By: Monte Leeper
Q. Having recently met you, I told you that I never knew it was you who wrote the column I love to read each week. The newspaper should run a bigger
picture of you and have your name at the top of the column instead of hidden
in the bottom corner, so small one has to squint to read it. Why do they do
that?
A. My understanding is that unlike doctors, accountants and lawyers, the architects would not advertise if my picture were bigger, and so they hide me as much as possible. I have also been told that I look different than my
picture and ought to have a new one. My column is also excluded from entry
in any award categories, and even though I love writing this column, it seems
the paper doesn't really think of me as a journalist. Oh well. Thank you
for your comments. I will pass them along to my editor, who will probably
not print this anyway.
[BEGIN BOLD]Editor's note:[END BOLD] Fooled ya, eh, Monte? We'll talk later.
Q. I am wondering how to solve a problem with my landscape that comes back every year. I am trying to get rid of ground ivy that is everywhere on my
back yard. I cut it, spray it, mow it, and every year, it returns. I looked
up the type and I think it is called "Creeping Charlie." I am having no
success. Can you help me?
A. When you have ground covered by ivy, it is because there is no other
ground cover there. According to Frank Rossi, turf-grass specialist at
Cornell University Extension in New York, if you maintain a good, healthy
lawn, you can limit the attack of ground ivy.
First, however, you must remove the ivy. Start by mowing as close to the
ground as possible. Be careful around tree roots, of course. Then pull out
and rake the ivy runners and clippings completely. Turn over the ground in
that area lightly, to about two inches deep, and rake again, removing the
small roots of the ivy that were otherwise not visible.
At this point, plant grass seed and water properly. The grass will develop a fullness that will crowd out the ivy, especially if the grass is kept mowed at about 3 inches high.
You can also eliminate the ivy by using a herbicide first. If you do apply a herbicide, use one that shows 2, 4-D on the label. This will produce a 100 percent rate of control when applied in the spring, if the plant is in full
Bloom, or immediately after the first fall frost.
