Landscaping Blog

Post-Holiday Wrap-Up!

Written by Burkholder Brothers Landscaping Tuesday, December 27 2011 13:38

Make sure your tree does not end up in a landfill this year! The City of Philadelphia will not be recycling trees left curbside. Residents should take their trees to drop-off points to be chipped for mulch. Trees must be free of decoration and removed from any plastic bags. Please see below for specific neighborhoods and appropriate drop-off times.

Chestnut Hill & Mount Airy

Norwood Fontbonne Academy

8891 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118

Sunday Jan. 8th from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

$5 donation requested. No early drop-offs.

Gabby's Community Garden

On Chew Ave between E. Mt Airy Ave and E. Mt Pleasant Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19119

Sunday, Jan. 8th from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm

$5 donation requested. No early drop-offs.

West Philadelphia

Bartram's Garden

5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19143

Christmas Tree-Cycling & Coat Drive

Saturday, Jan. 7th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

$5 donation requested. No early drop-offs. Gently used coats will also be collected for donation to Feel The Warmth.

Philadelphia Recycling Centers

Northwest Drop-Off Center

Domino Lane & Umbria Street

Northeast Drop-Off Center

State Road & Ashburner Street

Southwest Drop-Off Center

3033 South 63rd Street (near Passyunk Avenue)

Program will run for two weeks: Tuesday, January 3rd through Saturday, January 14th

The sites are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.

For more information (215) 686-5560.

Additional Neighborhoods in Philadelphia http://greenlimbs.com/2012-tree-cycling/

Cheltenham Township: Pick-up

WEST of Old York Road:

Tuesday, Jan 17th; Wednesday, Jan 18; Monday, Jan 23rd and Tuesday, Jan 24th

EAST of Old York Road:

Thursday, Jan 19th; Friday, Jan 20th; Wednesday, Jan 25th and Thursday, Jan 26th.

215-887-1000, ext. 330

Springfield Township: Pick-up

Township crews begin collecting Christmas Trees during the first week of January. Please place your tree at the curbside on your regular collection day.

215-836-7600

Why We Use Christmas Trees

Written by Burkholder Brothers Landscaping Monday, December 12 2011 15:45

The tradition of the Christmas tree dates back to the 1500's where the first tree was decorated at Riga in Latvia in 1510. By the mid 16th century, German towns began selling Christmas related items at markets and people began purchasing items to take home to hang on their "Christmas tree." The concept of a Christmas tree later spread to England, and eventually made its way to the U.S. through European settlers. Today, Christmas trees can be seen virtually everywhere once the Holiday season is in full gear. Each year, families scramble to find that perfect tree to fill their home with lights, presents, and memories. 

Tree Facts (Courtesy of the National Christmas Tree Association):

• There are approximately 25-30 million Real Christmas Trees sold in the U.S. every year.
• There are close to 350 million Real Christmas Trees currently growing on Christmas Tree farms in the U.S. alone, all planted by farmers.
• North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada. Eighty percent (80%) of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
• Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.
• There are more than 4,000 local Christmas Tree recycling programs throughout the United States.
• For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.
• There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christmas Trees in the U.S.; much of it preserving green space.
• There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry.
• It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of typical height (6 - 7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.
• The top Christmas Tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington. (See a complete list of all 50 states ranked by several variables.)
• The most common Christmas Tree species are: balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine.

P-interesting

Written by Burkholder Brothers Landscaping Friday, December 02 2011 11:25

If you haven't heard of pinterest yet, we highly recommend that you check it out. Pinterest is like an online corkboard where you can save ideas, samples, and collections of all your favorite things. Be forewarned - It can become very addicting!

Rochelle Walter Greayar, author of Studio G, created a great collection of all her favorite landscape designers through pinterest. 

The above image is a landscape design by Jinny Blom who is a favorite designer of ours and one of the designers featured in Greayar's pinterest collection.

Going Nuts

Written by Burkholder Brothers Landscaping Monday, November 21 2011 10:06

I'm not sure what's worse around here - stink bugs, squirrels, or deer. Since we just posted a blog article on the harmful effects that deer have on our plants, we should probably move on to the impact of squirrels on our local landscape. These critters steal food from bird feeders, vegetable patches, eat fruit and nuts from backyard trees, raid your garbage, and will even eat your pet's food. Fortunately, there are many ways to naturally repel these creatures from your garden.

Spices

Sprinkle hot spices such as chili powder and cayenne over any fruit or vegetables bothered by squirrels and along areas such as tables and fence railings that squirrels use for moving from place to place in your garden, according to Oliver Finn. The scent of these spices will repel these creatures. Mix these spices in a spray bottle to saturate the fruit in trees and shrubs. 

Squirrel-proof Your Bulbs

Squirrels dig up newly planted bulbs. To protect your bulbs and containers you can use repellents and mix oyster shell into the plantings and/or lay chicken wire over the bed and cover it with oyster shell and mulch. Any combination will have some benefit to protect your bulbs and planters. Another trick would be to plant bulbs in the garlic family (allium and fritillaria) as a natural repellent.

Feed the Squirrels

Provide a cob of corn, raw peanuts or sunflower seeds in a section of your garden away from the vegetable or flower garden and easily accessible to the squirrels. Well-fed squirrels should have no reason to raid your vegetable garden, trees or pet dish and will keep other hungry squirrels away.