News from the MSU Landscape Alert

The big melt and your turfgrass

posted on February 14, 2011 10:36

Shoveling snow from poorly draining areas to help water quickly escape from greens could reduce the risk of winterkill injury

Kevin Frank, Crop and Soil Sciences

There was significant snow melting last weekend and it will continue throughout the week with high temperatures expected in the low 40's to near 50. Currently, the night time lows are forecast to be near or above freezing almost every night (except tonight), which should help the water keep moving and minimize ice formation.

As the snow melts, do whatever you can to facilitate water movement off putting greens to prevent overnight freezing and ice formation. Shoveling snow from poorly draining areas or shoveling channels or paths to help water quickly escape from greens could reduce the risk of winterkill injury. Melting snow and overnight freezing and ice formation is one of the times of highest risk for crown hydration winterkill injury on Poa annua putting greens.

Additional information on winterkill injury of turfgrass can be found at www.turf.msu.edu/winterkill-of-turfgrass.

Photo 1. A path is shoveled to let water drain and reduce the risk of winterkill injury.

Snowy Tree Protection

With Snowstorm 2011 just ended, most of us are thinking about the basics - digging out the driveways, sidewalks, and roads. We should also take a minute to stand up & rest against the shovel, and look around at our trees. The heaviest snow loads on their branches can cause some breakage. This is especially true of evergreens, with their needles that can help hold a lot of snow, and multiple-stem trees like birches, whose trunks are often a little less than vertical.

It can be important to remove the snow from the branches, especially the wetter, heavier snows. But be careful not to just knock it off with a broom - that can break branches, too. Upward strokes, gently shaking the branches is safer for the tree. A firm, gentle tap from beneath can jostle some of the snow from the tree limb.

Photo courtesy Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Staying Green this Holiday Season: Recycling Christmas Trees

After the holidays, our thoughts turn to what to do with our Christmas tree now that its role as centerpiece is over. Many people think of very creative ways to re-use their trees, and others rely on community programs for disposal of their trees. Trees can be recycled and used for interesting functions including bird feeders/shelters, fuel chips and mulch.


One of my favorite newsletters, Dave's Garden, has just reprinted a few ideas for people to re-use their Christmas trees in their own yard:

• Do you live on a farm with a fish-stocked pond? The tree can be immersed in the deepest part to provide a habitat for the fish and aquatic animals living there.
• Do you have a backyard “habitat”? Cut the tree in half (or thirds, if it is very large), then push the sections back into the underbrush around the perimeter, or under large shrubs in your “wild” area. In the spring, sow seeds for fast-growing or vining plants that will quickly cover the bare branches.
• Do you have a wood-burning stove or a fireplace? Cut the trunk into suitable lengths and add to your woodpile for future fuel. NEVER try to burn the dry branches in a stove or fireplace; they are highly combustible and can quickly burn out of control.
• Do you own a wood-chipper or have access to one? Chip the tree into mulch for spring, or to dry for fire-starter fuel.
• If none of these ideas would work for you, check your local town website or newspaper to see if the city maintenance department is offering a collection site. Many smaller towns mulch these trees for use in city projects, and often invite residents to help themselves to the city mulch pile.

The author's list inspired me to start looking at some of the community-based options available in Michigan. Many of our cities, townships and counties offer recycling programs that include drop-off points where residents can take their trees. Some even offer curbside pickup. Here is a short list of community programs in Michigan to help you decide where to take your tree after the holiday:

The city of Grand Rapids offers free drop-off recycling, and curbside pickup for a very small fee for most of the month of January.

Cascade Township's dropoff point is a fire station, from 12/26 through 1/11.

Oakland County residents can use the several drop-off points hosted by the Oakland County Parks. from 12/25 through 1/16.

Earth 911 lists Johnston Farm & Composting as a drop-off location for Christmas trees, for a fee, in Livingston County.

I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg. If these are all too far from you, by all means take a look at your local newspaper & see what's available nearby. I'd love to see what you find, too - please share in a comment!

Happy Holidays!!