All pine trees have needles, but all needled evergreens aren’t pine trees any more than all dogs are dachshunds. Telling pines from firs from spruces isn’t any harder than distinguishing beagles from Bassett hounds from bloodhounds -- you just need to know how each one is distinctively different from the others.

A distinguishing trait of pine trees is that their leaves (the needles) are bundled together, usually in packs of two to five. The needles may be long or short or somewhere in between, but if you find needles in bundles, you have a pine tree.

Flowering plants add splashes of living color to the holiday season. Proper care keeps them flowering and attractive.

The exact care requirements of flowering plants vary slightly from one to another. Following the care labels that come with them is the best idea, but some general recommendations apply to all of them.

Most flowering plants, from amaryllis to azalea, Christmas pepper, holiday cacti and poinsettia -- do best when they receive plenty of light. Because of short, often cloudy days, natural light may be in short supply around the holidays, so supplementing natural light with bright light from fluorescent tubes is often recommended.

October and early November are the ideal time to control broadleaf weeds because the weeds are storing carbohydrates in their root system and are more susceptible to herbicide applications. So if your turf is being overtaken by a wide array of broad leaf bandits, applying an herbicide now could make the difference for next year. Apply the herbicide on a sunny day when rain is not in the forecast for 24 hours. We want the herbicides to dry on the leaf surfaces and not be immediately washed off.

Also, make sure the turf is actively growing; cool weather and timely rains in the last week should ensure active growth in most areas. The reason we want to see actively growing turf and weeds is that if they are sitting dormant, those herbicide applications won’t be very effective.

There are many different herbicides that could be used including the most common three-way broadleaf weed control mixtures. As with any pesticide application, always make sure to wear the appropriate safety attire and follow all label recommendations. Also, be careful around ornamentals and garden areas. Remember to look at weed control as part of a complete turf program and don’t just focus on applying herbicides. I look at using herbicides as just one tool to control weeds.

Management practices that encourage turf density such as fertilizer applications and mowing high enable the turf to be more competitive and might reduce the need for herbicide applications in the future. The greatest shortcoming of killing broadleaf weeds at this time of year is that you really don’t get to watch them die. In many cases you may not see the obliteration of these weeds this autumn, but next year they won’t be there or will at least be reduced in numbers. Hopefully, a well-timed broadleaf herbicide application in October or early November can reduce weed competition in your turf for next year.