Tag Archive for: #winterstorm

Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Calm in the Storm

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Homeowners are itching to get into their yards and gardens to clean up and clean out after the last couple of weekends’ snow and ice.

You may see broken or bent limbs, or other signs of damage. Or worse.

Vance County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent Michael Ellington cautions gardeners and others to pump the brakes a bit before going out with the pruners or ripping out plants that appear dead.

“Patience is one of the best tools you have,” Ellington said.

Remove limbs that are broken, but hold off on major pruning, he said. Often, the trees, shrubs and other plants in the landscape may just bounce back. They just need a little time to recover.

And if you think adding some fertilizer will help those plants recover more quickly, think again.

Fertilizer application in winter doesn’t really help, Ellington explained. Roots aren’t taking up nutrients in the winter, so not only are you wasting money, you may be contributing – in negative ways – to your yard or to nearby waterways.

“Doing nothing for a little while is often the best decision,” Ellington said.

One thing you can do is to look for possible damage to trees, including splits in trunks or cracks in limbs. Document the damage you see and then, over the next few weeks, see if the damage resolves itself.

It will help you when it’s time to prune or replace plantings.

Call the extension office at 252.438.8188 or stop by at 305 Young St. to learn more about upcoming workshops, including:

  • 7 – Introduction to Beekeeping workshop – 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. Learn more about what’s involved before committing to the hobby
  • 14 – Bee School – every other Saturday through the first week in April.
  • 21 – Backyard Chickens 101 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market.  Register at go.ncsu.edu/chicken101

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

Click Play!

Winter Weather

Broken Tree Limbs from Winter Storms Can Cause Damage

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Once again this weekend Old Man Winter is about to pay central North Carolina a visit.  Last weekend the Vance County area experienced snow, sleet and freezing rain along with some breezy conditions. Paul McKenzie of the Vance Co. Extension Service explained on today’s Home and Garden Show during The Local Skinny! that large shade trees can be damaged by winter storms. “After a winter storm of any type, particularly with ice and wind, you should check those large shade trees for broken limbs and branches,” McKenzie said. “Obviously, the ones that are on the ground are easy to spot but, the ones stuck in a tree are much harder,” McKenzie continued.

Eventually, due to more wind or with the passage of time, these limbs and branches will eventually fall. The danger is that they could fall on an out building, your home or vehicle. More importantly, they may fall on a pet or a person causing injury.

“If you see anything you can’t handle with a pole saw, keeping your feet on the ground, you should hire a trained professional to take care of the limbs,” McKenzie said.

The Lawn and Garden Show can be heard on WIZS as part of the Local Skinny! every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on WIZS 1450am, 100.1fm and online at wizs.com.

Winter Storm Update & Cancellations

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Remember to tune in to WIZS Radio at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM with a regular radio.  You can Listen Live online by clicking here.

Our coverage on this page has ended as the winter storm event has ended.

Winter Weather

Winter Storm Updates (12-9-18)

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Remember to tune in to WIZS Radio at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM with a regular radio.

Click here for the LATEST BRIEFING FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

You may report weather delays and cancellations by email to news@wizs.com or by text at 432-0774. Delays and cancellations will be posted on the WIZS Facebook page – click here – and announced on the air for this event.

Winter Storm Update 8 a.m. (12-9-18)

The situation across Vance County is serious and is likely to become more dangerous.  Vance County appears, at this time, to be the dividing line for the snow and freezing rain, with a sharp projected difference in the likely snow fall amounts – from 10 inches in the northwest to 4 inches in the southeast.

Brian Short, Henderson-Vance County Director of Emergency Operations says:

“Attached (above link) is the latest from the NWS regarding our current winter storm. The roads are already covered in Vance County, and, as I type this email, the snow is coming down hard. As you can see from the attached graphics there is very tight gradient that splits Vance County with very high amounts of snow depicted in the northwest quadrant. This is of course an estimate and is dependent on a number of factors. Regardless we are still expecting a significant snowfall with this system.

“The concern now is the amount of freezing rain that we are now forecast to receive. It has been increased since the previous briefing and now calls for amounts that are likely to cause significant power outages. The ice accumulation coupled with the wind gusts will almost certainly result in downed trees as well.

“Remember if power should be lost, please do not to use any outdoor sources of heat inside your home, meaning no charcoal or gas grills. This is extremely dangerous and should not be done. If you are using an approved indoor secondary heat source such as kerosene heater, please make sure it is at least 36 inches away from walls or other objects that could ignite from the heat. Also, be extremely careful using candles to light your home in the event of a power loss and keep them away from anything that could ignite easily.

“Remember also not to exert yourself beyond your own physical limitations shoveling snow or performing other outdoor activities. Keep in mind that if travel becomes hazardous it could take our responders longer than normal to reach you, so please use good judgment and be careful with any strenuous activities. Also, remember to take care of your pets. Remember they feel cold just like people do so please bring them inside or make arrangements outside to keep them warm.

“As of now, we are strongly encouraging everyone to stay home and off the roads. Unless you have a job that requires it, please do not venture out. You could get stuck or have an accident and end up stranded in your vehicle until help can arrive. Also, vehicles stranded in the snow can cause response delays for responders as they have to navigate around them….So please stay home and off the roads until it is safe to move around.

“Please continue to monitor the storm closely as it approaches using whatever source of information that you typically use. We will be updating our agency Facebook page regularly and will also continue to forward along additional information via email as it is received.

“We also ask that you DO NOT call 911 to report power outages. There is nothing that 911 can do about that and we cannot have your power restored any faster than if you call the power company your self. However if you lose power and have a life safety issue due to the loss of power, please call 911 immediately and let them know. For everyone else, please call your power company directly and let them know.

“Everyone please stay safe.”

Remember, a State of Emergency remains in effect after Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington and Archie Taylor, chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, proclaimed a State of Emergency for the City of Henderson and County of Vance beginning Friday, December 7, 2018, at 5 p.m. The State of Emergency will be in effect for a period of four days unless rescinded by authorities.  General Emergency Protective Measures are in place. No public restrictions are in place at this time.