Extension Notes: Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Day Oct. 1
Saturday, October 1 at the Three Stall Mall Parking Lot, Warren County will host the annual Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
This is a great opportunity to get rid of all the hazardous household and garden products in the garage or shed that you’ve accumulated. It’s also a good opportunity to help Warren County take advantage of a state grant program that reduces our county’s local sanitation costs.
To participate in this activity requires little effort, load up all the household and garden chemical waste products that you have and then ask a neighbor if you can haul some for them. We might as well save a little gas money too. Go to the Three Star Mall parking lot and just follow the directions and instruction. All you have to do is drive through. They’ll unload your car or truck for you. You won’t even have to get out of your car. Mary Lou Ward in the County’s Director of Accounts office says that Warren County saves with this project because we don’t have to pay tipping and hauling fees for all these products that local people bring in to dispose of and we make sure hazardous products are handled safely.
Some examples of products that they’re trying to keep out of landfills and out of our waste stream include paint, paint thinner, antifreeze, cleaners, solvents, fertilizers, computers, televisions, oven cleaners, de-greasers, starter fluids, driveway sealants, batteries, pesticides and many other products. Remember Saturday, Oct. 1, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Three Star Mall. If you have questions contact Mary Lou Ward at the County Director of Accounts Office (473-2381).
MORE PESTICIDE CLASSES
Who needs a private applicators restricted use pesticide card? Anyone who buys and uses pesticides that carry a Restricted Use Label needs a restricted use pesticide card.. Pesticides with restricted use labels that are commonly used in Warren County include Gramoxone, Attrazine, Bicep II, Dursban, Lorsban, Ambush, Astro, Warrior T, Dy-Syston, Surpass and others. In fact you cant purchase these products unless you have a current private applicators card.
Most folks that are going to put out a crop need a current pesticide card. I have classes scheduled the next few weeks where you can get re-certified without a lot of trouble and with no fees involved. Bring your card to the meeting that you attend. The pesticide re-certification meetings will be held in the Magnolia room in the front of the Warren County Administrative Building located on Locust Street. We have classes scheduled for Friday September 30 and Monday October 3 and Friday, October 7. These classes start at 3:30 p.m.
If you need a pesticide card you must be re-certified by October 21. Get re-certified now for free. All it costs you is some time if you have a current card. If your card isn’t current or you need to be certified give me a call here at the Extension office (473-8484).
HARDY ANNUALS
Since Tennessee has moderate winters, several annuals that we consider cold-hardy are able to survive and thrive through the winter season. Pansies, violas, snapdragons and Dianthus chinensis are terrific cold-hardy annuals that flower from the time they’re planted until the following spring.
Purchase these plants from a nursery or garden center since they’re not easily grown from seed in the garden. Planting in September or early October is ideal so plants can get established before cold weather really sets in. Mass plantings generally make the most impressive show. Since these plants aren’t big, plant 6- 8 inches apart. If you want to have a truly impressive spring garden, consider interplanting tulip or daffodil bulbs with these annuals. Planting the bulbs between your hardy annuals will bring a surprise burst of color in the spring. And when the fading bulbs foliage begins to wither, the hardy annuals are so colorful that you barely notice the yellowing foliage.
Combining so many plants into one garden certainly isn’t the cheapest garden you’ll ever plant, but its well worth the price in the spring. Pine needles are the ideal mulch for these colorful annuals. The needles aren’t heavy and provide great insulation. Give me a call here at the Extension office for more information.