Aftermath: Day Four

We got a lot done yesterday.  Almost all the branches have been dragged to the curbs for chipping.   I would estimate that 80% of all the branches that had cracked but were still attached to the tree have been cut loose with a chainsaw and are now on the ground.  We have been dragging branches to the curbs for days.  Yesterday we were able to get a lot of chipping done.  I also had a crew taking all the big logs that were too large to be put through the chipper to a stockpile for next year's firewood.  Many dangling branches remain though.  If you walk down the Boulevard and look up into the canopies you would see at least one large branch hanging on by a thread in each tree.  It is past the no pruning date for oaks to help prevent the spread of Oak Wilt so all pruning wounds will have to be painted to prevent the vector insect from getting into the tree. The upside is we have a tttttttttooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnn of mulch.  I hope to start mulching next week.  I will get a picture of the pile today.  It's massive.

Branches lining the Boulevard.  Before we began chipping the branches lined the entire length of Boulevard on both sides.

We drag the branches to the curbs and line them up facing the same direction--branch-side towards the chipper.  This way the chipping crew can easily grab the branch and throw it in the chipper.  Before chipping we have to go through each pile and cut the branches down to a manageable size and get everything untangled.  That's what we did all day Monday.

Once we get a limb like this severed we cut it up and drag all of its pieces to the curb for chipping.

The guys getting ready to chip.  Ek is doing some last minute adjusting.  Of course once we got the machine in place yesterday morning, we didn't have the key to start it.  Got the key and the machine wouldn't start.  Called Rooster and Ray to come out and take a look.  They fixed it and we chipped until 2:00 then Rooster had to change the blades out.

Contracted chippers from Preservation Tree Services chipped like mad men yesterday.  They were out here at 7:00 a.m. chipping and cleaning up behind themselves.  They chipped almost the entire Boulevard yesterday!

We've hauled a lot of things in these carts but this is a first.  Ice is still very thick in places.  This snow/ice was removed from a handicap ramp.

Garden Reminder:  It's time to prune your roses.  Remove all dead wood and any canes that are rubbing against each other.  I work with antique roses so I only remove 5" off the top of the plant by pruning off last year's blooms and rose hips.  Antiques don't need much pruning.  I take more if I am trying to trim them way back to a smaller size.  Work in composted manure and an organic, granular fertilizer at the base of each rose.  Mulch around the base of each rose making sure to pull all the mulch from touching the base of the plant to prevent disease.