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Stately, mature oak trees are truly a sight to behold. These sturdy trees provide excellent shade, beauty in the landscape, and wildlife support. What’s not to love? Completing oak tree pruning when your trees are young is the best way to encourage a lovely shape when they mature.

While oaks are fairly carefree when it comes to disease, oak wilt is an increasing concern. Knowing when to prune is the best insurance you have against oak wilt infection! We recommend oak tree pruning when trees are dormant, preferably in late winter or very early spring when insects that spread oak wilt are not yet active. A good rule of thumb is to prune oaks no later than March 15th.

Along with timing, proper pruning technique further ensures the health and vigor of your oaks.

The basics of oak tree pruning:

Clean your pruners or loppers with rubbing alcohol and sanitize again before you move on to a new tree. More frequent sanitizing is even better!

Before you make any cuts, assess your tree. You should remove no more than 25% of the branches in one season.

Cut close enough so that you don’t leave a nub, but don’t cut into the branch collar- the swollen ring at the base of the branch. Mastering this technique is the best way to ensure your tree heals properly!

Thin branches that cross or touch and eliminate acute branch angles.

If desired, prune lower branches to make mowing under them easier and to allow sunlight to reach grass or plantings beneath the tree. You can slowly limb a tree up over a few seasons.

Cut off any diseased or damaged branches.

It can be tempting, but don’t use any pruning sealer or similar products. Your tree has an immune system just for this moment. Let it shine!

Want an even more in-depth look at proper pruning technique? Check out our blog on Tree Pruning Basics!

The post Oak Tree Pruning: It’s All about Timing! appeared first on Knecht's Nurseries & Landscaping.

By Rich Larson, News Director As Covid-19 cases continue to drop in Minnesota, last week, Governor Tim Walz eased the state guidelines on distance learning. And while he is not explicitly ordering all students back to in-person learning, he is encouraging that the state’s school districts find a way to return every student back to

County election officials say the charges filed against two Rice County voters who tried to cast ballots illegally are statistical outliers in a process that is safe and secure.

Host Jon Olson talks with Lois Quam , President of Pathfinder International, about the role of health care for women in stabilizing societies in the developing world.

Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell and Councilperson Jami Reister discuss Reister’s first few months on the City Council.

After years of waiting, Rice County Sheriff’s deputies are getting acclimated to their new body worn cameras and despite some technical glitches, they seem to be well received thus far.

Event date: March 18, 2021
Event Time: 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Location:
1400 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55057

Hopes that greater Minnesota’s economy could soon “return to normal” could be dashed by a severe and worsening childcare shortage, according to a new report from the Mankato-based Center for Rural Policy and Development.

The owners of the Archer House, the downtown landmark heavily damaged in a devastating fire in November, hope to learn of the building’s fate within a month.

The City of Northfield is looking to improve access to the Riverwalk on the west side of the river. The City is guided by the recently adopted Riverfront Enhancement Action Plan with goals of enhancing and activating the Riverfront along with promoting economic development and tourism.

Community input can be provided in many ways such as sketching a vision, commenting or choosing from a menu of options to improve the space included on the survey form.

Input closes on March 26. The community can participate at ci.northfield.mn.us/RiverwalkEntrance

Questions? Contact:

Dave Bennett
Public Works Director and City Engineer
507-645-3006
david.bennett@ci.northfield.mn.us

The post Community input wanted on improvements to the Riverwalk west side entry appeared first on Northfield Downtown Development Corporation.

About one in 10 southern Minnesotans has received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

  1st story – Scientists solve a major climate mystery, confirming Earth is hotter than it’s been in at least 120 centuries Our main story – your correspondents Alan (RCATs and ESRAG) and Bruce (BA, CCL – for the bipartisan viewpoint), we both are Rotarians – and Rotary is all about service. 110 yo service

by Rich Larson, news Director   Parts of Division Street will be blocked off later this week due to the continuing investigation into the Archer House fire. The city will close Division Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as heavy equipment is brought in to extract items from the interior of the

Dundas City Administrator Jenelle Teppen reviews the February 22 City Council meeting during which the Council adopted a Memorials & Commemorations Policy, and provides an update on Planning Commission recommendations.

Northfield School Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann discusses the February 22 School Board meeting.  Topics include an update on the sale of a small piece of property near the Greenvale Park School campus, new name for Sibley Elementary School, vaccination of school staff, students returning to school, and more.

The Northfield School Board has chosen a new name for the former Sibley Elementary School, whose namesake has drawn accusations of racism and murder undertaken against Native Americans.

Beavers are reportedly causing backups in some Rice County ditches, leaving ditch owners with expensive repairs and county officials grappling with how to fix the problem.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, and strongly backed by a former are police chief could help local law enforcement and first responders better assist the needs of the growing number of Minnesotans with Alzheimer’s disease or…

Recognizing concerns residents have expressed during the planning of recent major city projects, the Northfield Planning Commission is considering a formal process to ensure it gets feedback from all stakeholders.