utlook
Real People. Real Life.
P.O. BOX 39 n MARYSVILLE, WA 98270
www.northcountyoutlook.com
Vol. 14 No. 27 n
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March 17, 2021- March 23, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK
www.northcountyoutlook.com
Did you know?
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any lawns contain a mixture of the roughly one dozen types of different grasses. According to the lawn care experts at Scotts®, knowing which type of grass they have in their yard can help homeowners more effectively manage and care for their lawns. But with so many lawns containing a mixture of grasses, how can homeowners know exactly what’s making up that green carpet in their yards? Scotts® notes that lawns typically fall into one of two categories: warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses. Warm-season grasses are those that thrive in regions where the climate tends to be especially warm, such as the southern United States. Cool-season grasses are those that are at their best in climates that experience extreme temperature fluctuations. For example, cool-season grasses are most likely to be found in the northern United States, as much of this area of the country experiences cold winters and warm, and in some places very hot, summers. Homeowners who are uncertain about which type of grass they have can consult a lawn care professional for advice. Homeowners who learn which type of grass is in their yard can use that information to determine how frequently they should mow and water their lawns and which type of fertilizer is best-suited to their lawns.
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON
There are a number of tools that every beginning gardener should have.
Essential tools for beginning gardners The right tool for the job is essential to working safely and efficiently. This is as true in the workplace as it is in the garden. Novice gardeners may not know where to begin in regard to which tools they need. The following are items that can serve as a solid foundation for beginning gardeners. “Buy your tools early and have them ready before you need them,” said Laura Cooper, who has been with the WSU Master Gardeners since 2015 and lives in the Arlington area. She stressed the importance of buying good quality tools. n Gloves: Your hands will be working hard, so it pays to protect them from calluses, blisters, splinters,
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Buy your tools early and have them ready before you need them.
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Laura Cooper
insects, and dirt. Look for water-resistant gloves that are also breathable. Cooper recommended a glove that has a rubber palm that will help keep hands dry. She said they can be purchased at a nursery. If it looks like a gardener will be dealing with thorny bushes, then she suggested purchasing a pair of thicker leather gloves. n Hand pruners: Hand pruners are essential for cutting branches, cleaning up shrubs, dead-heading flowers, and various other tasks. Choose ergonomic, no-slip handles that will make work easier. Rust-resistant, nonstick blades also are handy. Cooper recommended purchasing a pair of bypass pruners. n Hori hori knife: One handy tool Cooper recommends is a hori hori knife. A Japanese soil knife, it has a blade that is serrated on one side. Cooper said the knife is a great tool to pull dandelions and to loosen roots of weeds. “The goal is to pull out the whole root.” n Wheelbarrow: A wheelbarrow can transport gear to garden beds or tote dirt, leaves, rocks, and other materials around the landscape. A good wheelbarrow is strong but light enough to maneuver when full. n Loppers: Longhandled loppers will fit
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the bill for thick branches. The long handles provide leverage to cut through branches an inch or more in diameter. n Hand trowel: A hand trowel is a handy tool that lets you dig holes or unearth weeds. While shopping for a trowel, consider getting a hand-held garden fork, which can aerate soil and cut through roots. n Hose/watering can: Keeping gardens hydrated is part of ensuring their health. That makes a hose and a watering can two invaluable tools to have around. Invest in a lightweight, expandable hose if storage space is at a premium. An adjustable nozzle will enable you to customize the water flow as needed. A watering can is an easy way to tote water to hard-to-reach pots and containers. kneeler: n Garden Gardeners often bend and kneel while working in the soil. That puts pressure on the back and knees. A comfortable garden kneeler with memory foam or one made from shock-absorbing material can reduce aches and pains. n Garden hoe: Garden hoes till soil, remove weeds and perform many other tasks. A garden hoe can be used along with a full-sized
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Home & Garden
See TOOLS on page 7
Pages 4-7
MARCH 17, 2021 - MARCH 23, 2021
MARYSVILLE • ARLINGTON • SMOKEY POINT • LAKEWOOD • TULALIP • QUIL CEDA VILLAGE
Tractor art piece designed to invoke history, community By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com The 204th Street Roundabout is nearly finished and received a piece of public art on March 12 as part of Arlington’s public art fund. The public art fund receives money from sales tax revenue related to new construction and goes to helping beautify the town. The 204th Street location was the recipient of the newest public art project in part because it’s a public place. “We knew that the new roundabout was a major commuting route into the community,” said Sarah Lopez, community revitalization and communications manager for the city of Arlington. See ART on page 2
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON
Arlington School District paraeducator Bekki Bolopue, left, and Arlington High School student Mia Cuertin set up cameras to film an Arlington High School tennis match on March 11.
ASD will broadcast home sports events By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON
Arlington maintenance worker Ray Drake secures a tractor art piece onto its resting place at the 204th Street roundabout on March 12.
The Arlington School District hopes to broadcast its home sports games online at Eagle News Media for community members who want to watch the local high school sports. The high school’s journalism production program
will livestream home games on their YouTube channel. A link to that channel is available at theahseagle. com. “We have livestreams up that we are doing for all of our sports at all levels,” said Tom Roys, athletic director for Arlington High School.
See ASD on page 2
Work will connect Bayview, Centennial trails By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Marysville’s first connection to the Centennial Trail is under works as construction crews are extending Bayview Trail eastward. The popular 30.5-mile Centennial Trail stretches from the town of Snohomish to the north of Arlington. It is built on the old Burlington-Northern railroad line and has occasional stops with picnic tables and restrooms. The trail is designed for walking, biking, hiking, skateboarding and/or horseback riding. Ground broke in March on the Marysville construction project to allow access to the Centennial Trail. “This is a recreational trail project and it will connect the existing Bayview Trail,
which runs from SR-528 to 84th Street currently, to the Centennial Trail,” said Kyle Woods, project engineer with the city of Marysville. The connection will open up access to the Centennial Trail for Marysville residents, especially for those that live in the 84th Street area which the Bayview Trail extension will go through. “It gives the Whiskey Ridge area and Marysville Getchell High School a way to access the local trail system easily,” said Woods. The biggest barrier to getting onto the Centennial Trail has been getting through Highway 9 to the east. “This construction allows the Bayview See TRAILS on page 8
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON
Construction crews work along 84th Street on March 12 to help construct the Bayview Trail extension.