Valley Pond Townhome Association » Maintenance

Are we killing our trees with mulch?

Robbie Wigley — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:04:11 +0000

I just ran across this instructive video on the proper way to mulch around a tree. We have quite a few young trees in the Association that may need to be checked. It is a pretty simple fix.

Storm Water Ponds! Could this be us?

Robbie Wigley — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 05:21:00 +0000

The Star and Tribune has long article in today’s paper that some metro areas have storm-water ponds that are chemical soups of pesticides, fertilizers, pet wastes, oil, grease and other contaminants. Driveway sealants play a big part in this contamination. Click on the red headline to be taken to the entire article.

Metro storm-water ponds are chemical soups

By TOM MEERSMAN, Star Tribune
Last update: April 27, 2010 – 12:30 PM

White Bear Lake’s proposed ban on some driveway sealants is a first step in keeping contaminants out of storm-water ponds. The local neighborhood pond fringed with spring green looks attractive, but its muddy bottom is loaded with contaminants.

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway of Native Tree Saplings

Robbie Wigley — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:20:17 +0000

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway of Native Tree Saplings April 30 & May 1 @ Just Food

Friday, April 30, 3-6p.m. AND

Saturday, May 1, 10am-1pm (or until they run out of trees)

in the front of the store, 516 Water St S.

Cost: FREE

To encourage the planting of native hardwood trees in our community, the Northfield Tree Advisory Group of the Environmental Quality Commission (in collaboration with the Rice County Forestry Board, the DNR and Just Food) will distribute 1000 native tree saplings to Northfield residents who agree to plant and care for the trees on private properties in Northfield. The tree saplings will be distributed on a first come first serve basis at Just Food Co-op (516 Water Street South) on Saturday, May 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Just Food. Experienced tree handlers will be on hand with advice on tree selection, planting and ongoing care. The tree saplings are bare root stock, native tree species cultivated from Minnesota seeds by the MN Department of Natural Resources for Spring planting, and measure approximately 8- 12”. Choose from Red, White or Burr Oak, Sugar Maple, and Norway or White Pine saplings (limit four per household).

Similar trees will also be given away by another group at Just Food Co-op on Friday, April 30 from 3-6 p.m.

Snowplowing for our driveways

Griff Wigley — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:24:59 +0000

I’ve been really pleased with the snowplowing service for our townhouse association thus far this year. Not only is the plowing done promptly in the early morning (usually before 6 am). But they return to plow again after the city streets have been plowed and the edge of the driveways are filled with the heavy stuff from the streets.

A nice plus over Xmas: we had kids visiting us for a few days and had two cars parked in the driveway, thereby preventing it from being plowed. After they departed, the service returned to plow our driveway, just in time before the slushy stuff turned rock hard with the cold snap.

New paint

Griff Wigley — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:15:00 +0000

Robbie picked out the colors and after a thumbs-up from the Valley Pond Association board, our unit of four townhomes got a paint job this fall.

Sealcoating Driveways!

Robbie Wigley — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:06:22 +0000

Harvey Reynolds will be here tomorrow morning, Monday July 20th, to sealcoat our driveways. Please make sure to keep your cars parked in the garage or out on the street. You might want to close your window too!

Lawn Care

Robbie Wigley — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:55:05 +0000

We will be discussing the present state of our lawn care at the June 9th Board Meeting. Sherry Freking has done some research for this discusion that would be helpful to take a look at so everyone has the same information. The link below will take you to the page on the VPTA site that has 8 articles from the University of Minnesota Extension. This is for your information.

Lawn Care (this blue copy is a link, just click on it and another page will open with the permanent information listed on this site in the Pages)