Somerville Garden Club

December 7, 2009
by Head Gardener
Comments Off on December 9th, 7-9pm

December 9th, 7-9pm

On Wednesday, December 9, the Somerville Garden Club will host a program focusing on trees in the urban landscape.

Paul Harlow from Cambridge Landscape Services will be discussing individual tree care in Somerville and how residents can take care of their own trees, as well as the city trees that are near or adjacent to their property. With the recent completion of the citywide public tree survey, renewed appreciation of trees on both private and public property is needed to sustain tree health and support the overall contribution of trees to the environment. Suggestions on the types of trees that thrive in an urban setting, and the best tree planting methods will be a part of the discussion.

David Levitt is a self-taught artist interested in the “look” of things rather than in a record of what’s out there. Levitt believes that trees have played an important role in the belief systems of many peoples – partly because the complex shapes and textures of trees evoke visions of faces and attitudes. “Seeing Trees’ is a series of images he sees in trees.

November 7, 2009
by Head Gardener
Comments Off on Got leaves?

Got leaves?

A resident wrote to ask what to do with all of his yard waste this fall – specifically, does SGC know of anyone who would come cart away all of the stuff so that he wouldn’t need to fill a jillion yard waste bags and haul them to the curb. I am not aware of a such a service, though it wouldn’t hurt to call a landscaper to see if they would do this (for a fee, I would imagine).

If you have a supply of leaves (who doesn’t in the fall?) you might consider shredding them. Here’s a pretty good article on the benefits of leaf mold, as well as this one for uses for shredded leaves. Here are also some videos talking about how to make leaf mold and how to use it. These sources say it better but in summary, leaf mold provides the same benefits as a good compost to the soil – nutrients, better moisture retention, better drainage, etc. And it’s free!

If you still aren’t convinced (or don’t have the room to store leaves for a year), the City of Somerville will be picking up your yard waste every week through the first week of December.