All Gardens
Great & Small
by
York Co.
Horticultural Agent
Tom Becker
Avoid 'Sour' Mulch
Lots of things are sour;
grapes, cherries, bark mulch,
etc.
Even wood chip mulch can go
sour if not stored properly.
Decomposing, large (6-12 feet
high) mulch piles occasionally
sour.
Without oxygen, a toxic by
product results of various organ
ic acids and alcohol. If mulch is
spread in landscape beds these
acrid odors are highly toxic to
plants. Theses strongly pungent
odors are released after break
ing open the pile.
If you are buying mulch
(shredded tree bark, old saw
dust, mushroom compost or
bark chips) and storing it for
later use, keep these precau
tions in mind. Most bark mulch
that was stored properly, should
not go sour. Mulches that have
not soured should have a fresh
garden aroma.
If the mulch smells like vine
gar, sulfur or ammonia, it has
probably gone sour and should
MODEL
• 2.2 cu. in., 2.2 HP
• Inertia Cham
Brake
• 16” Bar Standard
$ i 89“
(prices may vary by dealers)
(h) Husqvarna
DAVE’S LAWN & MASCOT SHARPENING &
GARDEN SALES
158 Doe Run Rri 434 Newport Rd
Manheim Pa 17545 Ronks Pa 175723
717-665-5501 J m//e’s to/ at Rle 23 fan Hie 7/2)
717-656-6486 Ans. Serv
ToKScr
HARDWARE
717-394-7617 717-997-J69S
*, jlw
not be spread in flowerbeds.
Finely shredded mulches are
especially prone to 'sourness.'
Often caused by compaction,
store mulch in several small
piles rather than one large one.
Mulch piles that remain intact
for more than one week should
be no higher than 4 feet.
Mulch piles that are used and
replenished regularly can be
higher than 4 feet. Shape piles
so that water runs off and does
not puddle into the center of the
pile. Water fills pore spaces, dis
placing oxygen, resulting in sour
mulch. Better yet, cover mulch
piles with a tarp to prevent
waterlogging.
TVirn or mix much piles if
they are stored in one location
for a long time. This allows any
MODEL
• 3.2 cu in., 3.3 HP
• Inertia Cham
Brake
• 16”-20” Bar
recommended
• Decompression
Valve for easy
starting
$ 31d 95
W I "Toe-.bar)
\jfAir Injection
Air Injection
4 ..
< 1 '** *•££•* ~** '»*' " i , - r • .■■ *-5. *•*
ms> i&Sy 1 * ? *■> *•#’_'■ f * *•
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In your business, you sit behind the
wheel of a tractor. So, you want one
with smarts, guts - and muscle. Like the
AGCO Allis 5650.
The 45 PTO hp 5650 boasts features
you’d expect to find on a larger tractor.
Like a direct air-cooled diesel, 2-post
foldable ROPS, synchromesh
transmission with 12 forward and 12
SEE YOUR DEALER TODAY!
MANOR MOTORS
On Rte. 553
Penn Run, Pa.
412-254-4753
SANDY LAKE
IMPLEMENT
HERNLEY’S FARM Sandy Lake, Pa
EQUIP., INC. 412-376-2489
Elizabethtown, Pa
717-367-8867
toxic byproducts to dissipate and
incorporates fresh air to reduce
further anaerobic decomposi
tion.
If you do find your mulch
went sour, spread the mulch out
in a thin layer on a paved sur
face. Let the toxic vapors natu
rally dissipate for three to seven
days Then apply the mulch to a
small area of plantings and wait
for several days. If plants don't
show wilting, discoloration or
other abnormal growth indica
tive of sour mulch, the mulch is
safe to use on the rest of your
garden.
Avoid using sour mulch in
containers, recently planted
flower beds, or along the edge of
landscape beds. Annual flowers
planted prior to spreading sour
mulch may die within 24 hours.
Plants affected often have
chlorotic leaves, leaf scorch or
plant dieback.
Another way to check for sour
mulch is to check the pH. Sour
mulch will have a pH of 1.8 to
2.5 which makes neutralizing
with lime unreasonable.
Lastly, do not overapply any
type of mulch. Dense mulches
like sawdust should not be more
than 2 inches thick while shred
ded bark a maximum of 2 to 4
inches thick.
With muscle.
B. EQUIP., INC. B.H.M. FARM EQUIP
Waynesboro, Pa. jnc.
717-762-3193 Annville, Pa.
717-867-2211
NICHOLS FARM
EQUIP.
Bloomsburg, Pa.
717-784-7731
0 4-H
HAPPENINGS
North Jackson Ag 4-H Club
A meeting of the North
Jackson 4-H Ag Club was held
recently at the home of Joe and
Sandy Pavelski
The club talked about the trip
to Penn State for the Blue and
White game and the tours of the
mushroom plant and Mastitis
Research Center. Questions
were answered on project books
and schedules were handed out
Dairy and horse camps were dis
cussed.
Katie Onyon and Jessica
Sartell talked about the
Delaware Valley judging trip.
Katie placed fifth and Jessica
placed tenth.
Demonstrations were given
by Katie Onyon and Holly Carey
on cake decorating, Aaron
Onyon on making a wooden race
car and racing it, Abby Onyon on
preparing a speech for school,
and Andrey Onyon on reloading
a bullet.
A Vi
reverse speeds, and your choice of AWD
or 2WD. Plus, the 5650 delivers the
ultimate in maneuverability, thanks to its
low height and low center of gravity.
And, with a 4-year, 4,000-hour
warranty, the 5650 will take you further
than any corporate sedan. See one today,
at your AGCO Allis dealer.
GRUMELLI
FARM SERVICE
Quarryville, Pa.
717-786-7318 HOLTRY’S EQUIPMENT
Roxbury, Pa.
717-532-7261
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 11 1998-811
One new member joined the
Golden Fleece 4-H Club during
its last meeting in Thompson
Members discussed a possible
fund-raiser using Knspy Dream
Donuts They also discussed the
possibility of purchasing electric
clippers so the members can
ready their sheep for the fair
A trip to New York to see a
broadway show this summer
was tentatively planned for the
group.
Jason Corey updated mem
bers on County Council happen
ings and names of suppliers of
market lambs were given to
those needing to purchase them
for their project.
Bucks County
Holds 4-H
Fashion Revue
' X a^s>
AGCO
ALUS
C.J. WONSIDLER
BROS.
Quakertown, Pa.
215-536-7523
New Tripoli, Pa.
215-767-7611
Oley, Pa.
215-987-6257
Golden Fleece 4-H Club
DOYLESTOWN
(Bucks Co ' On
June 19, Family
Heritage Retirement
Community in
Doyiestown served as
host for the annual
Bucks County 4-H
Fashion Revue
Twelve 4-H mem
bers participated in
this event During the
afternoon, partici
pants were imolved in
three workshops and
W’ere judged
Judges for this
event were Valerie
Gardener and Joan
Flynn from Sew Smart
Fabrics, Doyiestown;
and Nancy Moran and
Mary Martinez, both
family and consumer
science teachers
Kristen Strouse,
former Miss Bucks
County presented a
workshop on model
ing. Participants also
sappliqued children’s
clothing which were
donated to a represen
tative from “A
Woman’s Place” dur
ing the 7 pm. 4-H
Fashion Revue Program.
Family members,
friends and Family
Heritage residents
were in attendance
Senior 4-H partici
pants were Amber
Gnffin, Chara Histand,
and Kim Reichner, all
members of the
HilltoWn 4-H Club
Junior 4-H partici
pants were Beth Dilono.
Melissa Gallagher.
Sharia Remick Trad\
Yoder, Bridget Ziemba
and Anna Hollenbach
of the Hilltown t-H
Club; Elizabeth Kins
and Jilhan Mobu» of
the Levittown 4-H
Clue
Those expected to
compete m the
Southeast Regional 4-
H Fashion Revue on
July 7 in Lcesport
include Gnffin, Histand,
Reichner, Remick.
Williams, Mobus,
Gallagher and Ziemba