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BY KENNER LOVE
Extension Agent, ANR
Crop & Soil Sciences
The following are tips and advice from the Rappahannock Extension Office as they appeared in the November newsletter. Anyone with questions is encouraged to call the office at 675-3619.
• Remove grass and weeds from trunks of fruit trees and grapes to prevent damage by mice and rodents. Leave a bare circle (one foot wide) around tree trunks when spreading mulch to keep mice from feeding On the bark. A collar of fence of poultry wire or a commercial tree guard approximately 18 inches high will deter rodents and rabbits.
• Remove all mummified fruit from fruit trees, and rake up and destroy those on the ground. Also, rake and dispose of dropped apple and cherry leaves. Good sanitation practices reduce reinfestation of insects and diseases the following season.
• Break the crust on the surface of any sawdust mulch you have around blueberries, shrubs, and perennials to improve the absorption of water from fall rains.
• Dwarf fruit trees have a double purpose, furnishing flowers in the spring and fruit in the fall. They are particularly suited to small lots. Early November is a good time to plant most fruit trees, especially if a light mulch is applied to the soil afterwards.
• A November application of fertilizer is very beneficial to a lawn of cool-season grasses. It promotes root development without excessive top growth. With a strong root system, your lawn will be better able to withstand drought conditions next summer.
• To winterize your mower, first disconnect the spark plug wire. Drain out all the gasoline and oil, and replace the old oil with fresh oil. (Take the old oil to a recycling center.) Clean out grass from underneath the mower. Spray paint under the clean deck to prevent rust in the future. Remove and clean the air filter or replace paper filters. Inspect wheels, and replace excessively worn wheels to ensure a level cut next spring. Remove blades, and sharpen them before storing.
• Check house gutters for fallen leaves, needles, and twigs. Heavy, fall rains will quickly overflow clogged gutters, possibly damaging foun
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