Environmental Commission
Environmental Tip of the week
______________________________
Wait for the storm to pass. Don’t fertilize before a rain storm. Your fertilizer - along with your money - washes down storm drains and can pollute rivers and bays.
More on greenscaping.
Johnson Park Arboretum
"Arboretum recieves Level 1 certification"
08-15-08
"Peterson Lake Nature Center Entrance"
"George D. Mayo - Environmental Commission Chairman and John Fox - Public Services Department with the arboretum certification sign presented by theTennesseeDepartment of Argriculture."
The Peterson Lake Nature Center Arboretum is located on 135 acres in Johnson Park in Collierville, Tennessee. The arboretum was certified by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on August 3rd 2008.
"Arboretum Location at W.C. Johnson Park"
There is a diversity of bottomland hardwood trees that are located along the boardwalk and wetland area of the park. In addition to these native species, a few species of cultivars have been planted within the park and arboretum area. There are a total of thirty-one trees that have been included in the
Level 1 Arboretum.
 
 
"Pictures of various trees located throughout the Arboretum"
The Tennessee Arboretum Level 1 certification process required that the Town have a site open to the public with a minimum of 30 different species of trees labeled with both their common and scientific names.
"Clay Ticer - Public Services"
 
"Examples of tree labels found throughout the Arboretum"
During the certification process training was provided to members of the Parks and Recreation Department and Public Service Department on the proper management and care of trees found in the arboretum along with a brochure that will be available to the public that gives detailed information on the various trees throughout the arboretum.
"Susan Murray - Urban Forester, giving a class on proper forestry
maintenance techqniques to Public Service and
Parks & Recreation employees."
"Town employees learning proper pruning techniques"
The Arboretum brochure is currently available for download online and will be made available at the Town Library. The brochure will give residents the opportunity to journey through the arboretum on a self guided tour and will provide a checklist of trees with both fun and educational information.
 
"Download Arboretum Brochure"
With the Level 1 Arboretum certification Collierville will have an arboretum that is a wonderful place where the forest is the outdoor classroom. This arboretum will give both school children and people of all ages an educational opportunity and setting that is natural and peaceful that everyone will enjoy.
"Crape Myrtle - Lagerstroemia indica var. Natchez"
"Sweetbay Magonlia - Magnolia Virginiana"
Environmental friendly
Alternatives to
Loose Leaf and Bagged Leaf
Collection
Last year our town generated approximately 13,355 tons of solid waste associated with the collection of loose leaves, bagged leaves and bagged grass. Of that 13,355 tons 12,473 tons where sent to a landfill and 882 tons where composted. Bagging these materials and placing them into the curbside garbage collection system uses valuable landfill space, removes nutrients from the environment, and costs the Town and citizens more in increased taxes and service fees.
Of the landscape waste, approximately half is composed of tree leaves. Mulching is a simple and effective way to recycle leaves and improve your landscape. A light covering of leaves can be mowed, without the catch-bag, leaving shredded leaves in place on the lawn. This technique is most effective when a mulching mower is used.
During times of light leaf drop, or if there are only a few small trees in your landscape, this technique is the most efficient and easiest way to manage leaf accumulation. As organic mulch decomposes, valuable nutrients are released for use by landscape plants. The tree leaves that accumulate in and around a landscape represents a valuable natural resource that can be used to provide a good source of organic matter and nutrients for use in a landscape.
Leaves contain 50-80% of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the growing season. Leaves may be collected and worked directly into garden and flowerbed soils. A 6-8 inch layer of leaves tilled into a heavy, clay soil will improve aeration and drainage. The same amount tilled into a light, sandy soil will improve water and nutrient holding capacity. In vegetable gardens and annual planting beds, collect and work leaves into the soil during the Fall. This allows sufficient time for the leaves to decompose prior to Spring planting.
For additional information call the Public Services Department at (901) 853-3215
GRASSCYCLING
GUIDE
DON'T
TRASH
GRASS
MOWING TIPS
Proper mowing is essential to grasscycling and can increase lawn quality by 30% or more. Cut when grass is dry. Keep your mower sharp. Set your mower to cut at the proper height. Mow often enough so you never remove more than one-third of the lawn height each cut. You may have to mow every 5 days when your lawn is growing fast, but once every 10 days may be sufficient when turf is growing slowly.
All mowers can grasscycle. Simply remove your mower's collection bag and properly block the discharge. Many manufacturers have attachments or special designs that improve a mower's grasscycling performance. Check with your local retailer for more information.
MOWING HEIGHTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF GRASS
Kentucky Bluegrass....................................3.0"
Fescues & Ryegrass...................................3.0"
Bentgrass.................................................1.0"
Bermudagrass...................................1.0" - 1.5"
Zoysia...............................................0" - 1.5"
St. Augustine............................................3.0"
Bahiagrass................................................3.0"
Centipedegrass..........................................1.5"
WATERING PLAN
Established lawns need irrigation to supplement natural rainfall. They require more water in hot weather, but may require water in dry cool periods as well. In hot dry weather, lawns may need as much as one inch of water every 5 to 7 days. That's equal to three hours of watering time with the typical lawn sprinkler. Avoid watering in evenings as this practice encourages disease. The best time to water is early morning.
FERTILIZE PROPERLY
Lawns need properly timed fertilizer applications to become dense and green. Over fertilization weakens your lawn and causes exess top growth. Grasscycling, in conjunction with proper fertilization, enhances the health of your lawn.
For more even growth when using medium to full rates, use fertilizers containing methylene urea, urea-formaldehyde, sulfur coated urea, IBDU, or other slowly available organic forms of nitrogen.
FERTILIZER PLAN FOR YOUR LAWN
FERTILIZATION GUIDE FOR VARIOUS GRASS TYPES BY CLIMATIC ZONE
Rates
Fertilizer lbs. per 1,000 sq. feet
Analysis |
Light |
Medium |
Full |
12-4-8 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
15-5-10 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
21-7-14 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
16-4-8 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
20-5-10 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
24-6-12 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
WHY GRASSCYCLING?
Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn when mowing. It is a simple and effective way to help conserve landfill capacity, while saving time, work, and money. And the benefit is a greener, healthier lawn.
GRASSCYCLING DOES NOT CAUSE THATCH BUILD-UP IN THE LAWN
An eleven-year study at the USDA research station in Beltsville, Maryland, showed that thatch is composed primarily of grass roots, not clippings. Clippings left on the lawn decay quickly and release valuable nutrients back to the established grass.
GRASSCYCLING DOES NOT SPREAD LAWN DISEASES
Watering, fertilization, and sarpness of the mower blade have a much greater influence on the occurrence of disease than grasscycling.
GRASSCYCLING SAVES TIME AND WORK
A recent study in Fort Worth, Texas, found that homeowners who quit bagging their clippings saved an average of 35 minutes per mowing or seven hours of yard work over a six-month period.
GRASSCYCLING CAN BE DONE WITH ANY LAWN MOWER
No special equipment is necessary to grasscycle. However, many manufacturers have attachments that improve your mower's grasscycling performance.
GRASSCYCLING IS A PROVEN AND EFFECTIVE METHOD OF LAWN MANAGEMENT
It also provides an environmentally important opportunity for everyone to participate in curbside waste reduction.
You CAN recycle:
-
Metal Cans
-
Aluminum beverage cans
-
Glass
-
Food and Beverage bottles/jars
-
All Plastic Bottles with narrow or threaded necks.
-
Paper: Newspapers,brown paper bags, magazines, office paper, phone books/junk mail and envelopes.
-
Cardboard that will fit inside the recycle container.
You CANNOT recycle:
-
Oil/paint cans/ Aerosol cans/pie plates or ovenware
-
Mirrors/window glass/light bulbs
-
Foam/styrofoam/plastic bags/toys/pesticide/motor oil bottles
-
Bound or plastic wrappers
All large bulk items will be picked up on normal garbage days. All appliance pickups must be scheduled.
Call (901) 853-3215
Crosswinds Elementary School
"Outstanding Environmental Stewardship"
03-10-08
(George D. Mayo - Environmental Commission Chairman, Renee Adams - Recycling Chairman, Garrett Goudy - Junior Beta Club President)
At the March, 10th Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting Crosswinds Elementary School was recognized for "Outstanding Environmental Stewardship".
Crosswinds' Junior Beta club is taking the lead in developing the school's recycling program and has received an award from UT for being one of the top ten environmentally active schools in Tennessee. Each Beta Club member will also received a certificate from the Mayor at the March 10th meeting.
Collierville Middle School
Begins pilot recycling program
02-29-08
This March Collierville Middle School began a pilot recycling program with the Town of Collierville Public Service Department. This program was the result of an increased interest in recycling brought to the attention of the Environmental Commission through a petition signed by over 700 students and teachers. This petition was presented at the last Environmental Commission meeting by the CMS Environmental Club teacher representative Miss. Talrico and student representative Haley Fox. The recycling pilot program will last from March until the end of the school year.
Cub Scout Troop 331
learns about recycling
02-11-08
Recently, Cub Scout Troop 331 took an active interest in learning more about our Town's recycling program. In a class provided by the Public Service Department, Troop 331 learned about recycling and how the Town is taking an active roll in reducing waste going to a landfill. The class was filled with fun recycling facts and games that showed them how recycling works. For more information on The Town of Collierville recycling program click on the
Solid_Waste/Recycling link or contact the Public Service Department at
(901) 853-3215
Earth Day Poster Contest
“Reduce, Reuse & Recycle”22, April 2007
This April over 100 children from five schools participated in the Earth Day poster contest theme “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle”. The contestants where split into two divisions one for elementary school and one for middle school. First, Second and Third place winners received free pizza coupons from Collierville’s Papa Johns Pizza.
The following schools participated in the contest: Central Day School
Collierville Elementary School Crosswinds Elementary School, Schilling Middle School Incarnation School
We would like to thank all the participants and Papa Johns for helping to make the Earth Day '07 poster contest a success.
Middle School Winners
1st Place Lisa 8th Grade
Schilling Middle School
2nd Place Sasha 8th Grade
Schilling Middle School
3rd Place 6th Grade
Incarnation School
Elementary School Winners
1st Place James 4th Grade
Collierville Elementary School
2nd Place 4th Grade
Central Day School
3rd Place 3rd Grade
Central Day School
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The
Town of Collierville does not discriminate on the basis
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its hiring
and employment practices, or in admission to, access to,
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of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 200d) and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L 101-336.
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