Moon Valley Nurseries Helping The Environment One Christmas Tree At A Time

Help clean up the air in the Southwest

It is estimated that about 42 million leisure travelers spent time in the southwest, resulting in billions of dollars in revenue. While tourism is good for the states, it also brings pollution from cars, planes, buses and other gasoline powered outlets.
During the winter, the Department s of Air Quality may issue High Pollution Advisories based upon the U.S EPA Air Quality Index. This index categorizes pollution levels with respect to their potential health impacts, and health concerns associated with each classification.
A High Pollution Advisory (HPA) is issued when the highest concentrations of ozone or PM levels may exceed the federal health standard. At this point, pollution levels are reaching unhealthy levels for everyone, not just people with respiratory problems.


The Brown Cloud

For the most part, the ‘Brown Cloud’ that you see hovering over the valley consists of tiny particles of carbon and nitrogen dioxide gas. These substances are deposited into the air mostly from burning fossil fuels. Cars, construction-related dust, power plants, gas powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and more contribute to the cloud daily.
At night, an inversion layer forms over the Valley. As with any desert, the air closer to the ground cools faster than the air above. What happens to this cool air? It then moves in on top of the warm air westward from the surrounding mountains. As a result, the air trapped closer to the ground in the Valley, the air containing the majority of the pollutants in the area then spreads. “As the desert floor heats up during the day, the particulates rise forming a visible haze that expands as the day progresses. Throughout the day, air shifts in the Valley cause variances in the Brown Cloud. From mid-day on, the cloud is pushed to the east. With every sunset, the cycle starts all over again”.

What Can You Do?

According to the EPA one of the top 5 things that will help reduce high pollution is to recycle. This Christmas season make an environmentally sound choice by selecting a real Christmas tree from Moon Valley Nurseries.
Real Christmas trees are a recyclable resource. Artificial trees consist of plastics and metals that aren't biodegradable. When disposed of artificial trees will never deteriorate. Their effects on our environment are evident and will remain for countless generations.

For more information, visit
www.epa.gov/visibility

How You Can Get Rid Of The Brown Cloud Over The Southwest

Help clean up the air in the Southwest

Winters in the Southwest are hallmarks for their mild and scenic winters. It is estimated that about 42 million leisure travelers spent time in the southwest, resulting in billions of dollars in revenue. While tourism is good for the state, it also brings pollution from cars, planes, buses and other gasoline powered outlets.

During the winter, the Department s of Air Quality may issue High Pollution Advisories based upon the U.S EPA Air Quality Index. This index categorizes pollution levels with respect to their potential health impacts, and health concerns associated with each classification.

A High Pollution Advisory (HPA) is issued when the highest concentrations of ozone or PM levels may exceed the federal health standard. At this point, pollution levels are reaching unhealthy levels for everyone, not just people with respiratory problems.


The Brown Cloud 

For the most part, the ‘Brown Cloud’ that you see hovering over the valley consists of tiny particles of carbon and nitrogen dioxide gas. These substances are deposited into the air mostly from burning fossil fuels. Cars, construction-related dust, power plants, gas powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and more contribute to the cloud daily.

At night, an inversion layer forms over the Valley. As with any desert, the air closer to the ground cools faster than the air above. What happens to this cool air? It then moves in on top of the warm air westward from the surrounding mountains. As a result, the air trapped closer to the ground in the Valley, the air containing the majority of the pollutants in the area then spreads. “As the desert floor heats up during the day, the particulates rise forming a visible haze that expands as the day progresses. Throughout the day, air shifts in the Valley cause variances in the Brown Cloud. From mid-day on, the cloud is pushed to the east. With every sunset, the cycle starts all over again”. 
What can You do?
One of the most effective, cost savings and practical way you can reduce this ‘Brown Cloud’ over the valley is to fight it with nature …………plant a tree from Moon Valley Nursery.

Trees are responsible for:
• Absorbing CO2 and other dangerous gasses and, in turn, replenish the atmosphere with oxygen.
• Absorbing enough CO2 on each acre, so that over a year's time this would equal the amount you would produce when you drive your car 26,000 miles.
Trees remove gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through the pores in the leaf surface. Particulates are trapped and filtered by leaves, stems and twigs, and washed to the ground by rainfall.

The reduction of CO2 by planting a tree or two on your property is significant. As the population in the southwest continues to grow, we are all challenged to do our part to reduce air pollution. Moon Valley Nurseries makes it easy to be a partner in fighting the ‘Brown Cloud’, and sustaining our planet earth. Call any of our locations today, and start cleaning up the air, while making your yard beautiful!

For more information on the clean air initiative visit:
www.epa.gov/visibility

Moon Valley Nursery's Holiday Poinsettias

Keep your Poinsettias Vibrant this Holiday

Poinsettias remain one of the most popular Christmas holiday flowers. The sea of red reminds us that the holiday season is upon us. Moon Valley Nursery has a huge selection of these holiday must- haves.

Here are some tips that will help keep your Poinsettia vibrant and healthy:
When You First Bring Your Poinsettia Home From Moon Valley Nursery Remember:

Light

Water

Temperature

Light - Place it near a sunny window. South, east or west facing windows are preferable to a north facing window. Poinsettias are tropical plants and will benefit from as much direct sunlight as you can provide.

Water - Water the plant whenever the surface feels dry to the touch. Simply feel the surface of the poinsettia with your hand. Water until it drains out the bottom, but don’t let the plant sit in water. It is best to water in a sink where the water can drain, or outside.

Ideal temperature - To keep the poinsettia in bloom for as long as possible maintain a temperature of 65 - 75 degrees F˚ during the day. The drop in temperature to 60˚F at nightfall does not harm the plant. However, cold drafts or allowing the leaves to touch a cold window can injure the leaves and cause premature leaf drop.

Enjoy the rich colors of these holiday must-haves as a center piece at your dinner table or throughout your patios and porches. Come in today and take home your beautiful Poinsettias from Moon Valley Nursery.

Moon Valley Nursery's Poinsettia

Moon Valley Nursery Christmas Trees

Saving the environment by buying a real Christmas Tree

Making an Eco-Friendly Choice

Buying a real Christmas tree from Moon Valley Nursery is making an eco-friendly choice that will have a positive impact on the environment. In this age of environmental awareness it is reassuring to know that a favorite family holiday tradition of choosing a real Christmas tree over an artificial tree is still an environmentally sound choice.

Real Christmas trees benefit the environment

Tree farms support complex eco-systems. Christmas tree farms stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soils that could not support other crops.

Real Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases, emitting fresh oxygen. This helps prevent the earth-warming "greenhouse effect". One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. With approximately one million acres producing Christmas trees in the United States that translates into oxygen for 18 million people every day. For every real Christmas tree harvested, three seedlings are planted in its place.

Real Christmas trees are a recyclable resource. Artificial trees consist of plastics and metals that aren't biodegradable. When disposed of artificial trees will never deteriorate. Their effects on our environment are evident and will remain for countless generations. In contrast, real trees are usually disposed of not in landfills but by being chipped up for landscaping or put into lakes and ponds for smaller fish to survive, continuing the cycle of life.

Moon Valley Nursery invites you to give a gift back to the environment this holiday season.

Go to http://www.moonvalleynursery.com/ to print out your Christmas tree coupon

How to Prevent Freeze and Frost Damage to Your Trees and Plants

What to do during periods of Frost and Freeze conditions

Normal winter time conditions in and around our lower desert areas include a few nights when temperatures may reach below freezing (32F) at official weather reporting stations (http://www.weather.gov/). In outlying and lower lying areas, actual temperatures may be even lower. During an abnormally cold period, temperatures can reach into the lower twenties or even colder. Temperatures below freezing can cause damage to certain varieties of trees and shrubs that are commonly grown in the area.

How Frost Can Damage Your Plants

Frost damage is caused by moisture condensing on the leaf and forming ice crystals by drawing water from the plant. This dehydrates the plant and is why frost damage looks like a burn. Because many trees and plants become casualties during freezes, every effort should be made protect vulnerable plants to minimize winter damage.   


Some trees and plants that are affected include, but are not limited to: Ficus Species, Jacaranda, Palo Brea, Pygmy Date Palms, Sissoo, Young Citrus, Bougainvillea, Lantana, Hibiscus, Thevitia and other varieties. If you have questions on the hardiness of your plants or how cold your particular area gets, please call your closest Moon Valley Nursery at 602-938-6666. Smaller and newly planted trees and shrubs tend to be the most susceptible to damage from cold weather. All trees and plants can benefit from the following measures to help prevent damage from frost and freezing conditions.

1. WATER
As weird as it may sound, the laws of thermodynamics prove that it is more difficult to cool humid air than dry air, so be sure to thoroughly water all of your trees and plants during periods of forecast frost or freeze. In addition, get your entire yard wet in the evening before forecast freeze. This boosts humidity in the immediate microclimate and will help minimize the effects of frost and freeze on your trees and plants

2. COVER
Where feasible, cover plants with a frost cloth or old blankets during nights of forecast freeze. It is important that you cover up before dusk. By the time it gets dark much of the stored heat in the garden has already been lost. Remove cover in the morning to allow radiant heat to be absorbed. DO NOT USE PLASTIC. Plastic actually increases the danger. For larger trees and plants, you can apply Frost Proof insulating spray. This applies a thin layer of wax-like substance that minimizes evaporation from the leaves, thus minimizing frost/ freeze damage. Both Frost Cloth and Frost Proof spray are available at all Moon Valley Nurseries www.moonvalleynursery.com .

3. HEAT
People have had success in preventing frost/ freeze damage by stringing up Christmas lights in their trees. The older style lights (incandescent) provide the best warming effect. Sometimes it's only a few degrees that will make a huge difference. Although these methods are proven to minimize the effects of abnormally cold weather on trees and plants, due to the uncontrollable nature of weather, there are no guarantees of success.