28 - Nosth Shore News - Sunday, February 13, 2000 FIOME AND GARDEN ==} “TO spray or not to spray?” That's the question many gardeners ask themselves at this time of the year. There was a time when pesticide sprays were used regularly as a preventive measiie but today the use of sprays has been greatly reduced. The question to ask yourself is: “Do | have a problem? and if so, what is the nature of the problem?” If you don't have a prob- lem, then it’s unlikely you need to do any spraying at this time of the year. If there is a problem, it’s essential to determine whether the prob- lem is insectal, fungal or viral. In the case of viral dis- eases there is no treatment for the plant. The most common spray for over-wintering insects is dormant oil. This product “has been in use for close to 100 years. This light-weight mineral oil has, in recent years, been more highly refined. It’s safe to apply and degrades quite quickly, thereby being less harmful to beneficial insects. No one is sure how oil works but the most common theory is that it smothers the insects’ breathing systems and may also disrupt cell membranes that support metabolic activities. As long as there’s a residue, it may also disrupt the sucking srows activities of some pests. The best time to apply dormant oil is in the late winter or early spring when temperatures rise above freezing but before bud break. Some people prefer to spray in the fall but with our mild weather and late leaf drop, this is not always prac- tical. Be very careful to read the instructions when using dormant oif on or near ever- green trees. Some plants are very susceptible to oil and the foliage can be damaged. Mix the dormant oil and water until it has a uniform milky consistency. Apply when the weather is dry, air is calm and the temperature is between 6 and 10 degrees Celsius. Start with a ladder in the centre of the tree and spray outwards until the bark is dripping. Then work around the outside of the tree spraying into the centre. For the best results cover all bark surfaces. Heavy moss or lichen growth should be removed, if possible, before spraying begins. Wear proper - The Greater Vancouuer Operatic Society presests “BRIGADOON by ALAN JAY LERNER aud FREDERICK LOEWE Gateway Theatre — Richmond, B.C. 10 - 25 MARCH, 2000 Box Office - 270-1812 “OF. DERMATOLOGISTS. .' RECOMMEND Ivo jacuAt MCL Motor Cars (1992) Inc. clothing and a face mask to prevent inhalation of the spray. There are a number of fungal diseases that flourish in our wet climate and most can be retarded or eliminat- ed temporarily with the use of a dormant fungicide. Using an insecticide type spray ona fungus won't solve the problem. A lime sulphur sojution is the old standby and is still effective for many of the fungi. Fixed Copper is another product that has long been used and has a low level of toxicity to other plants and beneficial insects. There are dozens of chemical fungicides on the market and some are more effective than others but they tend to be more toxic to other forms of life. Benomyl and Funginex are owo chemical sprays that rose growers find useful for con- trolling such things as Black Spot. Because spores spread fungus disease, it’s important to spray the ground around the plant after cleaning up all the plant debris. Be sure to remove all of last year’s leaves from your roses before spraying. Use a similar method for spraying fungicides as dor- mant oil and carefully read the instructions on the con- tainer before using. Q00Q Each year at this time, the BC Home & Garden Show is held at BC Place Stadium. For the Jast five years-the garden compcnent in the show has been growing and this vear should be the best ever. There will be seven full- sized feature gardens, 10 mini-display gardens focus- ing on a variety of themes and many speciality displays w to determine when it's OK to spray NEWS photo Mike Wanaitckt NOW is the time to apply Gormant oil to your garden if you are concerned about insect infestations. of indoor plants. Watch for environmentally sensitive garden tips from a variety of experts and educational dis- plays on lawns, pruning, container gardening and hir- ing a landscape professional. Garden enthusiasts will appreciate a great selection of new plants propagated by some of B.C.'s leading nurs- cries. Along with exotic plants, there will be an exhibit of native species that can be used in landscaping. The garden area is coor- dinated by the BC Landscape and Nursery Association, representing more thart 500 of B.C.’s landscape professionals, gar- den centres and wholesale nursery growers, The show starts Wednesday, Feb. 23 and runs through to Sunday, Feb. 27. North Vancouver City Library presents Controlling Stress by the Heart & Stroke Foundation - including: heart smart tips/ lifestyle choices/nutrition Tuesday, February 15, 2600 7:00pm to 8:30pm North Vancouver City Library 121 West 14th Street, North Van * 998- 3450