Cinco Ranch 1 April 2018

Gardening
Tips for April
Mulch - If possible, buy Bagged Mulch. Bagging helps eliminate
a great many pests that die from various causes while in the bag.
When you buy ‘loose’ mulch that is trucked to your home, you
are also buying ants, roaches, termites, etc… Spend a little more
on bagged material and save lots of future pest problems. Keep
your mulch at least 4” - 6” below the top of your homes exposed
foundation edge/side. This will aid in minimizing pests in your
home and allow for quick and accurate termite inspections.
Shrubs, Flowers and groundcovers - Trim all shrubs/plants at
least 12” - 18” back from your home. Do your best to create a plant
free zone that is 18” - 24” wide around your home. The exception
is your lawn - it can grow up next to the slab as long as you keep
it 4” - 6” below the top of the slab. The most conducive to termite
infestation are groundcover plantings, growing high against your
homes exterior or (especially) ivy that grows on your walls.
Trees - Spray your trees at least twice annually. The spring spray
eliminates overwintering pests and fungi while preparing trees to
resist the pest onslaught of summer with residual pesticides. The
fall spray also kills pests from the summer, prevents most fungi
from occurring over the winter and puts your valuable asset off to a
healthy winter’s dormancy.
Lawn - Spring is the perfect time to do a fungicide treatment to stop
brown patch in its tracks along with other fungi. If your lawn is thin
and weak in some areas, here are some important fundamentals: a)
lawn aeration b) fertilization c) weed control.
Most important is proper watering:
• Water once per week (unless you get a 1/2” rain or more - then do
not water.)
• Water heavily (1” - 2”) for total lawn coverage.
• In severe drought, water every 5 th day.
• Water from 5 AM to 7 AM in the morning - NOT AT NIGHT.
• A heavy deep weekly watering makes the turf grow deeper,
stronger and more drought resistant roots.
• Less watering also saves you money!!
IRS TAX DEADLINE
People have until Tuesday, April 17, 2018, to file their 2017 returns and
pay any taxes due. The filing tax deadline is later this year due to several
factors. The usual April 15 th deadline falls on Sunday this year, which
would normally give taxpayers until at least the following Monday.
However, Emancipation Day, a Washington, D.C., holiday, is observed
on Monday, April 16 th , giving taxpayers nationwide an additional day
to file. By law, Washington holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone in
the same way federal holidays do. Taxpayers requesting an extension will
have until Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, to file.
The IRS expects more than 70 percent of taxpayers to get tax refunds this
year. Last year, nearly 112 million refunds were issued, with an average
refund of $2,895.
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April 2018 | Cinco Ranch Community Area Newsletter