davis_square | X-mas trees and mulch?

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I remember someone earlier this year commenting that the city collects x-mas trees and turns them into mulch. Is this mulch available to people who live in somerville?

And while we are on the subject of landscaping -- does anyone know the term for the walls that make up many somervillian front lawns. They are the 1.5-2 foot tall walls that keep in soil/mulch for small landscaping. Are these considered "retaining walls"?

Thanks!

Current Mood: curious

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From:

laryu.livejournal.com

I believe the city's mulch is available from the DPW yard.

If you are referring to the walls that keep people's yards from spilling onto sidewalks and driveways, that would be be a retaining wall. It basically holds back soil from erosion. On the other hand, if you are talking a raised garden bed, I'm not sure that would technically be a "retaining wall."

From:

http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/

Technically it would - it's still retaining soil, after all; there are essentially only two types of wall, retaining and freestanding (both sides exposed to the same height). But they also get called "garden walls" or "planter walls", among other things.

If the OP is thinking of the ones that are basically big curbs, rounded off on one side and made of big slabs of concrete, that's probably a "poured-in-place concrete wall" if it's really more than 9"-12" high.

If, on the other hand, it's the style built out of units like you can buy at garden centers (though there are much nicer options than the Home Depot variety that seems to dominate the 'Ville, IMO), those are "unit block walls."

(/Landscape Architect voice.)

And yes, the city mulch is available for pickup via the DPW yard, though I'm not sure when they start giving it out, and when it runs out. Give a call.