No Quick Fix For
Large, Sick Trees
Dear Plant Doctor: I have a
great number of Loinbardy poplars
planted along my property line and
drive. Nearly all of these trees have
a severe leaf disease that is defoliat
ing my trees. These beautiful trees
arc nearly 40 feet tall. I have en
closed samples of the diseased
leaves for you to examine. What can
1 do save them?
Answer: The leaves you sent mc
appear to have a fungal disease. 1
suspect this is a superficial leaf
problem due in part to the hot dry
summer and in pari to the stress the
Lom barely poplai ( ropuius nigra
'lialica') surely feels growing so far
out of its optimum habitat. This
plant was brought to colonial
America in the 1780s from Italy but
will only live 20 years to 30 years
due to a cankcr disease that develops
in the upper crown of the tree. I can
not determine from your sample if
your trees arc infected with the
cankcr disease that kills Lombardy
poplars.
Unfortunately, 1 cannot give you a
quick fix solution to your disease
problem. Large trees arc nearly im
possible or impractical to treat for
disease or insect problems due to
pesticide costs and/or environmental
considerations. The best advice I can
give you is to:
1. Keep trees healthy through
proper fertilization and pruning
practices. The North Carolina Co
operative Extension Service and the
National Arborist Association have
excellent publications detailing opti
mum tree care. Contact your local
Extension office for information or
wmmmmm mmm
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
HEATHER HU.TON models
at State 4-H Congress. '
THE
PUNT
DOCTOR
C. BRUCE
WILLIAMS
Extension Area
Turf Specialist
r
send mc a SASE.
2. If your trees dies, plant a tree
species that is native or naturalized
to your site. This will not guarantee
a problem -free tree but it is the best
way to reduce future insect and dis
ease problems.
Also take time to thoroughly in
vestigate the tree species. For exam
ple, fast growing trees like your
Lombardy poplar, Silver maple or
Bradford pear often have a short life
(15 years to 25 years) due to limb
breakage, soft wood or poor limb
structure. The live oak, willow oak
or the southern magnolia are slower
growing but will look great for gen
erations to come.
3. Forget about treating large trees
with pesticides. Cost, liability and
environmental considerations arc
nearly prohibitive in most urban ar
eas of North Carolina. Effective
pruning, plant spacing and cultural
practices arc the environmentally
sound approach to tree care.
Dear Plant Doctor: I know it is
awfully hot outside to be thinking of
a greenhouse but I have always
wanted one in my backyard. My
husband will build one for mc if the
cost of materials is not too much. Do
you have any plans or other infor
mation about greenhouses?
Answer: I have built and worked
in or around greenhouses for much
of my professional life. Managing a
greenhouse is much like owning a
milk cow; you must care or check
on it nearly every day for best re
sults. New technologies have made
owning a greenhouse easier, but
these modern conveniences comc
with a price. Greenhouses arc very
useful for overwintering tropical
plants, growing orchids, and grow
ing seedlings or transplants for veg
etable and flover gardening. A
greenhouse requires intense man
agement for optimum results.
I recommend that you seriously
consider building an inexpensive,
plastic-film-covered, Quonsct-stylc
greenhouse just to sec if you like
greenhouse work. A 12-foot by 14
foot plastic film covered PVC pipe,
Quonsct-stylc greenhouse can be
easily built in an afternoon for less
than SI 50. This pricc docs not in
clude heating, ventilation or irriga
tion systems.
Dr. Boyette of N.C. State
University just published "A Small
Backyard Greenhouse for the Home
Gardener," AG-426, that quickly
and clearly takes you through all the
steps for building a small 12-foot by
14-foot greenhouse. Contact your
local Extension office or send me a
S ASE for a copy.
Send your gardening questions
and comments to The Plant Doctor,
P.O. Box 109. Bolivia. N.C. 28422.
Brunswick County 4-H'ers
Visible At State Congress
Brunswick County 4-H'crs had a
high profile at State 4-H Congress in
Raleigh July 19-23, reports Billy
Privette, 4-H extension agent.
Jennifer Hatcher, 12, won the
turkey barbecue junior division for
ages 9 to 13, and Heather Hilton
modeled a green and white semi-fit
ted suit in the Stale 4-H Fashion
Revue.
Hatcher, the daughter of James
and Dottic Hatcher of Winnabow re
ceived a S50 savings bond from the
N.C. Turkey Federation.
Hilton, 16, the daughter of Susan
Morgan of Supply and Bob Hilton
of Walnut Cove, has won fashion re
vue awards at the county level for
the past 10 years.
Other 4-Her's from the county par
ticipating in state-level presentation
competition were Casey Townscnd,
runner-up in computers; Sammy
Coles, entomology; Amy Adams,
peanut foods; Abigail Larson, bicy
cle; Phillip Hess, chicken barbecue;
Jonctta Evans, aquaculture; and
Stephanie Hopkins, dog care.
Other members of the county del
egation led by Privette were Jessica
Winfrec, Heather Branch, Heidi
Layman, Jessica Jones and Matt
Privette.
Brunswick County 4-H serves
young people between the ages of 6
and 19. More information is avail
able from the 4-H office in Bolivia,
253-4425.
IN-HOME
Therapeutic, professional massage given in the privacy of
your own home or mine, for your convenience. Please call
and make your appointment today.
(919) 754-7705
*Hr
Ct9M THE BRUNSWICK BEACON gJf*
2ND ANNUAL
OLD
BALDY
CHILDREN'S
ART
CONTEST
Open for all young
artists 15 and under
to interpret Old Baldy
Lighthouse on Bald
Head Island.
Contest Deadline
Sunday, August 22, 1993
Awards Ceremony
Saturday, Sept. 4. 1993 - 6:00 pm
at the Texas Bar-B-Q in the River
Pilot Cafe Courtyard.
Art will be displayed at the River
Pilot Cafe on Bald Head Island,
Sunday, August 29 - Saturday,
September 1 1
AGE CATEGORIES
AND PRIZES:
First, second and third prizes for
these age groups:
5 - 8 years
9-12 years
13 - 15 years
Grand Prize, Best in Show
Family week at Captain Charlie's
Station, Bald Head Island.
First Place winners in each age
category will receive a $30 gift
certificate to Beachcomber's on
Bald Head Island.
Sccond Place winners in each age
category will receive a S15 gift
certificate to Beachcomber's on
D?IJ LJ?, J
uaiu i ii.au tJiuuU.
Third Place winners in each age
category will receive an Old Baldy
Foundation T-shirt.
People's Choice winner will
receive a S25 dinner certificate to
River Pilot Cafe. (Ballots will be
collected at the Cafe by noon, Sept. 4)
All artwork must be delivered to
Indigo Plantation Sales Center or
BH1 Sales Center on Saturday,
August 21, or Sunday, August 22
by 5 p.m.
All entries must be suitable for
display. All artwork to be no more
than 24" x 30". limit is two entries
per artist. The judging panel will
consist of local artists and residents.
ENTRY FORM
(Attach to Artwork)
NAME: AGE:
ADDRESS: (Permanent)
Street Name /Number
City/State/ Zip Code
BHI ADDRESS AND PHONE AT CONTEST TIME (if applicable) DATES OF STAY
Name of House or Unit 'Phone
ARTWORK MEDIUM
TITLE OF WORK
Artwork will be returned in person, if desired, on Sunday, September 13. at Indigo Plantation Sales Center
FOR CON TEST USE ENTRY NUMBER:
prize: . ' > :
Old Baldy Foundation, Inc , and Bald Head Island Management will make every effort to handle all artwork with
ultimate care However, they are not responsible for damage due to circumstances beyond their control
Artists enter with this understanding ant' it their own risk Judges decision will be final
All winning artwork becomes the proptrty of Bald Head Island Management, Inc.
PHOTO BY MARTHA HANNON
Annuals Brighten Landscape
A profusion of vinca, impatiens and evergreen shrubbery accent the foundation of the home of Ed and
Gwen Johnson, 23 date 10, who received the Carolina Shores Garden Club August Yard of the Month
award. The plantings are complemented by a brick wall and a well-groomed lawn.
Three Study 'Ag In Classroom'
Three Brunswick County teachers
recently attended a continuing edu
cation workshop in Raleigh to learn
how they can incorporate "Ag in the
Classroom" in their schools this
coming year.
Nancy Wemyss, Ginny Pridgcn
and Bobbie Sellers each received
three hours of certificate renewal
credit for attending the workshop
sponsored by the North Carolina
Farm Bureau Federation.
"Ag in the Classroom" is a state
approved educational program de
signed to foster a greater apprecia
tion of agriculture among students.
It provides teachers with a variety of
lesson materials about agriculture
and related industries that can be
used in conjunction with the slate
mandated curriculum.
In greetings relayed to the group.
Gov. Jim Hunt reminded teachers
that agriculture is North Carolina's
"number one" industry, accounting
for one third of the state's income
and generating 21 percent of its jobs.
Participating educators visited
North Carolina Stale University hog
and dairy research farms and stop
ped at the N.C. State Arboretum to
learn more about plant life.
| | I V \ ^ ^
WEMYSS PRIDGEN SELLERS
In the workshop they rcccivcd in- plans to better share with pupils the
struction in various teaching strate- new things they were learning about
gics and designed their own lesson agriculture.
Why not send a Balloon-A-Gram? ^
BIRTHDAY BOUQUETS ? THANK YOU
GET WELL ? HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
GOURMET COFFEE & MUGS .
SINGING TELEGRAMS N
PHOTOS TAKEN _L
Clown available for JJOUQUCI^
kids ' parties! o /I O 1CCH
\ 7 DAYS A WEEK wOO I
"THEY FLOAT A LONG TIME"
aramr
f
Cangxatuiatiam,
Crystal Coleman
1993 Miss North Carolina Coed Hostess
You* re on your way to Hawaii!
Crystal Coleman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Coleman of
Calabash, is Miss N.C. Coed Hostess 1993. This is her second year
holding the title. Crystal will represent North Carolina at the national
pageant in Hawaii Aug. 25-Sept. 1.
We would like to thank the principal, teachers and all her friends at
Shallotte Middle for their understanding and support. She will be a
freshman at West Brunswick High School and is looking forward to the
challenge of going there. We all are very proud of her and hope she does
well in years to come.
Good luck from The Calabash Seafood Hut!
We know you can do it!
C1 993 THE BRUMSWtCK BEACON