Preparing for a Natural Disaster

It is unfortunate how disastrous Hurricane Sandy was, and the impact it had on many people’s lives.  In the case of a natural disaster you should always be prepared and have a family plan of what to do.    Though the situation is devastating, in many reports people have stated they were not fully prepared for a hurricane at this magnitude  We at Garrick-Santo send our warmest regards to the family’s impacted by storms this season and wanted to help others that have seen the latest forecast of snow storms and rain storms throughout United States.  The following are some ways to prepare for a natural disaster including a family communication plan:

Before a Natural disaster occurs:

• Begin preparing an emergency kit (emergency kit list below)
• Make a family communication plan (plan example below)
• Know your surroundings
• Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected if storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.
• Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
• Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
• Make plans to secure your property:
• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Install a generator for emergencies.
• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.
• Consider building a safe room
• Emergency Kit

We hope this information is helpful, thank you.

Fall Fertilization Recharges Roots

Turf, tree and shrub roots systems power up plants for renewed growth every spring.  But to be sure they have enough power in the spring, it’s important to recharge them every fall.

What Makes Fall so Important?

In the spring and summer, your entire landscape’s energy goes into processing nutrients for top growth.  But in the fall, top growth slows down and your plants start producing more roots and building up nutrient reserves.  These reserves will make it possible for your plants to get a stronger, healthier start next spring.  They’ll also help your landscape handle the stresses of insects, disease and hot, dry weather throughout the next growing season.

Heavy Fall Fertilization is Key

In the fall, your lawn, trees and shrubs will make better use of large amounts of fertilizer than at any other time of the year.  Their root systems will expand to store sugars they convert from fertilizers applied at this time. For your lawn, this will lead to earlier and richer green-up in the spring, with less of the unhealthy “surge” growth that requires heavy mowing and encourages disease problems.  For your trees and shrubs, it will lead to improve health, increased blooming and better growth overall.

Remember, fall fertilization is the best way to “jump-start” all of your landscape plants next spring.  Make sure they get the big dose of fertilizer they need!