Spruce Up for Spring!

More Mulch?

Well, bark mulch can contain deadly chemical preservatives from former wood pallets. But a thin, top layer of certified bark mulch can help us transition to this new world of healthier, less resource-intensive garden maintenance. Shredded bark mulch laid too thickly can reduce the amount of rain and oxygen plant roots need. Be sure to remove any mulch “volcanoes” from your trees carefully so that no mulch touches the bark of a shrub or tree.

Landscape Chemicals

Did you know that a mother bird needs 6,000-9,000 unpoisoned caterpillars to feed one clutch of babies? This can be your spring to break old, destructive and deadly habits of poisoning the caterpillars and mice that our songbirds, owls and hawks need to survive. It is time to bring all our pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and poisons to your community’s next Household Hazardous Waste disposal day.

H U N T L E Y S U R V E Y & D E S I G N

Wasps

Wasps are important pollinators as well. There are better solutions than spraying poisons around our homes, however. Did you know that a simple, crocheted, decoy “nest” hanging in the corner of the porch (see photo, right) has provided two seasons of a wasp-free porch, porch furniture, porch eaves and porch light fixtures. The neutral color of this Etsy purchase is a small, aesthetic price to pay for the completely effective “occupied” sign. I hear of, but have not tried, a similar paper version called “Get Lost Wasp.”

Porch Lights

According to the research done in the Department of Physics at Florida Atlantic University, “Light pollution does not just affect plants’ cycles directly; it also affects them indirectly by interfering with the life cycles of their pollinators or other animals that interact with them.” Fireflies, bees and birds will benefit from you choosing to instead mount the now easily available and inexpensive motion detector and solar downlight fixtures for walkways and entrances.

Bug Zappers

Don’t bother replacing or putting out your bug zapper. Recent research has shown that their satisfying zap kills less than 0.25% of mosquitoes. But these zappers kill 99.75% of other more beneficial insects that, once again, feed our hungry birds.

Feline Friends

Consider keeping your kitties inside this season. Poland has recently declared that household cats are an invasive species, and for good reason. Our sweet companions are also highly effective bird killers. In the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds every year.

Spring is a wonderful time of year for new choices. I hope these options bring you a new season of less work, more beauty, more health, and more life in your garden!

Shingle Slate

Finnell Roofing, LLC has been serving Brattleboro, VT; Keene, NH and all of New England for over 30 years. Our fully trained service technicians are qualified to do both commercial, residential and industrial roofing, and always work well with other area contractors. We offer year round installation to meet your needs when they occur.