To prune or not to prune

Transcription

1 To prune or not to prune by Midge Willis Not only to prune or not to prune, but also when to prune, and how to prune. These questions perplex most of us. There are certain rules to follow, but some are specific to certain plants. Some plants need no pruning at all. How in the world are we supposed to figure all of it out? Right after a plant finishes blooming, it will rest for a while and gather food and energy for the next wave of blooms. This is the best time to prune that plant, when it is resting and not producing buds for the next bloom. Some rest for several months and some rest until next season but some only rest for a little while. After the plant finishes the resting period, at some point (at times specific to that plant) it begins to fill the production line in the limbs and stems with buds for the next bloom. Unless you know when the plant you are Inside the Gardener s Scoop Index 1-2 To prune or not to prune 2-3 Report on Projects - Zoo Workday 3 Request for Pots, Hospitality Schedule, Fall Bulb Sale Order 4 Lawn & Garden TV Spot, Maki Q & A Book wanting to prune will begin to make buds for the next bloom, you cannot know if it is a good time to prune or not. If you do not already know your plant well enough to know that, you need to research it more. Some plants start trying to bloom very soon after it has finished the rush of blooms so that the time window to trim or prune that plant is very small. Other plants wait several months before they begin to send buds up to the top. That is why the best time to prune is right after that plant has finished blooming because it is resting and not even thinking about making buds. Roses may, depending on the variety, bloom all spring, summer, and fall, even sometimes in early winter. The traditional time to cut back roses is Valentine s Day, February 14. If you prune too early, the bush will put on new growth and a stray freeze can kill the tender new growth. (continued on next page) 4-7 Announcements & Events 7 Volunteer Hours 8-9 Look at what you can do! 10 Recipe 11 Calendar Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 1

2 This causes the plant to look bad but it will not harm the bush. It just makes you look like an amateur. Roses bloom and then rest, then bloom again in about days and then rest again. This cycle goes on until the plant is dormant and that is usually January and February in our area. The first burst of spring blooms from a rose bush that has been properly pruned is almost always the one that makes us know why we plant roses, just too pretty for words. Light pruning can be done as you deadhead the spent blooms, back to the first leaves of five. Deadheading keeps the plant from wasting energy on dying blooms and making rose hips. Did you know it takes energy from the plant for the dying blooms to finish dying? As soon as those blooms start looking bad, deadhead to save that energy for new buds. Reports on Projects Zoo Workday pictures by Linda Osse, description by Linda Tubbs On July 23, seven wonderful Master Gardeners met to spruce up the front bed and the kitchen garden areas. Zoobilation is scheduled for August 7 and we wanted our sponsored beds to make a good impression. Wow, it was warm, but we accomplished a lot. Some new annuals were planted in the front bed, with mulch being added. Crepe myrtle trees do not need to be toppruned but will benefit from thinning out problem limbs. Keeping the tree free of limbs that rub against each other is necessary. Also thinning out limbs in the middle of the tree so that the tree has good air circulation is important. It also allows us to see the beautiful trunk of the tree when it sheds the bark. That is a sight to behold, part of our southern gardening heritage. In general, know the plant you are about to prune and ask yourself if you really need to prune at all and not just because it is the latest thing to do. Always prune at the correct time for that plant and in a way that will benefit the plant for years to come. To prune or not to prune, always know the reason before you start whacking. Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 2

3 If you've not visited the kitchen garden, I encourage you to do so. There are tomatoes, basil, watermelons, corn, and figs. Some diligent MG's have put a lot of work into that area every week. Hospitality Schedule by Debbie Beauvais Team 4 will host the August MG meeting. Team 4 members are Debbie Beauvais, Karen Mulhearn, Linda Williams, Virginia Lee, Lanell Armstrong, Linda Tubbs, Ginny Chin, and Sharon Smith. Team 1 will host the September MG meeting. Team 1 members are Andrea Griggs, Mary Lou McFarland, Theresa Cotton, John McGraw, Christy Francis, Lora Fix, Glenda Guice, Lisa Richardson, and Helen Hotard. If you are not yet on a Hospitality Team, you're help would be appreciated. Please volunteer and give me your name. Thank you. We should be proud of our sponsored areas at the zoo & proud to have such a wonderful attraction for our area. Request for Pots by Midge Willis I know all of you bought lots of plants this year for your yard or garden. I do hope you saved all of the pots because I need them to repot plants for the fall and spring sales. I need the size that is 11 inches across the top and 10 inches tall and I need a lot of them. When a plant is in a larger pot it will do a lot better than when it is root bound in a pot that makes it too top heavy. When a plant looks good, so do we. It makes us look like we know what we are doing. Please bring the pots to the AgCenter or to me or call me if you have too many for you to haul. Bum some from your neighbors and friends. Fall Bulb Sale Order The bulb order for the fall sale will be placed on September 1st, and they need an idea of how many presold orders there will be. Please get your orders in. Common sense is a flower that does not grow in everyone s garden! Minions NELA MG Board Members President Christy Francis Vice President Secretary Treasurer Recorder Historian Member-at-Large Member-at-Large Member-at-Large Lisa Richardson Virginia Lee Steve Thomas Linda Tubbs Lillian Matthews Warren Daniels Elaine Johnson Laura Hardin Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 3

4 Lawn & Garden TV Spot by Kerry Heafner Beginning Monday, August, 1st, Kerry s televised lawn and garden spot currently seen on Wednesday mornings on KNOE moved to Monday afternoons on KTVE. The producer oflouisiana Living has graciously given the LSU AgCenter up to five minutes of live air time for lawn and garden questions, Master Gardener events, and anything else we need to cover. This will be an afternoon spot instead of early morning, which is much more agreeable. Orders will be placed with the shirt company every two months (i.e. the site will remain open through the end of September, at that time all orders placed between August 1st and September 30th will be sent to the company). Any shirts ordered after September 30th will be placed in the next order. Shirts will be bundled by Master Gardener program and sent to your local coordinator s office. Ken Maki Q & A Book by Kerry Heafner Kerry had a very nice conversation with Alexa Maki Chance, Ken Maki s daughter who helped him put together his Q & A book. Revisions on this book will start soon. If there is a picture or something you would like to contribute to the book, please feel free to jump in. I m going to ask Jarod Floyd if he can and will contribute some meterologic and climate information for this area, too, much like an almanac is arranged Announcements and Events pictures by Kerry Heafner Master Gardener Shirts will be available for purchase through the AgCenter Online Store beginning August 1, Here is the link for ordering the shirts: master-gardener-shirts.aspx (Note: the shirt shown above is hibiscus, the picture reflects more red than pink) Thursday, September 1st Fall Master Gardener class starts. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, September 17-18th Annual Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies The committee responsible for the annual Butterfly Festival, which will be at the Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds in Haynesville, LA, will be holding a Master Gardener Quiz Bowl. The Butterfly Festival is a great annual event in Claiborne Parish, and the Quiz Bowl should be fun for Master Gardeners. Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 4

5 The Butterfly-themed Master Gardener Quiz Bowl Competition is scheduled for 3:30 4:15 at the butterfly festival on September 17, 2016 with Robin Bridges, County Agent in Union County, Arkansas, as emcee. There will be a panel of three judges to decide if an answer is acceptable and to keep score. These judges will not be master gardeners nor will they be associated with any extension service, but will be knowledgeable about butterflies and butterfly gardening. Each team will consist ideally of four members who can confer among themselves before giving an answer to a question; however, a team can compete with fewer members but would have a lesser advantage in conference. Choose a catchy name for your team and submit it with the names and contact information for your team members to me. There is no fee for entering. The winning team will receive $300, second place $200 and third $100. For more information on the Butterfly Festival and the Master Gardener Quiz Bowl, please contact: Loice Kendrick-Lacy 1937 Bailey Avenue Haynesville, LA (318) Saturday, September 24th Pollination Celebration Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardener Association and LSU AgCenter are bringing a new event to southeast Louisiana. "Pollination Celebration" is a one-day festival to educate the public about various bugs and birds that act as pollinators in our area. The event will be held at LSU AgCenter Hammond, Louisiana Research Station from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Key note lecturers for the event include Gary Noel Ross, world renowned author, director of butterfly festivals North American Butterfly Association, and butterfly expert, and LSU AgCenter professors, Allen Owings and Dan Gill. Artwork is being solicited for use in advertising and to produce articles for sale at future festivals. Complete contest rules and forms can be also found on our blog and website: om/ or If you would like more information on being an art/craft vendor or nursery vendor for the event, please contact the Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardener Association at or Friday, September 30th Master Gardener Appreciation Day The 2016 Master Gardener Appreciation Day will be held on Friday, September 30, 2016 at the Hammond Research Station. Don t forget to mark your calendar! Maybe a carpool can be arranged, if a group would like to go. (see next page for details) Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 5

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7 November 1-4, 2016 Southern Regional Master Gardener Conference The conference is November 1-4, 2016, at the Sheraton Hotel in Arlington, TX, in the center of the vibrant Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Sessions run November 2-3 and close on Friday morning, November 4 with a talk by actor Barry Corbin on Growing Up in Texas. The rest of day you can take your pick from a variety of tours. Speaking of tours: they are spread throughout the conference so you don t have to choose just one. In addition to garden tours (both public and private), the Arlington Sheraton is close to AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys as well as fantastic art work, and venue for a multitude of entertainment events) and Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers), and tours are scheduled. And there will be plenty of opportunity to share the Texas experience with our out-of-state friends. Registration is $275 through October 9, Go to the conference website for information on all the sessions, talks and tours. If you only want to attend one day or specific dining events, partial registration is available. Louisiana Master Gardener Statewide Meeting There has been expressed interest in a meeting for representatives (2-3 individuals) from all Louisiana Master Gardener associations/groups statewide. The idea behind this informal meeting is to allow for a chance to meet master gardeners from around the state and share updates/success stories from your local program. The group will also discuss the possible formation of a Louisiana Master Gardener Advisory Board. The meeting date and location are TBD, but will more than likely occur in the Alexandria area Advanced Master Gardener Class The upcoming Advanced Master Gardener class will open next spring. More information on pre-requisites will be available this fall. Volunteer Service Hours As of July 29, Volunteer Service Hours 133 Continuing Education Hours (there was a mistake on this figure last month) This time last year: Volunteer Service Hours 115 Continuing Education Hours Do not forget to record your hours! The next Master Gardener meeting is Tuesday, August 9th, 2016 at the LSU AgCenter. Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 7

8 Just look at what you can do! by Midge Willis As Master Gardeners we are obligated to learn and teach as much as we can. Each year we hold a seminar in January with professional speakers who come in and do our talking for us, and we listen and learn from them right along with our guests. But this costs money. We have to pay these people to come here to speak. There are other things we need money for, and the best way to get that money is to sell plants at our plant sales. These plant sales also give us an opportunity to be involved with the general public and teach them about the plants we sell. We have to have money to buy those plants to sell unless we raise them ourselves. If each member of our association put forth the effort to bring plants that they have grown themselves, we would not have to buy so many plants. Each plant raised by a member for the sales represents profit. plants. Just do it. It doesn't take a lot more time to tend 12 plants than it does to care for 10. Just add a few extra plants to your yard by taking cuttings or divisions from things that can be rooted. Start things from seed if you have a greenhouse. Always have something growing in your yard for the Master Gardener plant sales. Have things Everybody can do this. No matter how little space you have, you can grow at least one plant to contribute. If you have a lot of space, grow a lot of Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 8

9 that root or grow fast for this year and other things that may take longer to be the right size to sell in the future. That way you will always have something to contribute to our fundraising projects. Make sure there are no pests on them, the pots are clean when brought to the sale, and keep them looking healthy. It's simple. If you can grow one plant, it is a no brainer to grow 2, 3, or a dozen. Each year add something new to the collection of plants you have on hand. As your collection of plants grows, your knowledge of plants will also grow as you get more experience. Come on! Donate plants to our sales. Just look at what I am doing in my yard to prepare for the Master Gardener fundraising effort. Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 9

10 Old-Fashioned Pear or Fig Preserves from Debbie Beauvais It's time to preserve figs and pears. A friend told me about this recipe that she's used which she found on the internet. It helps that you can do part one evening and the rest the next day. These are wonderful on toast, or better yet, hot biscuits! INGREDIENTS figs or pears sugar 3 or 4 Tbsp lemon juice (optional) 3 PARTS FRUIT TO 1 PART SUGAR DIRECTIONS STEP-BY-STEP 1 PREPARING THE FRUIT: For Figs...wash and slice. Small figs cut in half. Large figs cut into fourths. For Pears...peel and slice. Get out a large pot you plan on cooking them in. Get out a medium size bowl for measuring. 2 MEASURING: Use the same bowl to measure fruit and sugar. Put into large pot three (3) parts fruit to one (1) part sugar. Be sure to use the pot you're going to be cooking them in. Cover with lid and let stand overnight (not refrigerated) or for 10 to 12 hours to allow the sugar to melt. 3 GETTING STARTED: Remove lid and stir. Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and stir again. This just makes them a beautiful golden color but it's your choice whether to use it or not. I normally always use it. 4 COOKING: Cook on medium-high without the lid. You want a steady rolling boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking to bottom of pot. Boil for 1 1/2 hours to 4 hours, depending on amount of fruit you have. A smaller amount won't take as long so use your own judgement. 5 JAR THEM: Ladle them into clean jars and seal tightly. If you want you can turn the jars upside down for 15 minutes then right side up but it's really not necessary. A lot of older people used to do this. (It is not necessary to do a water bath with this recipe; however, you can process your ½ pints for 15 minutes if you prefer.) You should hear them "pop" within 30 to 40 minutes. If you have one that doesn't seal, just put it in the fridge. 6 TIPS: I start checking them after they have cooked for about an hour and a half or so. I put a small amount into a cup and let it get cool to see how runny it is. I keep doing this so I'll know when they're the consistency I want. In the meantime, I put my jars, lids and rings into the dishwasher on the rinse cycle. This way they are sterile. Be sure they are absolutely dry before filling. Also, I always carefully remove the rings before storing. You can reuse the rings but not the lids. Good luck. Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 10

11 Upcoming Activities MG Shirts available for purchase MG Meeting 6:30 PM Newsletter article submission deadline UPCOMING EVENTS September 1 Fall Master Gardener class starts September 17 Annual Haynesville Celebration of Butterflies September 24 Pollination Celebration Festival September 30 Master Gardener Appreciation Day November 1-4 Southern Regional Master Gardener Conference (see pages 4-7 for specifics) The Louisiana Master Gardener Program is a service and educational activity offered by the LSU AgCenter. The program is designed to recruit and train volunteers to help meet educational needs of home gardeners while providing an enjoyable and worthwhile service experience for volunteers. An educational program of the LSU AgCenter Contact: LSU AgCenter 704 Cypress Street, West Monroe, LA (318) Gardener s Scoop August 2016 Page 11