Girdwood wood lot is open through September

By Sue Rodman
Special to the Turnagain Times

If you haven’t pruned up your trees yet, you still have time to dispose of the brush for free. Girdwood residents can still take their brush and tree parts to the wood lot in the Industrial Park through Sept. 26. Operated by On-Sight Snow Removal, the wood lot is open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Residents are asked to tie their loads down, just like we do for the Transfer Station. Wood and brush is limited to six feet in length and eight inches in diameter.

As part of the Firewise Program, the Anchorage Fire Department continues to support the wood lot, free Firewise home assessments and a cost share tree removal program. The spruce bark beetle activity was nominal this year. Keeping your spruce trees limbed up six or more feet helps reduce the beetle’s preferred habitat. Also, if you fell a tree or lose one from snow loading, always buck it up immediately to reduce free housing for beetles.

By caring for our spruce trees through fall pruning of lower limbs, watering during dry times and taking care during construction and snow removal, Girdwood’s tree canopy can be sustained.

The giant spruce and hemlock throughout the valley truly add to the charm of the community. Being Firewise does not mean that you should cut down your trees without considering their proximity to your home along with other combustible materials that you might store adjacent to or underneath your home.

Firewise home assessments can be requested through www.muni.org/fire or by calling 267-4902.

Sue Rodman is a forester with the Anchorage Fire Dept.