Start Your Battle With Summer Weeds Now
February 19, 2011
Weeds are problematic in most landscapes. Even if you do everything right, a weed is going to pop up occasionally in the lawn. Although most of our lawns are still dormant, it’s time to decide if you need to apply a pre-emergence herbicide (weed preventer).
Weeds can be less of a problem if you maintain a healthy lawn through proper cultural practices. Watering correctly, using appropriate fertilizers and maintaining a high mowing height will ensure your lawn is at its peak and can compete with the weeds.
However, if year after year you have an abundance of weeds during the summer, a pre-emergence herbicide may help you in the battle against weeds.
Pre-emergence herbicides are applied before weed seeds germinate. Therefore, it’s critical that these chemicals be applied at the proper time.
In Northwest Florida, timing of a pre-emergence herbicide application for summer annual weeds, such as crabgrass, should be between February 15 and March 5 or when day temperatures reach 65 to 70 degrees F for four to five consecutive days. This generally coincides with the blooming of azaleas and dogwoods.
Some pre-emergence herbicides to look for include:
- dithiopyr (Dimension)
- isoxaben (Fertilome Broadleaf Weed Control with Gallery)
- pendimethalin (Lesco PRE-M or Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer)
- benefin (Hi-Yield Crabgrass Control)
Be sure to apply any product according to the label directions. Even, consistent coverage is essential with pre-emergence herbicides. Any gaps in coverage will allow weeds to emerge.
Once applied, be sure to water-in the product. Do not apply before a rain event. It’s hard to know how much rain will fall at any one time. Too much rain can send your weed killer down the storm drain.
Pre-emergence herbicides are generally effective in controlling weeds from six to twelve weeks following application. Most will begin to degrade when exposed to the environment. Therefore, to obtain season-long control, an additional application should follow six to nine weeks after the initial one.
It is possible to use too much pre-emergence herbicide. Some pre-emergence herbicides have a root-stunting effect on established turf and can thus be detrimental to the health of your lawn if applied at too high of a rate or applied too many times during a season. It is best to time applications when they will be most effective, and to further prevent weeds by maintaining a dense, healthy stand of turf.
It is difficult to find a good time to apply “weed-n-feed” products. Weed control using pre-emergence products should be applied from mid-February to early March. Fertilization should wait until your lawn if fully out of dormancy and actively growing. In our area, that is sometime in April.
When nitrogen-containing fertilizer is applied too early to warm-season grass, it may stimulate the lawn to grow much too soon. If we have a couple of weeks of warm weather followed by a late frost, damage can occur to over stimulated lawns. My recommendation would be to apply your pre-emergence herbicide separately from your nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
If weeds have been a major problem in your landscape consider using pre-emergence herbicides. If applied at the proper rate and at the proper time, the benefits can be tremendous.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
EMWS Drama Students Awarded At State
February 18, 2011
Three Ernest Ward Middle School Drama Department students performed at the Florida State Junior Thespian Festival in Melbourne last week.
Katelyn Born, Megan Bryan and Morgan Packer each received an “Excellence” rating and a medal at the competition with about 120 schools and almost 2,000 in attendance.
“It is quite an accomplishment to place at state, so we are extremely proud of these girls,” said Katie Ward, Ernest Ward drama instructor.
Pictured: Ernest Ward Middle School drama students (L-R) Megan Bryan, Morgan Parker and Katelyn Born. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FBLA Celebrates: Fast Typists And Wacky Photos
February 18, 2011
Northview High School’s FBLA celebrated National FBLA week with several contests, including creating a wacky photo of their teacher.
The winner of the Fastest Typist Contest was Jacob Morris with 91 net words a minute.
The winner of the Wackiest Photo Contest was Ashley Mooney. In the photo contest, students were instructed to digitally enhance a photo of teacher Donna Smith for success (or not).
Mooney and Morris were presented with a teddy bear and certificate for their efforts by FBLA President Elizabeth Wright.
For more “Wackiest Photo Contest” entries, click here.
Pictured top: Ashley Mooney and Jacob Morris are awarded for winning National FBLA Week contests at Northview High School by FBLA President Elizabeth Wright. Pictured inset: Mooney’s digitally enhanced “wacky” photo of teacher Donna Smith. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Order Boston Butts From The Tri-City Rotary Club
February 17, 2011
The Tri-City Rotary Club is taking orders now for Boston butts.
The six-pound average butts are $25 each, ready to eat or freeze. Orders are due March 1, with pick up on Friday, March 11 from 2-4 p.m. at the Escambia County Bank in Flomaton. Five or more butts will be delivered locally for free.
Orders should be placed by March 1 by calling Bo Brantley at (251) 236-1100, Robert Lasher at (251) 363-7100 or Bill Cox at (251) 296-5356. Or click here for a printable order form to fax.
The Tri-City Rotary Club serves Century, Flomaton, Jay and surrounding areas with community projects such as scholarships for high schools seniors and helping the needy.
Bratt Students Awarded In PTA Reflections Art Program
February 17, 2011
Five Bratt Elementary School students were awarded during the annual PTA Reflections Art Program recently in Pensacola.
Winners were: Madison Peterson, second place musical composition; Savannah Doremus, second place dance choreography; Amber Gilman, first place photography; Gracen Brooke, second place photography; and Landon Chavers, second place photography. Each received a medal and certificate presented by Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas.
Pictured top: Bratt Elementary students receive their PTA Reflections Art Program awards from y Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Pictured below: (L-R) Madison Peterson, Savannah Doremus,Amber Gilman, and Gracen Brooke. Not pictured: Landon Chavers. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview FBLA Students Place At Districts
February 16, 2011
Several members of Northview High School’s Future Business Leaders of America placed at the FBLA District 1 Leadership Conference at the University of West Florida recently.
NHS students taking part included:
Business Calculations
Taylor Dukes , 6th
Erin Fremin , 3rd
Derrick Portis, 5th
Business Communication
Taylor Byrd , 3rd
Hannah Hinton , 5th
Business Mathematics
Victoria Wright , 5th
Health Care Administration
Alissa Fiellin , 1st
Casey Godwin , 2nd
Intro to Business Communications
Kasie Braun , 1st
Deidre Steele , 4th
Job Interview
Jessica Imholte , 2nd
Public Speaking II
Elizabeth Wright , 2nd
Technology Concepts
Darwin Robinson , 3rd
Web Design Team 1
Brandon King , 1st
Joshua King , 1st
Jacob Morris , 1st
Winners first to fourth place (first place for performance events) are eligible to attend the FBLA State Leadership Conference in Orlando April 25-28.
EREC Sends Area Juniors On Tallahassee Youth Tour
February 15, 2011
Fourteen high school juniors were guests of Escambia River Electric Cooperative last week in Tallahassee as they learned more about their state legislature and electric cooperatives.
Participants included Ashley Brazwell, Crystal Davis, Myranda Jernigan, and Taylor Mitchell from Central High School; Crystal Brown, Cody English, Caristyn Golden, Sawyer Hudson, Meredith Owens, and Sara Stokes from Jay High School; and Taylor Byrd, Holly Dickson, Nolan Taylor, and Elizabeth Wright from Northview High School.
While in Tallahassee, the students met with nearly 100 other high school juniors from electric cooperatives throughout the state of Florida. EREC delegates enjoyed visiting the Challenger Museum and viewing the IMAX movie, Hubble (3D). Youth Tour participants observed court in session in the Florida Supreme Court and participated in a mock session in the senate chambers where various members of the Legislature addressed the group.
The Youth Tour program provided students an opportunity to learn more about their state government and electric cooperatives and also gives them a chance to interact
with other students from co-ops throughout the state.
“It was a great educational experience and a lot of fun for the entire group,” according to Sabrina Owens, EREC’s marketing director.
Pictured top: 2011 EREC Youth Tour delegates with Florida State Representative Doug Broxson. Left to right: Ashley Brazwell, Taylor Mitchell, Sawyer Hudson, Elizabeth Wright, Cody English, Taylor Byrd, Holly Dickson, Rep. Broxson, Nolan Taylor, Crystal Davis, Sara Stokes, Myranda Jernigan, Crystal Brown, Caristyn Golden, and Meredith Owens. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center: Be My Valentine
February 15, 2011
Residents at Century Care Center celebrated Valentine’s Day with a lot of good fellowship Monday afternoon.
Sweethearts were Evelyn Bates, Alene Burch, Hattie Floyd, Ada Inman, Ruby Leach, Essie Johnson, Dora Rolin, Betty Roney, Dorothy Roper, Ruth Steele, Thomas Barrow, David Comalander, Larry Gregory, George Lockett and W.E. Welch.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Camp Fire Kids Create Valentine’s Cards For Vets (With Gallery)
February 14, 2011
The students at the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center shared their Valentine’s love with local veterans by making cards to express their honor and appreciation. Nationally, Camp Fire USA children and youth have made Valentine’s cards for veterans each year since 1978.
For more photos from the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Learning Center, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Little Miss Relay Pageant To Be Held
February 13, 2011
The Jay Hospital Relay for Life Team is sponsoring a “Little Miss Relay” Pageant to be held March 5.
It will be held at the Jay High School Auditorium. Pageant Attire or Sunday Dress is expected, but the pageant is not based on dress. Age divisions are 0 to 23 months, 2 to 3 years of age, 4 to 5 years, 6 to 7 years, 8 to 9 years and 10 to 12 years of age.
There will be six Division Queens, a Miss Photogenic Award, and a People’s Choice Award. All contestants will receive a gift. Pageant begins at 2 p.m. Door admission is $4 for everyone except contestant and children under five. The People’s Choice Drawing is $1 per entry. The early bird entry fee is $25, and registrations by be completed by February 15. Regular entry fee is $30. The Miss Photogenic entry fee is $10.
For entries or information, contact Ricky Sanders at (850) 675-8208 or ricky.sanders@bhcpns.org.