There are many places you can go when you are traveling in Calabria near Catanzaro … you could see Le Castella, visit the ruins in Roccelletta or spend a morning driving through Sila Piccola in La Sila National Park.

At a moss: Watch your steps

Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, PA) October 7, 2004 | Robert Stiffler Q Our walkway is paved with bricks and is slowly being covered with moss. Needless to say, they have become charming yet slippery. Short of regularly pouring bleach on the bricks, is there something better we could use to keep the moss under control? Someone suggested pool chemicals, but I am not familiar with those materials. – COLLEEN IN CONESTOGA A. The sure way to get rid of moss is to reduce the shade and improve air circulation in the area by pruning. Improving soil drainage, although that may not be possible in your situation, will help. site how to get rid of pimples overnight

Moss thrives in damp, shady situations. Anything you can do to improve that will help eliminate the moss. The product used most often to control moss is Roundup. However, the moss will come back if favorable growing conditions exist. I’d use Roundup now to get rid of it but then do some pruning and make other changes to get more sun and less moisture in the area.

A. Last week’s column gave detailed instructions on what you should do to your lawn this fall. Be aware that three weeks without rain in late August-early September made many lawns brown. It sounds like you may have grubs, and that requires a special treatment. A sure sign of grubs is if you can pick up the grass like a carpet. That often means grubs have eaten off the roots. Another sign is if you see a lot of birds pecking away in the grass. That means they’re finding and eating grubs.

Lancaster County extension agent Tim Elkner says to treat your lawn with a product specifically for grubs and carefully follow the directions. You can find these products in any garden center. I would treat the lawn for grubs at once and then follow the suggestions in last week’s column (to purchase a copy of the Sept. 30 Magazine section, call 291-8610) for the remainder of your lawn rejuvenation this fall.

Q. I want to find Preen but am unable to do so. I live in Lititz. – LITITZ LAWN-OWNER A. At www.lebsea.com, the manufacturers of Preen list these outlets near you: Bomberger’s Store, Route 501, Lititz; Esbenshades, Route 322, Lititz; Paul B. Zimmerman, 50 Woodcorner Road, Lititz; Stauffers of Kissel Hill, 1050 Lititz Pike, Lititz.

Q. I have so many thistles. I’d like to know how to get rid of them. I pull them up, but they come back again. Thanks. – ETHEL DEEMER, LITITZ A. In a garden or a flower bed of any kind, Roundup is the best control for thistles. They must be up and growing, and the air temperature should be above 65 degrees for Roundup to work. More than one spraying may be required. Never spray on a windy day, or other plants could be damaged.

In lawns, 2,4-D is the recommended product. I would try to find a product with the Trimec formula. It contains two other weed killers in addition to 2,4-D. More than one spray may be required. Be very careful with such formulations over the roots of trees or shrubs, for the product could damage them. see here how to get rid of pimples overnight

Q. What is the best spray to get rid of bagworms on pine trees? When is the best time to use the spray? – FRAN STOKES, MILLERSVILLE A. Best control for bagworms is picking them off and burning them or putting them in a sealed plastic bag in the garbage. Do this regularly. I know that is not always possible, but spraying sometimes does not eliminate them, because they hide inside the bag and sprays may not penetrate it. Do not toss the bags onto the ground, for eggs inside the bag will hatch and cause further problems.

Products to spray with include Orthene and Sevin. If you prefer an organic, use Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis. All of these are available in garden centers. The time to spray is mid-to-late June.

Garden cuttings Most herbs lose much of their flavor when dried. If you want fresh herbs for winter, pick their foliage before a frost, toss in a freezer bag and store in your freezer until needed. Some cooks freeze them in a cube of water.

Be sure to bring plants that have been outdoors for summer inside before a heavy frost. Some, such as Christmas cactus, should be left outdoors until a freeze is predicted, for that will help them set buds. Before bringing in any houseplant, examine it carefully for insects or their eggs. Either can create problems in a warm room. Wash in soapy water or use an insecticide outdoors, if necessary. If roots are extending outside the pot, the plant probably needs repotting.

Longwood Gardens is offering a series of environmentally friendly composting courses this fall. All are on Saturdays, starting Oct. 16. Topics include home composting, compost tea and worm composting in the house. Courses vary in cost from $39 to $59. For information, call 610-388-1000 ext. 516.

You can keep geraniums for years by bringing them indoors before a hard frost and putting them in a sunny southern window. Water a couple of times during the winter. In early May, clear out the old leaves, snip off long shoots, fertilize them with Osmocote, water and put them back outdoors to enjoy all summer. The long shoots should be allowed to lie in a warm, dry spot for a day or more so the cut ends can sear over and seal. Otherwise, the soft ends will rot if planted immediately after cutting. Don’t worry if they are allowed to sear even a week or so. Use the cuttings to fill in blank spots in the pots or plant in the garden to root and provide summer bloom. I took mine out of their pots and put them in a window box filled with sand in a sunny window in a garage that did not freeze. The secret is you must have a sunny window for wintering over.

Bob Stiffler is a freelance columnist.

Robert Stiffler