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The Millen News, Wednesday, October 21,2009 — Page 3 Farm Home Ag Line: Annual Bluegrass Control By Wade Parker County Extension Coordinator It is hard to believe that it is already the middle of fall. As I write this article, it is very cool outside and wet. It seems like we are going to have a long drawn-out harvest season ahead of us. With the onset of fall, comes annual bluegrass! Annual blue- grass is the most troublesome weed we have to deal with in the yard. Compared to most turfgrasses, annual bluegrass has a lighter green color, coarser leaf texture and pro duces unsightly seed heads. Annual bluegrass seed ger minates in late summer/early fall once soil temperatures fall below 70 degrees. Seedlings mature in fall, overwinter in a vegetative state, and produce seed in late spring and early summer. Annual bluegrass is a prolific seed producer as indi vidual plants may produce over 360 viable seeds even when closely mowed. Seed may lie dormant in soil for many years before germinating. Annual bluegrass flowers and produces viable seed in spring and at vir tually any mowing height. An nual bluegrass grows well un der short day lengths and cool conditions, and may out-com- pete other turf species during late fall and early spring. An nual bluegrass often dies from summer stresses but may sur vive if irrigated and pests are adequately controlled, espe cially perennial biotypes. Several cultural practices im prove annual bluegrass control. • Deep and infrequent irriga tion encourages turfgrass root development, which improves the ability of desired grasses to compete with annual bluegrass. • Withhold water until desir able turfgrass species exhibit initial drought-stress symp toms. Overwatering, especially in shady areas, will pre-dispose turfgrass to annual bluegrass invasion. • Avoid practices that pro mote soil compaction. Relieve compaction with regular aerifications in spring and fall. • Voids left in turf with ex posed soil, following aerifications, may permit an nual bluegrass invasion during periods of peak germination. Time aerfications in early fall to allow turf to recover before annual bluegrass germinates. • Reduce nitrogen fertiliza tion during peak annual blue grass germination and during periods of vigorous growth (cool weather). High nitrogen at these times encourages an nual bluegrass spread and sur vival into winter and spring. Fertilizing dormant turfgrasses when annual bluegrass is ac tively growing will exacerbate infestations. • Lower mowing heights en courage annual bluegrass inva sion. Height of cut for lawns should be no less than 2 inches. • Mow lawns at least once per week during periods of vigor ous growth to prevent scalping. Scalping thins out turf, enabling weeds such as annual bluegrass to establish. While returning clippings is recommended to recycle nutrients to the soil, re moval of clippings may be use ful when annual bluegrass is present and producing seed heads. Removing clippings at this time will reduce the spread of viable seed through the lawn. Chemical Control Preemergence herbicides may prevent annual bluegrass infestation via seed and limit current infestations from further spreading. However, preemer gence herbicides will not eradi cate established plants and will not effectively control perennial biotypes of annual bluegrass from spreading vegetatively. Application timing of preemeergence herbicides for annual bluegrass control is very important, and thus herbicides must be applied in late summer/ early fall before annual blue grass germination. A second application can be applied in spring to control germinating plants. Fall applied preemer gence herbicides cannot be used if reseeding or resodding is needed to repair areas of damaged turf within several months after herbicide applica tions. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offers educationalprograms, assis tance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. Applications sought for food, toy drive By Elizabeth Billips True Citizen Associate Editor Congregations of six local churches are partnering with non-profit groups to make sure families and senior citizens have a happy Christmas. For the fifth straight year, the group is taking applications and raising funds for Christmas in Burke County. According to the Rev. Karlton Howard of Noah’s Ark Baptist Church, the event is designed to provide food and toys to those in need this Christmas holiday. Last year, more than 500 fami lies were served. The program is held in con junction with the Salvation Army and Marines’ Toys for Tots and operated through the United Way’s clearinghouse to prevent duplications. Applica tions will be taken, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday Oct. 21 and 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7at the CSRA Economic Opportu nity Authority (EOA) office, located in the former Blakeney Elementary School at 518 Col lege Street in Waynesboro. Applicants must provide photo identification, social se curity numbers for all children and documentation of family income and expenses. Local sponsors include CSRA EOA, Inc. (EOA), Beyond the Ark Outreach Ministries, Inc., Bark Camp, Green Branch, Jones Grove, Phillip Grove, Ways Grove and Noah’s Ark Baptist churches. For informa tion the Rev. Howard, at 706- 554-4981. John Oxendine QUESTION AND ANSWER COLUMN WITH GEORGIA INSURANCE AND FIRE COMMISSIONER JOHN OXENDIN NATURAL GAS If you should have a gas leak in your home or business, you should immediately notify City Hall. The phone number is 982-6100. The gas you burn in your home or business is colorless and odorless. If it should leak it would present a hazard. Because gas is normally odorless, a special odor is introduced into the gas before it is distributed by the City. If you have ever smelled this odor, you will remember what it smells like. It is similar to odor introduced to both propane and gasoline but is distinctive to natural gas. It is similar to the odor of rotten eggs but not as nauseating. Just remember that natural gas is safe unless, for one reason or another it is leaking into a closed in area; then it is very dangerous. The City puts enough odorant into its gas to assure that you will smell the gas long before it becomes dangerous. When you smell it, how ever, don’t waste time. Report it immediately to City Hall. When you’re between jobs MOVE YOUR 401 (K) to someone you know. Take charge of your future today - by keeping your retirement savings hard at work and close to home. Move your 401 (k) into a State Farm® Traditional IRA. Call me today for help getting started. STATE FARM INSURANCE Billy Valduga State Farm Agent Louisville, GA 30434 Bus: 478-625-7929 Toll Free: F www.billyvalduga.com 8-625-7929 LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, STATE FARM IS THERE.® Providing Insurance and Financial Services ^ P056061 02/05 Consult your tax or legal advisor for specific advice. State Farm Insurance Companies Bloomington, IL • statefarm.com® Q: I’ve heard that the number of house fires goes up in the winter. Is that true, and if so, what causes these fires? A: The number of house fires and fatalities does tend to increase during the winter months. Two of the leading causes of house fires are especially common this time of year: home heating (particu larly portable heaters), and cook ing accidents. There were four fire fatalities in Georgia last year in fires caused by some type of portable heater. So far in 2009 there have already been three fatalities in fires started by a heater, and more cool weather is on the way. While portable heaters are safe if used properly - please read the manufacturer’s instructions care fully - they can start fires if placed too close to beds or other furniture. Three feet is considered a safe distance. Also, extension cords can be dangerous when used on an electric heater, since the current draw can overheat the cord. Cooking-related fires have caused eight deaths so far this year. With the holiday season ap proaching, much more cooking will be going on in kitchens across the state. Many of these fires are caused by a stove that has been accidentally left on. If given enough time, a stove can heat a pan to the point that the metal melts. That’s why home safety ex perts recommend that you always set a timer when cooking, so you never forget to turn off the burn ers or oven. If a pan does catch fire, cover it with a lid immedi ately and turn off the burner. Don’t attempt to fight a grease fire with water, as it may make the fire worse. While cook ing, consider wearing clothing with tight-fitting sleeves. Loose clothing can contact a burner and ignite. Finally, your home should have an adequate number of smoke alarms. Most fatal fires start be tween 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., while the family is asleep. The advance warning of a smoke alarm may mean the difference between life and death. Nine out of 10 fire vic tims are already dead before the fire department is even called, mainly from smoke and toxic gases. Please send your insurance questions to: Insurance Commis sioner John Oxendine, 716 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334 or r call (404) 656-2070 (toll free at 1-800-656-2298), from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, for assistance with an insurance question. Visit the website at www.gainsurance.org. Joys for Jots Christmas 2009 Applications will be taken on? Tuesday, October 27th Wednesday October 28th Tuesday, November 3rd Wednesday November 4th 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM At the JCFEC Resource Center 527 Barney Avenue BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Brine; with you: A picture LI 3. All family income anti expenses AM family members Social Security Numbers Tni' niDtv iiiGrmalhiii urlo schedule ynur uppoi.nlmein. please call the Jenkins County Council of" l hurehc* a I We Can Make It Happen NOW! If you own or have equity in your home .Land, mobile home or car, you can gel S1.000, $2,000 or more at Millen Loan and Finance Corporation. Call or come by and discuss your money needs with us today. Monday through Friday &:30 a,m.-5:30 p.m. Closed Saturday MILLEN LOAN and FINANCE CORP. 128 N. Gray Street - Millen 982-5644 FREE SERVICE CONTRACTORS, HOMEOWNERS & EXCAVATORS BEFORE YOU... • Trench •Bora • Demolish • Drill or Blast Call Toll Free 1-800-282-7411 Utilities Protection Center For Underground Utility Locations MEMBERS MAY INCLUDE American Tel. & Tel. Company City of Lafayette City of Talbotton Americus Utility Commission City of Lawrenceville City of Tallapoosa Atlanta Gas Light Company City of Madison City of Wrens Austell Natural Gas System City of Manchester Clayton Co. Water Authority Cable America Inc. City of Meigs Colonial Pipeline Company City of Adel City of Millen Gas Light Co. of Columbus City of Buford City of Monroe Georgia Power Company City of Cairo City of Montezuma Omni Cable TV Inc. City of Claxton Natural Gas City of Nashville Plantation Pipeline Co. City of Covington City of Pelham Southern Bell Tel. & Tel. Co. City of Cuthbert City of Perry Smyrna CATV City of Forest Park City of Social Circle Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. 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