Show Gunnison Valley News Early blossoms -- The good thing about apricot trees is they bloom early in the spring The bad thing about apricot trees is they bloom early in the spring While the early color is welcome the chance of losing the fruit to later frosts in northern Utah is high "Apricots are one of those fruits where a little is good but a lot is obnoxious" says Jerry Goodspeed Utah State University Extension horticulturist "With apricots it is usually feast or famine If the blossoms escape being killed by a late frost apricots start outnumbering zucchi-ni- s by late summer" Apricots are a fruit that anyone can grow he says The trees are versatile graceful and beautiful The foliage is attractive and they make nice shade trees throughout the summer months And in the fall as the tree prepares for the winter months they have nice color In addition to complement Salina Sun Spring Supplement April 25 2001 Page 15 the good and bad of an Apricot tree ing the landscape most people grow apricot trees for their fruit which is also versatile It can be eaten fresh dried for storage made into wonderful preserves or thrown at unsuspecting targets Apricots are meaning they do not require another tree for pollination he says Because of the timing when it blooms late frosts often kill the fruit Not a lot can be done to prevent a late frost However some people have tried to protect the tender flowers and fruit by covering their tree with a blanket and sticking a light under it to keep the future fruit from freezing Although this can be effective it is not practical for all trees Hot summers in northern Utah are another problem for apricots he says Although they can adapt apricot trees prefer a milder climate with cooler summers The heat can stress the trees leaving them a bit vulnerable to diseases and insects The only major insect problem with apricot trees is the peach tree borer Goodspeed says The adult lays eggs at the base of stone fruit trees After they hatch the larva bore into the tree right at the soil level Protect apricots and any other stone fruit trees by apply- insecticide ing a registered around the base of the tree by J uly 1 The tree needs to be protected for about two months Another problem that is common with this fruii tree is a disease called Coryneum Blight or disease he says The most noticeable symptoms of this disease are small brown specks that appear on the fruit about harvest timeThe fruit is still quite edible just not as pretty This disease can also cause cankers on the twigs and buds and can contribute to that gummy substance ex- - Concrete Pavers are very versatile (Continued from Page 14) we just installed the edgthe end at this point Sand Layer We used about two cubic yards of sand to make a bedh ding layer over the whole patio You need special sand for your coarse bedding layer ours was washed concrete sand We lined up h thick pipes to give us our layer We filled sand in between the pipes then screeded it off level with the tops of the pipes In places where you can't use a screed it's okay to use a trowel to smooth it out Setting the Pavers Resnap your center perpendicular line before starting the pavers We set our pavers in two sections: the big patio area first and then the sidewalk area We started at the far end and worked our way up toward the house We've got a row of red pavers in what's called a "soldier course" along the outside edge of the patio So those were the first ones we set in We started the first two on ei project ing for HeJpfAtnised ther side of the line and worked out from there You just set the pavers gently into the sand Don't slide them in from the side don't twist them don't push them down Our general pattern is to set the pavers in sort of a pyramid centered on our reference chalkline Adjust the pavers every few inches to keep them straight There are several different tools you can use to cut pavers The most common is a mechanical splitter However a splitter leaves a slightly uneven cut To get a deaner cut you need to use a heavy duty power miter saw The pros use a wet saw that's washed with water to keep the heat and dust down The main part of our patio was a herringbone pattern After the pavers were set we put the edging on the sides If we had installed the edging earlier we would probably have had to cut all the pavers on the sides to fit Tamping the Pavers Now run the compactor over v' reduce the amount they get Actually when the fruit is thinned the remaining fru t is larger and sweeter and the actual pounds of fruit harvested remains about the same The time to thin is late May" Be sure to water apricot trees like most other trees — deeply and infrequently he adds They are susceptible to root rot and iron chlorosis if they are overwatered or the trunk is surrounded by a deep wading pool of standing water Fertilize these trees in the late winter will w&smsi Carbon County Lumber Company is now open and purchasing sawlogs at their Wellington Utah sawmill We are interested in sawlog purchases as well as the purchase of conifer timber Please contact us at (435) or fax (435) starts the proeverything in place The compactor is pressing the pavers down evening out the tops of the pavers and forcing some of the sand up into joints from underneath Next you fill the joints with sand from above And ttus is what makes a patio incredibly strong You should be able to use the same type of coarse washed concrete sand as you did for the bedding layer However you need the sand to be pretty OThVSSTitEi ©SBfiBEaaBEGffig? Ill 3 lawn Tractor Now you can mow your transmission How so? With a premium 38 ratNwmr John Deere whole fjdeas get a whole lot a for less than Mower you probably engine Don't you owe ft to oy $299 See your yourself? 143KS Sabre lew or dealer today (offers end July 4 2001) you're less 1 f£4 Ar Gunnison Implement 62 South Main Gunnison 528 - 7271 Sublet Pln means just settling 1459 Buddies NorthMaln Centerfield John Deere Anything transmission mower deck ' expected to pay and chute standard bagger your paver project is complete you have the option to seal the pavers Sealing will bring out the colors of the pavers and protect them from stain but you will have to reseal them every few years &fl25 & 528-749- 0 you lot of quality We Have Everything You Need for Buildirtgor Maintaining a Fishpon4 in Your Yard Supplies or mower surface After Barter's Birds tractor Either way dry The process is to sand with a broom spread run the compactor over the pavers more comsome sand spread pact and so on until the joints are filled This process will make for a very solid paver lot for very little whole deck attachments Pond Fish Special! Chemicals ' the pavers This cess of locking uding from the tree Controlling this fungal disease isn't always easy he warns A registered fungicide needs to be applied right after the flower petals fall off the tree Reapply it in the fall right after the leaves drop off the tree "Another maintenance task that is often neglected is thinning the fruit during those years when a late frost doesn't do it for us" Goodspeed says "This is hard for most people They are afraid that if they remove any of the fruit it |