ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512180015
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Dear John
SOURCE: JOHN ARBOGAST
Weather permitting, this time of year is ideal for observing your lawn and landscape to discover spots of soil erosion that should be corrected with spring projects.
Soil erosion, which can show up as mud dots splashed on walls or foundation, or obvious gullies where the soil has moved away, is just as much a problem today as it was for farmers concerned about water qualify in the '30s.
Erosion can be controlled by using plants to reduce the amount and speed of runoff. Ground covers are one of the best erosion controls. They include any plant material that covers the ground surface so that the soil cannot be seen from above and rain does not directly hit the ground. Turfgrass is one important type of ground cover, but many other low-growing, mostly nonwoody plants work well. These other plants, once established, require less irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides and other routine maintenance than turf.
Other readily available remedies for controlling runoff and erosion from the landscape include trees, shrubs and mulches.
Q: My azalea bushes have turned a bronze color. What treatment will correct this problem and what precautions should I take to avoid this happening next year? P.T., Roanoke
A: Timing is one important factor in diagnosing this. If the bronzing of your azalea foliage occurred as the weather changed in the fall, it's just a seasonal change and nothing to worry about. Also, certain azalea varieties are more prone than others to fall bronzing accompanied by the return to green in the spring. No special treatments are needed other than normal azalea care, including watering when needed, mulching over their shallow roots, and maintenance of both acidic soil and mid- and late-day shade.
However, if your azaleas turned bronze during the growing season, this could be an indicator of some adverse growing condition. In that case, if the ``stress'' does not appear obvious to you, take a sample from an affected azalea to your local Extension Office.
Send short questions about your lawn, garden, plants or insects to Dear John, c/o the Roanoke Times, 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
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB