Bushes and trees have their own personality, character and look. They have to fit in the plans you have for your garden design. Pruning, trimming, cutting and sawing become a major part of their development with careful planning and regular care they will define how your garden looks.

Hedges frame the garden. These living walls are ideal for dividing property or adding visual accents through artistic shapes. Trimming is vital for healthy and dense hedges and can be done manually or by help of electric or battery-driven hedge trimmers.

Cutting flowers or pruning bushes or trees is essential for the vitality of the plants. Pruning helps the plants to use their energy in a more productive way. Depending on the branches that need to be cut, different cutting tools can be helpful: Secateurs for flowers and thin branches, loppers and branch pruners for bushes and trees.

If pruning loppers are not strong enough to get your trees in shape, GARDENA's hand saws are the right choice. They can even be used in great heights using one of the GARDENA combisystem handles. For even more demanding tasks such as making fire wood, GARDENA chainsaws are the right products.

Read the original:
Tree and Shrub Care by GARDENA - Garden Pruning Bushes Trees

By Bel Mooney for the Daily Mail

Published: 19:32 EST, 26 December 2014 | Updated: 20:01 EST, 26 December 2014

Dear Bel

IT IS approaching the first anniversary of my husbands death and, other than the hospice he died in, Ive nowhere to go to pay my respects.

Because of his illness, we were only married for six months, but prior to this we had eight wonderful years together.

A man can spend all his life running . . . He should stop and think . . . Then he should pick something that will better him, that is good for him, and try to achieve it. Then hes running towards something.

From The Shiralee by DArcy Niland (Australian writer, 1917-67)

My problem is his son. He never wanted us to be married and I have always believed it was due to the inheritance, but he did seem to accept it until my husbands death, as I was to discover.

I can assure you he was well provided for in the will, which I actually persuaded my husband to change in his favour.

The son arranged everything for the funeral and finally revealed his true feelings about me at the service.

The rest is here:
BEL MOONEY: My cruel stepson refuses to give me his dad's ashes

When storms hit, umbrellas get opened and motorists slow down to avoid hydroplaning on wet roads. But the heavy rainfall also means pollutants such as toxic metals and oils are washed off city streets and into local waters. And that is a major hazard to fish, shellfish and recreators.

According to Dr. Chris May, Manager of Kitsap County Storm Water Projects, the pollutants from stormwater runoff can be reduced by bringing the 600 or so stormwater ponds in the county up to modern standards, and by using treebox filters to clean the water before it flows off the land.

May spoke to the Central Kitsap Community Council recently about what the multi-agency group Clean Water Kitsap has done to keep the waters of Sinclair Inlet, Dyes Inlet and Liberty Bay as clean as possible.

Clean Water Kitsap's efforts have paid off: they say lab tests show that in 2013 the county removed over 1,700 tons of potentially harmful solid material from catch basins, ponds and roads including 529 pounds of toxic metals such as copper, lead and zinc and 304 gallons of oil.

* Duwe'iq Wetland Treatment Facility

The Duwe'iq Wetland Treatment Facility project is one of the larger projects on the horizon. The facility plans show an S-shaped waterway several hundred meters in length located in a lot behind the Car Toys store in Silverdale. It would collect and clean runoff in the area. Currently the runoff is flowing untreated into Clear Creek.

May believed the project would be the first time in the state where a stormwater pond was used to treat water from commercial areas.

Normally these projects only focused on county lands, May said, not commercial land.

"But to be quite honest with you, if you want to clean up Puget Sound or if you want to clean up Dyes Inlet or if you want to clean up Clear Creek you have to address the commercial areas that were built and had no stormwater treatment."

Otherwise, stormwater from about a 27-acre area would not be treated. And business owners were unlikely to do anything to manage stormwater runoff on their own, May said.

Read more from the original source:
Cleaning Kitsap's runoff proves to be a big job

The Washington Post Ebola in Sierra Leone

KOINADUGU, Sierra Leone His daughter had just been coaxed into an ambulance bound for the Ebola center. As Foday Kalma watched, his neighbors and relatives crowded around the vehicle, wailing that she was being driven to her death.

Kalma, 43, couldnt bear it. He had already lost his wife and mother-in-law to the disease. Suddenly, to his astonishment, 9-year-old Fatmata jumped out of the ambulance. She dashed to where he was standing with her two siblings. Thats when Kalma made a split-second decision that would rattle the regions medical establishment: He gathered his kids and bolted for the jungle.

Another family of possible Ebola carriers was on the run.

Six months after the worlds largest Ebola outbreak began, experts say one of their biggest challenges is convincing people to trust the medical system. Families still hide suspected Ebola victims or refuse to take them to health facilities. The problem exists in Liberia, but some foreign health officials say its even more daunting in Sierra Leone, where the transmission rate continues to climb even as it declines in the neighboring country.

In rural areas like Koinadugu, a district bordering Guinea, the problem is especially severe. There is no electricity or running water, let alone a modern hospital. Medicine usually means local herbs, generic malaria pills or the advice of a local healer. People whisper that disinfectant spreads the disease rather than kills it.

The influx of foreign health workers in moonsuits has terrified residents. Recently, a villager arrived at the districts Ebola isolation center and demanded that his daughter be taken away from the white people.

Another man with Ebola symptoms climbed a tree to escape a team that wanted to bring him in for treatment.

Hes going to starve out there, said John F. Koroma, one of the contact tracers who had been trying for nearly a week to bring him in.

Every day, teams of officials plunged into the jungle, searching for people exposed to Ebola who had fled medical treatment. Officially, 1,583 people have died from the disease in Sierra Leone since May. But authorities suspect entire families have perished in the wilderness, before Ebola tests were even taken. Kalma and his children could be next, officials feared.

View post:
Stricken with Ebola, a family runs into the jungle

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly gave the age of Fatmata Kalma, who is 6 years old. This version has been corrected.

KOINADUGU, Sierra Leone His daughter had just been coaxed into an ambulance bound for the Ebola center. As Foday Kalma watched, his neighbors and relatives crowded around the vehicle, wailing that she was being driven to her death.

Kalma, 43, couldnt bear it. He had already lost his wife and mother-in-law to the disease. Suddenly, to his astonishment, 6-year-old Fatmata jumped out of the ambulance. She dashed to where he was standing with her two siblings. Thats when Kalma made a split-second decision that would rattle the regions medical establishment: He gathered his kids and bolted for the jungle.

Another family of possible Ebola carriers was on the run.

Six months after the worlds largest Ebola outbreak began, experts say one of their biggest challenges is persuading people to trust the medical system. Families still hide suspected Ebola victims or refuse to take them to health facilities. The problem exists in Liberia, but some foreign health officials say its even more daunting in Sierra Leone, where the transmission rate continues to climb even as it declines in the neighboring country.

In rural areas like Koinadugu, a district bordering Guinea, the problem is especially severe. There is no electricity or running water, let alone a modern hospital. Medicine usually means local herbs, generic malaria pills or the advice of a local healer. People whisper that disinfectant spreads the disease rather than kills it.

The influx of foreign health workers in moonsuits has terrified residents. Recently, a villager arrived at the districts Ebola isolation center and demanded that his daughter be taken away from the white people.

Another man with Ebola symptoms climbed a tree to escape a team that wanted to bring him in for treatment.

Hes going to starve out there, said John F. Koroma, one of the contact tracers who had been trying for nearly a week to bring him in.

Every day, teams of officials plunged into the jungle, searching for people exposed to Ebola who had fled medical treatment. Officially, 1,583 people have died from the disease in Sierra Leone since May. But authorities suspect entire families have perished in the wilderness, before Ebola tests were even taken. Kalma and his children could be next, officials feared.

Read the original here:
Stricken with Ebola, a family runs away from treatment and into the jungle

A local white fringe tree planted along the bike path is now famous as the first documented non-ash tree host of an invasive beetle that was thought to only prey upon ashes.

Also famous is the local ecologist who made the discovery thanks to perseverance and a little luck.

After scouring the village, Wright State University biology professor Don Cipollini, who lives in town, first saw the telltale signs of an emerald ash borer infestation in a white fringe tree planted along the bike path on Corry Street this summer.

Last month Cipollinis lucky discovery of a dead adult male beetle in a log of the same tree led the U.S. Department of Agriculture to officially confirm the white fringe tree as a host. Previously, it was thought that the emerald ash borer could only reproduce in and kill ash trees.

Who would have thought that whats off of the bike trail in Yellow Springs could change possibly federal policy? Cipollini said in a recent interview.

Cipollinis revelation, soon to be published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, has alarmed everyone from nursery owners to entomologists to policymakers. Not only might the white fringe tree be driven to extinction in Ohio where the native species is already threatened, but the spread of the emerald ash borer into warmer southern climes, where white fringe trees are more common in the wild, means the invasive beetle will bring even more devastation as it marches south.

The implications of Cipollinis discovery are profound. The white fringe tree, which grows wild along the Ohio River and is becoming a popular ornamental elsewhere in Ohio, may soon become quarantined by the federal government, effectively removing it from the nursery trade. His finding also opens the door to the potential that other species related to the ash, such as wild and cultivated olive trees, may be under threat from the emerald ash borer.

While some scientists are holding out hope that Cipollinis findings are an anomaly (even though he has found evidence of white fringe tree infestation elsewhere in the Dayton and Cincinnati area), most are responding with a mixture of fear and dread.

Everything we think we knew about the emerald ash borer may not be right, Cipollini said. This finding changes our view of what emerald ash borer can do. Now people are thinking Whats next?

Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer was unknown in this country until 2002, when it was discovered killing trees in southeastern Michigan and Windsor, Ontario.

View post:
Scientist finds new ash borer host

Question: I would like to add a plumbago shrub to my flower bed. Is it better to plant it now or wait until spring?

Answer: Take just a little risk and plant the plumbago now. Fall is a good time to add new trees, shrubs and perennials to the landscape. Plumbagos are a bit cold sensitive, often exiting winter with some outer stem damage. The lower stems normally survive and regrow attractive new plants. If you are in a very cold area, you might wait until spring to do the planting otherwise a plumbago shrub added at this time should root into the surrounding soil and be ready to make new growth by spring.

Q: My amaryllis have grown dense and need dividing. The tops are still green. When can I dig them up?

A: Amaryllis don't seem to mind when you do the dividing. University studies suggest when they are dug during the fall and given a short rest, they flower better in late winter or spring. At this late date, why not dig the bulbs, trim the tops back to within 6 inches of the bulbs and replant? This transplanting process should give them the rest they need and maybe encourage more flowers for spring.

Q: Our hibiscus bloomed a lot this year but has grown rangy here in Orlando. When is the best time to prune the plant?

A: Central Florida winters are too unpredictable to do much pruning at this time. You can remove extremely lanky or out-of-bounds shoots during fall but it might be best to delay major pruning of hibiscus until mid-February. Enjoy the late-season blooms at this time and when pruning time arrives, remove cold-damaged portions and reshape the plants as needed. Do remove some of the oldest stems to give new growths a chance to regrow your plant.

Q: The lemons on our tree are turning a brownish color on one side. What could be the reason and are they edible?

A: While these are probably not fruits you are planning to share with friends, the lemons are edible. Barely visible rust mites likely discolored the sunny sides as they sucked juices from the rinds. The same mites can affect oranges, tangerines and other citrus fruits. Usually the mites start to build their populations in late spring. This is one reason gardeners often apply a horticultural oil labeled for citrus in June or July. The populations can rebuild during fall and another treatment following label instructions may be needed.

Q: I recently harvested the summer sweet potato crop and have baked a few of the roots. They have a bland taste. Why?

A: First-dug sweet potatoes are likely to be a big disappointment at the dinner table. The orange-colored roots need to go through a curing process to become moist and develop their sweet taste. Keep the newly-dug sweet potatoes in a warm, humid location for a week or two. Then store them in a cool spot for about six weeks before use. This curing process helps heal the wounds caused at digging and promotes the formation of sugars within the roots.

Link:
Worth the risk: Put plumbago in ground now

This Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 photo shows a small rosemary "tree" sitting on a windowsill that provides beauty, fragrance, and flavoring despite the snowy background on the other side of the window in New Paltz, New York. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

WASHINGTON -- As the weather cools down and winter looms, new gardening mysteries arise. But with the right plants and proper soil treatments, savvy gardeners can make it through.

The secret to rosemary Christmas tree survival

Yes, I know; it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But one of my favorite holiday plants is already on sale at garden centers and upscale supermarkets across our region, and I feel obligated to help you not kill these treasures right away. I'm talking about the lovely and fragrant living rosemary plants that have been pruned into the shape of Christmas trees and sold in festive pots.

These little trees make great living outdoor decorations. And, as people who do a lot of cooking have learned, there's usually more usable herb on these things than you'd get for three times the price in any other form.

And yes, I do mean outdoors. While rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that won't survive bitter cold temperatures, it's much heartier than the traditional plants of summer and can stay outside as long as the nights don't dip below 30. If they do threaten to plummet deeper, just bring it inside for the night.

But it won't survive any weather if it's trapped in that tiny little pot. The problem with these plants is that the producers have to start with a really big shrub (or multiple shrubs crammed together) to be able to prune them into the desired shape. You'll see when you lift the plant out the pot -- it's all big roots down there, with very little room for soil.

So to prevent the classic "death by browning in three days," these trees should be replanted into a container twice as large as soon as you get them home; otherwise, the root-bound beauties won't last a week. Just lift the plant out of the old pot and get some compost, high-quality garden soil or a bagged potting mix that doesn't contain chemical fertilizers, and a bigger pot with good drainage holes in the bottom.

Put a couple of inches of soil in the new pot, drop the root ball on top and add or remove soil until the old soil line is at the right spot for the new plant. Then fill in the sides, tamp it all down gently and let the whole thing sit in a sink with a few inches of water for an hour. Then let it drain. It's best not to rewrap the pot, but if you must, make sure no water sits down there.

Rock the plant every couple of days. When it seems to be somewhat lighter in weight, repeat the watering process. Don't overwater, or let water sit inside the wrap or in a protective saucer underneath.

View post:
LM - HOLD: Guide to festive trees and the merriest of mulches

This Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 photo shows a small rosemary "tree" sitting on a windowsill that provides beauty, fragrance, and flavoring despite the snowy background on the other side of the window in New Paltz, New York. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

WASHINGTON -- As the weather cools down and winter looms, new gardening mysteries arise. But with the right plants and proper soil treatments, savvy gardeners can make it through.

The secret to rosemary Christmas tree survival

Yes, I know; it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But one of my favorite holiday plants is already on sale at garden centers and upscale supermarkets across our region, and I feel obligated to help you not kill these treasures right away. I'm talking about the lovely and fragrant living rosemary plants that have been pruned into the shape of Christmas trees and sold in festive pots.

These little trees make great living outdoor decorations. And, as people who do a lot of cooking have learned, there's usually more usable herb on these things than you'd get for three times the price in any other form.

And yes, I do mean outdoors. While rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that won't survive bitter cold temperatures, it's much heartier than the traditional plants of summer and can stay outside as long as the nights don't dip below 30. If they do threaten to plummet deeper, just bring it inside for the night.

But it won't survive any weather if it's trapped in that tiny little pot. The problem with these plants is that the producers have to start with a really big shrub (or multiple shrubs crammed together) to be able to prune them into the desired shape. You'll see when you lift the plant out the pot -- it's all big roots down there, with very little room for soil.

So to prevent the classic "death by browning in three days," these trees should be replanted into a container twice as large as soon as you get them home; otherwise, the root-bound beauties won't last a week. Just lift the plant out of the old pot and get some compost, high-quality garden soil or a bagged potting mix that doesn't contain chemical fertilizers, and a bigger pot with good drainage holes in the bottom.

Put a couple of inches of soil in the new pot, drop the root ball on top and add or remove soil until the old soil line is at the right spot for the new plant. Then fill in the sides, tamp it all down gently and let the whole thing sit in a sink with a few inches of water for an hour. Then let it drain. It's best not to rewrap the pot, but if you must, make sure no water sits down there.

Rock the plant every couple of days. When it seems to be somewhat lighter in weight, repeat the watering process. Don't overwater, or let water sit inside the wrap or in a protective saucer underneath.

Visit link:
Guide to festive trees and the merriest of mulches

Last week, the U.S. Forest Service released a report evaluating the effectiveness of fuel treatments during the Mountain Fire in July 2013.

The primary goal of the report was to assess the effect of the treatments on the fires behavior and intensity and their ability to improve fire suppression efforts near communities.

Our trends suggest that fuel treatments can facilitate suppression activities and potentially reduce fire behavior and fire effects, depending on the fire weather or conditions, the reports authors concluded. The more recent the treatment, the more likely it reduced fire severity or aided fire suppression.

The Forest Service studied areas that had received fuels treatments such as tree removal, mechanical thinning, pile burns and prescribed area burns. The period covered started in the mid-1990s, but most of the work was accomplished in the past decade. The study also examined the effect of two previous fires in or near the Mountain Fire area.

Fuelbreaks in or near the burned area were generally beneficial. However, the authors noted that in areas where the fuelbreaks near private land were connected to treatments on agency land, they were more likely to reduce the fires effects. Where this was not the case (e.g., around much of the Bonita Vista fuelbreak), the fire burned through untreated fuels on private land.

Forest Service investigators also observed a treatment shadow where the value of fuel treatments extended beyond their boundaries. These treatment shadow benefits included diminished fire behavior when it moved to untreated areas; reduced production of embers; and eased fire containment activities.

The fire severity data indicated that areas with taller pre-fire shrub cover tended to have the potential for higher substrate (soil) and vegetation (shrubs) burn severity.

Another conclusion important to efforts on the Hill was the recognition that coordinated efforts of private landowners and the Mountain Area Safety Task Force in completing fuels reduction projects helped save homes in the communities.

Everyone on the Hill should know that this analysis supports the basic principle that both we and the fire agencies have been acting on for years: reducing fuel around homes and the community increases the safety of both, said Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council President Mike Esnard. The report has other useful lessons for land managers in the design of fuel treatments, but overall it argues for the value of consistent fuel reduction in and around the mountain communities.

The area burned during the Apache Fire in 2008 was also less receptive to the devastation of the Mountain Fire. This reinforced the principal of fire as a natural fuel treatment process.

See the original post:
Local fuel treatments help during big fires: Organizations performed work prior to Mountain Fire