawn if the ground is too hard or too soft, because aeration will be ineffective and take a long time.  Hand coring aerators are recommended for fixing problem spots in the lawn and for lawns that have a surface area of five hundred square feet or less.   For larger lawns we recommend using a mechanical aerator.

Aerate around all the edges of the lawn first and then aerate the middle.  When you turn the aerator around to make a pass in the opposite direction, it is advised to remove the tines from the ground.   When you have re-positioned theaerator where you want to start aerating for the next pass, lower the tines back into the ground and continue the process.  For most lawns it is also a good idea to make two passes over the entire lawn.   Make sure and check to determine if the soil is compacted and getting enough water.


WHEN TO AERATE A LAWN

Lawn aerators are most commonly rented during the seasons of Spring and the Fall.  Lawn aeration can be done from February to Thanksgiving, but it does depend on the climate where you live and how cold it gets during the winter as well as the current condition of your lawn.  

The most common months for aerating your lawn during the Spring are March, April and May.  The most common months foraerating your lawn during the Fall are September and October.  Fall aeration is a good idea if you have especially compacted soil or a lot of traffic on your lawn. It also helps new lawns become established more quickly.  Once your lawn becomes
established, it is a good idea to aerate your lawn every one to three years. 
 


 

   In much of the country, fall is the ideal time to plant all kinds of things 
from cool-season veggies, turf grasses and perennials to both evergreen and 
deciduous trees and shrubs. Yet, strangely, when it comes to planting, many 
homeowners think only of spring.

   Before I explain why fall planting is so good for plants, let me first take 
a stab at attempting to define fall. Fall officially begins with the autumnal
equinox in late September, but fall weather varies considerably from one
part of the country to the next. Basically, the ideal period for fall planting is
roughly six weeks before the first hard frost.  And in northern areas of the
country, the ideal planting period might even be  late summer. In general,
the window of opportunity for most folks is during  September and October. 
 
    Why is fall planting so good for plants? In the fall, the warm soil 
encourages root growth. Roots continue to grow through the winter until the 
ground freezes, or in areas with mild winters, roots may continue to grow. In 
early spring, roots begin new growth or continue to develop at a faster rate, 
and top growth begins. While the same plant planted in spring gets a slow
start due to cool soils, the fall-planted plants are becoming well established.
Hence,  the spring-planted plant on the right lags. When summer finally arrives,
the  fall-planted plant is far better equipped to deal with heat and drought,
largely  due to its well-established root system.
 
    Of course, there are plenty of other good reasons to plant in the fall, too, 
such as dependable rainfall, cooler weather and fewer pest and disease
problems.  In addition, many plants are on sale at nurseries, which makes fall
planting  good for you, too.
 

Well this is my very first blog and it is dedicated to Charlie Pankey owner of Valet Marketing in Minden, NV. Thank you Charlie for creating this website.  I really appreciate your friendship and expert marketing skills. I really like your positive energy and enthusiastic personality. You have designed a website that reflects the "nature" of my business. I have enjoyed working with you. Charlie is a great role model for my kids. He is a Coach, Father, Husband, business owner, Church Member and my friend.
This BLOGS is for you Charlie!!!

Designing with Nature will be posting Monthly Blogs that will feature tips for your yard and landscape through out the season.
We look forward to helping you create that perfect oasis in your yard.