Newspaper Page Text
Page 8B
The Braselton News
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Killer plants can be useful for weed control
It is a well known fact that the
roots of black walnut trees emit
a chemical that kills many other
trees and shrubs for a consider
able distance from their trunks.
This is a natural defense mecha
nism for eliminating competing
vegetation that might otherwise
rob the walnut trees of sunlight,
moisture, and nutrients.
The black walnut is not the only
form of plant life capable of kill
ing off the competition. And, with
growing concern about the overuse
of chemicals in the environment,
that’s a good thing.
Vigorous groundcovers like
English ivy and kudzu can do this
simply by smothering anything
and everything in their path. But,
some accomplish the same thing
without becoming a stronger pest.
It is this quality in the penicillin
mold that led to its discovery as a
miracle drug, capable of destroy
ing a number of bacterial diseases.
And farmers have noted that fields
grew fewer weeds where sorghum
was planted as a cover crop and
later plowed under.
According to retired Cornell pro
fessor of weed management and
natural products chemistry Leslie
Weston, when sorghum breaks
down in the soil, it gives off a
chemical that inhibits the photo-
Gardener’s
Grapevine
with
Fil Jessee
filwrites@aol.com
synthesis of crabgrass, barnyard
grass and velvet leaf.
“And, this chemical actually
works better than many synthetic
herbicides,” she noted.
Well, that might work for those
of us who plant large vegetable
gardens, but it seems a little
impractical for flower gardeners.
On the other hand, a number of
desirable perennials show simi
lar weed-fighting ability in their
chemical make-up.
In shady areas, pachysandra and
the Japanese painted fern accom
plish this both through chemicals
and their smothering growth habit.
In sunny locations, catmint, heu-
chera, and ornamental golden rod
are similarly effective, according
to Weston.
Broadleaf perennials, such as
hosta, lily-of-the-valley, and ajuga
are effective in killing many annu
al weeds, simply by shading out
their sprouting seeds. But, they are
not too useful in fighting peren
nial weeds that grow tall and fast
enough to poke through the
lower foliage canopy.
Other plants give off chemi
cals that don’t really kill any
thing, but are noticeably offen
sive to a variety of pests that
run the gamut from Japanese
beetles to deer.
And, though some of these
plants don’t grow here, you can
obtain their repellant extracts in
a number of organic pest control
products. Notably among these is
the neem tree, a native of tropi
cal India. An extract of this tree’s
seed is so offensive to Japanese
beetles, they’ll avoid chewing any
leaves on which this compound is
sprayed.
I’m sure this list of environ
mentally friendly killer and repel
lant plants and plant products will
grow as research continues. And
in the meantime, I would love to
hear from any of my gardening
readers who may have made a few
discoveries of their own in this
regard.
Fil Jessee lives in Braselton,
where he works as a freelance jour
nalist. He is a Georgia Certified
Plant Professional with experience
in ornamental horticulture and
landscape design. Reader ques
tions relating to gardening can be
sent to Fil atfilwrites@aol.com.
The Braselton News now available in stores
FUNDS DONATED TO BARROW COUNTY HOLIDAY CONNECTION
The Winder-Barrow Community Theatre recently donated $211 to the Barrow County Holiday
Connection to pay for toys for needy children. A portion of every ticket purchased at Winder-Barrow
Community Theatre shows is donated to a non-profit group in the community. The money was given
out of the proceeds of the Hometown Christmas Show presented the first weekend of December.
Jennifer Cantwell, executive director of the Barrow County Family Connection, is shown receiving a
check from Pam Veader, president of Winder-Barrow Community Theatre.
Timmons named consultant for Tastefully Simple
A number of new newsstands
have been set up for patrons to pur
chase the new weekly newspaper,
The Braselton News. The newsstand
charge is 25 cents.
The Braselton News will continue
to be inserted into subscriber edi
tions of The Jackson Herald. It will
no longer be inserted into Herald
newsstand copies.
Copies of The Braselton News
are also mailed directly to selected
areas of Gwinnett, Hall and Barrow
counties.
In the Braselton area, the follow
ing stores have newsstands for The
Braselton News: Vineyard Shops
(Dollar Superstore), Select Brokers,
Hoschton Cafe, Frankie’s Hair
Salon, West Jackson Mini Shops,
Mulberry Walk Shopping Center,
P & G Superette, Duncan’s Comer
Bottle Shop and Barberito’s restau
rant.
Other locations include: Quality
Foods and Ingles, both in Winder;
Food Lion and Bell's Food Store,
both in Jefferson; and Quality
Foods, Prestos and Ingles, all in
Commerce.
The Braselton News began two
years ago as a separate page of
coverage in The Herald and then
expanded to a separate section last
year.
Stores that would like to carry
copies of The Braselton News for
sale should contact Sharon Hogan
at 706-367-2350.
Eleanor Timmons, Flowery
Branch, has become an indepen
dent consultant with Tastefully
Simple Inc., a national direct-
sales company featuring easy-
to-prepare gourmet products.
As a consultant, Timmons
offers the company’s gourmet
foods and beverages to guests
at home taste-testing parties.
Guests receive samples, meal
ideas, recipes and serving sug
gestions.
“The Tastefully Simple oppor
tunity is designed to be life
friendly,” says Jill Blashack
Strahan, Tastefully Simple Inc.
founder and CEO. “Consultants
find a great deal of satisfaction
through its fun nature, flexibil
ity, unlimited earning potential
and top-notch products.”
For more information about
Tastefully Simple products,
taste-testing parties or the busi
ness opportunity, contact Eleanor
Timmons at 678-714-6695.
For more information about
Tastefully Simple, visit www.
tastefullysimple.com.
iCjaUertf ofo *ees
&. Ornaments
Fred's Lamv Rev air
Bring you broken lamp any day
of the week. Reasonablefees.
'MU
Passing Stories through the
history of Hoschton and
Braselton, Georgia
* Open 7 AM with continental breakfast and the good taste of Pendragon Coffee
* Lunch - Try one of our deli sandwiches with fruit & cookie
* Gift items include Willow Tree angels & Never the Rock photo souvenirs.
* We can make a delightful Christmas basket for a friend or employee.
* Located at the traffic light across from Braselton Antique Mall.
* Call for extended holiday hours - 706-654-9145
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Visit our website - www.1921acountrystore.com
^^e&scn's meetings
5134 Hwy. 53 • Braselton, GA
Antique Station
3880 Hwy. 53 • Hoschton, GA
Ye Ole Station
3699 Hwy. 53 • Braselton, GA
2008 Hess Truck
Available
Lady’s Sweaters
Open
Monday - Saturday
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
1921A Country Store The best little coffee shop in Braselton!
Kids’ Clothing
TOP QUALITY &
HAND PICKED
Open Friday & Saturday 10-6
Sunday 1-5
Gas Up with good savings
20-75% Off throughout the store!
(ZhvlstPHAS e&s In iEoevy
Great Furniture and Home Decor
Open Mon.-Sat. 10-6 & Sunday 1-5
Interior Designer available for consultation
*** Sales throughout the store ***