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Selecting, Planting and Caring for Urban Trees on #treechat

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Fri, May, 31, 2013 @ 19:05 PM
corona tools urban tree

When I visited New York City for the first time I remember thinking how much I missed green spaces and trees. Everywhere you looked, with the exception of Central Park, seemed to be void of anything green. Just concrete, asphalt and brick…It made me appreciate the open spaces and green that abounds (in comparison) in Southern California.  How do people live without trees???

Well, I must have missed the forest for the trees since NYC was recently named as one of the 10 Best Cities for Urban Forests among 50 of the most populous cities by American Forests.  Urban trees provide many benefits to the community which is what we will be discussing on the 6/4 #treechat.

Join @CoronaTools and our guest host, GIE Media's Nursery Management, @NurseryMag for a great Q&A discussion on urban trees.  The live chat begins 6/4/13 at 11AM PST via Twitter, where we come together with industry experts and fellow tree tweeps each week to discuss all things related to trees and tree care, since 2010!

Some of the main discussion points that will be covered during the live chat include;

Tree Selection – selecting the right tree for the right spot that will flourish in harsh urban settings

Planting in Urban Settings – helping a tree thrive in a difficult urban setting poses real challenges and begins with proper planting

Urban Tree Care – understanding proper tree care techniques that will help the tree survive in the urban setting

corona tools treechatWe’ll also have time at the end of the discussion for questions with our expert at Nursery Manangement as well as your questions during the live event are always encouraged . If you would like to submit a question before the chat, please leave it in the comments below or tweet it to @Coronatools prior the live chat. 

This is a great opportunity to learn more about urban trees in your community and connect with those out there improving our public spaces, one urban tree at a time.  We hope you will join us however if you do miss the chat, you can still access the #treechat Storify 24/7 that will be posted following the chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion.

Come share with us on this great topic and look forward to sharing with you on the live chat!

Topics: #treechat, tree care, Corona Tools, urban landscape

5 Easy Garden Projects for Memorial Day Weekend

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, May, 23, 2013 @ 10:05 AM

Memorial Day weekend is time to raise the stars and stripes and to honor the American service men and women who gave their lives while defending our freedom. It’s also the first long holiday weekend in Spring and a time when many Americans take advantage of the extra day off to get projects done. We’ve put together a list of 5 garden and landscape projects that are easy to start and finish over the weekend.

Set Up a Compost Pile

Corona Tools composterOne of the best things you can do for your garden is to save your brown and green wastes and make nutrient-rich and organic soil right in your backyard. Whether you use a readymade composter or put together a basic cage, your plants and vegetables will love it. It so simple to do and it’s always a good time to get started. Check out the Organic Gardening website for some great composting tips.

Check Sprinklers for Leaks

corona tools leakWhile you’re out in the yard this weekend, do a quick check for any leaking sprinkler heads. A leaky sprinkler is easy to spot, whether a gusher or that slow and steady leak that keeps the sidewalk wet, it’s an easy weekend fix. Sprinkler heads can wear out over time so it good to check them periodically and replace them when you detect a leak. It will save you some green on your monthly water bill and help to conserve water.

Mulching Planters

corona tool wheelbarrowAs summer months get hotter and drier plants need to maintain proper hydration. Many people think that means add longer watering cycles, however, spreading a layer of mulch is a much better option. Mulch will help keep moisture in the soil and prevents weed growth which means more moisture for your plants and less watering. Just think of what you can do with the time saved weeding and money saved watering!

Organizing Your Garden Tools

corona tools organizeHow many times have you headed out to the garden and realized you’ve misplaced the tool you need? You spend 30 minutes looking for it, give up and have to run to your local garden center to find a replacement. The long weekend is a great time to organize your tool shed to maximize your space, make it easy to find and store your tools, and easy to spot when something is missing which helps remind you to replace your tools when finished. There are many racks available in local hardware stores, a simple peg board and hooks or come up a creative way to organize them. And next time you head outside you will be so glad you did!


Green Up the Yard

corona tools epaDuring the long weekend it’s a great time to assess how efficient your garden and landscape is. If you are putting new plants in this season, look for native species that require less water. Ensure that your lawn mower is adjusted to its highest setting which helps to reduce the amount of water needed to keep it green. Or add a smart controller to your irrigation system to automatically turn off the system during rainy days. You’ll spend less in water while conserving this precious resource. And for more great ideas to green up your yard, spend some time this weekend on the EPA WaterSense website to learn how to make your landscape greener.

There you have it…Corona Tools' 5 easy projects to get your yard and tool shed into shape this weekend! All things that you can complete in a weekend, cost you a little time or a few pennies, and guaranteed to reward you all season long. These are just a few ideas, what kinds of garden projects are on your list?

Topics: landscape, gardening, sustainability, planting, tools, watering

Email Marketing for Tree Care & Landscape Pros on #treechat

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Mon, May, 20, 2013 @ 19:05 PM

corona tools newsletterToo often you hear people say email is so out dated. People don’t email or call these days…they communicate via text or on Facebook. So why waste time on boring old email? Well…in short, it’s where the money is! If you think email marketing is dead, then you can’t miss #SocialTuesday live on #treechat!

The live chat begins 5/21/13 at 11AM PST via Twitter with Corona as this week's host and moderator. Join @Coronatools and other industry experts each week discussing all things related to trees and tree care since 2010!

Key Topic Takeaways

  • Email is your golden ticket – a discussion on why email marketing is vital for businesses and organizations
  • Developing Your Strategy – understanding your goals, scheduling your content and setting your expectations
  • Getting Started – building and managing your email database to grow with your business and delivering targeted email campaigns your readers want
  • registerAchieving Email Nirvana – open rates are great but the call-to- action is what keeps your pocket lined with green
  • Email Formatting – email is never one size fits all, more readers are seeing your emails on mobile device and presentation matters

Email marketing is by far the single most important tool in your marketing tool shed so come join in the conversation on this great topic. Whether you are; a business owner, contractor, committee organizer, or community leader, email should have a place in your marketing strategy.

Don’t miss this special #SocialTuesday chat! If you can’t make the live chat you’ll find a recap of all the links and shares on Corona Tools Storify!  NOTE:  Storify did not register the final 25 mins of this chat...!  Here is a link to the complete chat from Twitter 

Topics: #treechat, tree care, Corona Tools, landscape, business

Mom's Top 5 Corona Garden Tools

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Wed, May, 08, 2013 @ 10:05 AM

Spring may have begun in March but as part of the country has started to see temperatures pushing triple digits, in other areas there’s still snow on the ground. Regardless of strange weather patterns, Mother’s Day is one Spring event that comes to moms across the country. A day to honor all the moms out there (not that we shouldn't everyday!) for the hard work they do throughout the year.

To honor all the garden moms on Mother’s Day (and everyday…!) we wanted to put together a list of her top 5 favorite tools as shared with us by our many Facebook friends and Twitter followers of Corona Tools. With over 600 tools in our catalog, we’re bound to have missed a few fan favorites… based on what we hear from gardeners like you, we know this list will help ensure Mom has a great day in her garden on Mother’s day, and every day, season after season.

Geri with Corona Lopper

Dual Cut™ Pruning Series – Mom’s love the Dual Cut’s patented blade and hook design and the 20% extra cutting power that makes the cuts with less effort when trimming shrubs, trees, roses and thicker, woodier stems. They are forged steel and built to last.

Razor Tooth Saw – Mom’s tell us this saw helps to empower them to tackle the larger pruning jobs in the garden. Thicker limbs and roses that are 1-3” can take quite a bit of upper body strength to make a cut with a lopper. And rather than calling for help, the Razor Tooth makes quick work out of the task with its special saw tooth-pattern design to make faster cuts with less effort.
bggarden picComfortGEL® Pruning Series – Mom’s can’t seem to get enough of these pruning tools that are not only comfortable in their hands, these tools limit the amount of shock to the hands or upper body. That means she can do the activities she enjoys with all the gain and without the pain to hands, wrists, arms and shoulders.
2-Handed Pruner – Somewhere right in between smaller green steams and tougher, woodier limbs hand pruners can be too big and loppers are back in the tool shed. One tool offers them the best of both worlds, the 2 – Handed Pruner. A pruning blade that makes cuts up to ¾’ in diameter combined with lopper-like handles for added leverage on larger cuts.
eGrip Garden Hand Tools – Mom’s like the ergonomic shape of these garden tools that help with planting, weeding, digging and cultivating soil. With handy features like built in bag rippers and depth markers, these are some of the handiest hand tools in the garden.

WellnessThere you have it, a short list among the many of garden tool favorites for many of our favorite garden moms. And while we couldn't mention all of them, we couldn’t leave it off the Extendable Handle garden tools as we hear from many who love them. They are perfect for using in raised beds and other smaller planter areas due to their solid designed handles that extend from 18” to 32” and perfect moms of all ages.

Did your favorite tool make the list? Share with us in the comments below or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Geri Laufer and Dual Cut Lopper from "How I Roll"
ComforGEL snips courtesy of Brenda Haas
Residents of Wellness by Nature's Design a Corona Cares partner
 
 

Topics: Corona Tools, gardening, pruning, ergonomics, planting

Grow A Sequoia in Your Living Room? It's Bonsai on #Treechat

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Thu, May, 02, 2013 @ 05:05 AM
bonsai1Ever thought about how great it would be to grow a Sequoia tree in your living room??? Okay, sounds impossible, right? But not when it’s a bonsai tree. Even a tree like a California Redwood can be grown in the smallest of spaces using the time-honored techniques of bonsai, developed centuries ago in China. Join us as we explore this ancient art form on this week’s treechat,  

The live chat begins at 5/7/13 at 11AM PST with guest host, Ron Elardo, Ph.D. @Whadyacallit. Ron is an author, editor for American Conifer Society's Conifer Quarterly and has been practicing the art of bonsai for 6 years at Hidden Lake Gardens in Michigan. Join @Coronatools and other industry experts each week at 11AM PST via Twitter for #treechat. Discussing all things related to trees and tree care since 2010!

Topic highlights in covered during this week’s chat includes;

  • Plant Selection – what you need to know and look for when making a selection for bonsai
  • Materials and Tools – a look at the materials used and tools used to maintain their shape 
  • Planting – understanding what goes into planting and tips for success
  • Pruning and Shaping – understand the fundamentals shaping and pruning your bonsai 
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – a healthy bonsai includes regular IPM schedule
  • Watering and General Care – learn about general care and maintenance tips 
  • Overwintering Your Bonsai – what you need to know about to successfully overwinter your bonsai

Corona curved snipsRon has lots of great tips and information in store so you won't want to miss it. You can also submit questions to him before the chat so he can cover it during the live session. Just post your question in the comments here or tweet it to @Whadyacallit by 5/7/13, 12N PST.

During the chat we encourage participants to ask questions, learn about bonsai and also grow their own. To help inspire you, Corona is giving away a pair of curved snips to help make cuts in small spaces. All you need to do is win is tweet during the chat and ask questions. The most engaged participant during the live chat wins and will be announced on 5/8 at 8AM PST.

What if you miss the live session? You can access the #treechat Storify 24/7 that will be posted following the chat with all the information and links we discussed. 

Come share with us on this great topic and discussion! See you on the chat!

bonsai image courtesy of Ron Elardo
Corona curved snips image ©Corona Clipper

Topics: #treechat, tree care, gardening, Landscaping, tools tree care, bonsai

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