
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 20, 1995                   TAG: 9504200061
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Joseph R. Hunnings
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BEFRIENDING THE PLANT WORLD MAKES EVERY DAY EARTH DAY

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the observance of Earth Day. For me, Earth Day should remind each of us to evaluate our personal impacts on the planet and to strive to find positive ways to improve the environment.

Horticulture offers many ways to make a positive impact. Try some of these:

Take Part in the Blacksburg Parks and Recreation Arboretum tree planting celebration at Nellies Cave Park Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Bring your shovel, and plant a tree. Call Dean Crane at 961-1133 for more information.

Help clean up the New River Valley by participating in area cleanup days Saturday,: In Montgomery (Broomin & Bloomin) call 382-5793; in Radford (Cleanin 'n' Greenin) call 633-0081; in Floyd (Green & Clean) call 745-9371) in Giles (Cleanup Day) call 921-1949.

Learn how to compost your yard waste and kitchen food scraps. Visit one of the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension backyard composting displays at the Blacksburg Community Center or at Virginia Tech's Horticulture Gardens.

Organize or participate in an Arbor Day tree-planting celebration at a local school.

Share the excitement of vegetable gardening with a child. Many vegetables can be container grown for people with limited space and tools.

Recycle kitchen containers for seed-starting trays. Examples include milk and ice cream cartons, Styrofoam egg cartons, frozen food aluminum trays and cottage cheese containers.

Learn how and when to prune trees and shrubs properly. Call the local Extension office for pruning publications.

Stop bagging and disposing of grass clippings. Clippings are a valuable resource and, left in place, contribute to a healthy lawn.

Reduce your use of pesticides in your landscape and gardens by learning about and using integrated pest management techniques such as crop rotation, soil management and plant selection.

Wait for signs of stress (grass color change and lasting footprints on turf) before watering lawns. When water is needed, irrigate deeply and infrequently.

When selecting new plant material for your landscape, consider the plant's susceptibility to insects and diseases and the amount of yard waste the plant contributes.

Test soil to determine fertilizer needs. Improper fertilization can leave the plants weak, and over-fertilization can create water pollution problems.

by CNB