Watch Where you Blow those Leaves!

No blowing your leaves into the storm drain - that's "dumping," and it's illegal!  You can report it here in Va Beach: (757)563-1470. 

Instead of blowing it away, compost it, put it on the curb in appropriate lawn waste bags, or MULCH IT! You can find the city's site regarding yard debris here. This kind of debris can really clog up your storm drains and contribute to flooding during rain events. 

Additionally, once the leaves reach the water (because you all know, everything that goes down the drain runs straight to the river (unless it's clogged!), all of that biological material breaking down can lead to eutrophication (i.e. algal blooms and fish kills). See the diagram below. This is bad news all around, so please make sure your neighbors know not to blow their leaves into the water or storm drain - they make wonderful compost, after all! :)

If there is debris (non-diseased) that you can leave in place, that's wonderful, too, as many beneficial critters and insects leave their eggs (like our wonderful office preying mantis!) on this debris to overwinter.

http://chemistry.tutorvista.com/

Reprinted from Fall 2014 Pearl Homes e-news, written by Trista Imrich, LRNow Pearl Homes Coordinator

Bamboo-zled

We absolutely love plants at LRNow, but... not ALL plants!

Bamboo is one especially invasive plant that can quickly go from a seemingly tranquil garden border to an invasive nightmare very quickly. There are 2 basic types of bamboo: clumping and runners. While we aren't particularly fond of either (mostly because, like most other invasive species, they are providing ZERO habitat value to our native insects and critters (with the exception of Arundinaria gigantea, a native bamboo)), the bamboo that spreads through runners is the worse of the two. This type of bamboo can grow roots at least 2-3' into the ground, and then begin (very rapidly) spreading laterally (bamboo is known as the fastest growing plant on earth, sometimes growing as quickly as 3'/day!). Some folks have even taken neighbors to court over bamboo encroachment onto their property, which could really make this a costly invasive!

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-bamboo.html

If you absolutely must plant any type of bamboo, be sure that you are taking appropriate precautions, and using strong containers, or retaining wall systems with rhizome barriers. Bamboo can make it's way through stone retaining walls and concrete. 

http://www.eddmaps.org/AT/distribution/point.cfm?id=2417454

Whenever possible, please use a native (or at least non-invasive!) alternative plant in your yard and landscape. Even if you don't believe it is spreading, you can't always know what is going on underground, or what critters may be inadvertently spreading the seeds.

Written by Trista Imrich. LRNow Pearl Homes Coordinator