September 26, 2003 Exclusives
NOTE: We are sending individual exclusives to program area mailing lists on a permanent basis, because county agents favor receiving their exclusives in this matter. We also are sending the complete packet to the exclusives mailing list as an agent back up and archive.
Please do not delete this message. It is the only complete copy your office will receive of exclusives for Agricultural and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H/Youth Development.
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Tips on Home Landscape Fertilization
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
Safety Tips for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters
4-H/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
4-H Growing Into the Future
At 2003 National Congress
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Tips on Home Landscape Fertilization
Source: Richard Durham
Late fall and early winter are the best times to fertilize landscapes with mixed plantings of grass and woody plants.
But how much fertilizer should you apply?
First, take eight to 10 soil samples from several areas of the yard. Mix the samples together and take them to the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service office to be submitted for analyses to determine soil pH (soil acidity or alkalinity) and whether you need to apply other necessary nutrients including phosphorus and potassium. You will receive research-based recommendations on the fertility needs of your landscape. There is a nominal fee for a soil test.
It’s especially important to have a soil test done before you set out trees and establish lawns so you can add needed amendments prior to planting. For an existing landscape, take samples from only the upper three to four inches of soil. Remove any thatch or plant debris from the mixed sample before submitting it.
Nitrogen is the most common element applied with landscape fertilization. However, soil tests don’t give recommendations for nitrogen because it is rapidly lost through leaching or is removed during plant growth.
Deciding how much nitrogen to apply depends on the level of growth and maintenance you want. For average, healthy growth, apply two pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Apply four pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet for more lush growth, which also will require a higher level of maintenance.
It’s important to note that application recommendations are pounds of actual nitrogen, while a fertilizer bag lists the amount of nitrogen (first of the three-number analysis) as a percentage. A common lawn and garden fertilizer (10-10-10) contains 10 percent nitrogen so you would need to apply 10 pounds of fertilizer to get one pound of actual nitrogen. You would need to apply three and one-third pounds of ammonium nitrate, which is 33 percent nitrogen, to get one pound of nitrogen. Urea contains more nitrogen, 46 percent, so you would get roughly one-half pound of nitrogen for every pound of urea applied.
There are several reasons late fall through early winter is the optimum time to apply nitrogen to yards with a mixture of grass and woody plants.
Applying nitrogen to grass in the spring and summer usually promotes excessive growth that’s more susceptible to drought, disease and heat. Fertilizer applications to woody plants before they go dormant might interfere with their ability to become cold hardy. Most woody ornamentals loose leaves, indicating dormancy, by November 1. This is why November and December applications usually are best.
You can split fertilizer applications into two or three parts applied four to six weeks apart. For example, if you want to apply four pounds of actual nitrogen, make two applications each of two pounds of nitrogen, say in early November and again in early December. You also could make three one-pound nitrogen applications in early November, late November and finally in mid- to late-December.
For more information, contact your (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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Safety Tips for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters
Sources: Larry Piercy, Cheryl Wyatt and Consumer Product Safety Commission
Trick-or-treaters won’t be the only ones in disguises this Halloween. Potential hazards to children also might appear in disguises, or not be apparent.
Halloween-related injuries result from treats that have been tampered with, or that pose a choking hazard. Injuries also might involve eye abrasions from sharp accessories or objects attached to masks or costumes, and burns from flammable costumes ignited by open flames from candles and jack-o’-lanterns. Children also can be injured from running through dimly lit yards or dashing out into streets.
These safety suggestions will help ensure that Halloween ghosts and goblins won’t be haunted by unnecessary injuries.
Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined the items for evidence of tampering.
An adult also should examine any novelty items or toys received by children under three years old. Discard items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or those with small parts or components that could separate during use and cause a problem with choking.
Be sure masks have no sharp objects that could injure children. Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made from soft or flexible materials.
Select costumes and accessories (masks, wigs and beards) that are labeled “Flame Resistant.” Although these could catch fire, this labeling indicates that they will resist burning and should extinguish quickly when removed from the ignition source.
Avoid flimsy costume materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts to reduce the risk of contact with candles or other ignition sources.
To guard against trips and falls, children’s costumes should be short enough not to drag on the ground. Also, children should wear sturdy, tight-fitting shoes; wearing oversized shoes, especially high heels, isn’t a safe practice.
Be sure children’s masks fit securely, provide adequate ventilation, and have eyeholes large enough to permit full vision. Also, securely tie hats and scarves to keep them from slipping over children’s eyes and interfering with vision.
Instead of a mask, consider applying hypoallergenic cosmetics.
Make or buy costumes bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists. For better visibility at dusk or darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in a car’s headlight beam. Also, choose brightly colored treat bags or sacks, or decorate these containers with reflective tape, which usually is available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
Carrying flashlights will help children more easily see and be seen.
An adult or older, responsible child should accompany smaller children. Be sure young children finish trick-or-treating and return home before dark.
Children should only enter homes or apartments when accompanied by an adult or responsible, older child.
Go over pedestrian safety rules before children go out to trick-or-treat. Encourage children to walk on the sidewalk rather than in the street. Also, remind them to walk, not run, from house to house and not to dash into the street from between parked cars.
To protect trick-or-treaters coming to your home, do not put candlelit jack-o’-lanterns near landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Keep indoor jack-o’-lanterns, candles and other ignition sources away from curtains, decorations and other furnishings that could be ignited.
Whether for indoor or outdoor usage, only use lights tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. Discard damaged sets of lights.
Don’t overload extension cords.
For more information, contact your (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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4-H Growing Into the Future
At 2003 National Congress
Sources: Jann Burks and National 4-H Council
Kentucky youth will continue “Growing into the Future” at the 2003 National 4-H Congress Nov. 28 through Dec. 2 in Atlanta.
This flagship event of the 4-H program addresses youth needs and issues while helping 4-Hers become capable, competent and caring citizens. It emphasizes leadership, empowerment and cultural diversity through varied educational, recreational and networking activities.
The 25 Kentucky delegates are Emily Bridge and Bria-Kylene Grogan of Scott County; Jenna Brown, Tisha Davis and Rebecca Jernijcic of Warren County; Toni Brown of Carlisle County; Megan Evans and Micha Smith of Madison County; Beth Grooch of Boyle County; Sarah Horn of Daviess County; Joanna Howerton of Lincoln County; Lindsie Kinslow and Brian Lovell of Barren County.
Also, Brandy Lynch and Sara Puckett of Clark County; John Mains of Kenton County; Brittany Mayo of Ballard County; Perry Meador of Simpson County; Lorie Owen of Monroe County; Emily Reeser of Jefferson County; Heather Roby of Hancock County; Scott Rust of Campbell County; Terrie Shumate of Hardin County and Shannon Wade and Shelley Wade of Harrison County.
Community service is an important part of 4-H at the county, state and national levels. For the 4-H Centennial year in 2002, a partnership was established with Habitats for Humanity to build a house for a low-income family in the greater Atlanta area. Last year, delegates raised $6,500 to build the home’s foundation. Delegates to the 2003 and future Congresses have been asked to bring cash donations to help build the 4-H Clover House. The goal is to complete the house by 2007, when the National 4-H Congress will move to another city.
Environmental awareness is another way of “Growing Into the Future.” So alligators, marshes, rain forests, acid rain, global warming, smog and the Global Village will be part of the 2003 National 4-H Congress. The program will feature plenary sessions, seminars, discussion groups and a service learning experience. Workshop presenters and speakers will motivate as well as share the most current information on youth issues and needs.
New this year is a cultural evening to expose youth to a variety of forms of the arts. Tours of Atlanta will include Centennial Olympic Park, the World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center, the Carter presidential library and the Martin Luther King Center.
The Congress program is based on the Cooperative Extension System belief that young people can be significant partners in addressing national issues, especially those affecting youth. For each congress a team of Extension educators, 4-H youth and 4-H adult volunteers analyzes current youth issues and determines the most effective ways to address these issues. The program is developed around these methods.
For more information on Kentucky 4-H Youth Development, contact the (County Name) Cooperative Extension Service.
Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
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