Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The Rock Creek tree crew from left to right: Josue Guevara (in the bucket), Supervisor Kevin Freeman, Sherwood Hall, and Bobby Rutkowski. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Freeman/NPS)

by Marlene Berlin

I wrote in January about a drivers close call with a falling tree in Rock Creek Park. By the next day, the tree was no longer blocking Ridge Road.

The tree removal was the work of a National Park Service crew that keeps Rock Creek Parks roads and trails clear and safe for the park staff and the public. Kevin Freeman is the supervisor of what will be a five-person team once two additional hires are cleared to start work. Freeman and Josue Guevara are the certified arborists on the crew, with a third to join them.

Freeman and the three crew members who were on the team when I spoke and corresponded with him have worked in Rock Creek Park anywhere from three to 40 years. This is his second tour with the Rock Creek tree crew, and his first as its leader. Freeman joined the team in 2016, then left a few years later to work at Yosemite National Park as a supervisor. But he wanted to return to the East Coast, so when he heard that the tree crew supervisor position had opened up, he applied.

Kevin Freeman with one of the tools of the trade.

Freeman explained that it took two crew members about three hours to clear the tree that had fallen on Ridge Road in January, with the assistance of their crane truck. And when they dont have trees to remove, they still have plenty of work to do.

The crew also identifies and removes dead trees that are hazardous to the safety of visitors, whether they are near roads, trails, and picnic areas, or next to private residences. They are also responsible for pruning, to preserve trees and protect the public. They cut foliage back from roads. And they do snow removal.

Also: Our area of responsibility is vast, Freeman told me in an email. We are responsible for all federal green space and parks from the Maryland border (North side of Rock Creek park proper), west to Chevy Chase Circle and Fort Bayard, East to Fort Bernard Hill/Fort Totten and south to Canal Road. This includes Meridian Hill Park, Montrose Park/Dumbarton Oaks, Battery Kemble, Fort Reno, Woodley Park/Playground, Georgetown Waterfront Park and Glover Archibald, just to name a few. We are also responsible for the entire length of the Rock Creek Parkway and adjacent lands, down to Thompson Boat Center. There are 32 miles of trails that the tree crew is responsible for keeping clear as well as many community gardens.

If its green, Freemans tree crew has probably worked there.

Most treefalls occur between July and September, Freeman said. This period is when thunderstorms are most powerful, and he said he has noticed an increase in the severity, frequency and impact of these storms over the years. But as we know, trees can come down anytime it rains.

And if those fallen trees pose a hazard or a barrier to hikers and drivers, the Rock Creek Park tree crew will soon be there to take them away.

See more here:
Meet the crew that quickly clears fallen trees from Rock Creek Park roads and trails - Forest Hills Connection

Published 5:58 pm Thursday, April 4, 2024

The City of Austin Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department has announced a new community outreach initiative: Treat NOW! Protect our ash trees before its too late.

The inaugural community outreach event is scheduled for 6 p.m., on April 9 at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is the most serious threat to Austins tree population since Dutch elm disease. The citys trees are decimated during the late stages of infestation, so the city is taking proactive measures to preserve what it can, while it can.

READ MORE: Parks and Rec taking treat first approach to EAB

Trees are a valuable resource and make our city beautiful. Tree removal is costly, and it takes a couple decades to return that value that was lost, Jason Sehon, Austins Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry, in a press release Thursday. Because of the drought we have been experiencing the last couple of years, it is difficult for [the City] to focus on replanting. Our current focus needs to be on treatment and removal of dangerous trees.

The goals of these events will be to:

This plan will talk about the value of our city trees and the benefits of treatment and re-planting, Sehon said. The thought is that home and business owners have the resources to water and care for trees.

The window for saving our ash trees by treating for EAB is rapidly closing. Ash tree treatment is most effective when applied in late spring, immediately after leaf out. With spring around the corner, Austin is running out of time to effectively treat the trees.

This spring may be the last season ash trees can be saved the release said.

For more information about this initiative or additional event details, please contact Kris Hahn at krish@ci.austin.mn.us.

Excerpt from:
Community initiative to save ash trees to be launched next week - Austin Daily Herald - Austin Daily Herald

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Original post:
Why are Robbinsdale's ash trees thriving? | Government | hometownsource.com - ECM Publishers

In this episode, our property specialists are challenged with a redesign project for another pair of first-time buyers with a taste for mid-century homes. The property that Egypt had for them possessed the specific architectural style they wanted, and it was also in excellent shape considering its age. However, the buyers longed for a more modern interior. "Almost everything in this kitchen has to go," said the couple upon taking a good look at the vintage-looking kitchen.

After closing the sale, the crew started right away with demolition. Since the fixtures were in great condition, Mike opted to donate the kitchen cabinets, a decision that was appreciated by many of the show's viewers. He then replaced them with a new set that was custom-built. In fact, all the kitchen elements were replaced paint, backsplash, flooring, appliances, and lighting. A huge island with double-sided storage was also put in. While both the clients and fans were impressed by the project as a whole, this beauty gets credit for the positive comments pertaining directly to the kitchen.

See more here:
Married To Real Estate: 10 Best Kitchen Renovations According To Fans - House Digest

Pre-emergent weed killers belong to a group of herbicides that dont kill unwanted plants. Instead, they stop seeds from sprouting in the first place. Various pre-emergent products are available for lawns, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. Knowing when to apply pre-emergent herbicide can mean the difference between having a lush, weed-free lawn, a yard riddled with dandelions and other unwanted plants, or no lawn or flowers at all.

Applying pre-emergent weed killers too soon can keep beneficial seeds from sprouting, and applying them too late wont do any good. The most effective pre-emergence herbicides are nonselective, says Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D., associate professor and turfgrass specialist at Oregon State University. They will prevent the germination of any plant establishing from seed, he says. Ahead, learn about when to use pre-emergent herbicides and when to wait.

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide will prevent seeds from sprouting, and since most weeds (like crabgrass, foxtail, and sandbur) germinate in late spring and emerge in summer, spring is usually the best time to act. Kowalewski suggests using the herbicides in spring if there were heavy weed populations on the property the previous summer. Just be sure not to combine seeding of any desired grass or plant with the application of pre-emergents. It is best to avoid their use altogether during the first year following seeding or sodding of a lawn.

A lawn might appear virtually weed-free going into fall, but then weeds suddenly appear. By this time, the pre-emergent applied in spring is no longer protecting the yard or beds, and a few invasive weed seed varieties, such as annual bluegrass, henbit, and chickweed, are lying in wait for cooler temps before sprouting.

A bonus fall application can also help control the next years summer weeds. After sprouting, hardy weeds will remain small, perhaps even unnoticeable, throughout the winter. But theyll revive in early spring and grow with a vengeance. By then, its too late to use a pre-emergenta post-emergent herbicide is necessary at that point. Break this cycle by controlling weeds before they have a chance to sprout.

Apply pre-emergents when the temperature is right.

For spring application, Some classic indicators for pre-emergence timing include atmospheric temperature that reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Kowalewski says. This will vary by region. For example, in southern USDA growing zones, such as Louisiana, appropriate temperatures typically hit around the first of March, while in North Dakota the temps will be more conducive to applying a pre-emergent in June.

A universal sign for when to apply pre-emergent herbicides is the blooming of forsythia shrubs, which Kowalewski says is a classic indicator that temperatures are getting close to summer annual germination.

In the fall, apply pre-emergent herbicides when daytime temperatures drop to about 70 degrees, since many winter/early spring weeds begin to germinate at temps below that.

Formulation slightly affects timing for pre-emergent herbicides.

There are two types of pre-emergent herbicides, liquid and granular. Both work to keep weed seeds from sprouting, but one works a little better and more quickly.

The active ingredients in specific pre-emergent weed killers can vary. Identifying the unwanted plants in your hard can help you choose the best pre-emergent and determine the best time to apply, whether for summer or winter annual weeds. Examples of active ingredients are:

Clemson University Extension posts a helpful list of the best active ingredients to tackle summer weeds and grasses. Herbicide products help consumers by listing the types of weeds they should kill on the packaging, in addition to the herbicides active ingredients and warnings.

Reseeding a lawn too soon after applying a pre-emergent herbicide may prevent the grass seeds from sprouting.

Kowalewski cautions that spring is not a good time to use pre-emergent herbicides if you want to sow grass seed in the spring. I would suggest [grass] seed or pre-emergence herbicides in the spring, not both, says Kowalewski. He suggests that homeowners overseed (or interseed) and fertilize in those springs that follow low-weed summers. Keeping turf coverage full and healthy can help prevent weeds from finding a home.

Likewise, spring is not the time to treat the soil in a garden or annual flower bed where beneficial seeds, such as flowers, corn, cucumbers, or squash, will be sown, since pre-emergence products can affect their germination. But for lawns and perennial flower beds, treatment with pre-emergent herbicides in early spring can drastically reduce the number of annual summer weeds.

Sowing any seed while a pre-emergent herbicide is still effective will prevent the wanted seeds from sprouting. Check package directions, but generally wait a minimum of 8 to 9 weeks after applying a pre-emergent to overseed or sow annuals. With winter grass species like fescue, which need cool temps to sprout, avoid fall application of pre-emergents. Instead, overseed the lawn at that time, or alternate seeding and use of pre-emergents.

Pre-emergent herbicides are generally safe on existing plants, says Kowalewski. But they can prevent desired annual flowers or vegetables sown by seed from coming up, so timing is critical. Be sure not to combine seeding with pre-emergence herbicides, Kowalewski says. Check package labels to ensure that a particular formula is meant for the type of weeds you want to stop; knowing the desired targets will help determine the best time for application.

Likewise, consult the products label for specific safety requirements when applying pre-emergent herbicides. When youre applying any pesticide, Kowalewski says it is best to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes and socks, gloves, and protective glasses. He also cautions to always shower after application, and to wash the clothes worn during application separately to reduce exposure. The effects of the ingredients vary among products, so be sure to read and follow all cautions regarding eye exposure, skin exposure, and possible toxicity to pets or children.

Avoid the need for pre-emergents or their repeated use by keeping lawns healthy and full, and by adding a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to beds in the spring to prevent weed seed growth. Plan timing of pre-emergents based on the type of weed, when it typically appears, and weather (both temperature and expected rainfall). For the best coverage, apply pre-emergents throughout a lawn or bed, not just where you have seen the weed grow. Using liquid formulas and watering after applying any pre-emergent herbicide will help spread the products coverage.

View post:
When to Apply Pre-Emergent to Prevent a Weedy Lawn and Garden - Bob Vila

Spring marks the return of flowering plants and warm weather. And homeowners know that spring also ushers in the return of the home renovation season.

Homeowners undoubtedly have an extensive list of projects on their to-do list this spring, and that may include helping their lawns and gardens recover after a long winter. Unpredictable weather, which can include drought and excessive rainfall and everything in between, can take its toll on a lawn. In certain instances, the best solution may be planting new grass. But homeowners can consider these tips before they begin the process of reseeding or replanting their lawns.

Scarifying a lawn (using a tool to clear matted grass and moss from the surface of your lawn and lightly opening up the ground to add air and improve growth) can help to create a clean slate, but the timing must be right. Various lawn and garden experts, including those at BBC Gardeners World Magazine, recommend scarifying in spring or early autumn. But dont jump the gun when scarifying in spring by doing so before the lawn has started to grow after a dormant winter. Scarify when the soil is a little wet and the grass is once again actively growing. Scarifying can remove any lingering weeds from last season and also pull up any moss that might have taken hold over the winter. Without weeds and moss to contend with, freshly planted seeds are in a better position to thrive.

Work with a landscaping professional

Homeowners with manageable lawns can likely scarify their own lawns with a relatively inexpensive plug-in scarifier. However, scarifying can be a strenuous physical activity, particularly for homeowners with large lawns. In such instances, homeowners can benefit from working with a qualified landscaping professional. Such a professional can scarify the lawn and subsequently reseed or replant new grass. The latter task is not so simple, as the lawn care experts at Scotts note that choosing the correct seed is a vital part of reseeding or replanting a lawn. Choosing seed may sound simple, but its a potentially complex decision that requires knowledge of the existing grass, including when to plant it. Certain grasses are best planted in spring or early fall, while others are best planted in summer. A qualified landscaping professional can identify the existing grass and plan the seeding or planting around this important detail.

Prepare to water the lawn

Watering is vital to the long-term success and health of freshly planted grass seed. Scotts urges homeowners to keep the top inch of soil consistently moist, but not soggy. That requires a daily commitment, and setting a multi-function hose nozzle or sprinkler to mist once per day or more if its hot outside can increase the chances grass will grow in thick and strong. Scotts recommends keeping the top two inches of the soil moist until the new grass reaches a mowing height of roughly three inches. Once that benchmark has been reached, watering frequency can be cut back to about twice per week, but now the soil should be deeply soaked instead of misted. The soaking will help roots grow deep into the soil.

Read this article:
What to know about reseeding or replanting your lawn - thepress.net

When a package was stolen from Omar Gabriel Munozs doorstep last week, he discovered it had been taken by a thief in an unusually trashy disguise.

His door camera captured the moment of theft when someone covered in a black plastic trash bag lumbered up Munozs front walk in Sacramento. The video shows a bag, with feet sticking out from underneath, move up to the porch and swallow a package.

At first, I thought they were messing with me, Munoz told ABC10.

He told the news outlet his initial reaction was anger, but then he saw humor in the thiefs creativity. He told Fox News that he didnt report the incident to police, saying the two phone chargers in the package only cost about $10.

Munoz, who provided the door-camera footage to Storyful, said hed gotten a notification of the packages arrival while at work but couldnt find it when he got home.

The parcel was small. He wondered if the wind had blown it away. Then he checked his security camera and found the unexpected footage.

At the end of the day, it was kind of funny, he told ABC10. I take everything in the good way because thats part of life. If you see the bad way of everything, youre going nowhere.

The rest is here:
Porch pirate caught on video wears trash bag to steal package - The Washington Post

A couple in Des Moines says the porch in their backyard was destroyed after they say a car crashed into it and drove off early Friday morning. Selina Orman and her husband tell KCCI they rent a home off of Cottage Grove Avenue. She says she came home Friday morning after seven to a portion of the porch left in pieces. "I was at my overnight job, and then I got a message from my husband saying someone drove into our house," Orman said. Orman's husband wasn't hurt and says he didn't see the car. Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCIDes Moines Police say this is a hit-and-run, and the person responsible could face charges for leaving the scene. The couple is confused about how this could happen because the porch isn't off of a main road; it's off an alleyway by a church parking lot. "We have a lot of people going in and out there, but at that time in the morning, I don't believe that we see a lot of activity like that," Orman said. The couple is asking the public to help. "I think if they see a vehicle that has some damage I did pick up a few pieces and handed it to the police, so if they can help us out with that, that would be wonderful," Orman said.

A couple in Des Moines says the porch in their backyard was destroyed after they say a car crashed into it and drove off early Friday morning.

Selina Orman and her husband tell KCCI they rent a home off of Cottage Grove Avenue. She says she came home Friday morning after seven to a portion of the porch left in pieces.

"I was at my overnight job, and then I got a message from my husband saying someone drove into our house," Orman said.

Orman's husband wasn't hurt and says he didn't see the car.

Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

Get the latest headlines from KCCI

Des Moines Police say this is a hit-and-run, and the person responsible could face charges for leaving the scene.

The couple is confused about how this could happen because the porch isn't off of a main road; it's off an alleyway by a church parking lot.

"We have a lot of people going in and out there, but at that time in the morning, I don't believe that we see a lot of activity like that," Orman said.

The couple is asking the public to help.

"I think if they see a vehicle that has some damage I did pick up a few pieces and handed it to the police, so if they can help us out with that, that would be wonderful," Orman said.

Originally posted here:
Des Moines couple says car crashed into their backyard porch, leaving it in shambles - KCCI Des Moines

Hawk and awe.

Thats a play on the phrase shock and awe, in case you were wondering. I never pass up an opportunity to sneak in an animal pun, though Ill admit I hit you (the reader) over the head with that one to start.

What would you do if you noticed that a hawk had somehow trapped itself inside your screened-in porch? Id imagine many people would just assume that if the big bird had found its way in there, it would likely find its way out. Maybe you go over and open up the door really wide, but what else can you really do?

Well one woman who had this happen to her decided to be a little more forward with the situation. She saw the hawk bouncing around and trying to fly through her screens and decided shed just go right in there and grab the dadgum thing.

Is that the smartest course of action? No, probably not. But did it work out for this woman in a crazy way? Yes, it sure did. Youre sitting here reading a story about it, so something must have gone incredibly right or horribly wrong.

Luckily for the woman, things went rather swimmingly. She reached out to calm it down, then grabbed the hawk on the back and started walking it out of the covered porch area. The woman provided this hilarious commentary as she helped transport the bird to freedom:

Oh my God. Oh my God, Im holding a freaking hawk.

She was shocked, but not as shocked as the hawk was. At one point, the woman turns the bird around to face the camera, and I guarantee you that youve never seen a look of bewilderment like this flying creature showcased as it was being carried by a human being, presumably for the very first time.

Its a hilarious watch, and the clip has a happy ending because the hawk eventually flies back off to freedom with one heck of a story to tell to its hawk friends and family. Check it out:

Continued here:
I'm Holding A Freaking Hawk Woman Grabs Hawk Trapped In Screened-In Porch & The Bird Could Not Have Been ... - Whiskey Riff

LED light strips give Bilal the ick because they tend to look cheap, when that is not the desired effect. They do not look expensive, they dont look high-end, they dont feel like elevated decor, he says. They literally just feel like you ordered an LED strip off Amazon and stuck it to your wall. And thats exactly what it is.

Vivien of Posh Pennies is particularly averse to battery-operated sconces, detesting the fact that they require remotes and batteries, and that they eventually stop getting used because they require recharging. If youre serious about where you want your light, then get it wired, pop in a smart bulb, put it on a schedule, and call it a day! So worth it, the interior design blogger and YouTuber explains. Bilal agrees that smart light bulbs are a much better alternative, especially if youre looking for the ability to easily change the mood of a room with lighting.

As sharing interior design on social media gains more and more traction, and we become accustomed to seeing beautiful rooms on the reg, it can be tempting to focus only on what looks good onscreen. Imani Keal, a design blogger who specializes in renter-friendly decor and DIY, often wonders whats going on beyond the frame of a quirky DIY space she sees on TikTok. They sometimes dont show the project in the context of the rest of the room or apartment, and its often because that project only looks good from one angle or as a vignette, she explains.

Its important to make sure a fun project actually works with the rest of your living space, rather than just conforming to the latest trend. The purpose of creating a beautiful space is so that it looks and feels warm and welcoming in real life and on the internet, not just in five-second clips, she adds. Garrett Le Chic fully agrees. As an interior designer, hes all about making updates to your home that are consistent with its architecture.

Renovating to change the style of your house in the long term doesnt always make the most sense because it just requires a lot more effort, a lot more money, a lot more work than is really necessary, he says. When, if you took the core elements, the backbone of what the architectural style of your house is, and you apply that, it works better in the long term.

Theres nothing like a good knickknack or piece of art to really liven up a room. With so many affordable online and brick-and-mortar home-goods stores, its easier than ever to find what you need to add in a space. This is both a blessing as a curse, as it means that now more than ever, theres a plethora of mass-produced items with no personality taking up space and collecting dust over time.

On the subject of word art, Phoenix has one question: Who is buying this? He continues, I know the Live, Love, Laugh signs of the early 2000s have faded out, but now its like very weird quotes on boards that people are spending between 10 and 20 dollars on. The amount of staged homes that Ive seen from real estate agents that have those too.

Read the original:
The 12 Cringiest Home Decor Trends, According to YouTubers and TikTokers - Architectural Digest