November 2010
The Mid-Atlantic Interstate Forest Fire Protection Compact has collaborated on research and development of a database of landscape plants that can be grown in the mid-Atlantic area, are commercially available, and are relatively resistant to fire. There is no such thing as a fireproof plant; however, some species exhibit a stronger resistance to ignition by fire. Here is your portal to the guide to some suggested fire resistant species: www.fireplantselector.org. The database is very interactive and allows you to select by several different parameters, such as plant height, form, native or not, growth rate, number of trunks, bark, leaf color, leaf arrangement, leaf persistence, pest persistence, ignitability, and others. Give it a try!
October 2010
Planting trees around your property increases property values, provides wildlife habitat, holds stormwater on your property and filters the rainwater, buffers your home from the extremes of hot and cold weather, and provides the aesthetic values that make Hemlock Farms special. Planting the right tree in the right place is important. Also, trees are best pruned when they are young. Proper pruning is essential in developing a tree with a strong structure and desirable form. Trees that receive the appropriate pruning measures while they are young will require little corrective pruning when they mature.
September 2010
While reviewing Tree Replacement Plans which must be submitted by the member and approved by HFCA before a member can remove a “non-exempt tree”, I’ve noticed members have requested to plant barberry. Native (Berberis canadensis) or European barberry (Berberis vulgaris), if adapted to hardiness zone 5-6, are OK to plant because they are not invasive. Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is not OK to plant because it is an invasive plant. Alternatives to barberry are winterberry (Ilex verticillata), bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) and inkberry (Ilex glabra), arrow-wood (Viburnum dentatum), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) and hearts-a-bustin' (Euonymus americana).
August 2010
I have noticed many ducks congregating at our beaches. This is a sure sign that people are feeding the ducks. Feeding wildlife is against the HFCA Code Chapter 102. Ducks leave their droppings in the water and on the beaches, which is unsanitary and a public health threat. People food is not healthy for ducks and food left in the waters breed bacteria that can make aquatic animals and people sick. Also, when ducks become accustomed to being close to people, indeed searching for people who feed them, they may get in the way of boats coming in and out of the docks. Boats with motors may run over a duck which what happened to the unfortunate one-legged duck I see at Little Camp Beach. Do your part to keep our wildlife WILD – do not feed the wildlife.
July 2010
Many foxes are being spotted during the day in the community. While one fox is infected by mange, the other ones all seem healthy. Even though they are out and about during the day, this is normal. The Humane Society of America reports “Foxes are primarily nocturnal in urban areas, but this seems to be more a method to avoid humans than an actual preference. (It's a popular misconception that a fox out and about during the daytime is disturbed or sick.) They will be active by day as long as they feel secure, and are near enough to safety. This is when they pursue prey, such as squirrels, which are also active by day.”
June 2010
Now that the days are longer, remember that Hemlock Farms is a “Dark Skies” Community. Only use night light that is necessary for the required task and keeps the light on your property.
May 2010
Native plants help create beautiful landscapes that provide wildlife habitat and reduce maintenance costs. Their greatest benefit, though, may be the increased awareness about which plants are native and which are not, and the protection of remaining native plant communities. Here are two very useful sources, available on the internet, about landscaping with native plants in Pennsylvania:
Native Wildplants and
Learn About Natives
You will find information about what is a native, basics for going native, and descriptions and site requirements of many types of showy flowers, ferns, grasses, small trees and shrubs, and medium to large trees.
April 2010
When planting this spring, remember NOT to bury the root collar. Plant the tree too deeply into the ground, and you cover the root collar. Trees need this structure to allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to move in and out of the inner bark of the tree. Mulch is a good cover to prevent rapid water loss during planting, but leave a three to four inch space between the mulch and the tree trunk so the mulch doesn’t cover the root collar.
March 2010
During the “January thaw”, did you notice that the ground under conifer trees lost the snow cover quicker than the surrounding ground? Conifer trees (trees that retain needles all year long) in a landscape covered by mostly deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the fall) provide warmth for wildlife in the winter, known as “thermal cover.” Dense shrubs, such as rhododendron, also provide thermal cover for wildlife. In our forested community, a diversity of vegetation helps to provide food, water, cover and space for many species of native wildlife.
February 2010
Do your trees have dead or dying limbs that are dangerous to your property? Guidelines connected to the HFCA Natural Resource Code (“Tree Code”) require pruning using American National Standards Institute (ANSI) procedures. Pruning a limb off of a living tree requires knowledge of how a tree responds to injury and compartmentalizes the wound. Tree workers who are Certified Arborists have this training. Winter months are the time to prune because stored energy is highest and not being used for growth or reproduction. Proper pruning now will allow the tree to heal when spring growth begins.
January 2010
As you pack away the holiday lighting, consider the new LED lights for next year. They use less energy and will save electricity costs. Electricity rates will rise next year, so ways to reduce the usage will save money. Electricity in our part of the world is usually generated by coal. Transmission and distribution uses energy, too. Unless the energy in this entire chain is renewable without producing pollution, emissions and pollution will result. Emissions are usually the kind that release gases, such as carbon dioxide into the air. These types of gases are called “greenhouse gases”, which are implicated in causing a rapid increase in warming our planet (global warming). The sudden and unexpected changes from global warming will have effects, many of which will be adverse. Do your part and learn to purchase energy efficient products.
December 2009
A new study, published in the August 2009 issue of “Conservation Biology,” debunks the alleged benefits of Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR). The team of scientists summarized the scientific literature about the negative impacts of feral cats on wildlife and the ineffectiveness of trap, neuter, and release programs to reduce feral cat populations. They conclude that TNR is ineffective at eliminating cat colonies, so the next time you think letting your cats loose in the community is OK if they are neutered or spayed, think again. The evidence points otherwise.
November 2009
Now that darkness is setting in early, reassess the nightlights on your property. Is the light shining on your property and only your property? Are you using the minimal amount of light necessary for your purposes? HFCA is a “Dark Skies” Community and the Board of Directors urges all members to follow the “Dark Skies” guidelines. You will save energy and enable the viewing of the night skies, such as this year’s “Orionid” meteor shower as the Earth passes through the debris from Haley’s Comet.
October 2009
Protect the roots of your trees during paving of your existing driveway. If you cannot go around the existing roots, or most of the roots as defined by the dripline (outside edge of the canopy), be aware that asphalt laid down over the roots may eventually need resealing. Removing the tree will require replacement.
September 2009
Natural resource professionals often refer to the “soil bank.” What does this mean? A bank is a place where we place valuables for safe keeping, and we make deposits and withdrawals on those valuables. The soil includes the material and nutrients in the ground and supports the growth of microbes, fungi, flowers, trees, insects, worms, small mammals, agricultural crops, and our structures and activities. Consider the soil as the bank, and the valuables as the plants and animals, your structures and activities. When soil erodes, withdrawals are made on the bank. When too many withdrawals on the bank are made, the bank, including the valuables, are no more. Also, we expect the bank to invest our valuables wisely. We build homes, recreate, and plant crops. If the crops deplete the soil of nutrients, or the structures and activities pollute the soil with toxins, then the bank has not invested wisely and the system fails. Use natural resources wisely, and don’t pollute.
August 2009
Here’s another way to conserve water: use mulch around plants. Mulches discourage weeds, keep the ground from overheating, retain moisture, and reduce evaporation. Mulches should be used with care, as covering the base of a tree or shrub could smother the “root collar,” which is needed to supply air to the roots. Mulches placed too close to the home could also be an ignition source during a wildfire.
July 2009
When you live in the woods, coexisting with wildlife may be a delicate balance. Our backyards are wildlife habitat. However, some animals get too close to our living space and become a nuisance. Understanding what attracts animals into your outdoor living space is important to enjoying wildlife from a distance without the animal becoming a nuisance. Sometimes, the attraction is like a string of bread crumbs that draws unwanted wildlife too close to home. For example, a bird feeder attracts small mammals such as chipmunks and squirrels, which are prey for snakes. If your bird feeder is close to home, you may find a snake coiled at the base one day. While most snakes are not poisonous and are not bothersome, a large rattlesnake hiding under a rock next to a walkway could cause harm. Nuisance snakes, poisonous or not, should be relocated, not killed.
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