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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-04-13, Page 23-*Theydo everything but start fhemselves Mulching mowers, once a luxury, are now a `must' for most homeowners When mulching mowers first arrived on the scene in 1987, they were considered a luxury. In just a matter of years they've become a must for the majority of homeowners. The latest sales numbers tell the story: mulching mowers made up 70 per cent of total lawn mower sales. So overwhelming has been the public's reaction, in fact, that the company that invented the mulching mower no longer offers any other kind of mower. But just as in other product areas, success for a lawn mower manufacturer comes down to who has the best high-tech system. Some top manufacturers also offer attachments that shred debris even finer than will the mulching mode. Mulching rider mowers offer the same features, and today's riding mowers are considerably more maneuverable, making it easier to get between obstacles such as shrubbery. Riders have also been redesigned in many cases to give the blade a dramatically increased upward angle. This system pulls grass up for easy cutting and propels it into the bag. The greater the vacuum effect, the more efficient the lawn mower. Prices for lawn mowers have generally risen compared to several years ago, but not nearly as much as on other consumer goods. Mowers in the middle range are priced from $300 to more than $500 these days, and buyers can expect to spend over $600 for a state-of-the-art, brand-name lawn mower with an overhead valve engine, rear - bagging, electric starter and blade brake clutch. Keep a close watch for these insectpesfs Th serious They can do damage to your lawn, literally from the roots up Nothing destroys a healthy - growing lawn faster than insect pests that feed on the roots, stems and blades of grass. The damage such bugs do can seriously wreck the landscape around your home. Below are some common predators that, if left on their own, will feed on your lawn, roots and all: Armyworms. Armyworms travel in large groups and eat grass right down to the soil. Round, bare areas in the lawn are the result of their feeding frenzy. Billbugs. Billbugs pose a double threat: The larvae form eats the roots, while the adults attack the stems and blades. Chinch Bugs. These common lawn pests congregate in open, sunny parts of the lawn, and suck plant sap. Infested grass turns yellow and patches may Trimming lilac bushes in summer or fall= cuts off the next year's flowers_ Lilacs should only be pruned in fall, you actually cut off the the spring, immediately after the ' flower buds for the next spring shrubs (or trees) have flowered. that were already forming, and Then, carefully remove only thus the reduced bloom the next the old flower heads. year. By pruning in late summer or GLAVIN EAVESTROUGHING 5 in. seamless SOFFIT 6 FASCIA Metal Leaf Screening / Eavestrough Cleaning 40' BOOM TRUCK Free Estimates 228 6295 Centralia N.ee us atGerry ooth 17 die off. Leatherworks. Leatherworks feed on the roots and stem bases, causing yellow or brown grass patches which are most noticeable during dry weather in early summer. Nematodes. These microscopic worms survive in the soil or grass debris as eggs, cysts or larvae, and feed on the roots of grass plants. Sod Webworms. Hot, dry conditions and buildup of thatch encourage sod webworms which cause irregular, dead patches in the lawn. HOME & GARDEN GUIDE '94 -PAGE 5 afteet'4 7aad- Han Seltrf ' 7(6u • Repairs • Glazes • Lacquer Coatings Willis & Joanne Walper Varna, Ont. NOM 2R0 Bus. 2$3-7110 Monday -Saturday 9 a. m. - 5 p.m. Come and Explore Your Destiny at the Goderich Home & Garden Show! SIONcommitted TO YHUEON carr 524-5427 PERSONAL SUCCESS EDUCATION OUR BEST IDEAS ARE FREE. 3 .. Get free advice on saving energyand increasing the value of your hone. • Discover all the advantages of installing Lock -Wood windows, entrances and garden or patio doors with Window& Door Ideas. It's Lock -Wood's guide to selecting and ordering. And it's free! Yours FREE from your lodt Wood Dealer 'ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS!' LUMBER & BUILDING SUPPLIES 163 Elgin Ave.. E. Goderich 524.8171 F M VVindows,Doors Siding Serving Goderich and Area Manufacturer of Custom Made Vinyl and Aluminum Windows and Doors rat *NO INTEREST AND 143 R/ UNTIL JUNE 199 WINDOWS, DOORS FOR EVERY BUDGET *Financed by ScoUabank S *OAC To Qualified Buyers F M & Wayne Bolick Renovations 152 Widder St., Goderich 524-1259 1-800-361-1089