Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Home Blog Page 602

Five mistakes to avoid when planting a tree

By
Guest Columnist
-
0

Mistakes that potentially end up contributing to the death of the new tree that was purchased. These are only some of the biggest mistakes.

1. Before even purchasing a tree do some homework and learn what type of soil on the property and particularly the location of the tree. Every tree has either a range of soils or a soil type that the tree prefers. Elm trees are tolerant of clay, loam or sand that is both acid and alkaline soil.

2. When shopping at the nursery, check to see the overall health of the plant. No diseased leaves or insects on the tree. It is best to research about these issues for the tree you want to purchase. Make sure the tree trunk is not damaged and there are no co-dominant leaders at the top of the trunk.

3. Make sure to check how deep the trunk is buried in the soil container. The soil can be higher up on the trunk. When planting the tree, then the tree can be planted too deep. All the excess soil must be knocked away from the trunk until the trunk meets the soil. Planting the roots too deep mitigates the amount of oxygen and water to the roots. Proper planting depth is located at the base of the trunk where the root flare meets the soil in the container. Then do not place much soil on the shoulders of the root ball or containerized plant. Do not place mulch or soil up against the trunk after planting. That creates moisture and can begin to damage the bark by causing decay. The bark is the skin of the tree and protects all the vascular structure within it.

4. When digging the hole for the tree, the hole must be shaped like a saucer that fits on the bottom of a teacup. The hole must be the proper depth for the root ball or container. The proper width of the hole is equally important. This must be two to three times the width of the root ball.

5. Watering is the most challenging thing to do. There is a recommended formula of ten gallons of water per every inch of the tree’s caliber at breast height. This is helpful to know when watering each time the tree needs watering. Factor in other environmental issues such as temperature, heat index, wind, and soil structure such as clay, sand, or loam.

If these steps are followed, the tree has the greatest chance of success.

How we live

By
John Marshall
-
0
john marshal

We have recently lost giants in our community, men who were celebrated beyond this valley. One was a journalist, broadcaster, archivist; another a brilliant musician, teacher, tennis patron; yet another a world-class coach, beloved teacher, magnetic public speaker. Each had moved with unbridled energy, love and intelligence, and then they were gone.
As we move along in life, we are reminded that death is no longer a distant concern. News of it surrounds us. Our friends, our relatives, leave with alarming frequency. The losses mount and it seems more than we should bear. For the living, death can be exhausting. Life in an imperfect world tells us that many things break ‒ especially hearts.
A friend who died long ago after a protracted battle with cancer wrote that what the years of living give us is not wisdom, but scar tissue. The best we can hope for is someone to share the anxiety, the pain, the fear. The lucky person is one who can call two or three others to his side when he needs the comfort of a hand, a voice, a smile ‒ or thinks he needs that, which is the same thing.
*
It wasn’t about dying, he said. It was about how one lived. “My own faith,” he said, “was formed by Joseph Conrad who, along with many other novelists and Tolkien’s Hobbits, found that our existence is a seeking without a finding, that the beauty of life is in the search without putting too much hope in ever getting an answer.”
Others, like Theodore Dreiser, (“Sister Carrie”…”An American Tragedy”) saw a world of profound disorder, a constant adventure but with no navigator, no chart, no order in their stars to guide them, a universe that was purposeless, impotent, unintelligible. Which is it to be?
*
We have known those who managed for years to face down death as it raged about them ‒ in friends lost, relatives stricken, and in the ICUs and cancer wards they knew too well. Against all that, they can find ways to search into the abyss. The lucky ones discover that the answer to “Why?” lay in the beauty of the search.
My old friend could not see it otherwise. “I can’t afford to believe it, not and get through this day and this night. The dark is beyond our endurance,” he wrote from a hospital bed.
In our endless searching, we hope at least that when we come to that black abyss we can offer a feeble prayer, and that in it are some answers.
My generation is at that juncture familiar for the call, news that another friend or relative is gone. It’s a strange lingering, knowing in our hearts that the days of sweetness, the interludes of simplicity in life are slipping away, one friend, one spouse, one relative at a time, as we hold a cap over our heart, peering into that abyss, hoping for an answer.
An old priest in one of Morris West’s novels spent a lifetime in the church contemplating the sins of man and the cruelties of life. He decided that God is an imperfect architect. “One cannot understand the world,” he said. “One can only love it.”

 

Should You Let Turf Grow Tall in the Fall?

By
Guest Columnist
-
0

Some people believe taller grass in the winter provides insulation for the plant crowns protecting them through freezing temperatures. If this practice provides any benefit
it loses value due to the negative issues that can arise as the tall blades fall over creating a matted environment perfect for winter diseases.

The best practice for preparing turf for winter is provide adequate care and ensure your plants are healthy. This requires action year-round including fertilizing, watering
and mowing. Follow recommendations for the variety of turf you are growing, but overall,
maintaining the proper height throughout the year is best.

Here is a list of the recommended mowing height ranges (in inches) for home lawns in Kansas:
Tall fescue: 2.5 -3.5
Kentucky bluegrass: 2-3
Buffalograss: 2-3
Bermudagrass: 1-2
Zoysiagrass: 1-2
(Note: Mowing at heights below 1.5 inches requires a reel mower).

It may be beneficial to adjust mowing height within these recommendations at specific times. For example, warm-season grasses may be mowed taller during late summer and early fall so they can store more carbohydrates for the winter. It may also help to reduce the occurrence of cool-weather diseases. However, this height is still within the recommendation.

Cynthia Domenghini, Extension Agent

Payoff Will Eliminate Debt

By
Frank Buchman
-
0
Frank J Buchman
Frank Buchman

Incomprehensible the volume of scam calls received in one day let alone a week and month.
They are all aggravating with most promising something that is too good to be true.
Most upsetting and biggest rip-off to the economy is when the caller touts an opportunity to “eliminate your credit card debt.”
The only way to do that or abolish any financial obligation is to pay it off with hard earned money.
When a commitment is made to buy anything, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to pay for the acquisition.
Never have forgotten the message of a field day speaker: “You can’t eat your cake and have it too.” That applies to everything in life of material value.
The nation’s economy cannot continue to operate positively if people don’t meet their personal financial obligations.
Everything has a cost, and somebody is taking a loss when it is not paid for. It is impossible to operate any business without positive revenue for continued economic cash flow.
Credit accounts are a generous way for owners to assist buyers in extending time for payment. But, when payment is not immediate, interest on the purchase continues to mount decreasing profits for the sales firm.
Seemingly, many people don’t understand that debts must be paid and jump on promises of eliminating monetary responsibility without payment. It sounds good on the forefront frequently even creating optimism for a person to “be out of debt.”
Most people do not want to be in debt, but the only honest way out is to pay the bill. Generally, that is far from easy and requires lots of time and dedication to do what’s right.
Interest added on an unpaid debt increases the amount owed but is only fair to the profitable businessperson. They have bills to pay and must be paid to continue operating successfully, providing a service or product for others.
Growing up in the grocery business, several loyal customers ran up large credit accounts. With very few exceptions, the major tabs were paid off.
However, sometimes that took an extended time such as waiting until the farmer sold cattle or grain annually. It was not an ideal situation for the grocer but understood by both the seller and the buyer.
Reminded of Romans 13:7: “Pay to all what is owed to them.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XVII–40–10-1-2023

Peppers from the Garden

By
Guest Columnist
-
0
Photo courtesy: KSU

Peppers from the garden can last for several weeks stored
in the fridge especially if they are kept moist. They can
also be frozen for longer term storage.

Cut the peppers into slices or chunks and place in a single layer on a baking
sheet. Freeze for one hour. This is called “flash freezing”.
The pepper pieces can now be stored in a freezer bag and
won’t stick together in a clump. Although frozen peppers
may be soft or even mushy when defrosted, they maintain
their flavor and work great for cooking.

Cynthia Domenghini, Extension Agent

1...601602603...4,803Page 602 of 4,803

Kansas News, Auctions & Classifieds

Trending

Categories

© Rural Messenger