EDWARDS Never has a Battle Mountain boys soccer team been so happy to receive a No. 20 seed in the playoffs.

As it turned out, Seeding Sunday wasnt a suspenseful matter. The Huskies were in easily.

Pleasant surprise, said Huskies coach David Cope, whose team has had its share of misfortune when the bracket has been issued.

Battle Mountain is at No. 13 Fort Lupton today at 5 p.m.

MEET THE BLUE DEVILS

OK, where is Fort Lupton? is probably the first question. Its northeast of Denver, north of Brighton and south of Platteville. OK, its in Weld County between Interstate 25 and I-76, just north of Boulder if Boulder were on the east side of I-25.

Arent the playoffs fun? They help one learn the geography of the great Centennial State.

Fort Lupton (11-2-2) is the champion of the Colorado 7 League, which actually has eight teams. Cope jokingly said that he thought the league was named for John Elway.

Attempting to bring some seriousness to this, No. 9 Victor Sanchez is the focal point. He has 21 goals, exactly half of the Blue Devils 42 on the year. Genaro Arellano is second on the team with eight.

The result of Fort Luptons slate, which grabs attention, is a 4-2 victory over Niwot. Thats No. 5 Niwots only loss of the season.

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Huskies draw No. 20, headed to Fort Lupton

Weeds are bullies. Yes, sireee bob. Some lie in wait for an opportune moment while others erupt seemingly overnight. I have been strong-armed by more weeds that I care to say. Weeds are nothing more that plants out of place, says some gardening philosopher. I say, that philosopher has never met my weeds. They are rude, crude thugs that intimidate my lawn and flowers. A plant out of place, my foot!

It took me some time to calm this person down but when I did this gardener got a grip on how to handle pesky weeds in the fall. (Some days my job is harder than other days.) Bully weeds no longer torture this person. If you are feeling bullied by your weeds here are some suggestions.

Early November is an excellent time to control those pesky cool season weeds and give us a head start on the weeds in spring. Dandelions are more easily controlled now than in spring because they are actively moving materials from the top portion of the plant to the roots. Herbicides will translocate to the roots as well and will kill the plant from the roots up. Treating perennial broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions, chickweed, and henbit now while they are young will also allow the turf to fill in the open spots and make spring weed germination more difficult.

Herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products (Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, Weed-Out) that contain 2,4-D, MCPP and Dicamba can take the guess work out of weed control. Broadleaf weeds that are not controlled by 2,4-D are usually controlled by one of the other herbicides. For example, 2,4-D provides excellent control of dandelion and plantain, but provides poor control of white clover or red sorrel. Dicamba, on the other hand, provides excellent control of white clover and red sorrel and only fair control of dandelion or plantain. By applying a combination of these two, all four weeds will be controlled. Combination products dont necessarily control all broadleaf weeds in your yard. It is possible to choose the wrong combination of herbicides (i.e. 2,4-D+MCPP instead of 2,4-D + MCPP + Dicamba) and some weeds are just naturally hard to control. This is why it is important to identify the weeds before purchasing products to eradicate them.

Do not apply broadleaf herbicides within 4-6 weeks before seeding and not until the new grass has been mowed at least twice.

Choose a day that is 50 degrees or higher to apply herbicides.

With liquid or soluble broadleaf herbicides, do not mow for several days before and after the application to allow for maximum uptake and translocation of the herbicide.

Do not add grass clippings to the compost pile that have been treated with a herbicide. Residuals can kill good plants in your garden in spring.

Do not water for at least 24 hours after application, and do not treat if rain is expected within 24 hours.

Always read and follow the herbicide label instructions carefully to maximize the efficiency of your application. Remember, more is not always better. It is possible to make weed infestation worse!

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At Home Living: Fall weed control helps prevent spring outbreak

A popular play area at Dinton Pastures will be closed over winter for repairs and to let the grass grow.

The 500,000 nature play space with zipwires and troll holes has been a huge hit since it opened in May.

But it has been so popular it is already showing signs of wear and tear and patches of grass need re-seeding, so the park will close from next month until the Easter holidays in April.

Cllr Angus Ross, Wokingham Borough Councils executive member for environment, said: Im delighted the play area has been such a success and proved so popular since it opened earlier this year.

It is one of the many improvements we have made to the country park, making it a local destination of choice for a family fun day out.

We need essential maintenance in time for the start of next season so everyone can enjoy the play space next year.

I understand there may be some disappointment about this news, but winter is the best time of year to do this.

Id like to remind visitors that there are plenty of great things to do elsewhere in the country park during the winter season.

Families will still be able to enjoy sailing, hire boats, climb, walk and watch the wildlife.

The nature play space now in line for some TLC features giant nest towers, swinging hanging logs, zip wires, a funnel net trap, a play bridge and giant climbing logs.

Excerpt from:
Popular Dinton Pastures playground to close for the whole winter

18 hours 47 minutes ago by Aja Goare - Q2 News

BILLINGS - A plot of land along Shiloh Road now features two ponds, park benches and paved trails, but it's not a park.

The conservation area is the first and only one of its kind in Montana.

It's designed to treat storm water and control flooding on the West End.

Following new state and federal requirements under the Clean Water Act, storm water must be cleaned before it goes to the Yellowstone River.

Grasses and man-made wet lands will naturally clean the water and remove the nutrients.

The $6 million project spans 70 acres of land and took four years to complete.

Funding will continue to come from storm water fees, but the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks also funds an urban fishery on the land, which features small bass and trout.

Visitors can fish in the ponds and the shelters are available for picnics.

Public Works Director Dave Mumford said it's important to respect the area, which opens to the public Thursday.

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Shiloh conservation area treats storm water, offers fishing and picnic area

STEVENSVILLE With a pouch filled with aspen, snowberry and Woods rose, Abe Fielding is doing his part to turn black to green.

Every few steps inside the charred circle where a pile of slash burned last year, Fielding stops to swing the hoe-like tool above his head and slam it into the moist earth.

A few seconds later, his hand slips into his pouch for the next seedling to plant. Following a well-practiced stoop, the plants long roots slide into the fresh hole cut in the ground.

His foot packs the earth around the plant as he moves on to the next planting.

In two days, Fielding and others from Hamiltons Watershed Restoration Group and Missoulas Miller Creek Reforestation planted 4,000 seedlings and spread native grass seeds over the last disturbed areas on the Bitterroot National Forests Bass Creek Recreation Area.

Their work marks the end of a project that thinned 765 acres of the forests second most popular recreation area last year.

Last winters ample snow and the summers rain provided enough moisture to kick-start the native bunch grass, shrubs and aspen this summer on most of the acreage that was thinned.

But the places where slash piles were burned and logs skidded needed some extra help to recover.

Bitterroot Forest botanist Robin Taylor-Davenport said crews walked over the project area last year and noted places that needed seeding and some other plant life.

Before the project started, the botanist and others collected cuttings and seeds from native plants on the site. Those were used to grow seedlings at the Bitterroots Great Bear Restoration greenhouses.

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Restoration job: Crews planting native vegetation at Bass Creek Recreation Area

Ive never met a gardener who hasnt planted something that at first sight looked innocent and pretty and later lived to regret it. It neednt have been something big like giant hog weed or a Norway maple, either. Many plants become invasive by root runners or self-seeding. They choke out the plants we want and can take over entire swatches of a garden. Some, like garlic mustard and purple loosestrife, endanger our woods and wetlands. In my garden, I have a tiny ground hugging sedum that blooms yellow in late spring. It was here when we bought the house and served its purpose in a newly planted garden around our pond. It has insinuated itself into the creeping thyme, ajuga and iris as well as every other nook and cranny it can find. There are other culprits to avoid, many of them ground covers: English ivy, houttuynia, periwinkle, ribbon grass, goutweed to name a few. Plant wild strawberry, wild ginger, wintergreen, mayapple or foamflower (tiarella cordifolia) instead. Grasses are all the rage now. But buyer beware as some such as miscanthus sinensis are invasive, spreading by seed and rhizomes. Ive found oat grass, as lovely as it is when its seed heads are swaying in the autumn breeze, has worked its way into places it shouldnt be and is a pain to dig out. There are many great alternatives out there, so do your research. When plant shopping, always read the plant labels carefully. Lastly, beware of gardeners bearing gifts of plants that they have an abundance of! Growing Green is a regular feature prepared by the Mount Hamilton Horticultural Society (gardenontario.org/site.php/mhhs). Helen MacPherson, vice-president of the society, wrote this report.

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GROWING GREEN: Beware of garden thugs

By Michael Potter / Horticulture columnist

October is an important month for your lawn. A weak turf is much more susceptible to winter damage and other stresses. In addition, turf is much slower to recover in the spring. Early to mid-October is the best time to fertilize due to cooler weather that causes grass growth to slow down. Slower turf growth rates combined with slow release fertilizers give good results for a wonderful spring green-up. There are a few things to consider for fall lawn care.

I would suggest using a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, low in phosphorus and has a moderate to high level of potassium that such as a 15-5-10, 21-7-14, 18-6-12 or something similar. You should try to find a fertilizer with at least of the nitrogen in a slow release form. If you have had recent or continuous issues with Take-All Patch or Large Patch (Brown Patch), then you should consider using more natural type fertilizers with lower nitrogen rates that release slowly. Just dont go overboard with the nitrogen. Research shows that high nitrogen in a fast-release form can increase the activity of fungus. Slow release forms provide the lawn with nitrogen over a longer period of time resulting in a consistent growth while reducing nitrogen run off. Be sure to check the recommended rate of application on the label and take a few minutes to measure your yard. This will help you to apply the right amount of fertilizer for the area. Most people discover that they have better results using too little fertilizer rather than too much. Too much can lead to additional problems. Lastly, if you have not performed a soil test, now would be a good time to do one. You can either pick up the kit from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office or download the instructions and form at http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/. A soil test will let you know how much fertilizer to apply and more specifically what nutrients are needed for optimum growth.

Most annual winter grasses and weeds that plague lawns in late winter and early spring begin to germinate in September and October. The best way to stop them in the lawn is to apply a pre-emergence herbicide before the weed seeds start to germinate. Now is a good time to work on this problem as well. Pre-emergent herbicides are chemicals that kill weed seedlings as they germinate. They are not effective once weeds grow beyond the seedling stage. They should be applied according to the label in a uniform broadcast treatment, followed by at least 1/2 inch of rain or irrigation to move the product down to the soil where it is activated.

Post-emergence herbicides are used for weeds which have already begun to show up. You have to be careful with these because most of them can damage St. Augustine grass if temperatures are in the mid to upper 80's. There is a "window" of time in the fall to catch the broadleaf winter weeds. The earlier you catch them the better. Just watch out for days which are too warm. Also be careful not to get them on desirable flowers, shrubs, etc. They don't know the difference between a broadleaf weed and a broadleaf ornamental!

Over-seeding is generally not recommended on St. Augustine lawns. It competes with the grass for sunlight, nutrients and water. The additional competition from over-seeding slows spring recovery of the turf. If your turf is stressed or weak already, I would avoid over-seeding altogether. It will only make the problem worse.

Just remember to reduce your watering as temperatures start to cool off over the next few months. Turf will not need the typical 1 per week watering. Excessive water will only be wasted. Reducing or turning off irrigation will not only save water but will reduce your water bill.

Dont forget to send your garden questions to Plant Answers at 9020 Airport Rd., Conroe TX 77303 or e-mail: mpotter@ag.tamu.edu.

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October the best time to fertilize your lawn

WEST CALDWELL TWP. The Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education voted Monday to authorize a special school district election on Tuesday, Dec. 9, on a proposed school facilities project bond referendum.

Superintendent James Heinegg said he plans to give a brief overview of the proposed project during next weeks Board of Education meeting on Monday, Oct. 13. No information, such as the size of the project or the estimated cost, will be released until then.

Board of Education President Mary Davidson also said that more information about the facilities bond referendum will be provided during upcoming Home School Association meetings, district elementary school family nights, and over events, as well as through the district website and newsletter. A final presentation for the public will take place at James Caldwell High School on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

In addition to further details on the facilities bond referendum, next Mondays board meeting will also include recognition of faculty and student achievements and National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists, as well as a superintendents report on district standardized test scores.

Interim Business Administrator/Board Secretary Mark Kenney filled in for Kerry Keane, who resigned from the position back in August. Thomas Lambe, formerly of the Ho Ho Kus and Hopatcong school districts, will take over as the new business administrator/board secretary starting Monday, Oct. 27.

Seeds Of Discontent

In other business, when the floor was open to questions from the public, Kevin and Terry Murray of West Caldwell expressed concerns about workers seeding the field and operating machinery and moving vehicles at Jefferson School while children played on the playground and other areas in close proximity. They also inquired if any chemicals were being used around the children.

Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Frank Ennis told the Murrays that no chemicals were used, just water, grass seed, and a paper mulch product. He said that the crews use equipment designed to prevent flying debris, and that the workers are instructed to keep at least 15 feet away from students on the grounds.

If there is a turning blade, there is a potential for some rock or something to ricochet. If something happens to someone, then you will need another bond referendum to pay for the damages, said Kevin Murray.

Kids are curious about what is going on. What if an impulsive child is playing ball on the grass? Weve seen trucks show up at 8:45 and 11:45 no less than three times a week, said Terry Murray.

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Special election for facilities bond referendum set for Caldwell-West Caldwell school district

azfamily.com

Posted on October 7, 2014 at 2:45 PM

Updated yesterday at 5:15 PM

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) -- Gates are now unlocked and tape has been taken down in much of northern Arizona's Oak Creek Canyon with the reopening of many areas that were closed nearly three months because of a major wildfire.

That's good news for visitors and businesses alike, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.

The threat of flooding prompted the Forest Service to close its land within the canyon in July, but most developed recreation sites, vehicle pullouts, swimming holes and hiking trails reopened last week.

The heaviest monsoon rains skirted the area during late summer, so there was little flooding.

Operators of businesses serving visitors are pleased to have the canyon reopened.

"It's starting to feel like a normal fall," said Frank Garrison, owner of The Butterfly Garden Inn and a critic of the closure.

Much of the canyon located between Sedona and Flagstaff wasn't scarred by the nearly 33-square-mile Slide Fire, but thousands of acres inside the canyon and above its rims were.

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Oak Creek Canyon reopens after closure due to fire

Stacy Walters demonstrates the Push Reel Lawn Mower
This is grass seeding season! http://www.shop.com/jvglenn/search/Reel+Lawn+Mower?sort_popular= t=0 k=30 . If you have new seedlings remember not to mow them ...

By: John Glenn

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Stacy Walters demonstrates the Push Reel Lawn Mower - Video