Successful roach control depends on a combination of methods and tools. Prevention and sanitation are the foundation of the effort as its way easier to prevent roaches than to get rid of them once they have become established. Next we will discuss baits, dusts and sprays. You might consider calling a professional to perform the dirty work. They have the gear and know-how to do a methodical job and have access to chemicals unavailable to homeowners.

Roach management begins with prevention and sanitation. Prevention just means barring roaches from your home. Keeping window screens repaired and the doors and windows shut will make prevention easier, but the majority of the time roaches catch a ride into the home in bags or boxes. So inspect everything and anything before it comes in your house. Any sign of roaches or roach eggs, or brown liquid stains is a red flag.

The next step is sanitation. Thoroughly vacuum everything. cleaning every surface with hot soapy water will destroy the pheromone (scent) that roaches find attractive. Then eliminate the roach necessities, that is, food water and shelter. If you can do this phase well, roaches will find it very difficult to get established. After all would you want to live where there was very little in the way of food, water or shelter?

West January

Protect Trees from Rodents, Sun Injury

Sunscald is an injury prevalent in the prairie sections of the country. It appears as dead sunken areas of bark on the trunks of trees particularly on the south and southwest sides. Exposed trunks of fruit trees, especially apple and pear, and some ornamental trees such as the mountain ash, suffer from this condition. Apparently the injury occurs in late winter. Day temperatures above the freezing point followed by below-freezing nights cause damage to the wood on the exposed side of the tree. Most damage occurs on the southwest side of the trunk.

This kind of damage can be lessened if young trees are trained so they branch low to the ground. Growing mountain ash in a clump form instead of to a single trunk aids in lessening sunscald injury. Growing shrubs near the base of susceptible trees assists in protecting tender bark. Painting trunks with white paint is another “old timers” method followed.

The best pest management and pest control method and the single most effective way to battle parasites and pests is proper education and good knowledge. When this is established in each community, each house and each individual, then there is no parasite which can escape their terrible destiny. Armed with correct thoughts, an individual can then formulate various, however also effective programs to eliminate from the parasites and vermin.

Preferred programs usually consist of various mechanical, biological and natural means of control. The usual course of action is the following: A level of action is determined in an area. The amount of damage to both the pests and other living things present in the area are assessed and they vary from place to place, taking into consideration the environmental issues and well-being of the people living near or within the area.

Pests present in the area are monitored and identified. Once the level of action is established, the kind and species of animal or animals to be eradicated are evaluated. The colonies and sources of infestation can also be found out through this monitoring action. Traps are set up and regular inspections are done.

Rose planting can be started in the southern part of the south during the last half of the month. If you have not ordered you should do so soon, as newer varieties are usually in scarce quantity by now. The old favorites, however, should be in good supply. Do not be afraid to try the new varieties and the All”America selection for the current year.

Birds: This month is usually very hard on birds in the garden. Provide a place for water and see that it is kept filled every day. Also, provide some food in the form of small grains. Put these items near a window and let the children enjoy “bird- watching.”

Pruning and spraying: There are always enough mild days in January to do remedial and heavy pruning. Be sure to prune for a purpose, not just for the sake of exercise! Prune to remove dead or diseased wood, or to correct the pattern of growth. Cuts over one inch in diameter should be painted with a waterproof paint to prevent decay or entrance of insect pests.

When buying a rose bush, you may have sometimes thought that the price was pretty high. But suppose YOU were producing them. What would you want for a plant that had gone through these various stages of development and growth?

So join me for some armchair day dreaming. Let’s indulge in some flights of fancy; just suppose that YOU decide to become a rose grower.

You will find rose bushes produced over a wide area: Arizona, California, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas, to name some of the leading areas in alphabetical order.

While operations will vary some, here is about what you could expect if you followed your day dreams and became a rose grower.

You will first need substantial acreage of some desirable ground. Deep sandy loam would do, and just in case nature forgets you, it is desirable to have some way of irrigating your crop if necessary.