8
FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 • 1B TAMMY CHEEK tcheek@farragutpress Set up a plan, test your soil and purchase native species of trees and shrubs, Lori Saal with Farragut Office on Sustainability, recommended when Farragut area homeown- ers begin planting in their gar- dens. “Gardeners will benefit in the long term by having a lower maintenance garden that requires less irrigation,” Saal said. “Selecting the correct loca- tion for a tree or shrub depends on how large it will eventually grow and how much sunlight it needs to thrive,” Barbra Bunting, Knox County Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau chairman, said. “Many trees die because they are planted too deep and from mulch placed too close to the trunk.” The Farragut community can learn more about planting and get free trees and shrubs dur- ing a free spring garden work- shop 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, in the Longstreet Pavilion at Founders Park for- merly Campbell Station Park. Bunting said the event is a workshop on using native plants. “It will focus on recognizing invasive exotic plants in Tennessee and discuss the options for using native plants in our landscape,” she said. Bunting added people can learn how to determine the best place for their plants and learn how to plant correctly. The event, presented by Master Gardener intern Gail Erwin and Gwen Slater, Farragut's 2014 AmeriCorps service member, will include a native landscaping presenta- tion beginning at 10:30 a.m., Tammy Cheek Jason Scott, Farragut Stormwater coordinator, and Lori Saal, Sustainability coordinator, display trees the Town will be giving away during a Saturday, March 22, spring garden workshop at The Founders Park at Campbell Station. Workshop part of spring garden planning See WORKSHOP on Page 2B Large selection of Dogwoods, Spring Blooming Trees, Shrubs & Native Plants. Great Selection of Blueberries! 170 Varieties of Roses • Vegetables • Fruit Trees • Herbs • Berries • Containers & Garden Art Directions: Take I-40, exit James White Pkwy, R on Sevier Ave. 1 Mile & L on Davenport or downtown, cross the Henley St. Bridge to L on Lippencott & R on Davenport NO SALES TAX ON PLANTS Now OPEN SUNDAY M-F 8-5 • SAT 9-5 • SUN 1-5 573-9591 Stanley’s Greenhouses Garden Center & Plant Farm Stanley’s Greenhouses Garden Center & Plant Farm Terrarium Workshop with the The Staff of Stanley’s Greenhouses March 22 10:30 am Reservations not required but appreciated THE BEST SELECTION OF ANNUALS & PERENNIALS IN THE AREA! It’s Spring planting time 3029 Davenport Road www.stanleysgreenhouses.com

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Page 1: 032014 fp lawnandgarden

FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 • 1B

■ TAMMY CHEEK tcheek@farragutpress

Set up a plan, test your soiland purchase native species oftrees and shrubs, Lori Saalwith Farragut Office onSustainability, recommendedwhen Farragut area homeown-ers begin planting in their gar-dens.

“Gardeners will benefit inthe long term by having a lowermaintenance garden thatrequires less irrigation,” Saalsaid.

“Selecting the correct loca-tion for a tree or shrubdepends on how large it will

eventually grow and how muchsunlight it needs to thrive,”Barbra Bunting, Knox CountyMaster Gardeners SpeakersBureau chairman, said. “Manytrees die because they areplanted too deep and frommulch placed too close to thetrunk.”

The Farragut community canlearn more about planting andget free trees and shrubs dur-ing a free spring garden work-shop 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday,March 22, in the LongstreetPavilion at Founders Park for-merly Campbell Station Park.

Bunting said the event is aworkshop on using native

plants. “It will focus on recognizing

invasive exotic plants inTennessee and discuss theoptions for using native plantsin our landscape,” she said.Bunting added people canlearn how to determine thebest place for their plants andlearn how to plant correctly.

The event, presented byMaster Gardener intern GailErwin and Gwen Slater,Farragut's 2014 AmeriCorpsservice member, will include anative landscaping presenta-tion beginning at 10:30 a.m.,

Tammy Cheek

Jason Scott, Farragut Stormwater coordinator, and Lori Saal,Sustainability coordinator, display trees the Town will be givingaway during a Saturday, March 22, spring garden workshop atThe Founders Park at Campbell Station.

Workshop part ofspring garden

planning

See WORKSHOP on Page 2B

Large selection of Dogwoods, Spring Blooming Trees, Shrubs & Native Plants.Great Selection of Blueberries!

170 Varieties of Roses • Vegetables • Fruit Trees • Herbs • Berries • Containers & Garden Art Directions:Take I-40, exit James White Pkwy,

R on Sevier Ave. 1 Mile & L onDavenport or downtown, cross the

Henley St. Bridge to L on Lippencott & R on Davenport

NO SALES TAX ON PLANTSNow OPEN SUNDAY

M-F 8-5 • SAT 9-5 • SUN 1-5

573-9591

Stanley’s GreenhousesGarden Center & Plant Farm

Stanley’s GreenhousesGarden Center & Plant Farm

TerrariumWorkshop

with the

The Staff of

Stanley’s Greenhouses

March 2210:30 am

Reservations not required

but appreciated

THE BEST SELECTION OF ANNUALS & PERENNIALS IN THE AREA!

It’s Spring planting

time

3029 Davenport Roadwww.stanleysgreenhouses.com

Page 2: 032014 fp lawnandgarden

2B • FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 SPRING LAWN & GARDEN

and a planting demonstration by mas-ter gardeners Dan Steinhof and JennaCaldwell. Additionally, the Town willgive away free trees and shrubs, fundedby a Tennessee Wildlife ResourcesAgency grant.

Chelsey Riemann, Farragut publicrelations coordinator, said the publiccan take home any of the followingtrees and shrubs from the event: black-gum, beautyberry, buttonbush andAmerican plum.

Saal recommended putting theplants in a cool place and keeping theroots moist until they are ready toplant.

Jason Scott, Farragut Stormwatercoordinator, recommended using nativeplants in gardens.

“They are well-adapted to the areabecause they naturally occurred here,and they don’t push out other nativeplants” Scott said.

The town of Farragut StormwaterMatters Program and Office onSustainability partnered with KnoxCounty Master Gardeners to presentthe workshop, Riemann said.

Founders Park at Campbell Station islocated at 405 N. Campbell StationRoad. For more information about thespring gardening workshop, contactSaal at [email protected] or865-966-7057.

WorkshopFrom page 1B

Planning and maintaining a gardenrequires a lot of effort, which can resultin an aesthetically pleasing addition tothe landscape. But that hard work alsocan fall victim to nature when localwildlife find a garden too mouth-water-ing to resist.

In an effort to rid a garden of unwant-ed pests, gardeners may unwittinglyscare away animals and insects thatmight just protect the garden from moreill-intentioned animals. Not every crea-ture that scurries is out to get prizedpetunias or to devour tomatoes. In fact,many can prove beneficial to gardens.

BatsBats have a bad reputation, as people

unnecessarily fear bats because theybelieve them to be carriers of disease.But many bats feed off of insects or fruitsand will not harm a human. The averagebrown bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes inan hour, so it's easy to see why bats are

good to have around. Mosquitoes are notonly a nuisance but also harbor poten-tially dangerous diseases. Bats also mayeat certain rodents, which can cut downon the number of animals burrowing in ayard.

FrogsFrogs and toads will prey on insects

and make the local insect populationmore manageable. Toads eat mainlyslugs, who feed on the leaves and fruitsof many plants. Frogs and toads areattracted to water, so including a pond oranother water feature in the garden willprovide them with a habitat they like.

BirdsWhile it is true that some birds can

damage crops, many birds are content tofeed on insects attracted to the garden,which helps to keep insect numbers incheck. Chickadees, for example, will dineon aphid eggs, while larger birds may preyon mice or other rodents or simply scare

them out of the garden. Jays and mock-ingbirds are known to be feisty and caneven deter dogs and cats from a yard.Hummingbirds will sip on the nectar offlowers and help pollinate plants.

SnakesSnakes in a garden can be disconcert-

ing to some people, but snakes are idealpredators who feed on insects androdents several times their size. Snakesare the right size and shape to invadethe burrows of pest animals.

Butterflies and beesButterflies and bees are responsible

for pollinating the vast majority ofplants. Avoid using pesticides that maydiminish butterfly or bee populations. Abeehive right next to a garden may notbe practical, but don't make attempts todestroy it. Consult with a professionalbeekeeper to see what can be done tomove the beehive without destroying it.

Many animals and insects can bedetrimental to the health of a garden.However, several animals are handy tohave around and should be welcomed tothe landscape.

Helpful WildlifeMany creatures can prove beneficial to gardens

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Page 3: 032014 fp lawnandgarden

FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 • 3BSPRING LAWN & GARDEN

Many adults understand the joyof gardening, but gardening canbe equally fun for children aswell. While some adults may feelthat certain children do not havethe patience or perseverance tosee plants grow from seeds toadulthood, selecting plants thatare hardy and sprout quickly maybe the key to igniting a love ofgardening in children.

Choosing seeds that sproutquickly can hold the attention ofchildren who are new to garden-ing. Many different plants fit thisbill. Beans, peas, sunflower seedsand bell pepper seeds are easy tostart and germinate quickly. Inaddition, many leafy vegetablessuch as chard, lettuce, spinachand mustard, germinate in threeto five days. Herbs, such as basiland parsley, also sprout fast. Allof these plants are good optionsfor introducing children to gar-dening, as each provides quickgratification.

To further interest children, itis a good idea to plant seeds in away that allows youngsters tomonitor the progress of growth.Use a transparent container, suchas rinsed-out glass jars and canis-ters, to house the plant. Suchcontainers give kids an unob-structed view of the process, dur-ing which children can plot theprogress of seed germination andeasily spot root and stem develop-ment. Once the seedlings growlarger, they can be transplantedinto different containers.

Many seedlings can sprout withwater alone. Children can easilygrow new plants from clippings ofa mature plant left resting in ashallow cup of water, and seedsmay not even need soil to germi-nate. Kids may have luck sprin-

kling seeds on a dampened,crumpled-up piece of papertowel. Cotton balls also make agood place to nestle seeds. Eithermaterial will hold on to water,keeping the seeds moist untilthey sprout. Afterward, theseedlings can be carefully movedinto a soil-and-compost mix. Thepaper towel and the cotton ballswill decompose and add to theorganic matter already in thesoil.

Edible plants often make goodchoices for children because kidscan reap the rewards of theirefforts. Herbs can be sprinkledonto food, or fruits and vegeta-bles can be grown in containersand then served at mealtime.Kids can show pride in theiraccomplishments, especially ifthey have tangible results on thedinner plate.

Children who want to try some-thing different can explore othertypes of plants. Aquatic plants, orthose found at the pet store togrow in aquariums, can be easy togrow. They need little more thana container, fresh water and sun-light. Cacti and other succulentsalso are fun to explore. Theseplants are quite hardy in thatthey can stand up to moderateabuse, such as failure to waterfrequently enough. The uniqueappearance of cacti make theminteresting focal points for anindoor garden.

A love of gardening that's fos-tered inside also can be exploredoutdoors. Set aside a plot of dirtwhere kids can sow their ownseeds and tend to their own gar-dens. This hobby can help chil-dren learn patience and hardwork while fostering an apprecia-tion of nature.

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Page 4: 032014 fp lawnandgarden

4B • FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 SPRING LAWN & GARDEN

Proper watering is essential when tryingto restore or maintain a lush green lawn. Ifwatered incorrectly, a lawn can be suscep-tible to a host of problems, includinginsect infestation, weak roots and disease.

When watering a lawn, especially whentemperatures start to soar in the summer,it's easy to think a lawn needs more waterand needs it during those hours of the daywhen the sun is at its most intense.However, those are two common miscon-ceptions about watering. The following area handful of tips for homeowners who wantto help their lawns endure the summerheat and maintain their lush appeal intothe fall.

Water when temperaturesare mild.

In the summertime, humans typicallyneed water when temperatures are attheir most extreme, but that does notmean lawns should be watered when tem-peratures soar. Water attracts the sun, sowatering when temperatures are at theirhottest, which is typically around middayand into early afternoon, will likely lead tobrown spots indicative of a burned lawn.That's because the sun will be drawn tothe water, bearing down on the lawn andburning the grass as a result. When sum-mer arrives, a lawn is best watered whentemperatures are at their most mild. That

often translates to early morning or earlyevening. An added benefit of wateringwhen temperatures are on the mild side isless water will be lost to evaporation dur-ing this time, meaning you won't be wast-ing water.

Situate sprinklers toconserve water.

Homeowners who won't be hand water-ing their lawns should make sure theirsprinklers are placed properly throughouttheir property. Situate sprinklers so theyaren't watering driveways, walkways orpatios. All of the water should be going tothe grass, especially when drought restric-tions are in place and the amount of water-ing the law allows is limited. It's alsoimportant to make sure water from sprin-klers isn't being blocked from reaching thegrass by trees. Homeowners with especial-ly large trees on their property should con-sider hand watering the grass beneathsuch trees to ensure these areas receiveadequate water.

Lean on mulch.Homeowners tend to fear drought for a

variety of reasons, not the least of which isthat drought can cause a green lawn toturn brown, potentially affecting propertyvalue and robbing a landscape of its beau-ty. But there are ways to help the soilretain moisture when temperatures are

Lush lawnThe right watering can make all the difference

Watering a lawn can do more harm than good if the lawn is not wateredcorrectly. Excessive watering is a waste of water and can cost homeownersmoney while harming the environment at the same time. Water that is notabsorbed by the lawn can result in runoff, which causes nitrogen in thegrass, any fertilizer that was applied and chemicals in the water itself torun into gutters and eventually pollute streams, rivers and oceans. In addi-tion, grass needs oxygen in the soil to grow properly. But when a lawn isoverwatered, the oxygen between the soil particles is pushed out, depriv-ing roots of the oxygen they need to grow in strong. This leads to shallowroot systems, which make a lawn more susceptible to stress, disease andinsect infestation. But overwatering can also be unsightly, as lawns thatare overwatered tend to have more weeds, robbing even the greenest oflawns of its aesthetic appeal.

DID YOU KNOW?

especially hot and dry. Mulch around trees,flower beds, gardens and shrubs can helphomeowners get the most bang for theirwatering buck. That's because mulchretains moisture, even when temperaturesare especially hot. This helps fosterstronger root growth and healthier land-scapes that are less susceptible to diseaseand insect infestation.

Get to know your lawn.Several variables combine to determine

how much water a lawn needs.Understanding these variables helpshomeowners understand how much to

water their own lawns. Local climate is avariable to consider, as is whether or not alawn was fertilized (experts typically rec-ommend a lawn be fertilized several times,beginning in the spring and ending inOctober). Soil type and grass type also helpto determine how much water a lawnneeds, and homeowners who need todetermine the type of soil and grass ontheir property can consult a local lawncare center or landscaping professional.

Proper watering can help a lawn survivethe dog days of summer, and it's up tohomeowners to learn the right techniques.

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FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 • 5BSPRING LAWN & GARDEN

Trees serve many purposes for a landscape,providing shade and habitats for birds and otheranimals and serving as natural blinds betweentwo homes. Trees often are beautiful elements ofa natural landscape, adding aesthetic appeal to aproperty or even an entire community. But thereare times when a tree must be removed, anaction that, in many instances, requires the serv-ices of a professional tree service.

A tree with roots invading the foundation of ahome or infringing on a patio or walkway canbecome a safety hazard. Other trees may castshade where a pool is planned or cause disagree-ments between neighbors when the tree strad-dles a property line. These are instances whentree removal will be necessary, and a reputableservice can advise as to the best methods for rid-ding the property of the troublesome tree.

Homeowners will need to do a bit of planningand research to remove trees safely and securely.It is best to contact a variety of different treeremoval services and compare their offerings andprices. The cost of a tree removal will varydepending on various factors, including theheight of the tree, its width, the number ofbranches it has, its location on a property andthe proximity of that location to potential haz-ards such as power lines. Tree removal may rangefrom a few hundred dollars to several thousand.

When a tree is being removed, most of thebranches will be removed to make the tree moremanageable. Trees are rarely chopped at thebase and allowed to fall, as there simply isn'tenough room to safely take this approach.Sections of the tree will be cut, roped off andslowly lowered. A climber will scale the tree oruse a cherry picker machine to reach the top ofthe tree to facilitate the process.

The pieces of the tree will be loaded into awood-chipper for grinding before they are hauledaway. Larger, heavier portions of the stumps mayneed to be moved later on with machinery.Hauling trees off the property may cost extra, soit is important that homeowners read their con-tract thoroughly before signing on the dottedline.

Additional costs may be factored into the bill.These can include stump-and-root grinding.Trees will be cut down to the stump. To preventeyesores or tripping hazards, some homeownersopt to have the stumps ground down into saw-dust. This will not remove all of the roots but willtake care of most of the above-ground portion ofthe remaining stump. It is usually up to thehomeowner to discard the sawdust or use it as amulching material.

Expect the ground around the former tree tobe soft, and there may be a depression dependingon how much stump grinding took place. Somepeople prefer to wait a season for the ground torecover before planting something new. It maytake a while for grass to sprout where a tree wasonce located, and there may be bare spots whengrass starts to grow in.

Tree removal can be an expensive venture butis necessary for different reasons. Be sure thattree-removal services are fully insured beforesigning a contract.

Tree removalWhen to proceed,what to expect

Page 6: 032014 fp lawnandgarden

6B • FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 SPRING LAWN & GARDEN

When designing their landscapes,homeowners may envision grandiosegardens and lush lawns that are the envyof the neighborhood. But such designscan be difficult to maintain, and home-owners often find they are not worth thetime or money.

Avoiding such costly mistakes allowshomeowners to fully enjoy their lawns.The following are a few landscaping mis-takes homeowners may want to avoid sothey can spend more time enjoying theirlandscapes and less time workingaround the yard.

Planting the wrong treesand shrubs:

When planting new trees and shrubsaround your property, choose varietiesthat won't overwhelm the property bygrowing too large. Such trees and shrubscan mask other elements of a landscape,and they can also take a substantialamount of effort to maintain. Avoidspending too much time pruning treesand shrubs by opting for those that onlygrow to a particular size.

Choosing non-nativeplants:

It's always best to choose plants thatare native to a particular region. Nativeplants have already adapted to the localclimate, meaning they can withstandthe worst weather that climate has tooffer without homeowners having to putin much effort. For example, if you livein an area where drought is common,avoid planting trees, shrubs, flowers, orgrass that need ample amounts of water.Instead, opt for those varieties that cansurvive without significant

amounts of water. Exotic plants mightadd aesthetic appeal to a property, butthat appeal is often short-lived or costlyto maintain when a plant is not in itsnative climate.

Too much lawn:While a large and lush lawn appeals to

many homeowners, a yard that is allgrass can be difficult and expensive tomaintain. Lawns without trees are sus-ceptible to damage from the hot summersun, and homeowners often respond tothat threat by overwatering their lawns.Overwatering not only weakens root sys-tems, but it also leads to higher waterbills. Homeowners can downsize theirlawns by planting more trees around theproperty, adding a garden in the back-yard or even adding landscape featuresto their property.

Planting without a plan:When planting new trees around a

property, some homeowners plant with-out first considering the ideal locationsfor new trees. This can prove an expen-sive mistake. Planting too close to yourhouse may eventually threaten yourhome's foundation, as roots grow deeperand deeper into the ground. Planting tooclose to a home also may prove a securi-ty threat down the road, when the treehas grown to full height. Such trees maythreaten the home during a storm, soconsult a landscaping professional whenplanting new trees so the trees arelocated in a place that does not threatenthe value of your home or the safety ofits residents.

Landscapingmistakes to avoid

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Page 7: 032014 fp lawnandgarden

Gardening is a rewarding hobby withthousands of devotees. Backyard gardensprovide beauty and aesthetic appeal to alandscape, and they can be a source ofhomegrown food and a natural habitat foroutdoor wildlife. A self-sustaining gardencan be an efficient addition to any home,but gardens require upkeep and a certainmeasure of dedication.

A self-sufficient garden is a garden thatsustains itself through proper planningand execution. Such gardens can almosttake care of themselves so long as the soilis healthy soil, the seeds are reused andorganic material is produced.

Self-sustaining gardens also representa lifestyle where individuals are responsi-ble for producing their own foods -- thussustaining themselves without the needto shop for produce elsewhere. Whenplanting your own self-sustaining garden,consider the following tips.

Start with soilHealthy soil is essential to a thriving

garden. The soil must have the right pH,correct texture and composition, and befull of nutrients. Very often the native soilin yards is not adequate to keep a gardenthriving. In such instances, the soil needsto be improved. Adding compost -- whichcan be produced in the yard as well – tothe soil will enrich the soil with nitrogen,phosphorous and potassium.

Maintain proper soil con-sistency

Soil that is the right consistency, mean-ing the optimum balance of sand, clay

and actual soil, is another necessity for aself-sustaining garden. The ideal ratioshould be 40 percent sand, 40 percent siltand 20 percent clay. Having the right bal-ance of soil can secure root formationand promote proper drainage.

Test the pHCertain plants need a specific pH in

order to grow. A neutral pH range is typi-cally ideal for growing vegetables. A pHtester can be purchased from a gardeningcenter. Amend the soil accordingly to getthe soil back to its correct level.

Know the growing season Vegetables should be planted during

the season in which they will thrive. Peas,beets and cabbage, for example, are cold-temperature vegetables, while cucum-bers, squash and melons thrive in warmclimates. Plant accordingly so that thevegetables will have the best chances forsuccess.

Purchase quality seeds Use fresh seeds, particularly ones that

have been harvested from your own gar-den the year before, to have the bestchances for germination. Or buy seedsfrom a reputable source, such as a gardencenter or an online retailer who special-izes in vegetable seeds.

Start seedlings indoors.You may want to work with seedlings

indoors so that you can monitor growthand care for them more easily. Thentransplant the seedlings outside whenthey are stable enough for the elements.

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FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 • 7BSPRING LAWN & GARDEN

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For more information see us at: www.naturescapelawncare.com

Comparable discounts for larger lawns

5 APPLICATIONLAWN PROGRAMOnly $159Only $239

For Lawns 5,000 Sq. Ft. and UnderFor Lawns 10,000 Sq. Ft. and Under

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We offer comparable discounts for lawns over 10,000 sq. ft., Call for prices!

My Lawn is 10,000 sq. ft. or under� $239 5 Application Lawn Program� $89 Aeration� $199 5 Application Tree & Shrub Program

My Lawn is 5,000 sq. ft. or under� $159 5 Application Lawn Program� $59 Aeration� $149 5 Application Tree & Shrub Program

NATURESCAPE® 5 APPLICATION LAWN PROGRAM1) SPRING APPLICATION (Late March/April) Consists of a seasonal fertilizer, pre-emergent crabgrass control and broadleaf weed control.2) LATE SPRING APPLICATION (May/June) Consists of a seasonal fertilizer and broadleaf weed control.3) SUMMER APPLICATION (July/August) Consists of an application of slow release nitrogen, and if weeds are present at the time of application, a spot application of broadleaf weed control as needed. Insect control will be applied as needed.4) LATE SUMMER APPLICATION (August/September) Consists of a seasonal fertilizer and broadleaf weed control. Insect control will be applied as needed.5) FALL APPLICATION (October/November) Consists of a seasonal fertilizer that is designed tohelp develop your root system for the winter and give your lawn a faster green up in the spring.FREE SERVICE CALLS (Throughout the season) If you ever have any concerns about your lawnwe will take care of them free of charge within 72 hours.

SIMPLY FILL OUT THIS FORM AND RETURN WITH PAYMENT

TO THE ADDRESS BELOW OR ORDER ONLINE AT:

www.naturescapelawncare.com

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8B • FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 SPRING LAWN & GARDEN