decatur - Wise County Messenger

ALL AROUND WISE, Decatur, Texas, Thursday, July 23, 2009By NEIL SPERRYDear Neil: I have grown aexas mountain laurel fromseed I planted six or sevenyears ago. It’s now largeenough to flower, and I’ve enjoyedits spring blooms. However,as you can see in the photo,some of the flower stalksare widened and stretchedout at their bases. A localnursery told me my samplecouldn’t be from a mountainlaurel. What is the problem,and what should I do withmy plant?This is called “fasciation,”and it’s the abnormalitywhere stem and flower tissuesdevelop two-dimensionally.The best-known exampleis the annual flower calledcockscomb, although you’llsee many types of cacti andsucculents that mutate intothis type of growth. It altersthe plants’ rates of growth,and it changes their appearance.But it doesn’t reallyhurt them. You can usuallyprune out the fasciated tissues,and the plant will continuewith normal growthand flowers.Dear Neil: I have threecrape myrtles within 10 feetof the foundation of my house.Will they hurt the foundation?Two are 25-foot trees, and theother is the shorter varietyAcoma.At those distances, theypose no threat at all to thefoundation. Keep thempruned away from the edgeGARDENER’S MAILBAGof the roof. They could rubthrough shingles and siding.Dear Neil: How do you getrid of nematodes?You may have to learn todeal with nematodes, insteadof expecting to eliminatethem. Your best courses of actioninclude planting Elboncereal rye in early October.Let it grow through most ofthe winter, before you plowit under. The rye entraps themicroscopic worms within itsroot system, so the populationwill be greatly reduced.Plant cool-season vegetablesinto infested areas. They aremuch less likely to sufferdamage than their late springand summer counterparts.Choose resistant varietieswhenever they’re offered.Dear Neil: I remember youmentioning a product youcould install behind retainingwalls to prevent the intrusionof tree roots. I can’t find thatnote. What is it again?Use heavy vinyl pondliner from a water gardenand pond supply dealer. It’sreadily available and easilyworked into such settings.Dear Neil: What can I useto eliminate crabgrass frommy St. Augustine lawn withoutharming the St. Augustine?I’m going to assume youtruly have crabgrass andnot dallisgrass or some othergrassy weed. Crabgrassis an annual weed that canbe identified by its light- tomedium-green leaves, shortrunners and helicopter-likeseed heads. It actually issomewhat akin to St. Augustine,so what kills an existingcrabgrass plant will alsokill St. Augustine. Your twobest tricks: take better careof the St. Augustine, and itshould quickly overrun theweaker crabgrass. Then, ifneeded, apply pre-emergentweedkiller granules in earlyMarch and early June nextyear to stop the next seasonof its growth.Dear Neil: I have a large,fruit-bearing fig tree thathas many stems, almost as ifmany trees were growing together.Some of the brancheshave started dying. In removingone stem, I noticed somethingwas boring through thecenter. Now, other stems haveyellow leaves. Should I bespraying something?If you actually saw a larvalinsect in the tunnel in thecenter of the fig stem, thatcould be a borer of some sort(they are not prone to them).It might also just have beenthe hollowed-out pith. It’s difficultto give a good diagnosiswithout additional facts. Youmight take samples of thepossible borers to a MasterCertified Nursery Professionalat a member of the TexasNursery and Landscape Association.Take photos of theplant in, too. It’s probably justa large shrub with multiplebranches that play the partsof trunks. It may be that theinternal stems are gettingpinched by the competition,much as happens with Bradfordpear trunks.ATTENTIONOil and Gas Rig Workersand WaterTruck DriversHave you experiencedwork-related breathingtrouble?Dear Neil: I have an unknownspecies of pine tree ata house. It’s about 30 feet tall,and until about two years ago,it was healthy. Now it’s yellow.I’ve used 24 tree stakes, ironand moderate watering. It’sa little better, but still struggling.What should I do?Not knowing specificallywhat kind of pine you have,and not knowing where specificallyit’s growing, it’s difficultto give you a good answer.However, it certainly soundslike an East Texas slash orloblolly pine that’s having atough time of it in some othertype of soil, probably alkaline.If that’s the case, you areindeed seeing iron deficiency.I’ve made it my policy, however,for the past 25 years, notto offer too much encouragementon this issue. If you’regrowing a water oak, Americanholly, slash or loblollypine or other acid-soil-lovingtree in alkaline soil, you needto cut your losses and replacethe tree with a better species.Adding iron only solvesthe current problem, and itwill only get worse as long asyou have the tree. I’ve seen ithappen thousands of times,and I have yet to see a successfulturnaround.!Have a question you’d likeNeil to consider? Mail it tohim in care of the Wise CountyMessenger, P.O. Box 149,Decatur, TX 76234 or e-mailhim at mailbag@sperrygardens.com.Neil regrets that hecannot reply to questions individually.You have the Right to Chooseyour Home Health Provider.Comprehensive ServicesWISE COUNTY COWBOY CHURCHwisecountycowboychurch.comSunday Service 10:30 a.m.903-227-7369Decatur Livestock MARKET2473 North FM 51Decatur, TexasWise Dance Center1300 N. Hwy. 287, Decatur2009 Fall ClassesBegin August 31Fall Registration Monday, August 10 • 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.Age 3 & UpBallet • TapPilates/StretchPre-Ballet through advanced levelsVIOLIN/FIDDLE & PIANO LESSONSCall For Class Availability & InformationPrivate Lessons Available for Ballet • Ballroom Dancing• Wedding Couples940-626-1124 • 940-627-7777Specialty Programs• Honeywell HomMed telemonitoring• Orthopedic “Hip and Knee” Rehab Program• “Heart to Heart” Cardiac Program• In home “Good for the Soles” Foot CareProgram/Assistance w/Diabetic Shoes• KCI Wound VAC/Wound Care• “Sure Steps” Fall Prevention Program• Congestive Heart Failure Program• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program• Anodyne Therapy• Skilled Nursing • Occupational Therapy • Medical Social Services• Physical Therapy • Speech Therapy • Home Health Aide1705 S. FM 51, Suite 108 • Decatur • 940-627-2565Serving Wise and Surrounding CountiesMedicare/Medicaid and most private insurance acceptedSizzling Savings for Summer FunNAVI SYSTEMABS BRAKESSAVE$2,000MSRP $14,499‘08 ST1300AFTER $600 DOUBLE BONUS BUCKSSALE$12,599SAVE$1,900MSRP $9,599‘08 CBR 600RR‘08 GL18HPNAM8 MSRP $23,399As Low As 0.99% APRfor 36 months on approved credit through Honda Financial Servcies*SALE$7,909‘07 VTX1800TSALE$21,359ON SELECT MODELSAFTER $2,000 DOUBLE BONUS BUCKSMSRP $15,949SALE$11,604SAVE$4,300MSRP $7,199‘08 CRF450R SAVE$2,200SALE$4,999SAVE$1,700AFTER $500 DOUBLE BONUS BUCKSMSRP $6,449‘08 CRF250RSAVE$1,500SALE$4,926MSRP $5,999‘07 TRX 400EXSAVE$1,700SALE$4,299Call AttorneyClint Phillipsfor a free initialconsultation940-626-0087Located at:105 W. Main St.Decatur, TexasAFTER $500 DOUBLE BONUS BUCKSSAVE$1,400‘09 BIG REDPrices good July 8 thru July 31. Prices do not include T.T. & L. F&PFRONT & REARINDEPENDENT SUPENSION675CC FEUL-INJECTED ENGINETHREE SELECTABLE DRIVE MODESMSRP $11,399SALE$9,999AFTER $500 DOUBLE BONUS BUCKS‘08 TRX420TEYour Wise County Honda Dealer - Where your ‘Fun’ is our business.1650 S. Hwy 287, Decatur940-626-4366 • 866-480-RIDEwww.hondaoftexas.comTuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.MSRP $4,199SALE$3,599SAVE$600Honda Financial Services 0.99% Fixed APR Financing –Select Models 0.99% Fixed APR financing available for customers who qualify for super preferred credit tier for up to 36 months through Honda Financial Services. Payment example: 36 monthly payments of $28.20 for each $1,000 financed. Offer good on new andunregistered 2009 model year MUV700, 2008 & prior GL1800 and 2009 & prior AquaTrax models. Not all buyers may qualify. Higher rates apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Check with participating Honda dealers for complete details. Offer ends 7/31/09. BigRed bigred.honda.com MULTI-PURPOSE UTILITYVEHICLES CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, BE RESPONSIBLE. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT, AND KEEP THE SIDE NETS AND DOORS CLOSED. AVOID EXCESSIVE SPEEDS, AND BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. ALL MUVDRIVERS SHOULD WATCH THE SAFETY VIDEO “MULTIPURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES: A GUIDE TO SAFE OPERATION” AND READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. NEVER DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, ON PUBLIC ROADS, OR WITH MORE THAN ONE PASSENGER. BIG RED ISONLY FOR DRIVERS 16 YEARS AND OLDER. DRIVER AND PASSENGER MUST BE TALL ENOUGH FOR SEAT BELT TO FIT PROPERLY AND TO BRACE THEMSELVES WITH BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON THE FLOOR. PASSENGER MUST BE ABLE TO GRASP THE HAND HOLD WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR. RESPECTTHE ENVIRONMENT WHEN DRIVING. Big Red is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©2008 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ATV’s honda.com RECOMMENDED ONLY FOR HIGHLY EXPERIENCED RIDERS 16 YEARS AND OLDER. BE A RESPONSIBLE RIDER. REMEMBER, ATVs CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOURSAFETY, ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND NEVER RIDE ON PAVED SURFACES OR PUBLIC ROADS. KEEP IN MIND THAT RIDING DOESN’T MIX WITH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. HONDA RECOMMENDS THAT ALL ATV RIDERS TAKE A TRAINING COURSE AND READ THEIR OWNER’S MANUALTHOROUGHLY. For rider training information or to locate a rider-training course near you, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. TRX and Best on Earth are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Double Bonus Bucks offer is good with the purchase of select models. Bonus Bucks can only be used for purchases at thedealership and must be redeemed on the date of purchase. Offer has no cash value and is not transferable. Double Bonus Bucks may not be used in conjunction with Honda financing offers. Check with participating Honda Dealers for complete details. Offer good through August 31, 2009.