LIFESTYLES:

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1} - Friday, March 31, 1989 - North Shore News

ENT BEE SE REL,

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Use chemicals with a
dose of common sense

HERE’S A little April Fool’s Day story. It may appear to
have little to do with gardening, but if you'll bear with me, I

will attempt to tie it in.

A horse is a horse, of course, of
course, unless of course the horse
is known as a Jack Ass. Well
maybe that’s a bit harsh, let’s just
call the hero of our story a little
misguided.

I get a call from a friend asking
for a little advice on how best to
clean up the landscape around his
house. He is about to place it on
the market and wants it to look its
best. My consent was mistake
number one.

We walked around the property
and I pointed out a few simple
projects that would give that well-
cared-for appearance. This includ-
ed edging the lawn, weeding and
cultivating the beds, planting a few
polyanthus for color and a little
touch-up pruning and trimming.

I also noticed the growth of
moss and algae on some areas of
his concrete driveway, walks and
patios. I knew removing it would
go a long way towards presenting a
crisp, clean look so ! suggested the
use of a product known as ‘De-
Moss’ to help with its removal.

This was mistake number two.
Those of you who are familiar
with the product are probably ask-
ing ‘This is a safe and effective
product. What could have gone
wrong?’ The problem was he
didn’t use it.

CAPE

cop 9

CHAIR

34

He assumed the brand name
De-Moss and the trade name moss
killer were interchangeable. Here
Til quote from an old movie: Do
not assume anything; you will only
make an ass out of uand me.

You see, Safer’s De-Moss is a
cryptocidal soap, (mosses and
algae are cryptogams) and is
therefore a very different moss
killer. It is safe to use as it is both
non-toxic and non-staining.

Other common forms of moss
killer contain iron sulphate. Also
very effective and not measurably
toxic, it will turn concrete and
stonework a lovely shade of rust-
ted almost instantancously.

Well guess who sprayed iron
sulphate all over his concrete
driveway, walks and patios? Our
hero not only = ass-u-med moss
killer and De-Moss were one and
the same, he compounded his error
when he decided that | knew what
I was talking about and the
reading of the label was therefore
unnecessary.

There are several morals to this
story, not the least of which is as
follows: Even if the guy you are
talking to does know what he is
talking about, you had better be
sure you do before you act on his
advice.

Of even greater importance is

Kin Lt

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Unipare Decor

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Wéesicon Pavers

Have them instalied or Do-+tt-Yoursel!!
Pisase cell for more information ...

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Motiandg

99 RAILROAD,

the lesson fearned about reading
the labels of chemical products
designed for use around the home
and garden. WARNING: DO

NOT USE ON CONCRETE OR
MASONRY SURFACES AS
STAINING MAY OCCUR. This
seems like pretty pointed and per-

tinent advice to me.

The purpose of this article was
to stress the intelligent use of
pesticides and other chemical con-
coctions. If you must use these
products (and that should be as lit-
tle as possible) mix them with a
liberal dose of common sense and
awareness.

Now, before you cynics out
there begin accusing me of selling
out and writing commercials for
Safer’s Soaps (if you are listening,
Mr. Safer, I’m open to offers), let
me tell you a little more about
moss.

Ask 10 Pacific Northwest

99

each
(bundles of 30)

: from Venice Bakery

on Main Street
(bright yallow awnin 2)

gardeners residing on the coast
what his or her biggest lawn prob-
lem is. Nine point nine, nine will
go on a half-hour tirade about the
evils of moss and the poor point-
zero-one individual is too busy try-
ing to figure out how he fits in to
really even care.

over the

garden gate

Geoff Tobiasson

Anywho, the moss found in the
lawn and the algae and moss grow-
ing on the roof, driveway, patio,
and head of Mr. point-zero, one,
are all related. Anything that kills
one type will kill them all.

The differences between pro-
ducts are price, toxicity, and

whether or not they will stain.

The least expensive and most ef-
fective solutions for lawns are iron
sulphate-based moss killers or
moss killer/fertilizer products.

Zinc strips placed along the peak
are an excellent means of controll-
ing moss on an already moss-frec
roof, If you have an existing moss
garden on the roof, zinc sulphate
will quickly eliminate it. Zinc is
non-staining, but it is very toxic to
plants; any spills could be
disastrous.

Safer’s makes moss killer for
lawn and structure/driveway use. I
do not understand the difference
between the two (if indeed there is
any), but it is enough to say it
would not be my first choice for
moss control in lawns. It is too ex-
pensive.

It is, however, the safest thing I
know of to use around concrete,
stonework, and plants in the
garden,

In fairness to our hero, | could
have been more specific, and called
for Safer’s De-Moss. The problem
is, I am sure that anything short of
writing across his forehead would
not have made any difference.

GOLDEN TOUCH

INTERIORS

LIFESTYLES

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