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News & Notes
Hewson Landscape, Inc. November 2011 |
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| Greetings! | |
 Hopefully, everyone has power restored and is back in action from the snow storm. We truly don't realize how much we depend on electricity for survival and how paralyzed we become when it's not available. This situation certainly separates the men from the boys. How good were your camping skills? As a follow up from last month, we decided to cancel the new piece of equipment we were looking to buy. The one that I described aids in cutting woody debris in fields and along fence lines. We could not demo the unit to experience the working capacity of the brush head cutter, so this was temporarily put on hold until we can check things out. I want to give a huge THANK YOU to all veteran's today for defending the US of A and protecting our freedom. I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving and I will speak to you again in December. (Wow, already?)
Shelly Hewson
President, Hewson Landscape Inc. |
| Winter Interest Shrub |  Winterberry is a species of holly native to eastern North America. It is a shrub growing to 1-5 m tall. It is one of a number of hollies which are deciduous, losing their leaves in the fall. In wet sites, it will spread to form a dense or tangled growth of small trees or bushes, while in dry soil it remains a tight shrub. The leaves are glossy green, with a serrated margin and an acute apex. The flowers are small, with five to eight white trimmed petals. The red fruit is ball shaped, which often persists on the branches long into the winter, giving the plant its English name. Like most hollies, it has separate male and female flowers on different plants of the same species; the proximity of at least one male plant is required to produce a powdery substance to the plants that contains male reproductive cells. It is carried by wind and insects to other plants, which it then fertilizes the females in order to bear fruit. The berries are an important food resource for numerous species of birds. The berries were used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes, the origin of the name "fever bush". The winterberry is prized for the midwinter splash of bright color from densely packed berries, whose visibility is heightened by the loss of foliage.The bare branches covered in berries are also popular for cutting and use in floral arrangements. It is a tough plant which is easy to grow, with very few diseases or pests. Although wet acidic soils are optimal, the winterberry will grow well in the average garden. Numerous cultivars are available, differing in size and shape of the plant and color of the berry. At least one male plant must be planted in proximity to one or more females for them to bear fruit. |
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| Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter |  Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter: The best way to prepare your garden for the winter is to plan the work ahead of time. With some thought, you won't be racing around your yard right before Thanksgiving trying to get all the work done before your family arrives from out of town. Mulching now improves soil fertility and moisture retention for next summer and little maintenance now will allow you to enjoy the beginning of a long season of bloom next spring. The weather has cooled off but that's no reason to think that your garden doesn't need the water it did in August. Continue to water throughout fall if rain is insufficient. Plants need about one inch per week, regardless of temperature. After each cold spell throughout the fall, you will notice that perennials gradually yellow, then brown, and lose their leaves. Cut down each group of plants as they go dormant. This saves you from the one-day whirlwind effort to cut down your whole garden. If you have annuals in your garden, removing them now will save you time in the spring. And remember to sprinkle any seeds of alyssum, cleome or larkspur where you want them for next year. Clean out any debris and autumn leaves that might form a home for rodents over the winter. You will want to replant as the nights start to cool, before the first frost. Their roots will continue to grow until the ground freezes, generally in midwinter. Hostas, peonies, iris and many other hardy perennials transplant best at this time of year. Pull up roots from spreading plants to shape the groups for next summer. These active growers will send out new shoots beginning as soon as the ground thaws in the spring. Harvest late fruits like quince and take in crops like green tomatoes about the time of the first frost. Put the nicest fruit in paper sacks to ripen. Use green fruit for relish and chutneys. Although the growing season stops with the first freeze, the garden will produce as long as the soil is warm and the days are sunny and mild. With the first hard freeze, though, it's time to pick it all and pack it in. Pull late annuals as soon as they freeze and cultivate to get all the roots and remaining weeds out. Add any organic amendments like compost and turn the garden soil so that topsoil gets to sleep and grow rich during the winter. Dig it into the soil to help aerate. After the top of the ground begins to freeze, prune the rest of the perennials, as well as shrubs and evergreens. Clean and sharpen tools for storage so you'll be ready to start again next spring. By May, you'll have well-rooted plants, eager to get growing in some real sunshine. |
| Preparing for a Power Outage |  Preparing for a Power Outage, The Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response has prepared a list of Safety, Security, and Health issues that you should use to prepare for a power outage. Safety Issues - Purchase items for your home, office and car including: flashlights, batteries, AM/FM battery powered radio, rechargeable power failure lights, wind up or battery alarm clock, and light sticks.
- Have a 72-hour emergency kit for each family member.
- Keep cash and change on hand. In power failures ATMs may not work and you may need to make a phone call at a pay phone.
(If you can still find one.) - Phones with answering machines and cordless phones are power dependent. Have at least one phone that does not require power in case you need to call 9-1-1. Keep cell phone powered up and order a charger for your vehicle.
- Familiarize yourself with your main electrical panel. You may have to turn off the main breaker or have to reset circuit breakers after an outage.
- If you use your fireplace for heat, be responsible! Don't burn wood with paint or stain. Do not leave an open flame. Make sure you close your fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying. Do not store newspapers, kindling, or matches near the fireplace.
- If you use candles for lighting, place them on a fire proof surface.
- Make sure you have smoke detectors in appropriate rooms. Change the batteries regularly, preferably every 6 months, and test them monthly. If your smoke detectors are wired directly into the electrical system of your home they will not operate during a power failure unless the batteries are working. Special smoke detectors are available for people with hearing impairment.
- Have a fire extinguisher and know how to operate it. Have a fire evacuation plan and practice fire drills.
- During the power outage, unplug all small appliances and electronics to avoid damage from power surge. Leave one low wattage incandescent light on so you know when the power comes back on.
- When power comes back on you may have to reset your clocks, VCRs, microwave ovens, programmable thermostats, burglar and fire alarms.
Security Issues - Have a plan for checking on and reuniting family members.
- Stay home and be safe during a power outage. Stores and gas stations may be closed.
- Don't add to the confusion by driving around. During an area-wide power outage, traffic signals may be out. If so, remember the intersection becomes a 4-way Stop.
- Watch for suspicious activity. Criminals may decide to take advantage of the power outage. Always call 9-1-1 if you notice suspicious activity.
Health Issues - Focus on children's needs. Provide flashlights or light sticks for each child that they can keep by their bed and in their backpacks. Discuss living without electricity and how the outage is usually short term.
- Elderly people and people with disabilities who are on power-dependent medical devices should arrange for back -up power with their vendors. Power-dependent devices include: medication pumps connected to IV, including pain control, anti-arrhythmia and chemotherapy; dialysis machines; home ventilators; and backup oxygen tanks.
- People who are medically dependent on electricity may need portable generators. Safely store fuel only in approved containers, outside, never in garages. Operate generators only outside, ensuring that exhaust will not enter the home through vents or windows. Only use fresh gasoline because old gasoline can ignite. Plug appliances directly into the generator using heavy-duty extension cords. NEVER attach generators to the facility current.
- All hospitals are required to have backup power. Medically dependent persons without adequate back-up power can call 911 for transport to a hospital where power can be supplied until the outage is over.
- Have a first aid kit in your home, office, and car. Take first aid and CPR training.
- Sewer pump stations have limited storage capacity. Limit all water usage, and avoid flushing your toilet during a power outage.
- Be a good neighbor and check on any neighbors with special needs: elderly people, people with disabilities, and children who are home alone during a power outage. They may need your help.
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Happy Thanksgiving! |  |
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Shelly Hewson
President, Hewson Landscape Inc. |
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Quote of the Day
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
Wayne Gretzky |
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