Actually, very good observation ... it does have a split trunk about half way up .. then two leaders. I'm sure my parents won't do anything about it ... this tree will likely outlast them. Its been fun watching it grow over the years. I was literally a 2nd grader out at the corner bus stop when this tree with 2-3' tall. It was a puny thing for so long, could barely hold 1 strand of christmas lights.

I'm (re)building my deck with 5/4 x 6 Cumaru decking. I'm already committed to using hidden fasteners and the deck is too low to use the grabber system from beneath. So... I could really use some advice on whether to go with the IpeClip Extreme KD system, or the DeckClip System. My thoughts: IpeClip: Advantages - the Extreme KD clips seem very strong and do their own 1/4" spacing with the built-in spacer. Also, the screws go through one of the boards at a 45 deg. angle. In theory, that would keep the board from moving much, at least on the side that was screwed in. Disadvantages - Pre-drilling, screwing the 45 degrees, removing boards later seems difficult at best. DeckClip: Advantages - Screwed from the top, not through any boards. No drilling. Easy to remove boards and replace them in the future since you can get to the screws through the gap easily. Disadvantages - Not screwed through any of the boards. Boards might be able to "walk" out of line in theory. Installation requires spacers to set the gap. I'm leaning toward the IpeClip Extreme KD. Please do not confuse this with the other, weaker IpeClips. Final question; One contractor told me to add exterior construction sealant, gluing the boards down as well. I'm concerned that it may not stick to the Messner's coating on the board. Even if it does, it might make the next project near impossible. Thoughts?

It should be a very low probability of infection under normal circumstances, but if your lawn has a known issue, it'd be wise to clean the deck after mowing. Fungal infections like rust, powdery mildew, or red thread are easy to spread via the mower, but since they spread on your shoes, the dog's paws, in minor breezes, and on birds and animals, it's not like there aren't plenty of vectors of infection. Most of the fungi that will flourish under those conditions are going to be saprophytes (stuff that eats dead things). They'd have no interest--or ability--to infect and kill living grass. Now if you have a new infection of something just starting out and then give it a concentrated food source, enjoy. But that should be rare.

Your S. hybridum plants are probably "compact" now because they're still brand new, small plants, but they're not gonna look compact at all by the time they bloom this summer. If you want them to look compact again next winter/spring you'll need to cut them all the way down to the ground after they finish blooming. That will give them time enough to grow back out into a pretty, short "mat" before they go dormant next winter. For more info check out Zach's current "Succulents look succu-lost" thread. And in that thread I link to an old ground cover thread that has some pretty good pics of what both of them look like when they're cut short and have their winter color, and also when they're growing long and blooming. My May 2 reply in the groundcovers thread shows the best comparisons. My Ajuga is just barely starting to show signs of new growth, and mine has been in for years so yours, being new plants, will probably start a little bit later. After the Ajuga blooms you're gonna want to cut the dead flower stems off of them too if you want them to look good the rest of the summer. You can either go thru it and cut out just the flower stems, or you can go over it and shear down all the stems AND the foliage, and in a couple weeks it'll be growing back all fresh and pretty for the rest of summer. Skybird