Question: Our new home site has two large oaks loaded with Spanish moss. Can the moss choke the trees?

Answer: Spanish moss and its relative, ball moss, are often of concern but normally little threat to healthy trees and shrubs. Both are epiphytes, meaning they use the limbs and trunks for support. They do not take water or nutrients from the trees and only grow attached to the bark. Both plants manufacture their own food using water and nutrients from the air and decomposing plant portions.

When tree and shrub growth slows, both mosses can begin to overpower the plantings crowding sites normally filled with foliage. At this point, the moss is damaging. Old age, diseases or cultural conditions may cause the plantings to decline and the moss flourishes. In such cases, removing some of the moss and correcting the plant problems is necessary.

Q. We have been told by our pest-control company our brown-patch lawn disease is due to an abundance of oak trees in the yard. What should we do?

A. Oak trees are not directly responsible for brown patch, a warm-weather lawn disease that turns turf a straw color in somewhat circular patterns. Oak trees may, however, help create favorable conditions for the fungus. The organism likes moist, warm growing conditions and the trees could shelter the turf from the drying sun and breezes.

Control starts by realizing brown patch, also called large patch, could be a yearly problem starting in late fall and lasting through early spring. Plan to apply a fungicide labeled for brown-patch control once in November, December and February. These treatments should help reduce or prevent the disease. Also, discontinue fertilizer applications after mid-October to help new growth mature before brown patch weather.

Q. My neighbor from Ohio who lives here November through April is frustrated trying to grow good tomatoes. Could you suggest a variety that would grow well during the winter?

A. Here is the problem the best fruit-setting time for all tomatoes is when temperatures are between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Once November arrives, there are very few good fruit-setting days left, thus tomato production time is about over until April, when temperatures are again favorable. Maybe you could be a good neighbor and add tomato transplants to your neighbor's garden in late August or September. With your good care, the plants could set their fruits and be ripening by November.

Q. I have several poinsettias left from Christmas. What is the proper way to transplant and grow them in the yard?

A. Find your saved poinsettias a sunny-to-lightly shaded location. Improve sandy soils with lots of organic matter, then add the plants. Cover the surface of the soil with an inch layer of mulch and apply a slow-release fertilizer. Most gardeners also like to cut the plants back to within 12 to 18 inches of the ground. Keep the soil moist and continue light prunings after each foot of new growth through August to have plants in bloom by December.

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Moss not troublesome if trees are healthy

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - The DEA calls Kratom one of its "drugs of concern." It's legal and it's growing in popularity in Wilmington, along with another drink called Kava.

Kava is made from the roots of a shrub that grows in the South Pacific. It can either be served as a drink or in pill form. Many people who use Kava say it helps them to relax.

Kratom, however, is a stimulant. In the UK, Kratom is known as "herbal speedball." It comes from a tropical tree that grows in Thailand. It can also be served in pill form or in a tea.

In some countries and a few states, Kratom is illegal.

At Kat 5 Kava, a Kava and Kratom bar in downtown Wilmington, nearly every seat is taken.

It's 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon.

The crowd includes people of all ages.

William Fairall, a local DJ, is one of the regulars here.

He drinks both Kava and Kratom.

Fairall described the feeling he gets when he drinks Kratom, "It's a happy feeling. It's a happy euphoria. A pick me up."

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Kava and Kratom: a natural high or dangerous drinks?

Preventing and Treating Iron Chlorosis in Trees and Shrubs by Michael Kuhns, Extension Forestry Specialist, and Rich Koenig, Extension Soils Specialist

Note: See What is Iron Chlorosis and What Causes It? (click on link) for information on causes of iron chlorosis.

Diagnosis As noted above, go to What is Iron Chlorosis and What Causes It? for more information on what iron chlorosis is and its causes. Briefly, iron chlorosis is a yellowing of plant leaves caused by iron deficiency, usually in high pH soils (pH above 7.0). Other causes of yellowing need to be ruled out first, however. For example, leaf yellowing can be due to insect or disease problems (pathogenic diseases caused by fungi or other organisms), herbicide misuse, or a history of over watering. Some tree cultivars have even been developed to have yellow foliage on purpose -- an example is the 'Sunburst' honeylocust ('Gleditsia triacanthos' var. inermis 'Sunburst').

Pin oak with severe iron chlorosis.

The same pin oak 6 weeks later after injection with ferric ammonium citrate.

Soil application of ferrous sulfate and granular sulfur.

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Preventing and Treating Iron Chlorosis in Trees and Shrubs ...

Our office services the greater Charlotte area, all of Mecklenburg County along with Gaston County, Union County, and South Carolina Upstate. View more details on the areas served by our Charlotte office.

Arborists in our Charlotte office are committed to helping local residents and businesses maintain beautiful, healthy trees and shrubs. Our arborists are experts in diagnosing and treating tree and shrub problems specific to the Charlotte area. Plus, with access to Bartletts global resources and advanced scientific research facility, we can provide customers with benefits that just arent available from other Charlotte tree services.

Bartlett Tree Experts offers a variety of services to help our customers maintain beautiful, healthy trees and shrubs. No matter the size or scope of your tree service or shrub care needs, we want to work with you to protect your landscape investment. Access a complete list of the tree services we provide in the Charlotte, NC area.

Cabling and Bracing Cables and brace rods can help reduce the risk of failure of weak branches and multiple stems.

Insect and Disease Management Bartlett uses an integrated approach to suppress pests and manage tree diseases on your property.

Pruning Pruning is periodically required to improve the health and appearance of woody landscape plants.

Fertilization and Soil Management To thrive, trees and shrubs require a healthy blend of nutrients in the soil where they live.

Lightning Protection For high value trees, lightning protection systems can minimize the risk of damage from a strike.

Storm Damage Some basic procedures can help reduce the risk of damage to your trees from severe storms.

The TCIA Accreditation "seal of approval" helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on adherence to industry standards for quality and safety, maintenance of trained, professional staff, and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. Through research, technology, and education, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees. The Board-Certified Master Arborist credential is designed for arborists who have reached the pinnacle of their profession.

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Bartlett Tree Experts: Tree Service and Shrub Care in ...

Extension > Garden > Yard and Garden > Pruning trees and shrubs

Mark Zins and Deborah Brown, former Extension Horticulturists

Pruning is a horticultural practice that alters the form and growth of a plant. Based on aesthetics and science, pruning can also be considered preventive maintenance. Many problems may be prevented by pruning correctly during formative years for a tree or shrub.

Avoid topping trees. Removing large branches leaves stubs that can cause several health problems. It also destroys the plant's natural shape and promotes suckering and development of weak branch structure.

Appearance in the landscape is essential to a plant's usefulness. For most landscapes, a plant's natural form is best. Avoid shearing shrubs into tight geometrical forms that can adversely affect flowering. Alter a plant's natural form only if it needs to be confined or trained for a specific purpose. When plants are pruned well, it is difficult to see that they have been pruned! Prune to:

Pruning is really the best preventive maintenance a young plant can receive. It is critical for young trees to be trained to encourage them to develop a strong structure. (See Figure 1)

Too many young trees are pruned improperly or not pruned at all for several years. By then it may become a major operation to remove bigger branches, and trees may become deformed.

At planting, remove only diseased, dead, or broken branches. Begin training a plant during the dormant season following planting.

Pruning young shrubs is not as critical as pruning young trees, but take care to use the same principles to encourage good branch structure.

Figure 1. Issues to watch for when pruning trees

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Pruning trees and shrubs : Yard and Garden : Garden ...

Just inside his single-story home, built of concrete blocks and coated in turquoise paint, Hwang Sang-ki, a 58-year-old Korean taxi driver, sits on a floor mat. Hes clasping a small handbag, once bright white and now dull after years on a shelf. He pulls out a snapshot of 13smiling young women, all co-workers at Samsung Electronics (005930:KS), off-duty and posing in three rows, each embracing or leaning into the other. The leaves of a tree behind them are turning golden in the autumn chill.

Here, says Hwang, pointing to two women in the center of the group. Both had the same job at the same semiconductor factory, on the same line, standing side by side at the same workstation, dipping computer chips into the same vat of chemicals. Both got a particularly aggressive form of the blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia. One was his daughter, Yu-mi. In South Korea, only about 3 out of every 100,000 people die of leukemia. They worked together, and they died, says Hwang. The snapshot is among a few private memories Hwang keeps of his late daughter.

The story of the two women, and dozens of Samsung workers with leukemia and other rare cancers, is now a very public one in South Korea. In February and March, Koreans could see two movies depicting the seven-year battle led by the Hwangs and other families against Koreas biggest and most influential corporation.

Another Promise, released in February, tells the story of a thinly veiled Hwang and his daughter, who went to work at a Samsung semiconductor plant in 2003, when she was 18, and died at 22.

Hwang, who has deep smile wrinkles radiating from the sides of his brown eyes and a buzz cut of salt-and-pepper hair, is portrayed by Park Chul-min, a 47-year-old actor with 70 film roles in his career. His character in Another Promise battles with the fictitiously named company Jinsung. The Korea Herald called the movie a meaningful achievement in Korean cinema, as well as for Korean democracy, not so much because of its quality but because of how it was made. Without a major studio backer, the director and producer raised almost 15percent of the $2million budget from hundreds of individuals via crowdsourcing and more than half from about 100 small investors. Its the first Korean film produced this way.

Empire of Shame, a documentary, hit theaters on March6. Three years in the making, it was shot with intimate access to Hwang and other families of Samsung workers. It focuses on the broader movement Hwang launched to illuminate the use of carcinogens in electronics factories, especially semiconductor plants. Since he began, activists have discovered 58 cases of leukemia and other blood-related cancers across several Samsung plants. Samsung declined to discuss specific cases for this article, saying in a statement that it spent about $88million in 2011 on the maintenance and improvement of its safety-related infrastructure.

Im just hoping that you wouldnt say anything against Samsung, the executive told Hwang

The main goal for the movement is to wrest compensation for cancer-stricken workers from a Korean government insurance fund. People such as Hwang and the filmmakers are pushing a conversation into mainstream Korean culture about some of the costs of the countrys miraculous economic rise, which happened in large part on the shoulders of Samsung and the rest of the technology industry, global symbols of pride for many Koreans. Its driving a reexamination of trade-offs in South Koreas past, when the foundation for todays prosperity was built by an authoritarian government working hand in hand with domestic corporate partners who were given great power in exchange for rapid growth. About 20 miles south of Seoul, inside a fenced and secured compound, the Giheung semiconductor factory rises near the wooded shores of a man-made reservoir. The factory is a wide white box sprouting smokestacks and curled tubes from its roof, with Samsungs familiar blue-and-white logo across its front. Built in 1984, the plant was the leading semiconductor factory in the country at a time when chips accounted for about 80percent of all revenue at Samsung Electronics. Giheungs assembly lines were a prestigious place to work.

Many Koreans revere Samsung. In part thats because its success mirrors their own climb from a war that divided a country, killed millions, and left millions more destitute. In 1961, eight years after the Korean War ended in a stalemate, South Koreas per capita gross domestic product was $92, less than that of Sudan, Sierra Leone, or the Democratic Republic of Congo. By last year, South Koreans had the worlds 15th-largest economy. Almost 24percent of GDP came from the revenue of the Samsung Group, a conglomerate made up of dozens of businesses including a life insurance company, a heavy-construction company, the worlds second-biggest shipbuilder, and of course Samsung Electronics.

Yu-mis parents couldnt afford to send her to university, so a recruitment notice from the Giheung factory caught her eye in 2003 when it appeared at her high school in the northeastern port city of Sokcho, along the Sea of Japan. Samsung wanted young women from the top third of Yu-mis graduating class. She met the initial criteria: decent grades, solid attendance, and no record as a troublemaker. She also passed a required medical exam. She had an interview, and she told me she was accepted, her father says. I was very happy, because Samsung is one of the best companies in Korea.

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What Samsung Did When Workers Started Dying

As we wait and wait for summer to come, our thoughts turn to the only garden greenery available for our restless pruners to play with: houseplants.

This is an excellent time to focus on houseplants. Those that move outdoors in spring need to be in tiptop shape to make a successful transition.

Plants don't like change. Although dry indoor air isn't ideal, at least your plants are used to it. They are not used to wind, rain and wildly fluctuating temperatures.

As to pests, the whiteflies, spider mites and scale that thrive in your living room won't last long in the company of outdoor predators. But your plants will encounter new nemeses, and healthier plants have better luck fending off foes.

WHITEFLIES WAR

First, check plants thoroughly for signs of pests. I've learned the hard way that infestations I've been able to control but not eliminate tend to worsen as winter drags on. Plants starved for sunlight also lose their fighting spirit.

Whiteflies love my houseplants. Last year, spring came just in time to rescue a 2-year-old tropical honeybush (Melanthus major) whose gorgeous toothy leaves are irresistible to the winged dust specks.

I'm not sure if the bugs were dormant in the soil or if they vanished during summer when the plant lived outside in full sun. Whatever, by mid-March they'd defeated their host plant.

I admit I was their willing accomplice. Reluctant to spend $10 on insecticidal soaps that hadn't worked last year, I sprayed the leaves with plain water, drenching the undersides where the larvae live. The whiteflies multiplied.

Next, I pruned the plant, cutting off most of its stems and leaving only fresh leaf growth. This way, I could focus on just a few leaves and keep them squeaky clean. That didn't work, either.

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Blundering Gardener: Whiteflies got the best of me until website remedy came to rescue

GrowinGreen #39;s Tree and Shrub Program
If you have a struggling landscape with insects and disease problems then, contact GrowinGreen for our biologically enhanced tree shrub program. Your ticke...

By: GrowinGreen

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GrowinGreen's Tree and Shrub Program - Video

Arts/crafts

55th Annual Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show - The show will feature 40 dealers and 60 displays of precious and semi-precious stones, fossils, specimens and jewelry. It will also include demonstrations and childrens activities. Presented by Rock Rollers of Spokane. Today, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. $6/adults; $5/seniors and military; free/age 12 and younger and Scouts in uniform; free parking and admission is good all weekend. (509)891-6533.

West Central Community Center Rummage Sale - Items include clothing, accessories, baby gear, furniture, housewares, collectibles, toys, electronics, books, video, tools and sporting goods. Benefits Developmental Disabilities and Youth Development programs at West Central Community Center. Cash and credit cards only. Today, 8 a.m.-noon. West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt St. Free admission. (509)323-7517.

Annual Spring Rummage Sale Friday, 9 a.m., Newport United Church of Christ, 430 W. Third St., Newport, Wash. Free admission. (509)447-4121.

Spokane Home and Garden Show Friday-April 6. The 38th annual event. Learn of services to make your next home improvement project a success. Friday, noon-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and April 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. $8/adults; $6/seniors and military; free/age 12 and younger. (509)534-5380.

GFWC Arts, Crafts and Book Bazaar - April 12, 9 a.m., Womans Club of Spokane, 1428 W. Ninth Ave. Free admission. (509)434-9680.

Celebrate Spring Craft Fair - April 18-19. Crafts, food, homemade items, plants and more. Bake sale and concessions both days with Spaghetti Feed on Friday from 4-6 p.m. and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday from 8:30-11 a.m. Hours are Friday, 2-7 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sinto Senior Center, 1124 W. Sinto Ave. Free admission; $5/spaghetti feed, $5/pancake breakfast. (509)327-2861.

Spokane Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale - March 29-30. Eight vendors and hundreds of orchids for sale. There will be raffles and speakers. Come and see prize-winning orchids and displays. Today, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Southside Community Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. $2/person; free/age 15 and younger. (509)953-5356.

Horticulture Workshops - The University of Idaho Extension presents the 2014 Idaho Master Gardeners annual horticulture workshops, including: Hunting for Wild Mushrooms in Northern Idaho, Monday, 6-8 p.m., $10; Ice Age Floods, April 7, 6-8 p.m., $10; April 14, Plants and Clean Water: Creating Rain Gardens, Native Gardens and Protecting the Aquifer and Surface Water, 6-8 p.m., $10. Registration is recommended; class sizes are limited. University of Idaho Kootenai County Extension Office, 1808 N. Third St., Coeur dAlene. (208)446-1680.

The Life and Death of the Craftsman House - Peeling stucco, rotting wood, inoperable sash windows? Historic Craftsman or Bungalow houses and their maintenance and preservation issues can be overwhelming for many homeowners. Which areas are most susceptible to decay? What resources are available to homeowners? An informational lecture by Amy Elizabeth Uebel, an architectural conservator, will answer your questions, discuss methods for damage prevention and address suitable preservation treatment options for common issues. Reserve tickets online at http://www.spokanepreservation.org/gala.asp. Monday, 6:30 p.m., Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, auditorium, 2316 W. First Ave. $10/door (cash or check only). (509)344-1065.

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Home Calendar - Sun, 30 Mar 2014 PST

Saffron Saffron is used primarily as a spice to season numerous culinary dishes. Saffron is cultivated around the globe and is one of the most expensive spices around. The saffron flower is harvested for various healing purposes which include reducing menstrual pain to alleviating indigestion.

Sage Sage is a shrub like bush that is native to European countries. The woody branches of the herb bare fragrant flowers. Of course, sage is a favorite culinary spice and has many healing qualities enjoyed by numerous people over the years. Those that are bothered by too much mucous in the lungs or congestion in the chest should brew a cup of sage tea and drink a few times a day to ease the symptoms. Sage is also an excellent preparation for insect bites or any type of skin rash.

Sassafras The sassafras tree is native to North America and some parts of Asia. Sassafras tea is brewed and honey is added for a delightful drink. The bark of the sassafras tree is known to repel various bugs and insects. The roots of the tree are used to make molasses like syrup. Sassafras is considered a good treatment for skin rashes, wounds, and arthritic pain.

Savory Savory has a long history in the healing arts. Savory is also a welcome addition to culinary dishes. Summer savory is considered beneficial for the digestive system. Savory relieves gas symptoms and diarrhea. Savory tea is a treatment for coughs and has mild expectorant qualities.

Saw Palmetto Saw palmetto was a main ingredient in numerous medicinal preparations around the turn of the century. Recently, the herb enjoyed renewed popularity as a great herb to help regrow hair or cure male pattern baldness. Further studies suggest that this conclusion is inaccurate. However, traditional doctors are recommending the herb as an additional prostate treatment.

Seaweed Seaweed is also commonly referred to as bladder-wrack and commonly grows along the sea shores around the New England area in the United States. A soup preparation is made from the herb to treat glandular problems.

Online Sources Garden Stacker Planter + Indoor Culinary Herb Garden Kit- Great Gift Idea- Grow Cooking Herbs- Seeds

Medicinal Herb Garden Starter Kit- Start Growing Fresh Medicine Herbs

More Online Sources Herb Reference http://www.herbreference.com/

Herb Formulas http://www.emedicinal.com/herbal-formulas.php

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Amazing Herbs A to Z: S