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• Message from the CEO
• Corporate News
• Aircrane
• Log Harvesting
• Forestry Engineering
• Environmental Mgmt. & Fire
• Mill Works
• Mill Report
• Information Systems
• Fred's Compost Talk
• Calendar

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By Fred BernsteinFred’s Compost Talk

Summer has come and gone; the days are shorter; the children are back at school and joining winter sports.  The maples leaves are changing colour and starting to fall; many flowers are giving their last display of colour - all signs that Fall is here.  It is time to get those last garden chores done before the rain and snow start.

Weed Control

This is the time of year when we can make great gains in weed control.  Starting with shrub beds remove and spray weeds that have germinated with the fall rains to prevent further germination next spring.  For walks, gravel areas, fence lines and around shrubs use roundup.  It is also time to put a fall application of weed and feed on your lawn to control weeds that have germinated during the milder wet weather and to give it a boost it will need during the winter and spring green up.  Fall fertilizing of lawns and shrubs should be done now and liming should be done in March or April.

Winterizing Your Sprinkler System

Winterizing your sprinkler system can save a lot of problems and expense when starting up the system next spring. Winterizing your sprinkler system for winter can seem harder than it really is.  Just follow these few basic steps in the order given and it can be quite simple and easy.

1. Shut off the water to your system at the shut off valve going to the system, this valve is a separate valve from the one for shutting down water to your house. 
2. Turn the control dial to the off position on the main timer control panel at the house. 
3. Open the drain and blow out tap.  After all the water is drained out you are ready to blow out the sprinkler pipes with compressed air using only 25 to 30 PSI.  If you use more air pressure then that it could result in blowing the underground pipes apart causing a lot of problems when starting up in the spring.
4. With air being blown into the system go to each solenoid starting with zone one and open the solenoid one half turn letting the air force the water out of the pipes.  When only a foggy mist comes out of the sprinkler heads the zone is free of water and the solenoid can be turned back to the closed position - repeat with all other zones. 

This is a good time to replace any faulty sprinkle heads and add or relocate any sprinklers now that the pipes are free of water.

Poinsettia

1. Give your plant lots of light.
2. Your plant will thrive with night temperatures of 15 degrees and day temps of 20 degrees.
3. Avoid spots where heat and vet ducts are and drafts from open doors.
4. Water your plant until it drips from the pot.  Water about every three to four days.
5. Your can fertilize your plant with a soluble house plant fertilizer every time you water.