Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502070007
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Most of us recognize soil erosion as movement of soil particles from unprotected areas as a result of falling raindrops, irrigation or water moving down a slope. Soil erosion comes to mind when we see a gully that has developed in an open field or bank.
However, erosion also shows up when we see mud drops that have been splashed up on the siding or foundation of a house.
The bottom line for erosion control is to leave no bare soil uncovered. Mulch is commonly used in the landscape not only as a soil cover but also for its appearance. This is a good time of year to re-mulch any landscaped area, up against the house or other appropriate spots in your yard.
The city of Roanoke has free mulch available for folks to load and take at its lot at Courtland and Carver avenues behind the Pizza Hut on Orange Avenue. That mulch was made from ground up tree branches and Christmas trees. Free mulch made from tree parts and pallets also is available at the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority Transfer Station on Hollins Road. Interested folks should call the station to check on hours at 857-5050. Takers must remember to bring a tarp to cover their load in compliance with current law.
Of course, the other category of protectant for the soil is any living ground cover. An attractive lawn is in this category, as well as soft-growing ground covers and low shrubs. If your lawn has thin or bare spots, circle your calendar for late March or early April to do spring seeding.
Q: Over the summer, moths and small white worms appeared in my pantry, which is in the kitchen, in bags with rice, flour, nuts and pasta. What am I doing wrong? What can I do to prevent this from happening again? C.P., Thaxton
A: Without seeing some of the culprits you had, I can't identify them for sure. However, the most common household moth pest of flour products is the Indian Meal Moth.
It is always difficult to say exactly how a pantry pest infestation got started, but its presence indicates a lack of inspection, both to detect as well as control them. Control is best achieved by removing all infested material to the trash.
Prevention might be helped by: storing all flour products in tightly closed containers and not in the paper bags or boxes they come in; occasional vacuuming flour particles from cabinet corners; and purchasing and storing only flour type products in the package sizes that you will use quickly.
I don't have any information on the old suggestion of storing extra quantities of this type product in the freezer.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants or insects to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. We need your mail, but this column can't reply to all letters. Those of wide appeal will be answered each week. Personal replies cannot be given. Please don't send stamps, stamped envelopes, samples, or pictures.
by CNB