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4th of July Holiday Highlights

By: Eddie Ayers, County Extension Agent

This is true for grilling, using fireworks, and especially traveling on road trips. Many of us use self-serve fuel stations so your vehicle may not get the routine care it needs. Performing a pre-trip driveway inspection can reduce the chance of unplanned, costly car trouble. It also provides an opportunity to have any repairs performed by a trusted technician before hitting the road.

Right in your own driveway you can determine how road ready a vehicle is with a 10-minute vehicle check. If service or repairs are needed, they can be performed in advance to ensure safety and reliability on the road. Here are some things to check:

Tires  including tire pressure and tread. Under inflated tires reduce a vehicle’s fuel economy and uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots. To check for tire wear, place a penny in the tread of tires. If you can see Lincoln’s entire head, your tires need to be replaced.

Hoses and belts as they can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system and should be replaced if they are showing some of these problems.

Filters and fluidsincluding engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluids, and transmission fluid as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant should be checked and topped off if low.

Windshield wipers and lighting so you can see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly. Keep spare fuses too. Inspect and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

Battery and brakes to be sure the battery connection is clean, tight and corrosion-free and the brakes are working. Mash the brake pedal to make sure the brakes are functioning properly.

Once you have completed your inspection, make sure to prepare an emergency roadside kit and food kit. The roadside kit can be as simple as a flashlight, jumper cables, basic tool set, a blanket and flares or reflectors. If you have the space, you can also include spare fluids like antifreeze and oil. The food kit is important too and be sure to bring items that are not going to be affected by the heat such as water and snack bars. You can also include items to read, watch, or listen to if you have to wait any length of time anywhere.

And if you’re not traveling this holiday weekend, think about visiting our localFarmer’s Market located on Broad Street in Ellijay, adjacent to the Gilmer County courthouse, which is open from 8:00 am until 12 noon every Saturday morning through October 1 with an abundance of produce and homemade goodies. Whatever you choose to do, have a safe and happy holiday!

 

Rust on Green Beans

Rust on green beans is caused by a fungus that attacks all above ground parts of the bean plant, but it is most commonly seen on the underside of the leaves.

The rust fungus is not seed-borne, but overwinters on old bean plants. Spores produced on old bean plants are spread to new bean foliage by the wind.

Early symptoms of the disease may be seen approximately five days after spores land on the leaves. A new crop of spores is produced about every 10 days. The development of rust is favored by cloudy, humid weather and an optimum temperature of around 75 degrees F.

The first symptoms of rust on the foliage are very small, white, slightly raised spots or pimples, which may be surrounded by a yellow halo. The white pimples later become raised, reddish-brown pustules. These rupture and release a powdery mass of spores (seed-like bodies) which give a rust color to the fingers if rubbed across an infected leaf.

As many as 2,000 individual spots may be found on a single leaf. Heavily infected leaves usually turn yellow, shrivel and fall, resulting in premature defoliation.

There are several control measures to be considered. The timely application of chlorothalonil, the active ingredient in Daconil, or sulfur will protect susceptible bean foliage from rust infection. Be sure to read all precautions and observe the waiting period before harvest.

The first application should be made at the first sign of rust infection on a few plants. This should be repeated at weekly intervals until rust is no longer a problem. Two or three applications are usually adequate.

The rust fungus will live for one year on old bean plant material left in the garden. Therefore beans should not follow beans from year to year in the same area in the garden.

Most of the recommended commercial varieties do not have resistance to rust. However, the Extender variety has resistance to many races. Genuine White Half-Runner, Mountaineer and Old Dutch, which are grown primarily in the home gardens, are also resistant to many races of rust.

Please take time this summer to visit the Gilmer County Farmers Market. The Gilmer County Master Gardeners have worked hard to provide the community access to local produce and handmade goodies. They also have an “Ask a Master Gardener” table to help solve you plant issues. They also are having plant giveaways each week, so be sure and stop by and see what they are giving away each week.

Stop Ticks

Gardening, camping, hiking, and playing outdoors are all activities we take part in this time of year. When enjoying these activities, don’t forget to take steps to prevent bites from ticks that share the outdoors with you. Ticks can infect humans with bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause serious illness. Here are some tips to help avoid ticks.

Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You may come into contact with ticks during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through leaf litter or near shrubs. Always walk in the center of trails in order to avoid contact with ticks.

Products containing permethrin kill ticks. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings. Use a repellent with DEET on skin. Repellents containing 20% or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) can protect up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding the hands, eyes, and mouth

After you come indoors, check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks effectively.

Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease. Showering will help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.

Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, which even includes your back yard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks: under the arms, in and around the ears, inside belly button, back of the knees, in and around the hair between the legs, and around the waist.

What do you do if you find an attached tick? Remove it as soon as you notice it by grasping it with tweezers, and as close to the skin as possible, then pull it straight out. Watch for signs of illness such as rash or fever in the days and weeks following the bite, and see a health care provider if these develop. Your risk of acquiring a tick-borne illness depends on many factors including where you live, what type of tick bit you, and how long the tick was attached. If you become ill after a tick bite, definitely see a health care provider.

There are several ways to reduce ticks in your yard. You can modify your landscape. Regularly remove leaf litter and clear tall grasses and brush around homes. Place wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to keep ticks away from recreational areas. Keep play areas and playground equipment away from shrubs, bushes, and other vegetation.

Consider using a chemical control agent. Effective tick control chemicals are available for use by the homeowner or they can be applied by a professional pest control expert. If you plan to use an insecticide, always read and follow the directions on the label.

Discouraging deer is another way. Removing plants that attract deer and constructing physical barriers may help discourage deer from entering your yard and bringing ticks with them.

You should also try to prevent ticks on animals. Use tick control products to prevent family pets from bringing ticks into the home. Tick collars, sprays, shampoos or “top spot” medications ought to be used regularly, if possible, to protect your animals and your family from ticks however you should consult your veterinarian and be sure to use these products according to the package instructions.

Information in this article was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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