Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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T he United States Environmental Protection Agency notes that food scraps and yard waste account for between 20 and 30 percent of what we throw away. But thanks to composting, such waste can be put to work rather than dis- carded. Compost is organic mate- rial that helps plants grow when added to soil. Benefi t- ting the planet in myriad ways, compost en- riches the soil by helping it retain moisture. The EPA notes that compost- ing also reduc- es the need for chemical fertil- izers while also s u p p r e s s i n g plant diseases and pests. In addition, when h o m e o w n e r s compost, they i n a d ve r t e n t l y reduce meth- ane emissions from landfi lls, thereby lower- ing their carbon footprints. H o m e o w n - ers who do not know how to compost can consider the following tips as they start compost piles on their proper- ties. • Choose an accessible spot on your prop- erty. When looking for a spot on your prop- erty for your compost bin, choose a location that's easily accessible. The less accessible the bin is, the less likely you are to stick with composting over the long-term. The EPA also recommends placing a compost bin or pile in a dry, shady spot near a water source. • Add the appropriate materials. Animal waste, cooked foods, diseased plants, and fresh weeds from perennial plants should not be added to a compost pile. The EPA recommends moistening dry materials as they're added and adding brown and green materials as they are collected. Examples of green waste include grass clippings, weeds from annual plants and plant trimmings. Brown materials include dead leaves and shredded cardboard. Chop or shred large pieces before adding them to the pile. • Give the pile structure. Layering materi- als can give compost piles better structure. The EPA suggests burying fruit and veg- etable waste under 10 inches of compost material, including brown and green waste. • Turn and aerate the pile. Using a garden fork, periodically turn the compost pile. This aerates the heap and provides oxygen that can accelerate the decomposition of the pile. Piles that are not periodically turned and aerated may grow malodorous, which can be unpleasant for homeowners who hope to add materials to their piles on a regular basis. In addition, without the heat produced by aeration, composting piles will break down very slowly. • Recognize when the material is ready. The EPA notes that compost is ready to use when materials at the bottom of a pile are dark and rich in color. According to the EPA, this can take anywhere from two months to two years, so composters must be patient. More information about composting can be found at www.epa.gov. Page 16 - shelby shopper & info - 704/484-1047 www.shelbyinfo.com Thursday, April 20-April 26, 2017 A beautiful lawn is a goal for many homeowners. Some homeowners may fi nd that lovely lawns may last momentarily, only to disappear when dam- age — be it pest-, weather- or child-related — sets in. While well-established turf can be resilient, even the most well-maintained lawns can be vulnerable. Preventing lawn damage fi rst in- volves getting to the root of the problem. • Lack of sunlight: All plants need the proper ratio of sunlight to grow. Too much sunlight and plant blades can scorch. Too little sun- light and grass may turn brown and die. Al- though there are shade-tolerant varieties of grass, homeowners also can explore alter- native landscapes. Work in a garden bed or create a design that utilizes gravel or mulch. Avoid aggressively pruning back trees to give the lawn more sunlight in that area, as this may just damage the trees. • Chemical spills: Gasoline and fertilizer spills and pesticide applications in high con- centrations can cause the lawn to yellow or brown in spots. Carefully refi ll lawn gas tanks and fertilizer spreaders on the sidewalk or driveway to avoid overfl ow onto the lawn. If spills occur, fl ood the area promptly with wa- ter to dilute. • Foot traffi c: Lawns can take a pounding from foot traffi c, leading to compaction and spots of dead lawn. Try to redirect the traffi c elsewhere to give worn down areas a break. Aeration can relieve soil compaction. If a cer- tain area has become the de facto pathway, install a paver, gravel or concrete walkway in that spot. • Debris: Leaving a tool, kids' toys, piece of wood, or any debris on the lawn can quickly suffocate the grass beneath and cause the lawn to die quickly. Make sure that no items are left on the lawn for an extended period of time. • Mowing patterns: Running the mower in the same pattern over and over can cause ruts in the grass that lead to damage, so avoid mowing in the same direction on con- secutive cuts. Avoid mowing on very hot days or when the lawn is soggy. Both can cause tracks to form in the lawn. • Mowers: Dull lawn mower blades can dam- age lawns, as can mowing too fast. Grass blades can be torn, snapped and more, re- sulting in brown spots. • Wildlife: Animals and insects can destroy turf roots. Animals or insects may feed on the grass from underneath its surface, compro- mising the lawn's ability to procure nutrients and water. Animals like moles or raccoons may feed on grubs in the lawn, and treating for grubs can alleviate torn-up turf. Lawns can be hearty, but they're also high- ly susceptible to damage. Even seemingly harmless things can compromise the integ- rity of a lawn. Understanding the causes of lawn damage can help homeowners protect their lawns. Specializing In: • Landscaping Supplies • Mulch • Trees • Bushes • Railroad Ties • Firewood Todd Blanton Owner 835 College Ave. • Shelby, NC 1836 Shelby Rd. • Kings Mountain, NC 704-487-7720 • 704-734-0071 Double Double Hammered Hammered Hardwood Hardwood Yard Yard 00 00 While While Supplies Supplies Last! Last! SPRING SPRING Mulch Madness! Mulch Madness! $ 20 20 Buy 10 Yards Full Buy 10 Yards Full Dump Truck Load & Dump Truck Load & Get A Free Tee-Shirt Get A Free Tee-Shirt Steel • Car Bodies • Cast Iron • Stainless Steel • Aluminum Cans • Copper •Brass • Aluminum - All kinds • Heavy Surplus Machinery CONTAINER SERVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL AND LARGE VOLUME CLEAN UPS We Sell New and Salvage Steel, Aluminum, And Stainless We Sell Brick Lentils, I-Beams, Metal Decking, Rebar, and All Types of Construction Steel WE CUT & FAB TO CUSTOMERS SPECS. Clean 55 Gal. Drums For Sale $10.00 Each Please Call Neil or Brenda at Morris Scrap Metal for All Your Building, Recycling and Waste Removal Services. PH: 704-739-3869 • FAX 704-739-7742 Member Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. Morris Scrap Metal Co. Inc. Serving The Carolinas Since 1931 Direct Mill Shipper - Top Cash Prices © Community First Media 506 Lafayette St. • Shelby, NC • 704-482-4405 HOURS: Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm Sat 8:00am-1:00pm MADE IN USA Authorized Dealer • Complete Lineup Ceramic Oval XL ONE DAY Echo 20% Off DAY FRIDAY, APRIL 28 Primo Grill Cooking Demonstration Representatives from Primo Grills will be present ------------------------------ Tips for novice composters Problems that can lead to lawn damage