Weekend Gardening: Prune Roses Now For Fall Flowers
September 24, 2011
Rose flowering and overall performance aren’t great during our Gulf Coast summers, but each year we have the potential to have great fall blooms due to the cooler conditions and typically drier weather.
Although we should have pruned our rose bushes back in early spring, they have been growing since then, and many may look overgrown, leggy and less attractive now. That’s particularly true with the popular hybrid teas and grandifloras.
So a second, less severe pruning is recommended in early September to get rose bushes in shape for the fall blooming season.
First, all the dead growth should be removed. Make your cuts well into the healthy part of the canes just above a leaf or dormant bud – or remove the dead cane entirely back to its point of origin.
Next, remove weak, spindly canes the diameter of a pencil or less, particularly those growing in the interior of the plant. Cut them off at their point of origin, making sure you do not leave a stub. If you see any sprouts originating from the root stock (below the large, knobby graft union), cut them off, too. Do not remove any strong new shoots growing from the graft union, however.
The major part of the pruning involves shortening the remaining vigorous canes. This will produce a fuller, more attractive bush with larger, better quality flowers in October. This pruning needs to be done even if there are flowers on the bush now.
Cut the canes back to about 24 to 30 inches from the ground. Ideally, try to make each cut just above a bud that faces outward (away from the inside of the bush). The cuts should be made about one-fourth inch above the bud at a slight angle slanting away from the bud. Don’t leave a large stub sticking up above the bud or you will encourage stem rot, and don’t cut too close to the bud or you will kill it.
Clean up and dispose of all leaves and prunings from the area. Then fertilize the roses to encourage vigorous new growth. Use your favorite rose fertilizer following label directions or use a general-purpose fertilizer appropriate for your area.
Ever-blooming old garden roses, shrub roses, landscape roses and other groups also may be pruned now, but the pruning required generally is less severe and is done mostly to shape the bush or to control the size of more vigorous cultivars. Use your best judgment when it comes to pruning these roses.
Some roses – including many climbing roses, ramblers and old roses – only bloom once in spring and early summer. They should not be pruned back now, since they will produce flowers next year on the growth they made this summer. Cutting them back now or anytime before they bloom next year will reduce the number of flowers they produce.
Pruning is a job that many gardeners approach with apprehension. There is always a fear that if it’s not done correctly dire things may happen to a plant. With some exceptions, pruning shrubs is more like getting a haircut. Even a really bad haircut eventually will grow out and look better.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Davis Highway Bank Robbed
September 23, 2011
Authorities are searching for a man armed with handgun that robbed an Escambia County bank this afternoon. The man escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.
The incident occurred just before 1 p.m. at SunTrust Bank, 6700 N. Davis Highway. Pensacola Police Department Sgt. Stephen Davis said the man walked up to a teller, handed her a note demanding cash while lifting his shirt to show a handgun in his pants.
The teller complied and the man left the bank on foot in an eastbound direction.
Davis said there were about a half-dozen employees and about the same number of customers in the bank at the time.
The suspect is a white male, possibly 35 to 45 years old, about 6 feet to 6 feet 4, about 140 to 160 pounds with short dark brown or black hair. He was wearing a long-sleeved dark blue denim shirt and a black flat cap. He may have a mole on his left cheek and had a pronounced Adam’s apple.
Anyone having information on the suspect is asked to contact Detective Chad Willhite at (850) 435-1965 or the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900.
Arrest Made In Overnight Murder
September 23, 2011
Deputies have made an arrest in the overnight shooting death of an Escambia County man.
About 10:50 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a call of shots fired at the Moorings Apartments on Old Spanish Trail Road. When they arrived they found the victim, 53-year old Alvin Merriwell Lewis Jr. dead from multiple gunshot woulds inside the suspect’s apartment, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Thomas Larry Bolds, 67, of 8491 Old Spanish Trail Road (pictured), was arrested and charged with homicide.
According to witnesses, Lewis had been demonstrating how he would defend himself by using a knife, but at no time threatened anyone. During Lewis’s demonstration, Bolds picked up a gun and began shooting Lewis, deputies said.
Bolds was transported to the Escambia County Jail and held without bond.
Industrial Park Wreck Claims One Life
September 23, 2011
A 26-year old Pensacola woman died in a traffic crash Friday morning in the Ellyson Industrial Park.
The Florida Highway Patrol said April R. Smith was pronounced dead on the scene of the 5:55 a.m. crash on Copter Road east of Ely Road. Troopers said Smith was eastbound on Copter Road in a 1993 Honda Accord when she attempted to pass a 2005 GMC Yukon driven by Letoya S. Williams, 33, of Pensacola. Smith struck a concrete curb at the intersection and rotated into the path of a 2007 International truck driven by Brandon K. Morris, 29, of Cantonment. Smith’s car then made a low-speed imapct with Williams’ vehicle.
Morris received minor injuries that did not require transport to a hospital. Williams and her passenger, 33-year old Billy D. Williams of Pensacola, were not injured.
Charges in the crash are pending a traffic homicide investigation, according to the FHP.
Fire Reported At Jim Allen Elementary
September 23, 2011
A minor fire was reported Friday morning in the kitchen at Jim Allen Elementary School in Cantonment.
The fire was reported about 7:20 a.m. The fire was out before the first firefighters arrived on scene. There was no major damage reported, and school was held as normal. There were no injuries reported.
Volleyball: Northview Beats Jay (With Photo Gallery)
September 23, 2011
The Northview Chiefs beat the Jay Royals Thursday in both varsity and junior varsity volleyball in Bratt.
For a photo gallery from the games, click here.
Varsity
The Lady Chiefs defeated the Royals in five — 19-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-20, 15-12.
Junior Misty Doran led the Lady Chiefs with nine aces, eight kills, three block and 10 digs. Taylor Roberson added two aces, three kills and three digs, while Morgan Payne had one ace, 11 kills, one assist and four blocks. Shelley Mothershed recorded one ace, two kills and 10 assists, and Rebecca Masitias added one assist and seven digs for the Lady Chiefs.
Northview (1-9, 1-3) will host Laurel Hill next Tuesday in Bratt.
Junior Varsity
The JV Lady Chiefs defeated Jay in three — 24-26, 25-21 and 15-11.
Hannah Fiellin had three aces, one kill and four assists for Northview, while Rebecca Grim added two aces, two kills and one assist. Danielle Steadham posted seven kills, one assist, one block and one did, and Tiffani Pritchett had three kills and four assists.
With the win, the JV Chiefs improved to 7-5 overall, 3-1 in the district.
For a photo gallery from the games, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ascend’s Cantonment Plant Adding 102 Jobs
September 23, 2011
A local industry will add over 100 jobs and invest $50 million into their Cantonment plant.
Ascend Performance materials will 102 jobs over a three year period to its nylon manufacturing plant on Old Chemstrand Road. The plant’s annual payroll will eventually increase by $5.61 million, with the average salary for each of the new jobs at $55,000.
Ascend, formerly known as Solutia, received an incentive package worth just over $1 million as part of the expansion from a 10 year exemption from ad valorem taxes, tax rebates and economic development grants from the state.
The plant’s manager says the company is excited about the growth opportunities for the company and the community.
There are currently about 750 employees at the Cantonment facility.
Molino Resident Faces More Charges For Painting Graffiti
September 23, 2011
More charges have been filed against a Molino teen for allegedly painting graffiti on several Pensacola businesses.
Andrew Thomas Plenkers, 19, of Richardson Road was arrested Thursday morning on additional criminal mischief charges, according to Pensacola Police Department Sgt. Chuck Mallett, who is focusing investigations on graffiti in the downtown area.
“We are taking a more proactive look at graffiti in the downtown area as evidenced by this suspect’s recent arrests and others that are pending,” said Pensacola Police Chief Chip W. Simmons. “Those who are inclined to commit this crime need to remember they’re damaging someone’s property.”
Plenkers is suspected of spray painting the word “BEZ” (for be easy) as found September 6 on the following businesses:
- Larry M. Jacobs & Associates, 328 E. Gadsden Street
- Warner Printing, 419 E. Gadsden Street
- A vacant building at 501 E. Cervantes Street
Plenkers was first arrested September 3 and charged with criminal mischief after Sgt. Steve Rankin saw him walking through a parking lot in the 800 block of North Davis Highway.
Rankin said he watched the suspect for a little while before approaching him and making contact with him in the 500 block of East Cervantes Street. During a search of the suspect,
Rankin found a large blue marker in his right front pants pocket. Officers also found several cans of spray paint inside Plenkers’ car.
A freshly painted design that contained the words “BEZ” was found on the east wall of the Coffee Cup restaurant, 520 E. Cervantes St. Mallett said Plenkers is a suspect in additional graffiti cases he is investigating.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Get Final Major League Approval
September 23, 2011
After months of waiting, working, and negotiating, Pensacola officially has a major league baseball franchise.
In a letter from the Office of Commissioner Bud Selig, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos were granted official standing by Major League Baseball last week as the Double-A farm club of the Cincinnati Reds franchise. The approval is part of a complicated transaction that involved other minor league teams, the purchase of the Reds’ Carolina Mudcats farm team, and the relocation and renaming of that team to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
The approval from Major League Baseball follows the recent go-ahead by the Southern League, the division of minor league baseball that gave the Blue Wahoos the preliminary go-ahead to come to town. Blue Wahoos President Bruce Baldwin said that the official approval from Major League Baseball triggers a host of other activities and opportunities for the team.
“Because the Blue Wahoos are a franchise of the Major League Baseball Cincinnati Reds, we have to comply with many of the same branding, marketing, and legal standards as Major League teams do. Major League Baseball is rightfully very protective of their product, and so this final approval gives the Blue Wahoos the green light to start doing some of the things that people associate with team sports,” said Baldwin. “Over the next few months, we will be rolling out a new website, unveiling our logo, releasing all sorts of great merchandise for the fans, and our season ticket holders will be picking their seats – all before the end of the year,” said Baldwin
Baldwin was excited about the final approval and looked forward to the next steps in rolling out the new franchise.
“This is great news and we’re really excited about bringing the Blue Wahoos to Pensacola. The stadium is coming along, and now that we’re officially approved by Major League Baseball I think the community and fans will start to see some more activity and excitement around the Blue Wahoos organization,” said Baldwin. “It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to the Blue Wahoo experience being a real draw for Pensacola and our fans, because we believe that a Blue Wahoo game won’t just be a baseball game, but an entire family, social, and entertainment event.”
Escambia Man Indicted For First Degree Murder Of Teen
September 23, 2011
An Escambia County grand jury has indicted 22-year old Jeremy Cornell Rand for first degree murder for the death of Deiante Elijah Graham.
The incident happened during the early morning hours of September 30 at the Royal Crest Apartments on Old Corry Field Road.
“Initial reports stated that a vehicle was parked in the complex and was occupied by two females and one male. They were approached by another unknown male and after an exchange of words, the unknown male pulled out a gun and began firing into the vehicle,” said Sgt. Mike Ward, public information officer for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the day of the event.
After the shooting, the vehicle was driven to the entrance of the Twin Oaks Villas Apartments at 4600 Twin Oaks Drive. Once deputies arrived, they found 17–year old Graham dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.