FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15,2008/News-Leader


HOMES


Analyze soil's pH before


Q. Does adding manure lower
 .or raise soil pH? GM
A. Remember, soil pH indi-
 .cates the acidity (below 7)
or the alkalinity (above 7) of the
soil. This is an important factor
in the absorption of elements
such as iron.
 As a general rule, animal
manures raise soil pH because
they often contain calcium and
magnesium. In addition, amend-
ing soils with manures helps
improve soil nutrients and tex-
ture. It is possible to add too
much organic matter so be cau-
tious when amending soils. If too
much manure is added, the roots
can be "burned" and absorption
of water and nutrients will be
diminished or cease.


 Organic
 matter is a
 wonderful
 soil amnend-
 ment for
 perennials
 |-' It would be
 advisable to
 have a com-
v4 ti plete soil
 Becky analysis if a
 Jordi new garden
 is being
 established.
 GARDEN Extension
 TALK( offices have
 soil test kits
to analyze phosphorus (P), potas-
sium (K) and magnesium (Mg).
This. test also provides nitrogen


 and lime recommendations.
 The University of Florida
 charges $7 per test a bargain
 for the information it provides.
 Contact your local extension
, office for more information. Ca
 Yulee at 548-1116 or Callahan a
 879-1019.
 I have been trying to prof
 agate my peace lily by cut
 ting pieces and trying to root
 them in water, but nothing has
 worked. Do you have any ideas
 SC
 A .The peace lily,
 : Spathiphyllum wallisii, is
 very attractive houseplant for
 Northeast Florida. It can be
 grown outside in protected are,
 but it is better suited for Centra
 and South Florida (zones 10-11


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adding animal manure
 Remember, Nassau County
 shares two cold hardiness zones
 8b for the West Side and 9a for
 the East Side. It is generally
 thought 1-95 divides the county .
Ill into the aforementioned zones.
t The reason you are having
 difficulty propagating this plant
p- is it can be reproduced only by
t- dividing its rhizomes. Rhizomes
 are specialized underground The peace 1
 stems that grow just below the Spathiphyll
o? surface of the soil. These special- can be grove
 ized stems are found on such in protected
 plants as iris and canna. Division FILE PHOTO
a of rhizomes should occur at the
 beginning or the end of the Some animal is gnawing on a professional pesti
 growing season. the trunk of my citrus They can inspect th
as When would be a good trees. What could it be? MI signs of the rats an
al time for me to prune my A From your description, my the best course of
). Confederate rose? LC A :first guess would be to sus- Metal guards ca

 A.We would suggest you pect a rat. Literally, a roof rat around the base of
 prune hibiscus trees and called Rattus rattus. discourage the gna
 perennial plants when the threat I krow that is a scary climbing into the tr
 of frost is over, thought, but we have many more and predatory bird
 When is the threat over? Well, of these rodents than most of us rat hunters so be cn
 that is debatable so I am going to would like to admit. They come these creatures alo
 be vague. The threat of frost out at night (nocturnal) and eat help keep rat popuh
 should be over sometime fruit remaining on trees. check.
 between the middle of March Actually, they are omnivores, Rebecca Jordi, U
 and the first week in April. which means they eat insects, Nassau County Hor
 Shrubs such as azaleas are the lizards as well as plants, but fruit Extension Agent, is
 exception to that rule as they is their favorite food. Florida faculty mem
 should be pruned directly after Roof rats are very destructive locations are the sa
 flowering is over. and can gnaw through wire, the County Building
 The Confederate rose, pipes, walls, etc. Poisoning them the main Extension
 Hibiscus mutabili, or Dixie rose can be dangerous to other ani- Callahan. The UF/
 responds best to minimal mals we desire to keep such as County Demonstrat
 amounts of pruning. It requires our family pets. located at the Nassc
 very little care and adapts to Traps could be set at night Governmental Corn
 most soil and light conditions. when birds and other creatures demonstrates best m
 These plants demonstrate insect are not active to avoid capturing practices for Northe
 and disease problems associated beneficial animals. Mail questions to G
 with high nitrogen applications However, some of our furry c/o Rebecca Jordi, 1
 and too much water. Ideally, they friends (cats) are active at night Extension, 543350
 should be planted alone where and might be too curious to avoid Callahan, FL 3201
 they will receive adequate light the trap. If these options seem rljordi@ufl.edu. Vis
 and air circulation. unacceptable, consider talking to at http://nassau.ifa


P,0wo Garden workshop
99 James Loper, owner of
set Reflections of Nature Garden
$899 Center, 850688 US 17 South in
1059 Yulee, will host a free workshop
1499 on design tips for creating curb
 appeal for your landscape on
 Feb. 16 from 10-11:30 a.m. All are
 welcome, whether you are trying
 to sell your home or just want to
 be the envy of the neighborhood.
 For information call 225-9915.
 \ tP ;* \-\ -.*, :


OFF 6JWindw retmnt i Fbrar


ily,
um wallisii,
-n outside
d areas.

icide company.
be area for
d determine
action.
an be placed
the tree to
wing and
ree. Snakes
s are excellent
areful to leave
ne as they
lations in
T/IFAS
rticultural
a University of
nber Extension
tellite office at
g in Yulee and
Office in
IFAS Nassau
ion Garden is
au County
nplex and
management
east Florida.
;arden Talk,
Nassau County,
US 1,
1, or e-mail
it the website
's.uft.edu.


HOME AND GARDEN BRIEFS


Zooclass
 The Jacksonville Zoo and
Gardens' next gardening class,
"Herbs for Gardening and Fun,"
is scheduled for March 1 from
9:30-11 a.m. at the PepsiCo
Education Foundation Campus.
Guest speaker Linda
Cunningham, member of multi-
ple herb organizations, master
gardener, and owner of Cun- ,
ning-ham's Floral Designs, will
speak on why herbs are a great i
addition to,the garden and
how to utilize them in everyday
life.
 The cost is $15 for zoo mem-
bers and $20 for non-members.
Pre-registration is required, and
seating is limited. Visit www.jack-
sonvillezoo.org.
Home tour
 The Amelia Island Home and
Garden Tour benefiting Micah's
Place takes place from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. March 11 and 12.
 Tickets for the intimate tour
of four private homes never
before opened to the public are
$35 and may be purchased on
the days of the tour on the porch
of March Burette at the Spa and
Shops at Amelia Island
Plantation.
 Advance tickets are $30 at
Alexander's, At Home Amelia,
Front and Centre, First Coast
Community Bank, the Golf Club
of Amelia Island, The Ocean
Club and Resort to Home (Spa
and Shops).
 Purchase tickets by mail
until March 12. Make checks
payable to Micah's Place, P.O.
Box 16196 Fernandina Beach, FL
32035.
 Lunch tickets at PLAE may be
purchased for $15. Call 491-6364.
No handicap access, strollers or
high heels. Many stairs are
involved.


Farmers'market
 The Fernandina Farmers
Market, open every Saturday
from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., features farm
fresh produce, pickled seasonal
vegetables, freshly baked breads
and pastries, jellies, relishes and
marinades, desserts as well as a
wide selection of plants including
orchids and other tropicals, suc-
culents, herbs and garden flow-
ers and shrubs. The market is
located downtown at Seventh and
Centre streets.
 For more information call 491-
4872 or visit www.fernandina
farmersmarket.com.
St Marys market
 The St Marys Community
Market is open Saturdays from 9
a.m.-2 p.m. at 206 Osborne St.,
St. Marys, Ga. For information
visit www.smcmarket.com.

Garden 'spotlight'
 The UF/IFAS Nassau County
Extension Service's "Spotlight on
Nassau Gardens" is a monthly
recognition program featuring
gardens and plant specimen
grown by Nassau County resi-
dents.
 To be considered, residents
should send a digital photo, with
a description of their "Spotlight,"
along with their name, address
and phone number to bwalk-
erl05@bellsouth.net.
 A Nassau County Master
Gardener will interview the final-
ists concerning plant care prac-
tices. Winners must agree to a
photo with their garden/garden
feature and will receive a
"Spotlight on Nassau Gardens"
certificate. For more informa-
tion, contact Rebecca Jordi at
548-1116, or visit http://nassau.
ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/spot-
light.html.


 Fernandina


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