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.
Category Archives: Maintenance
Storm Water Ponds! Could this be us?
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 PMWhite 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
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
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
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.