Not familiar with a product named Gromax but I agree that not all wood chip mulch will automatically come infected with the fungus spores - right out of the bag. And even if it is already contaminated with the spores due to improper aging/composting and storage it can be eliminated by drying the mulch well first in the sun before applying it. But the fungus is air born too so, if common to the area, it can arrive on the wind and set up housekeeping. It only thrives in ideal conditions - very warm, always moist environment, shaded, limited air circulation area, and within a narrow range of pH. Correct the problems that are encouraging it's growth keeps it from coming back. The article below should be of help to you. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Control of Nuisance Fungi

Lynn, I know by experience i tryed them both, bugg slayer is a harsh chemical and kills everything you spray it on... i mean everything. Does not last long enough to handle the benefits from it killing all the bees in the area. BOx elder b-gone- is the faster killer, and its non toxic. One up is it kills faster, is cheaper but you do have to do it alittle bit more then the chemical but with my kids around that is not a problem. I used to use buggslayer until i found out about box elder b-gone... the bugs actually do die very fast, its easy just spray it on them. THeres one other i have heard but not tried for diatect its a harsh chemical also... i just figured with box elder in the name box elder b-gone was the best choice. I really do like it alot, it does not smell or stain. Hope that helps. Thanks ken

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions...have found an attorney in Pa. and am now trying to compile a list of questions about the sale/proceeds/taxes etc. Hard to think of everything that might crop up in the transition. I know if she changes her Pa. residency she will lose her state assisted drug program that is funded through the Pa. lottery....Florida's lottery proceeds go to education.....

The attorney who oversees a closing does not represent any of the parties. (In many jurisdictions, it is not even required that an attorney be present at a real estate closing. Instead closings are overseen by agents of the title or escrow company.) The closing attorney - or whoever oversees a real estate closing - is supposed to be a neutral third party. His job is to make sure everything is in order and all of the documents get properly signed and then properly recorded. Basically, the closing attorney's tasks include: 1) doing a title search to make sure there are no clouds on the title and, if there are any, working with the parties to get these cleared prior to closing; 2) verifying that real estate taxes on the property are properly apportioned between seller and buyer and are paid (either prior to closing or at closing); 3) coordinating the issuance of title insurance; 4) preparing all the documents that are to be signed at closing (the mortgage, promissory notes, truth in lending disclosures, and HUD Settlement Statement)or at least making sure that all documents were correctly prepared in accordance with the agreement between buyer and seller; 5) making sure everybody signs and initials everything in all the right places; 6) coordinating distribution of the sale proceeds after the closing (eg., transfer taxes and recording fees, pre-paid interest, realtor's commissions, payoff of prior mortgages/loans, etc.); and 7) making sure the deed, mortgage and other recordable instruments are properly recorded in the county land records after the closing. Because an attorney who doesn't know what he/she is doing can royally screw up the whole process (eg., by overlooking a signature line, or forgetting to carry the documents down to the court house after the closing and get them properly recorded!) it is understandable that the bank wants to make sure that the closing is handled by someone competent. For this reason, most banks have a list of closing attorneys that they recommend. Some are pretty adamant that you choose someone off of their list...maybe because they've been previously burned by someone incompetent attempting to handle a closing. However, while YOU are paying for the closing attorney's services (it is one of many fees that you'll see listed on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement) an attorney who was "suggested" by the bank will, of course, know that the bank is the one actually throwing business his way. An ethical attorney - and no, that isn't a contradiction of terms - will not let that factor influence him in the slightest. You can be fairly certain that the closing attorney will not deliberately do anything illegal to aid the bank at your expense. Such malfeasance would be evident in the documents themselves and could cause the attorney to lose his license. However, even the best attorneys are human and, in a close call situation, they may act so as to ensure that they get further work from the bank. Thus, in practice, for example if you were ask a question that the bank might find embarrassing, an unethical settlement attorney MIGHT give you a glossed over response that doesn't really quite tell you what you need to know. And, the closing attorney is under no obligation to explain the meaning of any documents to you. Thus, you should NOT rely on the closing attorney to give you legal advice! If you have any legal questions at all about anything related to the real estate transaction, you should ask an attorney that you hire separately to represent you. You ALWAYS have the right to have your own attorney present at the closing to represent your interests even tho he/she would not be the "closing attorney." And, you should definitely have an attorney who represents you review all of the closing documents and go over them with you in detail well ahead of the closing date. The bank or closing attorney should provide you with "preview copies" at least several days ahead of the scheduled closing date. If your attorney doesn't go with you to the actual closing, take your preview copies with you to the closing. Carefully compare the final documents with the preview copies. If there are any differences between the two sets of documents, call your attorney (you should have his number on speed dial and make sure ahead of time that he will be available by telephone at the time of your closing) to explain what the changes mean and whether they are problematic. Hope this helps clear up any confusion...