Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Georgia HomePLACE, a project of the Georgia Public Library Service, the Forsyth County Government, an ARPA Digital Inclusion grant, and the State of Georgia.
Newspaper Page Text
SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT
Re cycling when you mow aids environment
Do your part for the environment
by recycling when you mow.
Grasscycling—leaving grass clip
pings on the lawn—saves time and
landfill space and nurtures the soil,
according to the Professional Lawn
Care Association of America.
“Yard waste bans are in place in
many areas of the country,” said,
Michael Gaffney, PLCAA’s techni
cal resource specialist.
“Grasscycling is an alternative to
dumping and bagging, and enriches
the soil for a healthier lawn.”
Grass clippings are 85 percent
water and return 20 percent of their
nitrogen to the soil to feed the
lawn’s root system. They decom
pose rapidly and return nutrients to
the soil with no thatch buildup.
CHECKLIST from 12D
plants on porch or patio, do it care
fully. Acclimate plants gradually to
brighter light and variable tempera
tures. Repot or fertilize if necessary.
• Garden centers are inspiring,
colorful places in spring. Visit yours
for ideas and to check out new plant
varieties.
Summer gardening
checklist
The American Association of
Nurserymen (AAN) offers the fol
lowing general guidelines for sum
mer yard and garden maintenance.
For more specific advice, clip this
list and review it with your local
garden center professional.
• Provide extra water as needed.
Summer brings periodic drought to
many areas of the country. The sin
gle greatest cause of plant loss is
incorrect watering— either too little
or too much.
• When first installed, plants
should receive a thorough soaking.
Established plants require less
water than first-year plants. If
unsure when to water, stick your
finger an inch or two under the soil.
If it’s dry, water. Early morning
watering is best; afternoon sun
evaporates too much moisture and
evening watering encourages pests.
If your busy life results in a haphaz
ard watering schedule, consult a
garden center professional about
automatic irrigation methods, like
timers, to protect your landscaping
investment.
Grasscycling, a term coined by
PLCAA, can be practiced year
round with most mowers.
When you mow, PLCAA recom
mends that you follow the one-third
rule: mow often enough to cut only
one-third of the grass plant in any
one mowing. “Cut the grass when
dry and keep the lawn mower blade
sharpened,” said Gaffney.
Before Grasscycling or practic
ing any lawn care activity, PLCAA
advises that safety should always be
your first concern. Follow these
basic safety steps: read all operating
instructions; keep equipment well
maintained; dress properly for the
job (sturdy shoes, long pants, no
loose jewelry); store gas in an
approved container, away from the
•Too much rain coupled with
warm temperatures can create fun
gus problems in the landscape. Be
alert to these before they get out of
hand. Ask your nursery professional
to suggest fungicides.
• Replace spent annuals to
ensure colorful blooms all summer
long. Annuals are an easy, inexpen
sive way to perk up any yard.
•Keep turf mowed to recom
mended heights.
• Harvest vegetable and fruit
gardens.
•Control weeds with mulch,
weed mesh fabrics or by using
chemical solutions from your nurs
ery.
•Rejuvenate annual and perenni
al flowers by deadheading—pinch
ing or cutting off dead blooms.
Petunias, snapdragons, salvia and
marigolds appreciate this upkeep, as
do roses.
•Monitor landscape for pests. Be
an observant gardener and note
insect or disease problems before
they destroy any element of the
landscape. Garden center profes
sionals can suggest a pest manage
ment program.
•Apply a second, midsummer
dose of fertilizer to young shrubs
and trees.
• Keep a garden journal— note
what you’d like to sec more of next
summer. Fall and winter are great
months to begin planning summer
landscapes.
house; clean up and clear the area
before you start; keep hands and feet
away from moving parts; never take
passengers; and tum off the engine
and remove the key when leaving
bJj’orsyth brake
u K c «r rry TTTw.iTD
Celled Emission 1 Ull£/ U*
Inspector
!brakespecial! f " tunTups “ “]
Is lO OFF ,Is l® OFF;
I V* ■ | | Reg.’49" Reg. ’59“ Reg. >69“ I
1 p now 1 ** s 39’ 5 ™w 5 49 95 .Wl
* Reg. *99” NOW OO * * 4 C y|. $ cy|. 8 cyl. |
■ 2 Whe |' ta " NeW I I • Our TechniclansEfectronlcaUy
I • Repack and Inspect Front Wheel XwSpark
I. „ Be „ n f s * . - ll* Test Charging/Starting Systems, |
• Inspect Hydraulic System and Tumi ■ adjust Carburetor
j j I |* Includes most Cars and Light Trucks|
I Additional Parts Extra If Needed. I ■ . Problem Solver Computer
Most Cars and Light Trucks. ■ I Diagnostics Extra.
With Coupon lifetime Pads J ! iSji’isSt
L——__JL— Jr—
! aTr" | [mufflers] [tail pipes]
I $ 10 OFF L i L n N,ZED 1
| SPECIAL || Reg -’ 6O Each || 1® OFF|
' *29.95'' n »" S49 ’ ! -->i i n “‘s2 s i
1 nmrrni-AM 1 • Light Cars & II ,WW
| PLUS FREON | | Ught Trucks 1 1 up to 4ft long
With Coupon ■ 1
May 31,1997 | I May 31,1997 I I May 31,1997
■■■ ■■■ —»
:wnicwn
Cummmq X—X £ 3
j Eim st - m i
I,| J Ag'JaMJ oi sbwfl ruUilXxny xivtpHA
... ~7.77. . .... J S Uam.u*... lawaww— ■,
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - Sunday, April #,1997-1
equipment unattended.
For information on grasscycling,
PLCAA offers a “Grasscycling
Guide.” For a free copy, send a self
addressed, stamped envelope to.
PLCAA/Grasscycling, 1000
Johnson Ferry Road, NE, Suite C
-135, Marietta, GA 30068. Visit
PLCAA’s web site at
www.plcaa.org.
PAGE 13D