3 Water Saving Tips You’ve Never Heard Of

11. Aug
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Environment Home Neighborhood Sustainable Solutions
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“Flat is so passe…until 1825 it was seldom, if in any year, that the river discharged even during the rainy season its waters into the sea. Instead of having a river way to the sea, the waters spread over the country, filling the depressions in the surface and forming lakes, ponds and marshes. The river water, if any, that reached the ocean drained off from the land at so many places, and in such small volumes, that no channel existed until the flood of 1825, which, by cutting a river way to tide water, drained the marsh land and caused the forests to disappear.”… Read more >>

DON’T Make This Tree Pruning Mistake: To Prune or not to Prune

This is the second blog in a three part series. Visit part one here and visit us soon to see the third installment.

Have you seen trees like this in your neighborhood?

Tree topping is a pruning practice that could cause long-term damage to your trees. With that in mind, it’s important to know when and how to prune your trees. While it’s important to check your trees yearly, they don’t necessarily need to be pruned each time!

How often should I trim the tree and when?

Roll Out Your Rain Barrel to Protect the Ocean!

Summertime is in full effect, which means we’ll all be flocking to the beach here in LA!

While you’re soaking up the sun, you might notice that our oceans are looking extra clear. Studies have shown that our beaches are cleaner during this time of year because of an unintended consequence of the drought– reduced stormwater runoff– keeping pollution, toxins and trash out of our waterways.

Of course, there are other ways to reduce runoff that benefit our city and help fight drought.… Read more >>

DON’T Make This Tree Pruning Mistake

This blog is the first in a three part series. Check back soon for updates!

Have you ever driven down the street and seen a tree that looks more like the “Whomping Willow” than “The Giving Tree”?

Sorry to inform you, it’s not a sad attempt to recreate a beloved fictional tree. What you see is actually a pruning practice often referred to as “tree topping” — and it is very harmful to trees.

What exactly is tree topping and why is it bad?

4 Plants that Heal — And How to Use Them!

People have been using plants for our health and well-being for thousands of years–even to this day. For instance, we consume super foods like avocados or goji berries to strengthen and nourish our bodies. But how often do we overlook these plants when we’re sick?

Some plants–even those abundant in our landscapes–have been known for their healing properties by people around the world for centuries. Incorporate them into your garden this year and improve your wellness!*

Rose

Roses offer us all kinds of relief–whether sipping rose hip tea or spritzing rose water.… Read more >>

Commit to Healthy Soil on Earth Day

April is Earth Month–a time for us to appreciate the beauty and resilience of our world.

It’s also the perfect opportunity for us to commit to protecting our environment for generations to come, especially as we face growing concerns over our changing climate.

That’s why cultivating healthy soil matters! Believe it or not, healthy soil is one of the most important elements of a resilient planet.

Good soil is a matrix of minerals and microbial life. In fact, did you know that a cup of soil contains as many organisms as there are people on earth?… Read more >>

Training a Green Workforce for LA’s Water Future

Climate change research is creating wild weather patterns. Here in California, we’re already experiencing the impact. Longer droughts. Flash floods. More intense weather patterns like El Niño. The conditions seem to fluctuate week by week. If that’s our experience now, imagine the impacts we’ll see 10 years from now, and beyond.

That’s why TreePeople is a major proponent of rainwater harvesting, especially here in Los Angeles. Now is the time to plan for our rapidly changing future.

Therefore, we are proud to partner with the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) to establish a trained workforce, ready to meet Los Angeles’ need for stormwater capture systems.… Read more >>

10 Plants to Fight Erosion

Don’t let this warm weather fool you! The El Niño storm season has begun and forecasters are predicting more storms through April. If storms roll through, we can anticipate flooding, mudslides and property damage. Don’t sound the alarm just yet, though. Now is the perfect time to take action. (Plus, storms or not, putting the RIGHT plants in the ground helps cool our environment and beautify our neighborhoods!)

After you’ve assessed your property and installed rain tanks or barrels to divert water away from slopes, it’s time to plant!… Read more >>

Can Christmas Trees Be Sustainable?

The holidays are here! It’s the time of year to dream of a lush Christmas tree, adorned in lights, right your living room. But you don’t have to sacrifice your sustainable lifestyle. We’re here to offer some great options, guilt free!

Real or Fake?

Unless you already own an artificial tree, go with real. Why? Well, because the time the tree spent alive benefitted the planet. Trees do so much for us: they clean the air, capture water, reduce crime and combat climate change.… Read more >>

Prevent Erosion in 4 Simple Steps

Erosion.

With an El Niño headed our way, erosion is rapidly becoming a topic of concern. After several years of drought, much of our soil has become dry and severely compacted. Significant storms could mean flooding, mudslides and property damage. However, there’s no need to sound the alarm. Now is the perfect time to take action.

Erosion is a natural process, but we can take simple steps to keep soil healthy and in place. If we take action before the storms hit, we can limit erosion, stabilize slopes and better manage stormwater that falls on our homes.… Read more >>