Sirhornsalot
**The Official Horn Sports Landscaper and Landscap
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2013
- Messages
- 33,348
WARNING - thread has nothing to do with Saban, Mack or contract extensions, so read at your own risk.
For you HornSports members who are in the areas of Texas where there's ice, here's a few tips and warnings:
1. You likely have drooping limbs due to ice accumulation on your trees. DO NOT try to break the ice off the limbs. The limbs will simply break instead. At this point, there's really nothing you can do to help matters. This is the time when annual tree trimming pays off big time. Less foliage, less stress = less damage during ice/snow.
2. DO NOT put salt down on your sidewalks and driveways. This will end up in the lawn and will damage turf and soil. INSTEAD, use lava sand, available at HD and Lowes. Lava sand, whatever ends up in the yard, will improve the soil.
3. Hopefully you did not cover anything with plastic. Whatever touches the plastic will die. Use canvas, linen and natural fiber type material instead.
4. Most shrubs, trees, etc, are able to make it through winter weather just fine. No worries there. For the flowers (pansies) you just had planted - again, no sweat. Pansies survive ice and snow just fine.
5. Should you see another winter storm in your forecast, make it a point to run a cycle on your sprinkler system. This will help the root systems deal with the freezing temps. Wet soil is harder to freeze than dry soil. Afterwards, turn the system OFF to make sure it doesn't accidently come on during the storm or just after. If you haven't mulched beds and tree rings, do so now.
6. The fall color is over.
If you'll notice, whatever leaves were left on your non-evergreens is now sitting on top of the ice.
An item of interest - an old wives' tale suggests that after a winter storm, if the ice/snow stays on the ground for three days, it will snow/sleet again within two weeks.
We shall see!
If you have questions, fire away. I'll answer whatever you got. You can also reach me at greenthumbtx@verizon.net
For you HornSports members who are in the areas of Texas where there's ice, here's a few tips and warnings:
1. You likely have drooping limbs due to ice accumulation on your trees. DO NOT try to break the ice off the limbs. The limbs will simply break instead. At this point, there's really nothing you can do to help matters. This is the time when annual tree trimming pays off big time. Less foliage, less stress = less damage during ice/snow.
2. DO NOT put salt down on your sidewalks and driveways. This will end up in the lawn and will damage turf and soil. INSTEAD, use lava sand, available at HD and Lowes. Lava sand, whatever ends up in the yard, will improve the soil.
3. Hopefully you did not cover anything with plastic. Whatever touches the plastic will die. Use canvas, linen and natural fiber type material instead.
4. Most shrubs, trees, etc, are able to make it through winter weather just fine. No worries there. For the flowers (pansies) you just had planted - again, no sweat. Pansies survive ice and snow just fine.
5. Should you see another winter storm in your forecast, make it a point to run a cycle on your sprinkler system. This will help the root systems deal with the freezing temps. Wet soil is harder to freeze than dry soil. Afterwards, turn the system OFF to make sure it doesn't accidently come on during the storm or just after. If you haven't mulched beds and tree rings, do so now.
6. The fall color is over.
If you'll notice, whatever leaves were left on your non-evergreens is now sitting on top of the ice.An item of interest - an old wives' tale suggests that after a winter storm, if the ice/snow stays on the ground for three days, it will snow/sleet again within two weeks.
We shall see!
If you have questions, fire away. I'll answer whatever you got. You can also reach me at greenthumbtx@verizon.net
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