poloJune2023

Polo

President, Lisa Stortzum LISA@polohoaboard.com

Vice President, Jonathan Brinson JON@polohoaboard.com

Treasurer, Jerry Springer JERRY@polohoaboard.com

Secretary Laura Vega LAURA@polohoaboard.com

Member-at-Large, Jason Martin JASON@polohoaboard.com

Community Manager, Jasmin Ilazovic jIlazovic@cmacommunities.com

To reach all the board members please email: BOARD@poloHOAboard.com

POLO

Architectural Control Committee Chair Patrick Burch ACC@polohoa.com

(An ACC form may be found on POLOHOA.com)

Club Relations, Ray Drummond CLUBRELATIONS@polohoa.com

Digital Media Manager, OPEN

Social Committee, Whitney Dylan Whitney@polohoaboard.com

Technology Committee, Denise Architetto TECHNOLOGY@polohoa.com

Welcoming Committee, Whitney Dylan WELCOME@polohoa.com

Zoning Committee, Lisa Stortzum ZONING@polohoa.com

Register

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2022 HOA BOD

COMMITTEES

Social Circle Polo's

Calendar from the Club

Every Wednesday Wednesday Night Supper

1st and 3rd Thursdays Trivia

2nd and 4th Thursdays Prime Rib Night

Every Friday Friday Night Out

Polo HOA

Event

F3 ALPHA

Free Men's Workouts! F3 has recently launched a new workout location at Midway Park, which in close proximity to Polo, additionally there are a few other workout locations (Fowler Park, Sharon Springs & Halcyon) in the area. Here is the schedule for each location: Sbaron Springs Park (Cumming), on mondays at 5:30 am • Fowler Park (Cumming), on wednesdays at 5:30 am • Midway Park (Cumming), on fridays at 5:30 am • Halcyon (Alpharetta), on saturdays at 7:00 am F3 Alpha : www.f3alpha.com

POLO MEN'S BREAKFAST WEBSITE!

WWW.POLOMENSBREAKFAST.COM

Open to ALL men of the Polo subdivision, Vickery, and surrounding area. Club membership is NOT required.

Cost is $10 paid at the door. Great buffet breakfast!

GOAL: To build a sense of community among all men in the Polo and Vickery subdivisions and surrounding area through a quarterly breakfast where we get to know each other and share about activities in our community, civic organizations, churches, and the Polo Club.

INVITE FRIENDS! Invite a neighbor! If you are planning to attend please consider asking a neighbor to join you who has not attended before.

FOR INFORMATION: Heinz Wegener 770-886-8005 ext 222 | 404-213-7628 | heinzw@mindspring.com

POLO WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB

The Polo Women's Book Club includes women from the Polo Subdivision and surrounding area. We meet the fi rst Friday of each month at the Polo Clubhouse at 11:00 a.m. A new book is discussed each month. Sometimes we have guest speakers or plan a fun outing. To connect with us prior to the next luncheon and see the upcoming book, check out the Polo Book Club Facebook page or call Perrie Tucker at 678-642-3369, email perrietuck@mac.com. We encourage newcomers and friends!

MAGNIFICENT MOMS OF POLO FIELDS

You’re cordially invited to join our new Facebook Group, Magnificent Moms Of Polo Fields. We’ll be posting Neighborhood Play-Dates, Mom’s Night Outs, Parent Socials, Local Events, Sharing Stories, and much more. WANT IN?! Simply type in “Magnificent Moms Of Polo Fields” in your Facebook search bar, click on the Group, then click Join Group! Whitney Dylan | Social Committee Chair | whitney@polohoaboard.com

FORSYTH-CUMMING OPTIMIST AVENUE OF FLAGS

Show Your Patriotism!

Picture your street lined with flags for the patriotic holidays! ForsythCumming Optimist Club members will place a 3’ x 5' American Flag on a 10 ft. pole in front of every subscribers’ home or business! • Memorial Day, Flag Day, Labor Day through 9/11 Day of Remembrance, Veteran’s Day, President’s Day • Visit our website for all the details: www.fcoptimists.org. Proceeds help fund youth scholarships, and many other Club supported initiatives for Forsyth County Youth.

TRASH BIN NOTICE

The trash bins at Polo Outdoors are provided as a courtesy. They were put in place so residents have a place to put trash from gatherings at Polo Outdoors.

We have been seeing an increase in household trash being dumped in the trash bins. The trash bins are not in place for residents to dump their personal trash from the week. Please be respectful of your community and do not take advantage of our amenities at Polo Outdoors.

REFUSE AND STORAGE AREAS

Garbage and refuse must be placed in containers and shall be capped and maintained so that they are inaccessible by animals. The containers shall be concealed within buildings, concealed by a screening wall of material similar to and compatible with that of the home or concealed by landscaping to provide a permanent screen from view of the street, adjacent property and golf course. Garbage containers may be placed on street the night before scheduled pick-up by collection service.

February 18th

March 11th

March 14th - 16th

March 30th

April 12th

2023 GOLF CALENDAR

Polo Chili Scramble

Polo Men's Golf Association (PMGA) Opening Day

Spring Greens Aeration

Polo Ladies' Golf Association (PLGA) Opening Day

Polo Senior Men's Golfing Association (PSMGA)

Member/Member

May 5th - 7th

May 17th

June 1st - 3rd

June 15th - 17th

July 3rd

July 12th

July 21st-23rd

August 10th-11th

August 19th-20th

September 5th-7th

September 22nd-24th

September 27th

October 20th-22rd

November 18th

December 16th

PMGA Member/Member

PSMGA Member/Guest

Polo Men's Member/Guest

Polo Ladies' Invitational

Flag Day

PSMGA Member/Guest

Polo Cup

PLGA Member/Member

Junior Club Championships

Fall Greens Aeration

Polo Club Championships

PSMGA Member/Guest

PMGA Member/Member

Turkey Shoot

Santa Scramble

2023 PSMGA Golf Season

On behalf of the Polo Senior Men’s Golf Association (PSMGA) Board of Directors - it is our pleasure to announce your 2023 PSMGA Golf Season.

SAVE THE DATES - PSMGA GOLF AND SOCIAL EVENTS CALENDAR:

• April 12th - Member / Member Tournament; evening dinner with wives

• May 17th - Member / Guest Tournament

• July 12th - Member / Guest Tournament

• Sep 27th - Member / Member Tournament; evening dinner with wives.

Interested in additional tournaments and/or match play?

As a benefit of your 2023 PSMGA membership, you are invited to participate in the North Atlanta Senior Men’s Golf Association (NASMGA). The NASMGA tournament/match play schedule is on their homepage www.nasmga.golfgenius.com   For new NASMGA member registration, go to “Quick Links” located on the NASMGA site.

The PSMGA Board is excited to host these events for our members. We look forward to great course conditions and challenging member tournaments. Most importantly, we look forward to seeing you on the course!

If you have any questions regarding the PSMGA or participating in NASMGA, please reach out to:  Bill Gregory, President 2023 PSMGA  (bklmsg@gmail.com)  Play Well!

2023 PSMGA Board of Directors

PLEASE READ

ACC REQUESTS

The Polo ACC is proud to now allow our homeowner's to submit their ACC Requests electronically through the Community Website.

You will need to log into your Polo Homeowner's Association Website Account and click on the Hyperlink as shown below.

Paper forms are no longer accepted.

Front Porch Verified

Tired of seeing so many DIFFERENT VENDORS driving through our neighborhood?

How do you know which vendor is TRUSTED? Which is INSURED?

Is there a place to find out which vendors OUR NEIGHBORS PREFER? We

LOOKING FOR A SATURDAY GOLF GROUP?

The Renegades are looking for guys who enjoy golf and wish to meet new friends. Our friendly, Saturday morning games have plenty of fun along with great exercise and camaraderie. If this fits your game plan, contact the Golf Shop or Alan Thompson 678-488-1659. We would love to have you join the Renegades .

Golf Reminders

BE SAFE! FRIENDLY REMINDERS FROM POLO HOA

Please remember that when walking or jogging through the neighborhood you should be facing (walking into) traffic. This allows you to see oncoming vehicles and allows you to get your pets out of the way as well. If you are on a bicycle (or moving vehicle) you should be going in the same direction as the traffic.

GOLF CARTS

General Federal Law for Golf Carts: Under current NHTSA interpretations and regulations, so long as golf cars and other similar vehicles are incapable of exceeding 20 miles per hour, they are subject to only state and local requirements regarding safety equipment. However, if these vehicles are originally manufactured so that they can go faster than 20 miles per hour, they are treated as motor vehicles under Federal law. The standard requires low-speed vehicles to be equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, tail lamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and vehicle identification numbers.

Only those who have a valid driver’s license are allowed to drive a golf cart ALONE. If, however, the driver is at least 12 years of age and accompanied by a licensed adult age 18 or older, they may operate the golf cart. EXCEPTION: If the driver is 15 and holds a permit, he/she may operate the golf cart alone. Golf carts may only operate on streets with posted speed limits of 35 MPH and under. This does not prohibit golf carts or lowspeed motor vehicles from crossing any road or street at properly marked crossings.

REQUIRED GOLF CART EQUIPMENT

All golf carts must have braking systems, a reverse warning device, tail lamps, a horn and hip restraints and must weigh less than 1,300 lbs and not top speeds of 20mph.

Golf carts that are operated between sunrise and sunset must be equipped with headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and a windshield. Golf carts that do not meet these additional standards shall only be operated during the hours between sunrise and sunset.

ADDITIONAL GOLF CART RELATED INFORMATION

NOTICE!

GEORGIA

GOLF

CART

& LOW SPEED VEHICLE LAWS

Guidelines for Golf Carts and PTVs (Personal Transportation Vehicles)

Golf carts may be operated on sidewalks only if the driver yields the right-ofway to all pedestrians, bicycle riders or others not using a golf cart.

The golf course is private property and can be very dangerous for those engaging in nongolfing activities. For everyone's safety, NO unauthorized use is allowed including walking, jogging, fishing, pets, bikes, skateboards and personal golf carts. Only club sta , and golfers who have checkedin with the Golf Shop, are allowed on the golf course. Thank you for your understanding.

THISAFFECTSYOU!

DIRECTORY UPDATE

In an effort to have a correct directory we ask all residents create an account at www.PoloHOA.com This will enable you to:

B Vote online

B Receive Eblast of community events and notices. Please update your contact information at www.PoloHOA.com under "Resources."

To create an account visit the website and click “Register” in the top right corner. If you have any issues please email technology@polohoa.com

POLO LADIES GOLF ASSOCIATION

Leagues & Tournament info!

League play Thursday mornings • Non-competitive golf Tuesdays

The PLGA is a friendly, competitive group of women who enjoy playing 18 holes of golf. Our league play is on Thursday mornings, but we also have a non-competitive golf day on Tuesdays. We have a number of tournaments throughout the year that provide a challenge with friendly competition. Just a few examples of these are: Member/ Member, Member/Guest, Net Tournaments and Queen of Clubs.

If you are interested in joining our group please contact: Jeanne Young | 770-855-4383 | Jyoung47golf@gmail.com

ATTENTION DRIVERS!!

Please remember to use parking lots at the tennis courts and pool. Do not park on the street. This will help traffic around the courts and the safety of all.

NOTES

Polo Golf & Country Club 2018

Polo HOA website: www.PoloHOA.com

2023 Tennis Calendar of Events

NOTICE!!

We now require that residents submit their listing each month by the 15th. If you don't submit each month it will not be included.

SUBMIT YOUR AD TO: JASMIN ILAZOVIC AT JILAZOVIC@CMACOMMUNITIES.COM. YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS MUST BE IN THE SUBJECT LINE.

Please verify your ad meets the following requirements:

• HOA Dues Compliant: All residents that are up to date on their HOA dues will be eligible to publish.

• Only Polo Residents and Direct Family Living in Polo, submitting for personal business are eligible.

• Ad must be submitted as an email, no attachments accepted

• Ad is not over 50 total word/number maximum (phone numbers = 1 word)

Polo Listing Disclaimer

The Polo Home Owners Association reserves the right to reject, alter, or refuse any advertising published under the “Free Resident Business Listing” (editorial section of the monthly newsletter) in its sole discretion or disapprove any advertising in accordance with the interest of the Polo residents. We reserve the right to revise this Publishing Policy regularly to uphold the quality and integrity of both Polo HOA Newsletter and the Polo HOA website in its entirety.

REALTOR® , MAC TAYLOR, KELLERWILLIAMS REALTY COMMUNITY PARTNERS

404-271-9551 or mactaylor@kw.com

Call or email me for a no cost, no obligation comparable market analysis when you are ready to sell your home. Also tell your family and friends to contact me for help getting the highest price in the shortest time using advanced technology.

DESIGNS BY SUSAN

Susan Eckles 770 410 0334 www.designsbysusan-ga.com

4825 Atlanta Hwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004

Since 1987 we have been a locally owned and operated Custom Picture Frame Store. Our professionals handle your old photos and cherished art work with care as we provide structure, beauty, and preservation.

REALTOR, DIANE CURRIE, HOME SMART REALTY

Phone: 770-827-1460

Email: dianecurrie8@gmail.com

23-year active Polo resident. Full-time REALTOR with appraisal background.Member of National Association of Realtors. Homes in Polo are in demand Considering a larger home or downsizing? Let me help with a free market analysis. Professional photographer w/ drone pictures included with your listing in all major websites. I have Buyers wanting to move into Polo in Spring/Summer of 2023. Referrals of friends & family are greatly appreciated.

ALLSTATE INSURANCE

AGENT – RYAN J. DITTMAR

Email: ryanjdittmar@allstate.com

Office: 770-242-6355

Since 1999 I’ve been helping my clients protect what’s most important to them. I enjoy building relationships, getting to know families, and truly understanding their individual needs. I recognize that in today’s world a “One Size Fits All” approach doesn’t always work. If you’re concerned that your house might not have enough coverage or if your liability from car accident could wipe out your bank account, give us a call. We’ll be happy to review your AUTO, HOME, BUSINESS & LIFE INSURANCE needs. Our goal is to provide the protection you need with the exceptional service you deserve!

REALTOR, TONI ROBERTS - COMPASS

Phone: 678-467-3674 Email:Toni.Roberts@compass.com

Want to sell, but need to make some updates to your home and don’t know where to start?  Get fronted the cost of home improvement services with no interest - ever!  COMPASS

Concierge is the hassle-free way to sell your home faster and for a higher price with services like staging, flooring, painting and more.  Contact me, your neighbor, Polo resident and full time Realtor with The All Points Team at Compass to learn more.

HANDYMAN JEFF JANOS

404-434-7532

I am able to remove/install high ceiling (2nd story) lighting/fans, remove/install plumbing fixtures, door hardware, TV wall mounting, furniture assembly, camera installation, low voltage accent lighting. Small general projects. Garage door replacement. MINOR deck/ fence repair, drywall, trim repair/painting.

CENTURY 21 RESULTS

Alisa Veletanlic, Beyond Real Estate Team, 678-525-3400, Office: 770-889-6090

As a Polo resident, I know the true value of our community and would love to earn your business! We take pride in what we do. Our biggest goal is to communicate with our clients at every step so you always know what is going on! We care about your experience with us and therefore we will respect your needs and put them above everything else!

“ON THE BEACH” IN WEST END PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL

Steve or Lori Burke directly

Phone: 770-598-1374/770-656-8729

Email: steveloriburke@bellsouth.net.

This 2BR/ 2.5BA townhome is located between Panama City and Emerald Coast beaches (minutes to Rosemary and Seaside).  Pirate Cove Villa #110 is literally steps away from private beach without any stairs/elevators or roads to cross.  This home with full kitchen and laundry accommodates up to 6 people with 1 king, 1 queen and 1 twin beds.  For more information, weekly rates ($1500 to $3250) and availability please visit ECBYO.com/10647

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC, OCEANFRONT 3BD/3BATH CONDO

102 NORTH OCEAN BLVD., UNIT 607, N. MYRTLE BEACH, SC

Located at the Ashworth Tower adjacent to Main Street, within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and homemade icecream, you will love this spacious unit, complete with full size kitchen, washer and dryer, new HVAC, the ability to park outside the unit on the 6th floor, and VIEWS to LOVE!

Unit accommodates one to six people comfortably, feels like home, and is the PERFECT height above the ocean.  Low enough to view the sand and crashing waves and changing tides, but high enough to mute the ground level noise from the beach and multiple swimming pools.

For more information, call Annie Colley at 800-525-0225, x453.  Reservations are through Elliott Beach Rentals.

Note:  This unit is also for sale at $675,000.  Interested parties may call our realtor, Justin Thompson of BRG Real estate, 843-798-2652.

TUTORING

kksumlin@comcast.net

I tutor both high school and college levels of Mathematics and Spanish. With over 25 years of experience, my gift is the ability to present difficult concepts in a way that students can grasp. I have a BS in Mathematics, earned with a GPA of 4.0.

STRONG SUDS PREMIUM PRESSURE WASHING

Kai Hayes (678-910-5747)

We are a father son team proudly serving Polo and surrounding areas with 70+ satisfied polo residents. We began the business four years ago on a mission to strive for completely satisfied customers by offering thorough attention to detail, quality work, and competitive pricing.

BOVENZI TILE

Email: bovenzitile@gmail.com

Phone: 770-315-7850

Are you thinking of renovating your beautiful Polo home? With over 30 years in the tile industry, Bovenzi Tile’s reputation supersedes our competitors. With attention to detail and exceptional customer service, let us help you create a spa-like oasis with a new bathroom remodel. Or are you looking to reinvent the heart of the home. The kitchen is were the family gathers, entertains friends and creates memories.  We walk you through each stage of the process and make sure your questions are never left unanswered  We provide the experience needed for a great process and cutting edge product knowledge. Customer referrals are our biggest compliment.  Check us out at bovenzitile.com , or simply give us a call and we would be happy to speak with you. Let us help you rediscover your home.

THE REAL ESTATE CORNER

BY LISA MALIN LOVINS

YOU’VE ASKED AND WE’VE LISTENED!

Welcome back to The Real Estate Corner. As a resident of Polo and an active Realtor I am so honored to bring you monthly articles helping you to stay informed on fluctuating market stats and to answer any questions you may have. It is truly my pleasure and passion to assist you.

We want to move downsize now that our son is graduating and going to college. We will have to sell to buy our next home. Can you tell us where to start?

C ongratulations to your son and to you, such a great achievement for all of you! The first place to start is defining your downsizing goals. Determine what is most important to you in your next home. Consider factors such as size, yardwork, maintenance requirements, location, amenities, and accessibility. This will help you focus your search and narrow down your options. Second, assess your financial situation by speaking with a local reputable lender to understand your financial options. They can help you determine your budget,

explore mortgage options, and provide pre-approval for a new home loan if needed. Then, reach out to a Realtor who is experienced in your local market. Look for an agent who listens to your needs and understands your downsizing goals. They can guide you through the buying and selling process and provide valuable insights and advice. Especially when it comes to submitting an offer that is contingent on your home selling, and how that impacts your offer. There may be options of coordinating closings on the same day or negotiating temporary occupancy, so that you can stay in your old home a few days before moving to the new one.

We are thinking of putting our house on the market just to see what we can get, but we don’t have to move until October, so it doesn’t matter if it takes a while to sell. Is there a better time of year to sell?

L et’s look at what is most important to you and your goals and then compare it to the trending market data. Evaluating factors such as days on market, pricing adjustments,

contract to list price, and average days for homes in a similar price range to go under contract can provide valuable insights. My immediate advice is, do not test the market unless you are motivated to sell. When you list your home, it will create a listing log available to the public online and if it doesn’t sell, the stigma attached may be that there is something wrong with it or that it is priced incorrectly. If the tables were turned and you were a buyer, if a home sat on the market for 90 days or more, would you offer full asking price? Without a crystal ball to look into the future, Realtors must rely on the data and indications of shifts happening in the market to help their clients make the best decision. So, it truly comes down to your motivation and timing. No matter how far in advance you are looking to move, start working with an agent now to begin the process. Time flies when you are having fun packing and getting a home ready to sell.

Can we sell our home as is? We don’t want to replace carpet, paint or fix anything since the new owners will change it all anyway.

T he answer depends on you and your goals. Technically “as is” relays a message that the seller has priced the home to sell and expresses that they are not wanting to do any repairs. This does not mean that the buyers will not ask for anything during the due diligence (the inspection period). In today’s market, we have seen that buyers are looking at the overall general upkeep of home maintenance and newer systems and sometimes it will take precedence over the cosmetic upgrades such a flooring, painting or minor kitchen and bath renovations. No matter what, pricing the home in the condition that it is in is key to getting your home sold quickly. Your Realtor should give you different levels of pricing to help you decide what is best for your financial goals.

How much is my house worth? My neighbor’s house sold for “this”.

T here are a lot of moving parts to this question and definitely not a simple answer without seeing the inside of your house and comparing it to actual comparable properties not just a neighbor’s home. Trust an experienced Realtor to do a home evaluation for you with detailed

pricing, comps and a look at what the market projects for your home. Your home should not be priced on a feeling or an emotion so if someone gives you a number over the phone or on line, it may not be accurate. Data is data and that is a true interpretation of the market.

W ill home prices come down with the uncertainties of the economy and interest rates?

T his is definitely the million-dollar question, and the fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. However, it’s important to note that the relationship between the economy, interest rates, and home prices is complex and can vary based on different factors, including location and local market conditions. Additionally, other factors such as housing supply (we have just over one month’s worth of housing inventory here in our area and a balanced market is six months worth of supply), population growth, and government policies (lender requirements) can also influence home prices. If you’re interested in buying or selling a home, it’s advisable to consult with real estate professionals and

your financial advisors who can provide more specific and up-to-date information based on your local market and your financial goals. They can offer insights into the factors affecting home prices and help you make informed decisions.

T hank you all for these great questions and keep them coming! I want to leave you with this: your needs, your must haves, your motivation, and your goals are YOURS. And it’s important to consider them when making any real estate decisions. Seeking advice and guidance from professionals in the field can be invaluable, as they can provide you with reliable information and help you make informed choices based on your specific needs and goals. My goal is to provide value, ideas, tips and tricks to making the most of your investment in real estate. Have questions or topics you would like to see in the future? Please email me at lisamalin@kw.com.

H ow much is my house worth? My neighbor’s house sold for “this”.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE COMMON QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR NEIGHBORS HERE IN POLO.

WANT HELP STAYING COOL? GET OUT YOUR LAWN MOWER…

I recently received the following question.

Dave - In an effort to make our a/c unit less conspicuous in the backyard my wife has allowed plants to grow up around it. I tried to tell her that this is potentially bad for the unit but she doesn’t agree.

We’ve agreed to let you decide. Help!

John in Lithia Springs

So, first of all – this is what I really love, the entire sanctity of a marriage hinging on my word. Sorry wife, I’m on John’s side on this one and here’s why.

Your a/c unit needs to be able to breathe. It takes fresh air in on the sides and exhausts hot air out of the top. It also needs room to be services and washed.

Therefore your unit should be clear of any obstructions, from plants to more permanent structures like a fence or your house for at least 18” on every side.

Not only that, but in case someone thinks you should build a deck over the unit, there should be at least 5 ft. of clearance on the top of the unit as well.

So John, keep the area around your a/c unit clean and clear of debris. If you want to make your wife happy, feel free to plant and maintain some nice shrubbery about 3 ft. away from the unit.

Just make sure you leave room for the service man to get to your unit. Also leave room for your tent so that you will have a place to sleep.

WEATHER BY CHRISTINA

Summer pop up storms can bring some of the worst weather of the year

Afternoon “pop up” thunderstorms are common this time of year, courtesy of our area’s warm and humid conditions. But sometimes, these pop up storms can be strong enough to produce wind damage -- including downed trees and powerlines. Some of the worst weather of the year can occur in the late spring and summer months as these storms produce torrential downpours as well as frequent lightning, and winds strong enough to topple trees.

But what makes a storm strong enough to be considered “severe”?

SEVERE STORM CRITERIA

A “bad storm” can be rather intense to drive through, and the thunder can be rather loud, but a thunderstorm is considered “severe” if it produces any of the following:

Ƚ Wind gusts 58 mph or greater (Why 58 mph? Because the traditional wind speed unit is knots, and 50 knots converts to 58 mph.)

Ƚ Hail that is 1 inch in diameter or greater (the size of a U.S. quarter)

Ƚ Tornado(es)

What are the main impacts from severe thunderstorms?

Lightning: While lightning is not a criterion for classifying a storm as severe, a “lightning jump” or large increase of lightning strikes in a short amount of time can signify a rapidly strengthening thunderstorm. These thunderstorms contain strong updrafts, or upward moving winds, that push water droplets and ice crystals higher in the atmosphere. Along the way, friction between the rain drops and ice crystals produce different static charges in the cloud, and lightning discharges the static electrical build up within the storm cloud. The more lightning strikes within a storm, the stronger the updrafts and more than likely the stronger the winds associated with the storm.

Wind Damage: High winds are the main impacts from severe thunderstorms. Wind gusts as high as 58 mph or greater have the potential to knock down and uproot trees, down power lines, and cause structural damage to homes and buildings.

Often, in the late spring and summer, damaging winds within a thunderstorm are due to downbursts, which are rapidly-moving downward columns of rain-cooled air.

Scouting for Summer Pests!

Warmer temperatures mean summer fun, but they also bring pests to the garden and landscape. Fortunately, gardeners and homeowners spend more time outside tending to things this time of year and are able to spot some of these common pests before they become a major issue! Here are just a few to defend against.

Nothing is more heart breaking than tending to summer vegetable plants and then having them ravaged in just a matter of days. While humidity in the South is inviting for many diseases, especially on tomato plants, one thing gardeners can control is the tomato hornworm. This fat, green worm looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland, and it is anything but cute. Just one or two per tomato plant can strip it of its leaves in a matter of days. Rather than using a chemical, these guys can be plucked right off the plant by hand and then left for the birds to enjoy. Other than humans, some natural enemies to tomato hornworm are wasps and praying mantis, so you can often depend on nature to take its course.

To prevent damage by tomato hornworm, gardeners must scout plants carefully every few days, as the pest’s green color blends right in with leaves. A full sized tomato hornworm is typically an inch and a half to two inches long. If infestations are great,Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sprays are acceptable for organic control.

A favorite plant for Japanese beetles are roses, but this pest will feed on many ornamental plants and even trees throughout the summer. They’re easily identified by their iridescent green color, and the damage they cause is hard to ignore. They eat leaves down to just the veins, leaving them looking skeletonized. The effectiveness of using the yellow Japanese beetle traps is debated because, while trapping some, it may also draw a large, unwanted population to the landscape. Place the traps away from susceptible plants, and remove the trap once it’s got activity on it. Chemical control is possible to suppress them, but elimination is difficult. Read and follow pesticide labels for application amounts and timing to mitigate the risk to other, desirable insects.

Noticing yellow or browning in spots of the lawn, or perhaps soft, spongy spots? This can be damage by chipmunks, birds, and especially moles, which feed on earthworms underground. Most creatures dig up spots in the grass, but moles tunneling underneath certainly affect larger areas in the lawn by pushing soil up! Their tunnels can span an entire yard. Reducing watering and stomping the tunnels down to redirect moles are often effective methods, but are ones that need constant attention. Traps are available to stop them from tunneling, but caution must be used and the homeowner educated so as to not harm or injure the wrong animal.

April and May brought thousands of questions into county extension offices statewide about strange, toothpick-like growths coming out of the trunks of many trees- commonly figs, crape myrtles and maples. Ambrosia beetle bores into unhealthy, often weakened and thin-barked trees around the turn of spring, and what is seen along the trunk is the sawdust kicked out of the holes they’ve bored. Over the summer, a second generation will emerge from affected tree trunks to scout out more trees to continue their lifecycle. Once this damage is spotted, it is important to cut away the affected limbs or trunks and remove and either bag or burn them. Proper tree care, health, and maintenance are the best defenses against problems like this. Certified arborists can also be consulted about preventative sprays for vulnerable trees.

And finally, there’s not a person on this planet who cares formosquitoes as they try and enjoy summer fun! Keys to reducing mosquitoes are eliminating standing water in common areas and in clogged gutters and using Mosquito Dunks in desired water, like ponds and birdbaths. They’re deemed safe for birds and fish. Consider an oscillating fan while relaxing outdoors. And rather than treating your entire outdoor area, treat yourself with repellents like Off, Deet or Skin So Soft. Lastly, make some adjustments to how you get dressed! Avoid dark clothing and strongly scented soaps. Apparently that’s what they’re most attracted to. Who knew?!

Ashley Frasca is host of the radio show Green and Growing, heard on 95.5 WSB Radio every Saturday from 6-9:00 a.m. For gardening tips, information, and advice, follow her Facebook page: Facebook.com/greenandgrowingwsb