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Consumer Q's - March 8, 2007

March 8, 2007

Contact:  Teresa Jenkins
(404) 656-3645
1-800-282-5852

CONSUMER Q’s

Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs
Tommy Irvin, Commissioner
Call Consumer Q’s Hotline at 1-800-282-5852

Consumer Alert/Recall:  Weber-Stephen Products Recalls Gas Grills Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.  Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  Name of product: Weber® Genesis® 320™ Series Gas Grills; Units:  About 14,000; Manufacturer:  Weber-Stephen Products Co., of Palatine, Ill.  Hazard:  The gas hose attached to the side burner of the grill can crack or break off during shipping, causing it to leak gas when in use, which poses a fire hazard to consumers.  Incidents/Injuries:  Weber has received 49 reports of hose damage or gas leaks. No injuries have been reported.  Description:  This recall involves the Weber® Genesis® 320™ Series gas grills which are designed to be used with either natural gas or with liquid propane gas tanks, and are equipped with a flush-mounted side burner accessory.  The gas hose is made of stainless steel.  The grills are sold in stainless steel and in black, blue or green porcelain enamel.  All serial numbers begin with the prefix “DI”.  The model and serial number are located on the tank blocker/drip pan holder located inside the storage cart.  Only the following product names and model numbers are included in this recall:

 

 

Sold at:   Home Depot, Ace Hardware and Home Centers, Tru-Serve, Do-It Best, and other home improvement and hardware stores nationwide from November 2006 through February 2007 for between $450 to $770.  Manufactured in:   United States; Remedy:   Consumers should stop using the gas grill immediately and contact Weber-Stephen to obtain a free replacement gas hose and schedule a free installation.  Consumer Contact:   Call Weber-Stephen toll-free at (866) 249-3237 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s recall web site at http://www.weberrecall.com

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Regional Reminders:

Getting a Head Start: 

Cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, and squash are usually direct seeded into the garden.   For a head-start on the season, you can sow them indoors a couple of weeks ahead of their normal outdoor planting dates.   Just don't let them stay too long in the confines of a seedling container or they will be stunted and not perform as well.

Get Rid of Weed Seeds: 

Those cool-season lawn and garden weeds are loaded with developing seeds now.   Pull them up to prevent them from dropping those seeds and you'll reduce future weed problems in your lawn and garden.   Either discard the weeds or compost them in a well-constructed compost pile that heats up enough to destroy the seeds.

Protecting Fruit Blooms:

When a late frost threatens your fruit trees, your best hope is to cover the plants and provide heat beneath the cover.   Place a large sheet of plastic over the tree, large enough for it to drape to the ground on all sides.   Secure the edges with soil, rocks, or bricks.   Then place a couple of heat lamps beneath the cover shining down toward the ground but not touching the tree trunk or branches.

Don’t Worry About Evergreens Dropping Leaves:

While evergreen plants maintain foliage throughout the year, individual leaves don't live forever.   Some plants, such as live oaks and southern magnolias, have a pretty significant drop of foliage in spring with the onset of new growth.   Don't let this alarm you.   It is part of the natural cycle on these plants.

Choose Container-Grown Over Bare-Root Plants:

Now that winter is over, it's too late for best results with bare-root plants.   Even though some garden centers will offer late specials on these plants, it's best to choose container-grown plants so your new green investments have the best chance of surviving the warm weather to come.

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What types of fertilizer are best for potatoes, and how much should be applied?

Potatoes benefit from compost incorporated into the soil about 2-3 months before planting. Add a 3-4 inch layer of compost to the soil and work it in about 12 inches deep. Also, phosphorous promotes root growth. Organic sources are bone meal or rock phosphate. Or choose a synthetic fertilizer with a higher second number, i.e., 15-30-15, which indicates a higher percentage of phosphorous than nitrogen or potassium. Follow package instructions for amounts to apply.

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If you have questions, or problems with services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture you may write Consumer Services, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Room 224, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 or call 404/656-3645 (Atlanta area) or toll-free, 1-800-282-5852 (state wide).