Trimming/Shearing and Crabgrass

Shearing

While the season for trimming and shearing is not yet in full swing, it is a terrific time to get  jump on it. First of all it is not to hot out and second and more importantly you can shear the plants tight and comb them out to get them in the shape you want with out a lot of browning and scaring. While doing this I also like to reach into the plants and an make pocket and or knuckle cuts. This allows for more air and light to get into the center of the plant and also will help reduce the size if you like. This procedure works very well with Yews. Most people do not do this step when shearing, and then after a few years wonder why the plants are getting bigger then they would like. You need to make knuckle cuts every year.

Crab Grass

Crab Grass has germinated. We split our application of Step 1, so we just got down the second on early last week. So I am seeing a bit of germination along some edges of the turf that we had over seeded. If you are a home owner, I would look and try a Ortho product to spray it. I always have success with Ortho. At the campus we use Drive75d, I m also hearing that Gordon's has come up with a material to spray everything all at once, Broad  leaf weeds, crab grass and yellow nuts edge. I'll have to try it and let you know how it works.

Plant of the Post

Hostas make a wonder ful filler plant as well as using it in mass. There re several varieties with different leaf colors and sizes. We have been using and splitting more on campus for plant bed fillers. We have Blue, Patriot, and a large leaf that I can not remember its name.

News/Politics

We finally know all the candidates for state wide office and for local seats.  The D.A.s race will generate the most interest round here. It should be an interesting summer.
Pray that what ever B.P. is going to try next to stop the oil works.

Fineto
My uncle Tony, Antonio was 10 years older then my father. He as sent back to Italy when he was 10 years old. For what reason I do not know. One story is that my fathers family had to many mouths to feed. Another is my grandmother wanted him to learn his craft there. Another is that my grandfather was a illegal immigrant so Antonio was sent back. Either way he lived in Italy and came back when he was drafted into WW2. And he did learn his craft when he was there and owned Pags Famous Barber Shop in the South End of Springfield. When I was kid he was often called Little Tony from Italy. He was not  very big man and looked even shorter in a picture I saw of him on the beach of Omaha in the war. He married Kathleen Farrell. My Father was his best man My mother the maid of honor for Kathleen. And that's how my parents met. That's how I became the Italrish Kid.
Well that's all for today, Good luck and keep cultivating that dirt.

                             Eddie Pags
P.S. Thanks for that time in New England Barry Manilow