Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 2, 1995 TAG: 9504040068
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Trees are extremely beneficial to our environment, be it urban, suburban, or rural.
In addition to beautifying our homes, streets and businesses, trees clean our air by reducing certain pollutants and providing oxygen. They lower our energy bills through their cooling shade in the summer and their insulating warmth and wind reduction in the winter.
Trees also provide shelter for birds and other wildlife, help prevent erosion that can dump soil particles into streams and rivers and reduce stress in the work place and hasten recovery of hospital patients.
Three cautions for those who want to plant trees for summer shade and lower cooling bills:
Know where sanitary drain lines are and don't plant anywhere near them.
Avoid potential future damage to the foundation of your home by planting at least the distance away from the house equal to half the mature width of the tree.
Don't plant trees over underground utilities or under utility lines.
Q: I have a problem with growing tomatoes that are sour. They're even sour when canned. All varieties seem to have the same sour taste, not sweet like we had years ago. Is there something that we need to do to the soil to improve the taste? C.V., Floyd
A: This situation indicates some adverse growing conditions, which we would call stress, on the tomato plants during the growing season, particularly while the tomatoes are flowering and producing. The stress could be caused by moisture conditions, either too much or extreme drought, soil nutrient level, soil acidity, or some other environmental factor that is not to the tomatoes' liking.
Before the tomato growing season, have a soil test done. Work in a 2-inch layer of shredded organic matter in the garden. Also, try to recall any adverse condition(s) that might affect your plants this season and think about what if anything you can do to correct them.
Q: What causes blossom end rot in tomatoes? Roanoke
A: Blossom-end rot is caused by an insufficient amount of calcium in the developing tomatoes. That may result from a lack of calcium in the soil, or it could happen if any adverse condition prevents the calcium from reaching the fruits.
Find out if there is ample calcium in your garden soil by taking a soil test now.
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.
Extension programs available to groups
Adult and youth groups in the Roanoke Valley that would like a consumer horticulture educational program for your meeting or small-group session are invited to contact Extension Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau through the Roanoke Extension Office at 389-6458. Requests should be made at least five weeks before the program date.
by CNB