ewinggreenteam

Volcanoes Killing Local Trees

July 3, 2013November 4, 20161 Comment

I was walking with my dog Maddie in the Mountainview section of Ewing when we noticed a landscaper placing mulch around the trees in a nearby yard. In particular he was piling the mulch high and deep around the base of a beautiful, large (perhaps 75 years old) oak tree. These mulch structures are known by tree experts as “volcanoes” because of their obvious shape.

I see this far too often nowadays; almost achieving the status of a fad. I can certainly see why. Volcanoes look neat and orderly. People see them and want them for their property and landscapers are happy to oblige; sells a lot of mulch too. It has to be good for the trees right?

Well it isn’t. And, as a member of the Ewing Environmental Commission and Sustainable Ewing Green Team, I want you to know better.

I spoke to the gentlemen doing the tree mulching. He shrugged and pointed me to the foreman in charge. I explained briefly that heavy mulching at the base of trees can kill them. The foreman gave me a mischievous smile and nodded affirmatively as if he understood and would take mitigating measures. I hoped for the best. Sadly, a week later I was again walking alongside Maddie past the same property and there were volcanoes around all the trees in the yard. My heart sank.

Worse yet, all around Ewing I am seeing “volcano imprisoned trees” – some even dying from a cancerous looking decay slowly creeping up their bark. Eventually owners are forced to cut them down long before their time, but, they’re clueless as to why their treasured trees perished.

The majesty and sheer size of trees make them seem invulnerable. But, the truth is quite the opposite. Trees are gentle but vulnerable giants. It’s tough enough fending off insects, disease, heavy rains, high winds and drought but we humans routinely abuse them by improperly cutting off their limbs, driving in nails, digging, weed whacking, mowing, dumping waste, riding cars and heavy equipment on their roots or worse. All of these things can over time do in the sturdiest of trees. They may look healthy for a time but slowly die years later making cause and effect seem oddly disconnected.

Now add to that the recent epidemic of tree mulching volcanoes and there is trouble afoot. The problem is that, according to the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry and the New Jersey Shade Tree Federation, mulch softens the bark. Mice, insects, and fungus then feed on the living parts of the tree, killing tissue, cutting off water and nutrient supply as well as causing other serious problems that can greatly damage and kill a tree.

That’s not to say that mulching isn’t beneficial to trees – it is, if done properly. It helps retain moisture, keep down weeds, prevents soil erosion and moderates temperatures. It is particularly good at helping young trees survive. But, here are a couple simple recommendations:

Mulch should never be piled against the bark but kept 6 inches from the trunk, 2 to 4 inches deep;
Use of bark chunks or shredded bark that is at least 3/8 inch in size, pine bark, pine needles, one-year old wood chips or leaves that are shredded and composted for at least 3 months is encouraged. DO NOT use fresh grass clippings, fresh wood chips, fresh organic mulch, bad smelling mulch, peat moss, sawdust, pebbles, rocks, cobble stones, bricks, pavement, plastic sheets or ground up rubber tires. And, DO NOT mix mulch with soil;
Use only one layer of woven landscape fabric if needed for weed control; and
If your tree is already engulfed in a mulch volcano don’t remove it all at once. It is recommended that you contact a NJ Certified Tree Expert. A free directory is available from the Forest Service, listed below.

I think of trees as stoic old friends. They add beauty and esthetics to our lives silently watching over our children as they grow, providing cool UV protected shade, filtering the air we breathe, reducing noise, moderating winds, controlling moisture and erosion, providing a home for various critters, increase property values and establish a sense of hometown community. If they occasionally fall in a severe storm and cause damage, they don’t mean to. When they are old and frail we take them down, their remains providing dry glowing heat and flickering comfort on cold, damp winter nights. It is in all our interests to educate ourselves on how to properly care for our tall green companions or at least do them no harm. Maddie agrees.

Joseph-Mark Mirabella

For more information contact:

NJ Division of parks and Forestry Forest Service – Community Forestry Program
PO Box 404
Trenton, NJ 08625-0404
(609) 292-2532
Fax: (609) 984-0378
www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/community

New Jersey Shade Tree Federation
93 Lipman Dr.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 246-3210
www.njstf.org

Reminder – MCIA Hazardous Waste Disposal Day This Saturday

June 25, 2013November 4, 2016Leave a comment

The MCIA will be running the 2nd of its 3 annual Household Waste and Electronics Disposal Days this Saturday, June 29th from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. It will be held at John T. Dempster Fire School, Lawrence Station Rd in Lawrence Twp.

Accepted for recycling are the following:

Materials Not Accepted:

For Mercer County Residents Only. Only Residential Waste will be accepted, i.e. no Commercial Business waste. Proof of Residency will be required (Driver’s License). For more information call 609-278-8086 or visit WWW.MCIANJ.ORG.

The Good Choices Fairy Promotes the Green Team’s Anti-Idling Campaign

June 11, 2013November 4, 2016Leave a comment

Did you know?

An idling vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than one traveling at 30 miles per hour. Source NJDEP
Only 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than turning the engine on and off.
IDLING MORE THAN 3 MINUTES IS AGAINST THE LAW IN NJ!
Vehicles that idle 10 minutes per day waste more than 29 gallons of fuel each year.
Do the math. At $3.50 per gallon, that’s over $101 wasted per year. Source EPA
Exposure to your vehicle’s exhaust is much higher inside your vehicle than outside and is especially true when the car is idling. So if you are sitting idling in your car in a line at your bank’s drive up teller or drive thru whatever, Turn It Off!
Diesel exhaust is a likely human carcinogen, containing fine particles commonly called “soot”. NJDEP
Exhaust emissions worsen asthma, bronchitis, and existing allergies. NJDEP
Children breathe up to 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults, making them more susceptible to both acute and chronic respiratory problems like asthma. NJDEP

These are just a few of the very good reasons that the Ewing Green Team is challenging Ewing residents to turn off their cars with an anti-idling campaign to educate drivers, and particularly parents who unwittingly expose their children to the hazards of vehicle exhaust. Vehicle emissions are a major cause of air pollution, which contributes to increased rates of asthma, cancer, and other respiratory ailments. Kids are exposed to some of the most excessive exhaust fumes in their daily trips to and from school.

Check out our new video from our very own Good Choices Fairy, Chelsea Sandmeyer, to view our brief message to kids about the dangers of idling.

Our health and that of our families rests on all of our shoulders. Just by turning off the ignition, we can make a huge difference in the quality of air we breathe. So let us all take the pledge to turn our engines off. It’s the right thing to do.

Click here to take the Green Team’s Anti-idling Pledge!

Ewing Trail Cleanup Sunday, June 2nd All are welcome.

May 30, 2013November 4, 2016Leave a comment

A cleanup date for the Johnson Trolley Line and the West Trenton Railroad Trails has been announced. Make an impact by volunteering today.

Date: Sunday, June 2nd
Time: 8 to 11:30 am

Volunteers will meet at the far end of Whitehead Rd for the Trolley Line Trail and at the back right corner of the DOT complex where Lower Ferry Rd crosses the tracks at the former childcare bldg called Dot Tot. The Township usually provides bags & gloves. Dress for the weather in comfortable grubbies – gloves, old sneaks, long sleeves, sun & bug protection.
Please join us in helping to keep our Ewing trails beautiful.

For more information please contact Arti Sahni at 609-477-0955.

Grasscycling: a Greener Lawn the Greener Way

May 26, 2013November 4, 2016Leave a comment

The Ewing Green Team invites all Ewing residents to join our campaign for a greener Ewing through grasscycling. Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. Figures show that grass disposal may account for 10-20% of New Jersey’s municipal solid waste stream. With the high cost of waste disposal and limited space in landfills; we can no longer afford to dispose of grass clippings in the household trash and at the same time waste a critical natural resource. The simple solution is actually the best solution. Grow a healthy lawn just by leaving grass clippings as you mow your lawn. It’s simple, easy, saves time, money and energy.

The Benefits

When you leave your grass clippings on your lawn to decompose; it acts as a natural organic fertilizer supplying half of the nitrogen your lawn needs to thrive. Clippings, which are 80% water, settle between the blades of grass where they shelter the roots from the sun – conserving moisture. They also cool the roots and block weed growth. Your lawn will remain healthy and green because each time you mow; you will return valuable nutrients to the soil and ultimately need to water less frequently.

Grasscycling begins with proper mowing

To maintain your lawn properly, mow high and mow often, so that you never take off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass. This will result in an attractive, neatly trimmed lawn. Keep grass mowed to 2” in early spring, gradually raise the height to 3-4” by summer, then gradually reduce to 2” by late fall.

You don’t have to go out to buy a new mower. While most new mowers are mulching mowers; you can attach mulching equipment to your existing mower. Just remove the grass catcher. Ask your lawn mower dealer if you need a special safety plug or adapter kit to convert your mower into a ‘recycling’ mower; installing a mulching blade also is helpful.

Alternatives

There are times when grasscycling does not work. Prolonged wet weather, mower breakdowns, or infrequent mowing are situations where the large number of grass clippings should probably be collected. Add those clippings to your compost pile or use them as mulch around trees, flower beds, and shrubs. The addition of this organic matter will ultimately improve your soil; sandy soils will retain more water and heavy clay soils will become more productive.

So Why Grasscycle?

So grasscycle for a healthy green lawn; to save a lot of green; and to be environmentally green. Take advantage of the beneficial organic matter it adds to the soil making it greener and healthier, crowding out weeds and reducing the need for fertilizer. Save time and effort by eliminating the bagging, raking and disposing of grass clippings. And finally, help the environment by reducing water and fertilizer requirements and reducing toxic runoff entering storm drains and polluting creeks and rivers. It’s the ‘green’ thing to do.