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How are your trees doing?
Baby, its cold outside!
By Chris Leinster - February 28, 2019
Colorado is experiencing its coldest winter in many years, bringing blankets of snow to the mountains and freezing temperatures to the Front Range. I don’t want to dive into the numbers or spark another pointless global warming debate, but needless to say its cold outside and its predicted to be that way for the weeks to come. How are your trees holding up?
Quite well, actually. At least I hope so. Once the cold weather settled in this winter it has pretty much stayed consistently cold. We’ve seen some dalliances into the 50s here and there, and possibly some brief incursions into the low 60s. Those encounters have been fleeting, and not nearly warm enough or long enough to warm up the ground. While we haven’t had massive snow totals, the storms are coming in waves and snow is piling up on the shady side of the house.
This bodes well for your trees and all of your landscape plants as they slumber through the winter. Cold doesn’t matter so much as long as it doesn’t warm up between cold snaps. Drastic swings in temperature can be detrimental to trees as tissue in the cambium (live cells underneath the bark) freezes and thaws. The best-case scenario is for it to get cold and to stay cold, which is what we’ve experienced so far.
Waves of storms have brought coveted moisture to Colorado as well. There hasn’t been much need to winter water so far, as the weather has produced sufficient precipitation to most of the Front Range. More importantly, the snowpack in all of Colorado’s watershed basins is running over 100% of the median snow water equivalent (source https://www.usbr.gov/UC_SnowMap/), meaning most municipalities shouldn’t require water restrictions this summer!
Be aware that despite all the snow, moisture may not be penetrating down to the deep roots of your trees. While snow melts in sunny spots, the water may run off and not seep into the frozen ground below. Conversely, in shady areas our dry air may wick the moisture right out of the snow before it gets a chance to melt into the ground! Your trees should be fine though, as we had sufficient rain before the cold settled in and the slumbering roots are awaiting warmer soil to break dormancy. As we head into spring, keep an eye on precipitation as roots begin to grow long before you notice any leaves break bud.
While its still too cold to plant trees and digging into frozen ground is no fun at all, its not too early to plan your spring planting. Give Happy Trees a call and we can help you find the perfect tree for your needs and figure out pricing. Trees are currently being harvested and are arriving weekly. Soon the Crocus and Daffodil will be poking up out of the ground and tree planting time will spring upon us.
Disclaimer: Colorado has vexing micro climates. Your neighborhood may be in drought conditions. Monitor your trees and water as necessary.
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Quite well, actually. At least I hope so. Once the cold weather settled in this winter it has pretty much stayed consistently cold. We’ve seen some dalliances into the 50s here and there, and possibly some brief incursions into the low 60s. Those encounters have been fleeting, and not nearly warm enough or long enough to warm up the ground. While we haven’t had massive snow totals, the storms are coming in waves and snow is piling up on the shady side of the house.
This bodes well for your trees and all of your landscape plants as they slumber through the winter. Cold doesn’t matter so much as long as it doesn’t warm up between cold snaps. Drastic swings in temperature can be detrimental to trees as tissue in the cambium (live cells underneath the bark) freezes and thaws. The best-case scenario is for it to get cold and to stay cold, which is what we’ve experienced so far.
Waves of storms have brought coveted moisture to Colorado as well. There hasn’t been much need to winter water so far, as the weather has produced sufficient precipitation to most of the Front Range. More importantly, the snowpack in all of Colorado’s watershed basins is running over 100% of the median snow water equivalent (source https://www.usbr.gov/UC_SnowMap/), meaning most municipalities shouldn’t require water restrictions this summer!
Be aware that despite all the snow, moisture may not be penetrating down to the deep roots of your trees. While snow melts in sunny spots, the water may run off and not seep into the frozen ground below. Conversely, in shady areas our dry air may wick the moisture right out of the snow before it gets a chance to melt into the ground! Your trees should be fine though, as we had sufficient rain before the cold settled in and the slumbering roots are awaiting warmer soil to break dormancy. As we head into spring, keep an eye on precipitation as roots begin to grow long before you notice any leaves break bud.
While its still too cold to plant trees and digging into frozen ground is no fun at all, its not too early to plan your spring planting. Give Happy Trees a call and we can help you find the perfect tree for your needs and figure out pricing. Trees are currently being harvested and are arriving weekly. Soon the Crocus and Daffodil will be poking up out of the ground and tree planting time will spring upon us.
Disclaimer: Colorado has vexing micro climates. Your neighborhood may be in drought conditions. Monitor your trees and water as necessary.
Â
Experience blooming gardens in the middle of winter!
Visit the 2019 Colorado Garden and Home Show
By Chris Leinster - February 4, 2019
Colorado is swathed tightly in winter’s icy grip, but spring is rapidly approaching and soon you’ll be planting your vegetable garden and adding new plants to your landscape. It’s time to start planning your new year’s landscape projects, as well as other home maintenance or improvement projects you may be contemplating. The best place to find inspiration, ideas, and even qualified professionals to perform the work is at the 2019 Colorado Garden and Home Show.
The 2019 Colorado Garden and Home Show starts Saturday, February 9th and runs nine days through Sunday, February 17th at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. More than 650 vendors representing landscape design and construction firms and home products and services companies put their talents on display for you to explore. Are you hoping to install solar power? How about a deck or pergola? New roof? Windows and doors? Gutters or leaf guards? Does the house need new paint? A kitchen remodel? Or maybe you’re just looking for some furnishings for the home or patio? It’s all here waiting for you to discover.
The main attraction and the real reason to attend are the magnificent and imaginative feature gardens that greet you immediately upon entry and that you encounter throughout the exhibit hall. Nine landscape companies build spectacular demonstration landscape gardens, complete with live fire features, waterfalls and koi ponds, and believe it or not, thousands of plants bursting with flowers! These companies pull out all the stops to showcase their talent and to demonstrate their creativity.
On a cold winter’s day, stepping through the doors to the exhibit hall is like thrusting open the gates to the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory! Inside one discovers a fantasy land of leafy trees and shrubs, carpets of green grass, and of course tens of thousands of flowers in full bloom! The gardens feature everything you can imagine for your yard. Retaining walls, patios, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, decks, pergolas, and ponds are all on display for your consideration. Everything is ensconced among colorful gardens with actual flowering plants- such a welcome surprise amid months of snow and chilly temperatures!
How do they do it? The landscapers get only one week to set up their garden displays. On the Monday before the show, an armada of semi-tractor trailers converges inside the exhibit hall delivering hundreds of tons of landscape materials to the convention floor. A fleet of front-end loaders and fork lifts scurry about unloading retaining wall block, landscape timbers, huge boulders and other decorative rock, and patio stone. Mountains of mulch, soil, and sand are distributed to the gardens. Crews of workers set about stacking exterior walls, laying patios, and erecting structures.
By end of day Tuesday, the bulk of material must be moved into the display area and the main garden features must be completed. Other vendors start moving in Wednesday and accessibility becomes an issue. Many of the more elaborate components can be built off-site and assembled like Legos inside. The berms and raised gardens sit on mounds of light weight mulch which is recycled after the show.
On Thursday and Friday all of the smaller vendors invade the hall and tempers flair as gardeners jostle for access and parking among the melee. Hopefully the displays are mostly built and with God’s grace the ponds aren’t leaking. Once the big hardscape jobs are complete the gardens are ready for planting.
Just like real-world projects the larger trees and shrubs go first, then every nook and cranny is stuffed with colorful blooming flowers. The flowers are mostly bulbs that are forced into bloom inside heated greenhouses over the winter months. They are tricked into “waking up†and revealing their flowers. They’re collected by boy scout troops after the show and delivered to nursing homes and non-profit agencies where they bring a second round of joy to those that admire them. Many can be kept inside and planted outside once the weather warms up.
In addition to the landscapers trying to earn your business, two student gardens showcase the imaginative talent of up and coming future landscape designers. Plant societies and garden clubs hope to earn your attention, and the Colorado State Agricultural Extension service is on hand to answer any diseased or pest related conundrum you may have.
It truly is a site to behold, plus a huge convenience if you’re pursuing any home improvement or landscape projects this year. You can engage several companies to figure out which ones might best respond to your needs, and arrange for home site visits for estimates or design consultations. It may take a week or two to schedule an appointment, then depending on how elaborate a project you have in mind it may be a few more weeks to receive plans or proposals. Figure another week or two to work through revisions and fine tune your plans. If you need to get your HOA involved, it may take up to a month for approval and before you know it we’re into April or May- a prime time to plant. So I would encourage you to take advantage of the Garden Show and to get started setting a budget and planning your projects.
Unfortunately, the Garden Show still isn’t a great place to showcase trees or to find contractors who are willing to deliver and install just a tree or a few trees. The best place to shop for trees is always HappyTrees.co, and the best company to provide, deliver, and install your trees is Happy Trees! Go ahead and give us a call. We’ll help you figure out the best tree for your needs and you’ll be first in line when the ground thaws in the spring. Thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees and have a great day!
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The 2019 Colorado Garden and Home Show starts Saturday, February 9th and runs nine days through Sunday, February 17th at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. More than 650 vendors representing landscape design and construction firms and home products and services companies put their talents on display for you to explore. Are you hoping to install solar power? How about a deck or pergola? New roof? Windows and doors? Gutters or leaf guards? Does the house need new paint? A kitchen remodel? Or maybe you’re just looking for some furnishings for the home or patio? It’s all here waiting for you to discover.
The main attraction and the real reason to attend are the magnificent and imaginative feature gardens that greet you immediately upon entry and that you encounter throughout the exhibit hall. Nine landscape companies build spectacular demonstration landscape gardens, complete with live fire features, waterfalls and koi ponds, and believe it or not, thousands of plants bursting with flowers! These companies pull out all the stops to showcase their talent and to demonstrate their creativity.
On a cold winter’s day, stepping through the doors to the exhibit hall is like thrusting open the gates to the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory! Inside one discovers a fantasy land of leafy trees and shrubs, carpets of green grass, and of course tens of thousands of flowers in full bloom! The gardens feature everything you can imagine for your yard. Retaining walls, patios, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, decks, pergolas, and ponds are all on display for your consideration. Everything is ensconced among colorful gardens with actual flowering plants- such a welcome surprise amid months of snow and chilly temperatures!
How do they do it? The landscapers get only one week to set up their garden displays. On the Monday before the show, an armada of semi-tractor trailers converges inside the exhibit hall delivering hundreds of tons of landscape materials to the convention floor. A fleet of front-end loaders and fork lifts scurry about unloading retaining wall block, landscape timbers, huge boulders and other decorative rock, and patio stone. Mountains of mulch, soil, and sand are distributed to the gardens. Crews of workers set about stacking exterior walls, laying patios, and erecting structures.
By end of day Tuesday, the bulk of material must be moved into the display area and the main garden features must be completed. Other vendors start moving in Wednesday and accessibility becomes an issue. Many of the more elaborate components can be built off-site and assembled like Legos inside. The berms and raised gardens sit on mounds of light weight mulch which is recycled after the show.
On Thursday and Friday all of the smaller vendors invade the hall and tempers flair as gardeners jostle for access and parking among the melee. Hopefully the displays are mostly built and with God’s grace the ponds aren’t leaking. Once the big hardscape jobs are complete the gardens are ready for planting.
Just like real-world projects the larger trees and shrubs go first, then every nook and cranny is stuffed with colorful blooming flowers. The flowers are mostly bulbs that are forced into bloom inside heated greenhouses over the winter months. They are tricked into “waking up†and revealing their flowers. They’re collected by boy scout troops after the show and delivered to nursing homes and non-profit agencies where they bring a second round of joy to those that admire them. Many can be kept inside and planted outside once the weather warms up.
In addition to the landscapers trying to earn your business, two student gardens showcase the imaginative talent of up and coming future landscape designers. Plant societies and garden clubs hope to earn your attention, and the Colorado State Agricultural Extension service is on hand to answer any diseased or pest related conundrum you may have.
It truly is a site to behold, plus a huge convenience if you’re pursuing any home improvement or landscape projects this year. You can engage several companies to figure out which ones might best respond to your needs, and arrange for home site visits for estimates or design consultations. It may take a week or two to schedule an appointment, then depending on how elaborate a project you have in mind it may be a few more weeks to receive plans or proposals. Figure another week or two to work through revisions and fine tune your plans. If you need to get your HOA involved, it may take up to a month for approval and before you know it we’re into April or May- a prime time to plant. So I would encourage you to take advantage of the Garden Show and to get started setting a budget and planning your projects.
Unfortunately, the Garden Show still isn’t a great place to showcase trees or to find contractors who are willing to deliver and install just a tree or a few trees. The best place to shop for trees is always HappyTrees.co, and the best company to provide, deliver, and install your trees is Happy Trees! Go ahead and give us a call. We’ll help you figure out the best tree for your needs and you’ll be first in line when the ground thaws in the spring. Thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees and have a great day!
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Winter has arrived!
How to protect your trees from winter's wrath!
By Chris Leinster - January 28, 2019
It’s late January and a surprise winter storm has washed across the front range, leaving behind a fluffy carpet of brilliant white snow 4-8†deep. Temperatures are on the warmer side, meaning that snow can pack a lot of water weight, potentially damaging young branches and tender shrubs.
Hopefully you prepared for this last fall and tied up susceptible plants like Fine Line Buckthorn and Upright Juniper, which tend to splay open under the weight of heavy snowfall. Simply wrap a few loose strands of twine around the plants to help support the limbs and branches in the event of storms such as this one. Don’t cinch the branches tight, just secure enough so that they won’t bend over when the snow piles up. Bungee cords work wonders for this also.
Some plants may need other physical supports to protect them from winter’s wrath. I use stakes to prop up my Weeping Norway Spruce. It’s broad arching branches could otherwise collapse under cumbersome snow loads. Young Aspen trees have been known to bend to the ground, however their elastic wood usually snaps back upon snow melt. Other trees like Japanese Tree Lilac and Amur Maple (particularly multi-stem trees) are not so fortunate. Once crippled under oppressive pressure they may not bounce back to their former stately position. Branches and entire trunks may need corrective bracing after the storm, or in severe cases they may need to be pruned off entirely.
Regardless of whether your plants are tied or not, you may need to head out during and after the tempest to gently brush accumulated snow off of your precious plants. Use a long-handled broom or other soft brush to sweep and knock the snow down. Plants may become brittle with severe cold temperatures, so use caution and go at it easy.
I know everyone wants low maintenance trees and landscapes. Nobody ever says “what kind of tree requires constant attention and care?â€. I get it, but I don’t consider this preventative exercise “high maintenanceâ€. Take some time in the fall to tie up vulnerable trees and shrubs, and head back out in the spring to remove the ties and winter tree wrap (see my October 8th blog on “how to prevent sun scald†http://happytrees.co/blog/16966/How-to-prevent-sun-scald- ). You’ve got to shovel the driveway anyway, so take a few minutes to brush off your plants. Protect your investment and your trees and shrubs will give you and future generations plenty of shade, privacy, and aesthetic beauty!
On the bright side the snow is providing bountiful moisture desperately needed by your lawn and all of your landscape plants. Its important to not let the ground dry out entirely over the winter months, and nature is doing a fine job this year nourishing the soil and supplying moisture to the roots.
It may not look it, but spring is headed our way! Soon the Crocus will be pushing up out of the ground and those pesky Dandelion will start popping up in the lawn. Roots begin to grow long before any leaves appear on the branches, so keep an eye on the weather and winter water if the need becomes prevalent.
Now is also a good time to start planning your spring tree planting! If you’re considering buying and planting trees this spring go ahead and give us a call. We can help you determine the perfect type of tree for your needs, whether you need shade, privacy, or just something to bring a cacophony of color to your yard. We can help you determine your budget and you’ll be first in line when the ground thaws. I actually prefer to plant before the trees break dormancy. They will “wake up†in your yard and you have less risk of transplant shock that we sometimes see later in the season.
Thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees and we look forward to serving your tree needs for generations to come!
Â
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Hopefully you prepared for this last fall and tied up susceptible plants like Fine Line Buckthorn and Upright Juniper, which tend to splay open under the weight of heavy snowfall. Simply wrap a few loose strands of twine around the plants to help support the limbs and branches in the event of storms such as this one. Don’t cinch the branches tight, just secure enough so that they won’t bend over when the snow piles up. Bungee cords work wonders for this also.
Some plants may need other physical supports to protect them from winter’s wrath. I use stakes to prop up my Weeping Norway Spruce. It’s broad arching branches could otherwise collapse under cumbersome snow loads. Young Aspen trees have been known to bend to the ground, however their elastic wood usually snaps back upon snow melt. Other trees like Japanese Tree Lilac and Amur Maple (particularly multi-stem trees) are not so fortunate. Once crippled under oppressive pressure they may not bounce back to their former stately position. Branches and entire trunks may need corrective bracing after the storm, or in severe cases they may need to be pruned off entirely.
Regardless of whether your plants are tied or not, you may need to head out during and after the tempest to gently brush accumulated snow off of your precious plants. Use a long-handled broom or other soft brush to sweep and knock the snow down. Plants may become brittle with severe cold temperatures, so use caution and go at it easy.
I know everyone wants low maintenance trees and landscapes. Nobody ever says “what kind of tree requires constant attention and care?â€. I get it, but I don’t consider this preventative exercise “high maintenanceâ€. Take some time in the fall to tie up vulnerable trees and shrubs, and head back out in the spring to remove the ties and winter tree wrap (see my October 8th blog on “how to prevent sun scald†http://happytrees.co/blog/16966/How-to-prevent-sun-scald- ). You’ve got to shovel the driveway anyway, so take a few minutes to brush off your plants. Protect your investment and your trees and shrubs will give you and future generations plenty of shade, privacy, and aesthetic beauty!
On the bright side the snow is providing bountiful moisture desperately needed by your lawn and all of your landscape plants. Its important to not let the ground dry out entirely over the winter months, and nature is doing a fine job this year nourishing the soil and supplying moisture to the roots.
It may not look it, but spring is headed our way! Soon the Crocus will be pushing up out of the ground and those pesky Dandelion will start popping up in the lawn. Roots begin to grow long before any leaves appear on the branches, so keep an eye on the weather and winter water if the need becomes prevalent.
Now is also a good time to start planning your spring tree planting! If you’re considering buying and planting trees this spring go ahead and give us a call. We can help you determine the perfect type of tree for your needs, whether you need shade, privacy, or just something to bring a cacophony of color to your yard. We can help you determine your budget and you’ll be first in line when the ground thaws. I actually prefer to plant before the trees break dormancy. They will “wake up†in your yard and you have less risk of transplant shock that we sometimes see later in the season.
Thank you for your consideration of Happy Trees and we look forward to serving your tree needs for generations to come!
Â
Clemson wins the 2019 National Championship!
Happy Trees aspires to be like Clemson
By Chris Leinster - January 10, 2019
It’s January and no one is much thinking about buying trees, so this week’s blog is going to be a bit different. I’d like to talk about the Clemson Tigers who just won the Collegiate National Championship! I’m proud to be a Clemson alumnus, class of ’92. I’m even prouder that the character of head coach Dabo Swinney and the culture that he brings to the Clemson Tigers beat the despicable vitriol of Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
The success culture that Swinney nurtures among the Tigers is the same ethos that I try to incubate within the Happy Trees community, and it turns out I’ve had a small influence upon the Tiger culture into which Dabo Swinney built a championship team! Let me explain…
I discovered Rugby upon my arrival at Clemson. I had been a high school athlete with some promise but it wasn’t until Rugby that the pure essence of sport was unveiled to me. Rugby evolved from Soccer and spawned Football. It marries the physicality and violence of Football with the fluidity and finesse of Soccer. With Rugby I learned that every player has a specific role to perform and each must perform with intense exceptionalism in order for the team to succeed. But to be a champion, every player must know and exploit the talents and habits of his fellow mates as well as his opponents. When this happens, you can execute plays with inspired brilliance, as if playing in the Matrix able to bend the physical universe to your will.
I’ve experienced this level of synergy with other pursuits like restaurant and construction work. Great restaurants depend on hostesses, waiters, bus boys, cooks, bartenders, dishwashers, and managers all working harmoniously under a high-pressure environment. If anyone in the chain of service is off her game the whole assembly stumbles and the customers suffer.
Same with home construction. If the foundation guy is off by a fraction, it jeopardizes the entire structure! Great companies strive to make sure that everyone involved is maximizing their efforts to achieve a flawless execution of an impeccable product. Again, these are principles I try to instill within the Happy Trees organization, but I digress…
In April 2017 I traveled back to South Carolina to celebrate Clemson Rugby’s 50th anniversary. It was great to reconnect with old friends and to revel with generations of players who proudly formed a brotherhood around the sport of Rugby and the college of Clemson. The keynote speaker at the banquet was Sir Graham Henry, former head coach of the Rugby World Champion New Zealand All Blacks, widely regarded as the best Rugby club in the world. Sir Graham Henry is recognized one of the most successful Rugby coaches of all time.
During his stay we arranged for coach Henry to meet Dabo Swinney, who had led the Tigers to National Championship victory the previous year. They spoke for over an hour about sports culture and success, but it was later reported that Swinney didn’t fully grasp that he was courting Rugby royalty. This is forgivable given that while Rugby dominates much of the rest of the globe, it struggles to find an audience in America. But imagine chatting with Joe Sakic or John Elway not realizing you stood among giants!
Henry gifted Swinney with a copy of the book “Legacyâ€, which chronicles the feats of the All Blacks and delves into Sir Henry’s philosophy that creates and sustains a culture of greatness. Reportedly Swinney absorbed the knowledge contained within and inspired his team to perpetually escalate their efforts. Some of Legacy’s notable quotes are as follows…
“The challenge is to always improve, to always get better, even when you are the best. Especially when you are the best.â€
“You get nowhere without character. Character is essential to individuals and their cumulative character is the backbone of your winning team.â€
“The challenge of every team is to build up a feeling of oneness, of dependence on one another,†said Vince Lombardi. “Because the question is usually not how well each person performs, but how well they work together.â€â€
“if you develop your people, your business is going to be more successful. It’s just a matter of creating an environment where that becomes a happening every day.â€
I’ve read the book and I aspire to incorporate these principles within myself and my company in order to deliver the greatest possible consumer experience with the services I offer. But the point of all this is this; I played Rugby for Clemson, the Rugby club introduced Dabo Swinney to Sir Graham Henry, Sir Graham Henry introduced Dabo Swinney to the book “Legacyâ€, and Dabo Swinney used the principles within to propel his team to greatness. So, essentially I’m responsible for the Clemson victory over Alabama for the national title in 2019!
But seriously, while I don’t know Dabo Swinney personally, I know personal stories through close friends that attest to his extraordinary dedication, faith, and compassion. I aspire to be more like him, and to run Happy Trees the same way he runs the Clemson Football organization. Dabo inspires Clemson not to be better then their opponents, but rather to be better than the standard that they’ve set for themselves. Contrast that to Nick Saban’s kill or be killed standard, and it becomes clear how Clemson slayed the giant 44-16 against all expectations.
Having said all that, the weather has been mild and it’s a great time to plant trees! If you are thinking about planting a tree this spring, I would encourage you to go ahead and get it done now. As long as the ground isn’t frozen, we can plant trees. The trees will “wake up†in your yard and you’ll avoid any potential transplant shock when the trees break dormancy in the spring.
Don’t forget about winter watering, which I’ll discuss when the need reveals itself. Happy New Year, and have a blessed 2019!
Â
Read More...
The success culture that Swinney nurtures among the Tigers is the same ethos that I try to incubate within the Happy Trees community, and it turns out I’ve had a small influence upon the Tiger culture into which Dabo Swinney built a championship team! Let me explain…
I discovered Rugby upon my arrival at Clemson. I had been a high school athlete with some promise but it wasn’t until Rugby that the pure essence of sport was unveiled to me. Rugby evolved from Soccer and spawned Football. It marries the physicality and violence of Football with the fluidity and finesse of Soccer. With Rugby I learned that every player has a specific role to perform and each must perform with intense exceptionalism in order for the team to succeed. But to be a champion, every player must know and exploit the talents and habits of his fellow mates as well as his opponents. When this happens, you can execute plays with inspired brilliance, as if playing in the Matrix able to bend the physical universe to your will.
I’ve experienced this level of synergy with other pursuits like restaurant and construction work. Great restaurants depend on hostesses, waiters, bus boys, cooks, bartenders, dishwashers, and managers all working harmoniously under a high-pressure environment. If anyone in the chain of service is off her game the whole assembly stumbles and the customers suffer.
Same with home construction. If the foundation guy is off by a fraction, it jeopardizes the entire structure! Great companies strive to make sure that everyone involved is maximizing their efforts to achieve a flawless execution of an impeccable product. Again, these are principles I try to instill within the Happy Trees organization, but I digress…
In April 2017 I traveled back to South Carolina to celebrate Clemson Rugby’s 50th anniversary. It was great to reconnect with old friends and to revel with generations of players who proudly formed a brotherhood around the sport of Rugby and the college of Clemson. The keynote speaker at the banquet was Sir Graham Henry, former head coach of the Rugby World Champion New Zealand All Blacks, widely regarded as the best Rugby club in the world. Sir Graham Henry is recognized one of the most successful Rugby coaches of all time.
During his stay we arranged for coach Henry to meet Dabo Swinney, who had led the Tigers to National Championship victory the previous year. They spoke for over an hour about sports culture and success, but it was later reported that Swinney didn’t fully grasp that he was courting Rugby royalty. This is forgivable given that while Rugby dominates much of the rest of the globe, it struggles to find an audience in America. But imagine chatting with Joe Sakic or John Elway not realizing you stood among giants!
Henry gifted Swinney with a copy of the book “Legacyâ€, which chronicles the feats of the All Blacks and delves into Sir Henry’s philosophy that creates and sustains a culture of greatness. Reportedly Swinney absorbed the knowledge contained within and inspired his team to perpetually escalate their efforts. Some of Legacy’s notable quotes are as follows…
“The challenge is to always improve, to always get better, even when you are the best. Especially when you are the best.â€
“You get nowhere without character. Character is essential to individuals and their cumulative character is the backbone of your winning team.â€
“The challenge of every team is to build up a feeling of oneness, of dependence on one another,†said Vince Lombardi. “Because the question is usually not how well each person performs, but how well they work together.â€â€
“if you develop your people, your business is going to be more successful. It’s just a matter of creating an environment where that becomes a happening every day.â€
I’ve read the book and I aspire to incorporate these principles within myself and my company in order to deliver the greatest possible consumer experience with the services I offer. But the point of all this is this; I played Rugby for Clemson, the Rugby club introduced Dabo Swinney to Sir Graham Henry, Sir Graham Henry introduced Dabo Swinney to the book “Legacyâ€, and Dabo Swinney used the principles within to propel his team to greatness. So, essentially I’m responsible for the Clemson victory over Alabama for the national title in 2019!
But seriously, while I don’t know Dabo Swinney personally, I know personal stories through close friends that attest to his extraordinary dedication, faith, and compassion. I aspire to be more like him, and to run Happy Trees the same way he runs the Clemson Football organization. Dabo inspires Clemson not to be better then their opponents, but rather to be better than the standard that they’ve set for themselves. Contrast that to Nick Saban’s kill or be killed standard, and it becomes clear how Clemson slayed the giant 44-16 against all expectations.
Having said all that, the weather has been mild and it’s a great time to plant trees! If you are thinking about planting a tree this spring, I would encourage you to go ahead and get it done now. As long as the ground isn’t frozen, we can plant trees. The trees will “wake up†in your yard and you’ll avoid any potential transplant shock when the trees break dormancy in the spring.
Don’t forget about winter watering, which I’ll discuss when the need reveals itself. Happy New Year, and have a blessed 2019!
Â
When is the best time to buy our Christmas Tree?
The best trees for Christmas I guarantee your family will cherish for the holiday season!
By Chris Leinster - November 18, 2018
Ski lifts are spinning, cold weather is settling in, our planting season is winding down, and that means that once again the holidays are sneaking up on us! It seems hard to believe but its time to start thinking about selecting the perfect Christmas tree for your family to enjoy through the holiday season.
When is the best time to buy my Christmas Tree? Many folks believe that it’s best to wait as long as possible to buy a tree so that they get a “fresh†tree that will hold onto its needles through Christmas morning. Did you know that all of the trees that will be sold this season have already been cut and are sitting in cold storage? Get your tree early so that you can get it inside and into a basin of water so it can rehydrate as quickly as possible. Hopefully it will soak up water like a sponge and the needles should hang on through new years’ day.
Cells are dying every day cut trees are sitting outside and the longer they languish out of water the less likely they are to maintain their vigor for Santa’s arrival. Our family tradition is to buy and decorate our tree the day after Thanksgiving. You should have a great selection of trees from which to choose and it’s a great activity for the family over the holiday weekend.
What is the best variety for a Christmas tree? As you head out to the tree lot, you’ll find many types of trees from which to choose. Each have their attributes and drawbacks, so here’s a quick guide based solely on my experience to help you decide which way to go.
Pine: Pine have long needles and most have a deep green color. The branches tend to be widely spaced with an open habit so the ornaments have room to dangle. I fear Pine seem to dry out and the needles drop quickly indoors, so I pass over the pine in most seasons.
Spruce: What better way to celebrate than with Colorado’s state tree? Needle color can range from deep green to almost florescent blue for vibrant color. Needle retention is good, but seems to be fickle and inconsistent. Stout branches hold heavy ornaments well. The biggest problem I have with Spruce is that their short stiff needles are prickly and will leave your arms shredded as you wrestle the tree off your car and into the house! I prefer to plant Spruce outside and decorate them for a living outdoor Christmas tree.
Fir: Winner winner chicken dinner! Fir have soft needles that are forgiving on the skin. There are many varieties that range from forest green to silvery blue. They guzzle water once inside and hold fast to their foliage. In fact, their needles are often still attached and as good as new when I pull them out of the burn pile in May or June the following year!
Grand Fir are deep green with needles that are arranged in flat sprays across the branches. Their open habit shows off ornaments well. Concolor Fir are native to Colorado and have a cobalt blue color. Noble Fir are green with a graceful shape. My absolute favorite is the Fraser Fir. The needles are green on top with silver undersides, and I believe them to have the best fragrance.
How do I care for my Christmas Tree? Once trees are cut, living cells seal up the wound. A fresh cut is imperative to expose healthy tissue and xylem (vascular tissue) to carry water up branches and into the needles. Many tree lots will offer to cut the trees for you, but I prefer to treat them like a flower bouquet and cut them immediately before I get them into water. Plus, I never pass a chance to break out the power tools! A chainsaw or Sawzall works wonders, but hand saws work too. Make a fresh cut an inch or two above the bottom and get them inside and into a water basin directly.
Get a tree stand with a large basin for water storage. The best types sit on a broad disc base and not three or four legs that are prone to tipping. Keep a close eye on the water level in the basin especially for the first few days. The tree can guzzle up a gallon or more when first brought indoors! It is typical for this to slow down and even stop altogether as Christmas day approaches. Mind the dogs too as they seem to love lapping water from an extra festive water bowl!
You may trim up the lower branches to make room for Christmas bounty. This will make it easier to monitor how much water the tree is drinking and to add water as well. Many tree farms sheer the trees which makes the branches grow full and thick. You can thin out the branches to open up the tree to allow for ornaments to dangle and to be seen on display.
The internet abounds with home recipes for making nutrient cocktails for your trees to drink in order to preserve their vigor. I’ve seen everything from bleach, soda pop, vinegar, and corn syrup. I’ve never had a problem with just plain water as long as I buy the tree early and make a fresh cut. The nutrient packets the florist gives you to preserve flower bouquets work as well as anything I suppose. Just never ever allow the water basin to dry up!
Can I buy live trees and plant them after Christmas? Yes, but this can be difficult. Live trees can be bought balled-and-burlapped or in containers with roots intact. They have hopefully settled into winter dormancy at the nursery and extended time inside a warm house can cause them to “wake up†and start growing. It’s best to bring them inside for not more than a week or a few days. They will need to be re-acclimated before taking them back outside by putting them in the garage or somewhere where they won’t freeze suddenly.
Dig the hole in the fall so you won’t have to hack through frozen soil in January, and keep your excavated soil and soil amendments in the garage or somewhere they won’t freeze as well. Live trees are heavy and hard to move, so consider if it’s not better to buy a cut tree for Christmas and let Happy Trees plant your landscape trees as soon as the snow melts in spring! Conversely, you can plant your tree anytime and decorate and celebrate outside for the holiday.
Are Christmas Trees ethical? Yes, absolutely! Most Christmas Tree farms are in places like Oregon or Michigan where rainfall is abundant and growing conditions are ideal. Trees at the farms are every bit as beneficial to the environment as the trees growing in natural forests. They support a vibrant economy and can be recycled for mulch or burned for firewood. Most importantly, they bring joy and smiles to children’s faces on Christmas morning, so enjoy your tree guilt free!
What about cutting down trees out of the forest? Trees are a renewable resource and Colorado encourages residents to harvest trees on state lands. Christmas tree cutting thins out tree stands and removes fuel for forest fires. You may be disappointed at the selection though. We look at a forest and marvel at the woodland’s beauty, but finding a single perfect tree is beguilingly difficult. You may need to cut down a fairly mature tree and trim the top eight feet or so to bring into your home. Cutting trees on public land requires a permit which you can obtain at the following link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/recreation/?cid=fseprd562604
Shouldn’t I just get one of those pre-lighted artificial trees? Sure, they’re easier to set up and they’re getting more lifelike each year. If it’s just another chore for you and you’re trying to save some hassle I suppose that’s a solution. I think you’re robbing your family of the experience though.
I always look forward to bundling up and bringing my boy out to hunt for our special tree. I don’t mind standing each one up as he darts through the isles shouting “what about this one Dad?!†I enjoy bringing it in and setting it up, making selective cuts like an ancient Japanese Bonsai master. I prefer a little rum in my hot cocoa and watching football as we untangle strings of lights to see which ones still work after a year’s storage. It’s a tradition that makes Christmas a little more magical and brings the family closer together. We cut the tree up on new year’s day, and the boughs make our spring fire pit fires a little more memorable. You can have your artificial tree, but for me there’s no substitute for a delightfully beautiful and deliciously fragrant natural Christmas Tree!
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When is the best time to buy my Christmas Tree? Many folks believe that it’s best to wait as long as possible to buy a tree so that they get a “fresh†tree that will hold onto its needles through Christmas morning. Did you know that all of the trees that will be sold this season have already been cut and are sitting in cold storage? Get your tree early so that you can get it inside and into a basin of water so it can rehydrate as quickly as possible. Hopefully it will soak up water like a sponge and the needles should hang on through new years’ day.
Cells are dying every day cut trees are sitting outside and the longer they languish out of water the less likely they are to maintain their vigor for Santa’s arrival. Our family tradition is to buy and decorate our tree the day after Thanksgiving. You should have a great selection of trees from which to choose and it’s a great activity for the family over the holiday weekend.
What is the best variety for a Christmas tree? As you head out to the tree lot, you’ll find many types of trees from which to choose. Each have their attributes and drawbacks, so here’s a quick guide based solely on my experience to help you decide which way to go.
Pine: Pine have long needles and most have a deep green color. The branches tend to be widely spaced with an open habit so the ornaments have room to dangle. I fear Pine seem to dry out and the needles drop quickly indoors, so I pass over the pine in most seasons.
Spruce: What better way to celebrate than with Colorado’s state tree? Needle color can range from deep green to almost florescent blue for vibrant color. Needle retention is good, but seems to be fickle and inconsistent. Stout branches hold heavy ornaments well. The biggest problem I have with Spruce is that their short stiff needles are prickly and will leave your arms shredded as you wrestle the tree off your car and into the house! I prefer to plant Spruce outside and decorate them for a living outdoor Christmas tree.
Fir: Winner winner chicken dinner! Fir have soft needles that are forgiving on the skin. There are many varieties that range from forest green to silvery blue. They guzzle water once inside and hold fast to their foliage. In fact, their needles are often still attached and as good as new when I pull them out of the burn pile in May or June the following year!
Grand Fir are deep green with needles that are arranged in flat sprays across the branches. Their open habit shows off ornaments well. Concolor Fir are native to Colorado and have a cobalt blue color. Noble Fir are green with a graceful shape. My absolute favorite is the Fraser Fir. The needles are green on top with silver undersides, and I believe them to have the best fragrance.
How do I care for my Christmas Tree? Once trees are cut, living cells seal up the wound. A fresh cut is imperative to expose healthy tissue and xylem (vascular tissue) to carry water up branches and into the needles. Many tree lots will offer to cut the trees for you, but I prefer to treat them like a flower bouquet and cut them immediately before I get them into water. Plus, I never pass a chance to break out the power tools! A chainsaw or Sawzall works wonders, but hand saws work too. Make a fresh cut an inch or two above the bottom and get them inside and into a water basin directly.
Get a tree stand with a large basin for water storage. The best types sit on a broad disc base and not three or four legs that are prone to tipping. Keep a close eye on the water level in the basin especially for the first few days. The tree can guzzle up a gallon or more when first brought indoors! It is typical for this to slow down and even stop altogether as Christmas day approaches. Mind the dogs too as they seem to love lapping water from an extra festive water bowl!
You may trim up the lower branches to make room for Christmas bounty. This will make it easier to monitor how much water the tree is drinking and to add water as well. Many tree farms sheer the trees which makes the branches grow full and thick. You can thin out the branches to open up the tree to allow for ornaments to dangle and to be seen on display.
The internet abounds with home recipes for making nutrient cocktails for your trees to drink in order to preserve their vigor. I’ve seen everything from bleach, soda pop, vinegar, and corn syrup. I’ve never had a problem with just plain water as long as I buy the tree early and make a fresh cut. The nutrient packets the florist gives you to preserve flower bouquets work as well as anything I suppose. Just never ever allow the water basin to dry up!
Can I buy live trees and plant them after Christmas? Yes, but this can be difficult. Live trees can be bought balled-and-burlapped or in containers with roots intact. They have hopefully settled into winter dormancy at the nursery and extended time inside a warm house can cause them to “wake up†and start growing. It’s best to bring them inside for not more than a week or a few days. They will need to be re-acclimated before taking them back outside by putting them in the garage or somewhere where they won’t freeze suddenly.
Dig the hole in the fall so you won’t have to hack through frozen soil in January, and keep your excavated soil and soil amendments in the garage or somewhere they won’t freeze as well. Live trees are heavy and hard to move, so consider if it’s not better to buy a cut tree for Christmas and let Happy Trees plant your landscape trees as soon as the snow melts in spring! Conversely, you can plant your tree anytime and decorate and celebrate outside for the holiday.
Are Christmas Trees ethical? Yes, absolutely! Most Christmas Tree farms are in places like Oregon or Michigan where rainfall is abundant and growing conditions are ideal. Trees at the farms are every bit as beneficial to the environment as the trees growing in natural forests. They support a vibrant economy and can be recycled for mulch or burned for firewood. Most importantly, they bring joy and smiles to children’s faces on Christmas morning, so enjoy your tree guilt free!
What about cutting down trees out of the forest? Trees are a renewable resource and Colorado encourages residents to harvest trees on state lands. Christmas tree cutting thins out tree stands and removes fuel for forest fires. You may be disappointed at the selection though. We look at a forest and marvel at the woodland’s beauty, but finding a single perfect tree is beguilingly difficult. You may need to cut down a fairly mature tree and trim the top eight feet or so to bring into your home. Cutting trees on public land requires a permit which you can obtain at the following link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/recreation/?cid=fseprd562604
Shouldn’t I just get one of those pre-lighted artificial trees? Sure, they’re easier to set up and they’re getting more lifelike each year. If it’s just another chore for you and you’re trying to save some hassle I suppose that’s a solution. I think you’re robbing your family of the experience though.
I always look forward to bundling up and bringing my boy out to hunt for our special tree. I don’t mind standing each one up as he darts through the isles shouting “what about this one Dad?!†I enjoy bringing it in and setting it up, making selective cuts like an ancient Japanese Bonsai master. I prefer a little rum in my hot cocoa and watching football as we untangle strings of lights to see which ones still work after a year’s storage. It’s a tradition that makes Christmas a little more magical and brings the family closer together. We cut the tree up on new year’s day, and the boughs make our spring fire pit fires a little more memorable. You can have your artificial tree, but for me there’s no substitute for a delightfully beautiful and deliciously fragrant natural Christmas Tree!
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