Marra helps Hurricane spruce up its city hall

HURRICANE, W.Va. -- City employees and community members assembled Wednesday at Hurricane City Hall for a lesson in planting and pruning, compliments of the West Virginia University Extension Program.

Best known as WSAZ's lawn and garden expert, John Marra is also the Agriculture Extension Agent for Cabell County. During Wednesday's presentation, Marra addressed common landscaping issues that might be seen on city grounds as well as in community yards and gave instructions and demonstrations on how to tackle some of those problems.

"Don't let a tree or shrub control you. You control it," Marra said.

The most important step is to plan ahead before you plant and avoid that feeling of impulse until you've done your research, he said.

Before you go shopping, "Think about what you want in your landscape and what will accommodate that," he said, a step that will help you avoid disappointment in you gardening results down the road.

Mayor Scott Edwards said he felt the staff and community could benefit from having a lesson or two from someone "in the know."

"It's city property, and the trees, shrubs and bushes need to look their best," he said.