Swimming pool tips Sprinkling ordinance conserves water Summer’s here and it’s time to jump in the pool to beat the heat. Nothing’s more fun when swimming with the family but please keep in mind when it’s time to drain or backwash your outdoor swimming pool, the following tips will help protect the environment and our water resources: • Don’t add chlorine for a minimum of three days prior to draining pool water. • Don’t drain pool water directly into a surface water like a pond or wetland. • D o direct drainage to green spaces, such as your lawn, and not to hard surfaces like the street or driveway. • Do control drainage to prevent erosion. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) offers Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Water Discharges Best Management Practices. You may also contact Erick Francis, water resources engineer, City of St. Louis Park, at 952.924.2690 or efrancis@stlouispark.org.
Water your trees wisely All trees, even mature ones, need water. Significant changes in climate patterns are impacting entire ecosystems. Our urban landscapes are not immune to these changes. In fact, trees in urban areas are more prone to drought damage and death than natural stands of trees. The best solution to help trees through a drought is to water your trees! Trees that don’t receive enough water are unable to create new growth. When this happens, root development is reduced and wound formation restricted. As trees reach this stage, they start to shut down and become targets for diseases and insects that can kill them. The best place to apply water differs for newly planted and established trees:
Permanent restrictions In an effort to conserve water, St. Louis Park prohibits lawn sprinkling between noon and 6 p.m. In addition, all households and businesses must follow an odd/even schedule when sprinkling lawns. Properties that end with an odd number sprinkle on odd-numbered days on the calendar; properties that end with an even number sprinkle on even-numbered days. Additional conservation measures may be required during critical water shortages. These can include limiting watering to once every five days or banning all outdoor sprinkling. Should this situation arise, a public notice will be given. Exceptions New sod or seed, and newly planted shrubs, trees and landscaping are exempt from the odd/even schedule. Flower gardens are also exempt. Even in these circumstances, however, sprinkling must be done before noon or after 6 p.m. Enforcement Currently, failing to follow sprinkling restrictions can result in an initial fine of $25 with subsequent violations rising by $10. For example, the second violation is $35; the third violation is $45, etc.
Newly planted trees: Immediately after planting, all tree roots are in the original root ball area. Until new roots grow into the soil of the planting site, water the original root ball area and just beyond this area. The root ball area may dry out faster than the surrounding soil, so check the moisture in this area frequently for the first month or two after planting. Established trees: Don’t irrigate the area directly adjacent to the trunk - this can increase the risk of disease. Roots extend far beyond the edge of canopy or drip line. Water in the drip line area by placing a hose, at trickle speed, in one spot of the drip line area for 30 minutes and move to another drip line spot and repeat. A mature tree on a sunny summer/fall day can use more than 150 gallons of water per day. Water deeply rather than frequently. Because most tree roots are found in the upper 18 – 24 inches of the soil, this is the zone that should be wetted up in each irrigation cycle. A lawn sprinkler is insufficient for deep watering purposes; let the water trickle out of the hose in order for water to penetrate past the turf grass roots.
Emerald ash borer treatment underway In preparation for the inevitable arrival of emerald ash borer (EAB), the City of St. Louis Park has contracted with Rainbow Treecare to treat public ash trees (only the highest quality trees) growing along boulevards and in parks with a preventive insecticide. A citywide bulk discount is available and offered through 2017 for St. Louis Park homeowners for trees on private property that are at least 10 inches in diameter and in good physical condition. Ash trees rarely show signs of light-to-moderate EAB infestation, making the early infestations difficult to diagnose. By the time the symptoms are obvious, it may be too late to protect or save the tree. The cost to treat a large, healthy ash tree on private property for 10-20 years is substantially less than the price of tree and stump removal and tree replacement.
The injection period runs the entire growing season, so you still have plenty of time to get your trees injected this year. If you are interested in taking advantage of the city’s injection discount, contact Rainbow Treecare at 952.767.6920 or rainbowtreecare.com/stlouispark.
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