Ramsey County

Howdy!!!!!!
Well here we ago again more rain in the forecast as we speak although it is suppose to clear up by the middle of the week.  There are parts of the state that has received too many inches of rain and totaled up would make a wreck around here so am glad for that but not for those people that loose their homes.  We have unconfirmed reports of over 2 inches in the western part of the county on Saturday with 1 inch being the general rule overall.  For those of us who have been starting new lawns,” what a blessing, perfect weather and not much water bill to boot”.  For those of you who have started new lawns this spring, weeds can become a problem.  You should not spray any herbicide on the new lawn until 8 weeks or more has passed.  Mowing your lawn can eliminate the messy look until a herbicide application can take place but should wait for approximately 3-4 weeks before mowing your grass (after emergence) and mow it at least 3 inches tall.  Newly seeded grass is very tender and once you have established a new lawn we need to take extra precautions to not jeopardize your new lawn.

We should also remember to either start our new lawn in early to mid May or wait until September.  The problem starting your lawn in the June or July is the weather is “usually” to warm and we can not keep the soil moisture at the level required to start grass effectively, thus a poor and uneven stand.

Tomato Blight!!!!!!!
A young lady brought in a sample of tomato indicating tomato early blight.  She has been losing a few plants and the others are in need of repair.  The best remedy for tomato blight is sunny, dry weather.  Mulching your tomato plants at planting is another good step in eliminating tomato blight.  Soil particles are splashed up on the lower leaves and start the infection with this infection moving upwards on the rest of plant.  Removing the lover infected leaves will help slow down the infection or could even stop the infection.  There are fungicides available to also help eliminate the tomato blight infection.  Products that contain the active ingredient Chlorothalonil will aid in this fight.

“How do you define a farm wife”????????????
I found this very entertaining article yesterday and thought I would share a few tidbits with you.  There was a survey done in Nebraska asking how you would describe a farm wife with a few of the following responses:

·        Your family vacation is attending the state fair.

·        You understand that manure is what you fertilize with and the stuff by the back door is crap.

·        Your cows get into the garden the very first the tomatoes are planted.

·        You live in your mother-in-laws house and she is still mad at after 10 years

·        Your associate the word “shower” with rain.

 And finally “you have a cap to match every outfit you own and did not have to pay for a single one”.

524 4th Ave NE #5, 2nd Floor Ramsey County Courthouse
Devils Lake  ND  58301
701-662-7027
email - ramsey@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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