ALL ABOUT THE YARD

The Attention Your Landscape Needs

(Especially after that Extreme Weather Event!)

The calls for “Please help us everything looks dead” have been well overwhelming to say the least! That once in a lifetime (or maybe about every 30-40 years) snow and ice storms did not feel like the Texas we are all used to around here! What to do now? PLEASE DO NOT GO CRAZY CUTTING BACK AND RIPPPING EVERYTHING OUT! The absolute best advice I will give and have been giving to literally hundreds of our clients is to FEED EVRYTHING with a good Nitrogen Base Food! Something similar to what you put on your yard to fertilize. Things are in complete shock (Imagine if you stood out there that whole week what we would all look like! Good Lord.Ha-ha!) A name brand tree and shrub food will help tremendously! Place a handful of granules around under each shrub, continue your normal inch a week watering (rain counts if your lucky enough to get some) and simply wait 3-4 more weeks. You will be surprised what defoliated and defoliates and will come back to life! Anything that doesn’t turn lemons into lemonade you can freshen with a few new plants here or there for a new look to add some curb appeal. If you need suggestions you can always email a few pictures and I always email everyone back. (It may be 2 a.m. but I will email you back!!) Now, on to my regular column!

Part of the joy of landscaping is the care and maintenance you give to your yard.

Depending on the type of plantings and the size, some gardens can require constant fulltime care. If you’re not a big fan of yard maintenance, it might be wise to design a yard that’s easy to care for. The first thing to remember with any “yard scape” is that it’s a living, breathing entity. Even the simplest, easy-to-care-for yard will need watering, feeding, cleaning, and disease prevention.

Consider the following list of projects around the yard:

Flower Beds and Planting Areas

The amount of time spent here will depend on your plantings. Some plants require constant attention; others are relatively maintenance free. Most flowerbeds contain perennials, which are plants that come back year after year — expect some to die off over the winter. Check the condition of plants during spring, and replace dead plants with new ones.

Cover ground with an organic mulch. This will help the soil retain moisture and keeps weeds to a minimum. Many flowers do best when you dead-head them (pinch off spent blooms), which encourages more flower growth. After the first hard freeze, cut back all the branches of your plants. And cover plants with mulch to protect them during the cold winter months.

Refuse Removal

During the fall, many plants lose their leaves. This leaf material makes a great natural mulch to cover and protect your plants against the cold winter. Remove all leaves from the lawn areas. The layer of leaves can restrict the amount of light reaching the lawn and trap water near the roots.

Hedge and Tree Trimming

Shrubs and trees need seasonal trimming. Get a pruning instrument and cut off any dead branches. You may also need to prune back live branches that are getting out of control. Many hedges need to be re-shaped several times a year. Electrical hedge sheers reduce a lot of arm strain on larger hedges. Do not prune or trim during the fall. This will stimulate growth during a time when the plants should be starting their dormant phase.

Insect Control

Nature has a cycle of life, and insects are a part of that. Most healthy plants stay relatively insect-free. For the occasional infestation, consider using natural methods of removal. Sometimes a plant can be washed down with a strong stream of water. Or many garden centers sell other insects (like ladybugs) to get rid of bugs and worms. Chemicals are also a choice; however, you should use extreme caution when applying them. They will not only harm “bad” bugs, but “good” bugs too. They can also harm household animals, birds, children and adults when applied incorrectly. Consider using household “natural” chemicals to control insects. (For example, placing a shallow plate filled with beer in your slug-infested garden often will attract then kill the slimy critters who chew holes in leaves.)

Spring Clean-up

This rite of spring signals the start of the growing season. Most gardens will need a good raking to clean out the leftover leaves and trash that have built up over the cold months. Consider applying a fresh layer of mulch to protect the fresh shoots from a late zapping of frost. This mulch will also keep the ground moist and cool during the summer months and keep weeds at a minimum.

Weeding

Ughhh! They just keep coming back! Removing the entire unwanted “weed” by its roots is the surest way to get rid of it. Herbicides do

work, but use extreme caution when applying. They will not only kill the “weed” but also other nearby plants. In planting beds, you can keep weeds to a minimum by covering the soil with an inch or two of mulch.

Mowing

The frequency depends on how much you water and feed your lawn. Mowing once a week is typical. Don’t cut the blades of grass too short. Longer grass is healthier and retains water better. Many mowers come with “mulching” option that cuts the grass into tiny bits and returns them back to the lawn. This returns important nutrients back to the soil and reduces the amount of fertilizer you need. It also eliminates the need to bag the grass.

Sprinkler Maintenance

A well-designed, professionally-installed sprinkler system should need little maintenance over time. However, you will need to “winterize” it during the fall and start it up during the spring. Your system has several pipes that can freeze and burst during winter. Drain or “blow out” the water from the pipes in mid fall when your yard has gone dormant. Also turn off the timer so it can’t accidentally start during the winter. In the spring, you’ll need to re-start the system by turning on the timer and possibly turning on a master valve. (Check your system guide for details.)

Feeding

Your yard needs food! Your lawn may need two to five feedings per growing season. And your growing beds could also use some food. Chemical fertilizers work, however there are several natural, organic options too.

Weed Prevention

An inch-thick layer of mulch will keep your planting beds relatively weed-free. The best weed-prevention for lawns is a healthy lawn. Grass is a plant that grows thick and bushy when healthy. This usually will choke out any other “weeds” that could grow there. Exceptions are plants like crabgrass. These grow from seed every year. Some chemical fertilizers come with a “pre-emergent” which kills the seeds in the spring when the plants are dormant.

Perennial or Annual

When planning your flowerbeds, remember that a perennial plant is one that, once planted, will come back year after year, while an annual is one that is planted for only one season.

I Promise to allow more time and space for your questions in my next column, I have been extremely busy at work helping our Anna clients! Until next time...Happy Gardening!!

Jimmie.

Send your landscaping and gardening questions to Jimmie Gibson Jr. at http://www.absolutelybushedlandscaping.com or jimmie@absolutelybushed.com.

JIMMIE GIBSON is a Prosper resident and the owner of Absolutely Bushed Landscaping Company, an award winning, family and veteran owned and operated business created in 1980 to provide the highest quality custom Outdoor Renovation available to homeowners in the Dallas Ft. Worth area.

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Chamber Sets Date for Banquet

Chamber Business Person of the Year - Dr. Jan Wheat

Chamber New Business of the Year - Frazzy’s Gourmet Popcorn T he annual awards banquet for the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce is set for 6 p.m. May 22 at the Anna High School Cafeteria. It gives its members the opportunity to come together to honor citizens and community leaders in a number of categories.

This year’s categories are: Board Member of the Year, Ambassador of the Year, Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Citizens Award, Community Partner of the Year, Educator of the Year, Innovation Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, New Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

Chamber President and CEO Kevin Hall says nominations for awards should be sent to him. Following is a link to the banquet-specific information on the chamber’s website: https:// bit.ly/2RI5VhN.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Professional photos during the banquet by Texas Red Productions will be included with each ticket purchase. There will also be a silent auction, a raffle and grab prizes available during the banquet. Proceeds will help support the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce mission and scholarships given each year to graduating Anna ISD seniors.

Location: Anna High School Cafeteria 1107 W. Rosamond Pkwy. Anna, TX 75409

Contact Information: Kevin Hall GACC President/CEO, kevin@greaterannachamber.com

Fees/Admission: Single Tickets: $50 Table of 6: $300

Investment Opportunities Available, contact us at 972-924-8533 to learn more.

Photos from last year’s banquet are courtesy of the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Innovation Award - Anna Area Historical Preservation Society

Anna High School Film Team Wins State

By Joyce Godwin

The halls of Anna High School buzz with pride for one of the school’s latest achievements. Mr. Randall Kramen’s filmmakers’ group took top honors at the University Interscholastic League State Competition. With the Division-One gold medal from the 2021 UIL Young Filmmakers contest, the AHS filmmakers have assurances their team is on the right track. For the next year, they are top of their division for the state of Texas with their film “Justin Yuso Saves the World.”

It’s a goal for which the program has taken aim through the past six years since it’s dawning.

But this year’s accomplishments are made even more special because of the extra challenges imposed on AHS students this year. With so many extra requirements caused by the COIVD-19 pandemic, these students would not be denied and took matters into their own hands. “In years past we were allowed to travel off campus for production,” Kramen, AHS audio/visual teacher said. “Due to Covid, all of that was off the table for us. Sixty percent of the script had scenes that called for off-campus locations. So what did my kids do? They sacrificed their own time, pooled their resources for camera and lighting equipment, coordinated shoots ... they did it completely on their own.”

Kramen says he started the program six years ago and has been able to phase in a little more content each year to advance the instruction. As students move through the curriculum, the information gets deeper.

Kramen said the program experienced a breakthrough last year when the team placed second in the state UIL competition with its film “Tommy Superstar.”

Senior student Gabe Silva, co-writer-director and actor, says his group was able to make history with the win. “That feeling is the greatest feeling in the world,” he said. “I think we won because our film was a comedy and it was vastly different from any other story. …In a time where life has become harder for many and people have lost so much, they can at least enjoy themselves with the best medicine: laughter and joy.”

Macie Boone is a junior this year and serves the project as a colorist-editor-assistant camera. “This film has pushed the limits farther than any other film to come out of this program,” she said. “So the fact that it came out on top, clearly demonstrates just how well our team was able to accomplish these new feats even given our circumstances.

Boone also commented on the time requirements for producing a short film. “It takes so many more hours and behind-the-scenes moments than you’d expect to complete a seven-minute film,” she said. “The script writing process is so in-depth ...the sheer amount of versions and revisions that same script has gone through is truly insane. You can’t have a good film without a good script.

“The way our team was able to communicate was so efficient and effective, and without it this film could have crumbled. Our team is also very well rounded in terms of our skill sets and abilities, and having these different perspectives on each shot really helped us make this film the best it could possibly be.”

Emma Godwin, a junior and colorist/assistant camera, talks about the group’s achievement at UIL. “Winning a state title means that all of our hard work and overtime and frustrations and obstacles are recognized,” Emma said. “I was already proud of Justin Yuso [the film] and how amazing our team did and the product we came out with, but having a state title means everyone else recognizes it as well.”

Emma mentioned teamwork from the students and the life lessons learned throughout the project. “The pains of production may cause conflict and friction, but at the end of the day, nothing is better than getting to share your success and pride with a group of people who worked just as hard alongside you, she said. “I learned that all of the overtime, the prep, the late nights and early mornings, and all the grueling tasks are so worth it. Watching the finished film after all of the hard work makes it all so worth it.”

Emma also had good things to say about the team’’s teacher. “Mr. Kramen felt a lot more like a team member than just a teacher,” she said. “From technical difficulties and on-set frustrations, to morale and off-set issues, Mr. Kramen was there to guide us and allow us to learn and grow as not only filmmakers, but as people.”

Senior Jonathan Chih, producer for the film, summed it up well. “The keys to success on this production were the creativeness and strength of the concept, the determination of the crew, and the relentlessness of the creative leads.”

Dorian Ruffin, another senior student and this with the title of Dolly Grip. She praises team leaders for their success. “Gabe and Jon’s commitment and attitude towards creating this film was an inspiring thing to see,” she said. “I have never seen people this young pour this kind of love and effort into what they do.”

Tyler Erovick, senior and boom operator, said he also learned the importance of being a team. “I learned that working as a team can lead to a great outcome and that creating bonds with people around you can enrich the quality of your film.”

Junior student Dallas Meader served as cinematographer/editor/special effects on the project. He said there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a finished product after months of hard work. “Being able to be proud of such an amazing end product is the best feeling, and seeing it propelled to the top is even better,” Meader said.

“Winning a state title is a testament to the constant innovation and amazing talent that our program puts forward. It symbolizes the endless potential yet untapped.”

And that untapped potential will have a chance to come out next year as Randall Kramen’s young filmmakers work through the program. Expect to see the best of another unique production.

Randall Kramen’s filmmakers’ team learn of its new status as state champions in this year’s UIL contest.

Latest car safety features becoming must haves

Today’s new cars are packed with safety features. But which are most important?

Today’s new cars are packed with safety features that help protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. But which car safety features should you look for when buying a new auto?

Here are some of the safety feature must haves you’ll want to consider for your next vehicle:

Standard vehicle safety features

Some important safety features are now required on new vehicles. These include front airbags, electronic stability control, safety belts, and the LATCH child safety seat system. Side-curtain airbags, while not required by regulation, have become standard on many new cars in recent years. Review additional safety features at Safercar.gov.

New car safety technology to consider Once exclusive to luxury vehicles, crash avoidance technology is now available on many new models. These can include: • Forward collision warning • These systems use forward-facing sensors to monitor distance and relative speed between vehicles. If the system senses an impending crash, it will alert you with sound, visual cues or physical sensations such as a vibration of the steering wheel. “Systems with autonomous braking also back up warnings with an automatic application to the brakes,” says David Zuby, chief research officer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and its Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). “Our research shows that both help reduce crashes.” • Adaptive headlights • These headlights pivot toward the direction you’re traveling and are great for improving visibility around curves. When the HLDI studied adaptive headlights offered on Acura,

Mazda, Mercedes, and Volvo models, it discovered that they lowered property damage liability claims by as much as 10%. For added safety, Zuby also recommends HID headlights, adaptive high-beam assist and night view technology. • Blind spot detection • When you’re driving, vehicles behind or beside you are sometimes hidden in what’s called a “blind spot.” This can lead to a collision if you try to turn or change lanes.

Blind spot monitoring systems visually alert you when a vehicle is traveling in your blind spot. Those alerts become brighter or louder if you signal to change lanes. Some systems even activate the brakes or steering controls to prevent a crash. Though less research backs up the benefits of blind spot detection, Zuby recommends it. “Whether or not it’s effective, when we’ve talked to vehicle owners with cars equipped with blind spot detection, they universally agree it’s a good thing,” Zuby says. • Lane departure warning • A lane departure warning system, which often uses a camera near the rearview mirror, keeps track of your vehicle’s position in a lane. Any movement to leave the lane unintentionally, including merging without signaling, creates an alert-a sound, steering wheel or seat vibration, and visual cues on the dashboard. Some systems also use light steering or braking to correct a lane departure. • Backup cameras • These help drivers avoid collisions when parking or reversing, using sensors in backup cameras to alert you of objects behind your vehicle. Some backover protection systems may automatically brake to avoid collisions and prevent backover accidents. • Learn which vehicles are equipped with crash avoidance systems.

Additional auto safeguards

When shopping for a new car, review the crash performance of various models provided by the IIHS vehicle safety ratings.

Keep in mind that safety features aren’t a substitute for safe, defensive driving. If you need to brush up on your skills, consider taking a driver safety class.

Need more incentive? Taking a class may make you eligible for discounts on your auto insurance.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® (including State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates). While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

This article was provided by State Farm and local agent Rod Walnofer.

ROD WALNOFER has been serving Anna for over 22 years helping our community with their insurance needs. He may be contacted at rod@ walnofer.com