Circle C Landscape Update - March 2010
As I sit here writing this in early February to meet the newsletter deadline on the 10th, it is still the dead of winter with many days of cold rain, and then just plain cold. We even have sleet projected for tomorrow. The weather over the winter has definitely been colder and wetter than usual. December brought low temperatures that averaged six degrees below normal, and January had a record number of low temperature days as well as a monthly average of 5 degrees below normal. February promises more of the same. We also had good amounts of rainfall in December, and January, and thus far in February. The good news is that the lakes are filling up again, and we are officially out of the drought.
Why is this important in the landscape newsletter article? Well, it affects all of our vegetation and also the amount of maintenance that can be done, given the number of days it is impossible to work due to rainy or freezing conditions. The rain will definitely help all of the vegetation as will the cold temperatures because dormancy is an important ingredient in the plant growth cycle. So, this should be a good spring for all things that are planted.
Over the winter, our crew has worked each day it was possible, and is currently finishing up all of the massive trimming of the perennials which occurs this time of year. By March, you will find all of the beds trimmed, newly mulched and treated with pre-emergent weed killer. We are also attempting to schedule some winter weed treatment, particularly for the clover, but that is definitely a weather permitting item, hopefully, by the time you get the newsletter we will have completed an overall treatment. And we will complete one or two mowing over the next few weeks.
Since the dead of winter is the best time for live oak pruning, we have engaged an arborist for significant tree pruning. They will complete all of the hardwood trees from MoPac to Escarpment, along LaCrosse. Since the CCHOA has introduced an annual budget for shade tree pruning, the following areas have received a health prune: Wildflower Park soccer field area, Escarpment from Back Bay to LaCrosse, and Escarpment from LaCrosse to the bridge. Each year we provide documentation of all of the areas that are pruned or treated, building a complete database of tree care for Circle C. We have approximately 2200 shade trees on the property, so tree care in itself is an enormous task. We have also allocated some irrigation funds for 2010 to provide bubblers to certain trees on the property which are particularly susceptible to drought, so we will be able to deep water during extreme drought conditions.
Landscape improvements for 2010 will include bed upgrades, turf area upgrades, more drip and water efficiency improvements, replacement electrical panels and lighting, and replacement of the remainder of the bollard lights along Escarpment.
If you are working on your home landscaping in early March, it is probably still just a little early for turf fertilization. March 11 is our last official freeze date for planting purposes, but most folks get some early Spring plantings in without harm. Best time for turf aeration and fertilization is when the soil has warmed up and everything is actively growing.
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