te THERIHATEO DARA RUE DE PNR eR MITE eh Magne enon ar apres SUR EINE Ogre pee g 3 £. z k z A LONER ST RRON TT EH DEAT THe RGAIBEGAIE GS WS TREE RADEN 2B BRR ON RG ASTOR IR ID SLE aS MV AETV I PGA BIER LISP HOME & GARDEN Most people don’t handle String trimmers properly STRING OR fishing line trim- mers, whether electric or gas powered, are used by gardeners to trim around lawns, flower beds and individual trees and shrubs in gardens both large and small. Most people, including profes- sionals, use them incorrectly. For years, garden com- municators have been advising that during the summer months at least, lawn mowers should be set high so the grass is at least five centimetres or two inches high after the cutting is done. This is not only a strong deterrent to weeds, it also helps drought-proof a lawn. While some gardeners have caught on to this technique with the lawn mower, the same cannot be said about string trimmers. According to the Canadian Garden Council, most home gardeners, as well as profes- sionals, use these machines to cut the grass around the lawn edges and flower beds, and at the base of trees to within a millimetre of its life. Often, these closely cut edges turn brown due to the scalp- ing. But, it’s around trees that the Canadian Garden Council is em- phasizing. Use of any type of str- ing trimmer around any young or newly-planted trees, and even around some thinner-bark mature trees (such as honey-locusts) can cause severe damage to the bark. This damage can be so bad that in just a couple of years the tree or trees go into demise, and dic. It is most important, therefore, ab- solutely not to have the fast spin- ning cord of any fishing line or String trimmer touch the bark of any tree. The best way to prevent this is to cut just a small circle of sod evay from the base of each tree, and trim that edge rather than around the bark of the trees themselves. The results of weekly bombardment of thin tree bark by string trimmers should not be under-emphasized. Once you notice damage, it’s usually too late, as the bruising is around the eatire circumference. Damage to the bark itself while not good, is not the cause of death to the trees. What does cause a quick death is damage to the xylem and phloem tissues through which the trees conduct water up and down the trunk. Without these vessels, always located just below the bark surface, the trees are unable to survive. The damage from string trimmers amounts to the same as can be caused by rabbits chewing around the bark of newly planted trees during the winter. And, the results are the same too — death of the trees. As mentioned, older, thin-bark trees too can be affected, as can mature trees with thick bark. Ur- ban arborists have often witnessed semi-mature maples or other Island rail tour offered FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL tours last year and again this spr- ing, the West Coast Railway Association is taking advantage of the extended life of VIA Rail’s Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway, The Malahat Dayliner, and the glories of Vancouver Island by of- fering another of their very popu- lar circle tours, on Saturday, Aug. 17. The day-long excursion by fer- ries, train and motor coach com- bines the best of British Colum- bia’s coastal and island scenery. Participants will depart from Vancouver’s VIA Rail station (near the Main Street SkyTrain Station) at 7:55 a.m. and return at approximately 10 p.m. Passengers will travel by bus to Horseshoe Bay, and terry to Nanaimo, where the northbound train to Courtney will be boarded. A 25-minute stop for lunch will be provided, and then the train will proceed south through some beautiful Vancouver Island sce- nery and over the ‘‘Malahat”’ into Victoria. People will have an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing walk, and visit points of interest including the Empress Hotel, Parliament Build- ings and harbour. The trip costs $109 for adults, $99 for seniors, and $49 for children who are two to 12 years of age. _For more information on_rail- oriented programs call 524-1011 or 522-9068. COMPANY COMING? Eliminate waste space and mess Create more useable space in any closet INSTALLED OR SHOWROOM OPEN MON. - SAT. 9-5 CANADIAN CLOSET ‘A family owned business since 1984” 4385 Crown St. N. Van. 986-4263 thick-bark trees severely damaged by regular use of a string trimmer. The Canadian Garden Council urges you to keep the apparently harmless string (trimmers away from your trees. The same applies to their use for trimming the edge of your lawn, along sidewalks or garden beds. While you'll not likely kill the turf, you certainly will scalp it, which means it will need additional moisture just to keep it green, and there will be a greater chance of crabgrass and/ or broadleaf weeds gaining a foothold in that part of the lawn. Ge S PITCH-IN AND RECYCLE! WINDOW COVERINGS from HunterDouglas Celebrity | 0 40 HK Ooft * Reguian Puce Custam mace draperies Fabric Shades, Valences. hard window covering (runs, micro, vertical & pleated binds). 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