I took these photos a week ago while driving through a local institution and was shocked at the amount of mulch that was around not one but hundreds and hundreds of trees.
This is NOT good and can eventually help in the decline of the trees that obviously have been painstakingly cared for. These are being loved and beautified to a very possible early death.
If these trees were originally planted with an intended
water basin around them then it would seem that someone forgot to read the instructions. A water basin at time of planting should only be 2-3" high and approximately 3' in diameter depending on the size of the planting. These trees appear to have a wall around them.
As I have mentioned many times before, you only need to apply 2-3" of mulch around your trees. And NEVER put it directly up against the trunk. ALWAYS keep the mulch 4-6" away and don't let it pile up like this. If not you are providing an excellent habitat for insects and small critters to nest and chew on and through the bark not to mention a nice warm and damp place for fungi to live and possibly infect your tree.
This was obviously NOT done by a PROFESSIONAL landscaper!!!!!!! Remember: Just because someone cuts your grass does not mean they know anything about trees and plants! Always hire a PROFESSIONAL!!!
Awe.....
Isn't it a cute little fuzzy caterpillar?????
Looks like a little kitten....all fuzzy and ...
.
Awe....
And it turns into such a pretty colored, little, soft, furry moth
Well.....
Yep....This cute little caterpillar that grows into this furry looking moth is highly poisonous to us humans.
This is the PUSS MOTH CATERPILLAR and because it looks like a cute little pussy cat I'm sure you can figure out how it got it's name.
Also known as a Southern Flannel Moth, the caterpillar stage as shown above is very toxic due to what it has hiding. Beneath that soft wooly coat of whitish to brownish hair that flows into a tail-like appendage and sometimes even displays a long orange streak running down the length lie numerous short poisonous spines that can have a most undesirable effect upon you if you come in contact with it.
The sting from these spines can cause quite a bit of pain and even radiate up causing swelling and burning. In more severe cases especially with the larger caterpillars it can cause headaches, nausea, rashes, numbness, chest pain and even difficulty breathing.
The Puss caterpillar can be found found feeding on various shrubs and trees including roses, ivy, maple, elm, oak and sycamores among others.
So, next time you see a cute little fuzzy caterpillar and you want to pick it up because "it's just so-o-o-o cute"..... DON'T!!!
Now....
Sit back....
( watch out for the kids though )
Relax....
and check out some
Before and After shots.
Before
and
After
Before
and
After
Next
Before
and
After
A random natural stone wall to retain the hill. Landscaping
above wall completed too late to meet press time.
And
Before
and
During
Stone cut to fit with a back bevel on top edge to accept sod
and
After
Nice lawn steps with a 6" riser. Bet you have never seen this done before!Thanks JW for the idea.
and
Next and last for this month....
Did I hear a Thank Goodness?
Relax... I'm almost done!!
Before
and
After
3 Little Lime hydrangeaswill eventually be 4' tall and gorgeous
and
Before
and
After
The tan stuff is straw blanket covering newly seeded areas
and
Before
and
After
and for all of you that are "OLD" enough to remember....
A Closing Thought
"The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don't let it get the best of you" ....Will Rogers
