Every year Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April and we are encouraged to plant trees. With the forecast of a warmer, drier climate, the successful establishment of trees to cool the micro-climate has become an imperative. Taking steps to properly plant a tree will ensure that your tree becomes an asset to the location, not a liability.

Chemical exposure can cause or contribute to serious health issues including cancer, heart problems, damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and lungs, burns, and rashes, according to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Some chemicals also can cause fires, explosions, and other accidents. Landscape-industry workers encounter chemicals in pesticides and fertilizers and things such as paint, propane, kerosene, cleaning solvents, and welding fumes. An effective hazard communication program can protect employees from harmful exposure to these chemicals.

Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common and expensive occupational health problem in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Causes of musculoskeletal injuries (also known as repetitive-stress, repetitive-strain and repetitive-motion injuries, and cumulative-trauma disorders) include repetitive motion, heavy lifting, awkward posture or a combination of these factors. In the landscaping industry, tasks such as lifting and carrying, using powered and non-powered tools, reaching, bending and pushing and pulling heavy loads throughout the day can lead to musculoskeletal injuries – most commonly, sprains to the back, neck and shoulders.

Landscaping Tips - Is it a cactus....?

The seasonal events in the life cycle of plants are regulated by a number of environmental cues including temperature and day length. How do plants survive during colder temperatures? Woody plants start preparing for winter by shunting the water in their twigs, branches and trunks to their core and root system. This movement of water is triggered by certain chemical compounds. As a result, the plant cells contain higher concentrations of sugars, salts and organic compounds which lower the freezing point of cells and tissues enabling them to survive lower temperatures.