By The Yard... June Become An Extension Master Gardener Volunteer: Deadline to apply is July 1, Fayette. County

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1 Fayette County By The Yard... June 2016 Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service 1140 Red Mile Place Lexington, KY (859) Fax: (859) Become An Extension Master Gardener Volunteer: Looking for New Gardening Excitement? Extension Master Gardener Program begins in September at the Fayette County Extension Office Learn about gardening from area professionals and educators Become an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer and find a world of gardening friends Where can gardeners receive educational programs that interest them? The Extension Service, of course, and particularly their Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program. This program provides over seventy hours of classroom instruction by area horticulture agents, local industry professionals and experts from the University of Kentucky. Growing better lawns with less effort, understanding how soils affect plant performance and learning to use pruners courageously are just three of the many topics covered. Fruit, flower and vegetable gardening, composting, tree and shrub selection and planting, and diagnosing plant problems are also discussed. With completion of the course, participants become certified master gardeners after they fulfill 20 hours of diagnostic and customer service work and 20 hours of volunteer service from a variety of specified horticultural activities. As program providers, we pride ourselves on presenting factual, research-based recommendations suitable to Central Kentucky, and we encourage participants to improve the quality of their home and community environments by using this information. And afterwards, Extension supports your new horticultural connection by encouraging participants to join the Fayette County Master Gardener Association, which offers inspiration, gardening programs, and camaraderie. Is the program popular? You bet it is, and that s why we are sending this special announcement to you. The program will be held at the Fayette County Extension Office, 1140 Red Mile Place. More information about the program on the next page. Deadline to apply is July 1, 2016 To have an application mailed to you call or for more information, call the Fayette County Extension Service at or visit our website at: fayette.ca.uky.edu/horticulture to download the application. Complete the paperwork and mail or drop it off at the front office by the deadline!

2 Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program Page 2 Extension Master Gardener is a rigorous volunteer training program that prepares candidates to serve the Extension Horticulture program. We offer the program beginning in September of alternating years. We are currently offering the class in even numbered years. The level of interest in our program far exceeds the number of seats in each class and we interview all candidates to identify those with the most interest in long term volunteer commitments with Cooperative Extension. Our class meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9am till noon for roughly 15 weeks beginning around Labor Day. In addition to class time, students are required to complete a homework assignment and quiz for each class session. Students also prepare and submit insect and tree collections outside of class time. After the classroom portion, students are required to pass a comprehensive final exam with a minimum score of 70%. Students are allowed 2 absences from class, regardless of circumstances, and the third absence equates to dismissal from the program. Students who successfully pass the classroom portion become apprentice Extension Master Gardeners for the following year while they complete 40 hours of volunteer service in assigned activities. Twenty of the 40 hours are spent on our Helpline at the Cooperative Extension office where volunteers field questions and advise walk in clients. Helpline shifts are 10am -2pm Monday through Friday from April through October. An additional 20 hours will be assigned by the county horticulture agent in one of our approved projects. After completing the 40 hour volunteer requirement apprentices become fully certified Extension Master Gardener volunteers. This entire process encompasses months. After the initial apprentice year, volunteers remain in the program by volunteering a minimum of 20 hours per year in one of our approved projects. The cost of the Fayette County Extension Master Gardener training is $ which includes textbooks and other materials. We do offer partial and full scholarships to the program in exchange for additional volunteer time to applicants who can document financial need. Class fees are non-refundable if a student withdraws or is dismissed from the program. Since our greatest need for volunteers coincides with our office hours we do not offer this program as an evening or weekend class. If you feel up to the challenge and would like to join the ranks of our highly skilled volunteers, please consider applying for the next Extension Master Gardener class. Deadline to apply is July 1, 2016 To have an application mailed to you or for more information, call the Fayette County Extension Service at or visit our website at: to download the application. Complete the paperwork and mail or drop it off at the front office as soon as possible and before the deadline! Noticed some changes for the By The Yard newsletter lately? Please have patience with us as we try out and experiment with some new looks and designs as we look to better the newsletter!

3 Page 3 Magnolia Weevils Active Now Yellow poplar weevils, also known as sassafras or magnolia weevils, are small black snout beetles that occasionally damage yellow poplar, sassafras, and magnolia. Adults chew distinctive holes in the leaves that resemble curved rice grains in size and shape (Figure 1). The larval stage, a white legless grub, develops and feeds inside the leaves of poplar and sassafras. The combined activity of adults and larvae can cause significant leaf loss. While injured leaves cause the trees to be unsightly, damage to established trees probably does not affect its overall health. There is one generation of this insect each year. Adults pass winter in leaf litter, becoming active and feeding during warm days in late April and early May. Before bud break, weevils attack swelling buds leaving their distinctive feeding marks. As leaves unfold and enlarge, they, too, are fed upon. Holes in leaves, about 1/8 inch in diameter (Figure 2), result from adult weevils puncturing buds or feeding on lower surfaces of leaves. Source: Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky Entomologist Figure 1. Distinctive feeding holes of the yellow poplar weevil (Photo: J. Henderson) June Quick Tips Figure 2. Yellow poplar weevils are sometimes thought to be flying ticks. By agreement, ticks do not fly and yellow poplar weevils do not feed on blood (Photo: Lee Townsend, UK) Prune evergreen shrubs now through late August. Mound soil around potato plants to improve quality. Thin fruits on fruit trees when they reach the size of a dime. Leave one fruit for every 6-8 of branch. Mow grass at three inches for a healthier lawn. Leave clippings on lawn for a natural source of fertilizer. Use chemical controls as a last resort. Patrol plants regularly for insects and hand pick before populations explode. If you must resort to chemicals avoid spraying during the heat of the day and ALWAYS read and follow label directions. Remove flower buds from culinary herbs to keep them growing and productive. Keep mower blades sharpened. Clean cuts make for less disease problems and easier mowing for you. Mulch plants for the summer. It will conserve moisture in hot weather and prevent weeds from growing. Keep gardens and beds well weeded. Weeds compete for light and nutrients, reducing yields. By preventing weeds from setting seed you will lessen weed problems in future years. Pinch chrysanthemums back every few weeks until mid July. This will promote fuller bushier plants that are less likely to fall over when in bloom. Start planning your fall vegetable plantings now. Many cool season crops like lettuce, peas, and cole crops will be finished from the spring planting and can be planted again in late July and August for a fall crop. Don t forget to register for Gardener s Toolbox Classes, For a complete class descriptions and registrations information visit our website at: fayette.ca.uky.edu/horticulture or the condensed registration form is included in this issue of By The Yard newsletter.

4 Controlling Mosquitoes Where You Live Page 4 Controlling mosquitos is challenging to say the least. You may even think you are fighting a never-ending battle. With mosquito-borne diseases like the Zika virus becoming more prevalent, it s even more important to know how to take control of these pests around your home environment. Learning to do a few simple things could help protect you from more than the itchiness of a mosquito bite. All mosquitos need standing water to develop through their larval stages and that doesn t necessarily mean a lake or pond. It also includes bird baths, kiddie pools and even discarded soda pop cans. The key to controlling them around your home is to stop them from breeding in the first place. Some things you can do include: Drain and remove trash, bottles and any debris that holds water. Recycle any unused containers that could collect water, especially old tires. Change water weekly in bird baths, wading pools, watering troughs and animal bowls. Fill in holes, depressions and puddles in your yard. Make sure your culverts and ditches are draining properly. Check and clean out clogged gutters to ensure drainage. Keep ornamental ponds stocked with fish. Fix leaky hoses and faucets. Drain water from flowerpots and garden containers. Turn over wheelbarrows, buckets and other items that collect water. Adjust tarps covering woodpiles, boats and grills to remove standing water. Encourage natural enemies of mosquitoes, such as warblers, swallows, martins and other insect feeding birds. It s a good idea to start these practices early in the season. Just because the mosquitoes aren t biting yet, doesn't mean that they re not developing. For more information about mosquito control, visit faculty/brown/index_files/page601.htm or contact the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service. Source: Lee Townsend University of Kentucky Entomologist Fayette County Extension Office will be closed on Monday May 30th for Memorial Day.

5 Page 5 Sights To Expect In Wet Landscapes Crane flies are gangly-legged delicate flies in a variety of sizes that are common in the spring. They resemble mosquitoes but do not feed at all. Crane flies can be seen resting on surfaces or flying slowly across a lawn. The gray larvae or immature stages resemble cutworms but there is no distinct head and no legs at all. Several pairs of fleshy lobes can be seen at the end of the abdomen. They develop in wet, shaded areas where they feed on decaying organic matter such as accumulations of wet leaves or heavy thatch. The larvae are most commonly seen during spring and fall rainy periods when they are driven out of low area by excessive rain and can be caught on surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways. Neither crane fly larvae nor adults are harmful. However, large numbers of larvae in an area are indicative of chronic wet areas or a build-up of organic matter that may lead to other problems. Fungus gnat larvae are found in the same type of situations. These legless larvae have distinct, shiny black heads and white to clear bodies. Groups of them may form into a column and crawl across the ground like a snake. Also, crayfish mounds may begin to appear in areas where they usually are not seen because of the high water table. They dig tunnels from 1 to 5 feet deep or to the water table so that they can stay moist. These omnivorous scavengers create "chimneys" made of mud balls that are excavated and rise above the tunnel. Because crayfishes breathe with gills, they must always maintain some degree of contact with water. There are no pesticides registered for crayfish control. Source: Lee Townsend, University of Kentucky, Entomology

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7 2016 Gardener s Toolbox Registration Form We are happy to offer you the following opportunities to learn more about gardening. The majority of classes will be held at the Fayette County Extension Office and will begin at 6:30 p.m., UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Classes will be led by Fayette County Horticulture Agent, Jamie Dockery. For class descriptions visit: fayette.ca.uky.edu/horticulture or call (859) to have a the complete list mailed to you. IMPORTANT REMINDERS! Sign up early for classes to avoid being turned away because class is full. ALL classes are PRE-REGISTRATION only. If you need to cancel, you must do so 2 weeks prior to the class time to receive a refund or credit for a different class. If handouts and/or plants are not picked up 3 days after class, items will be donated. IMPORTANT: Discount for multiple classes will no longer be offered. ~ 2016 GARDENER S TOOLBOX CLASSES ~ Class and Cost Class and Cost 6/9: Managing CLASS Perennials FULL through Pruning - Free 6/21: Designing Arrangements for Flower Shows - $ /12: New and Exciting Sedums - 3:00 p.m. 7/21: Fashionable Late/The Winter Vegetable Garden - $ /2: Attracting CLASS Pollinators FULL and Beneficial Insects- $ /11: Ornamental Grasses - $ /8: Exotic Ferns - $ /4: Great CLASS Plants for FULL Fall Color - Free 10/20: Unique Daffodils and Companion Bulbs - $ /3: Best Orchids for Beginners - $ /15: Holiday Cactus - $ /1: Attracting Birds to the Garden - Free 12/8: Landscape CLASS Plants for FULL Winter Interest - 3:00 p.m. Name: Phone: Address: City: State: Zip: TOTAL Amount Enclosed $ Please remember that many of the classes are limited, please register early to assure a spot in the class. May we suggest that you call the Fayette County Extension, (859) , to inquire about the status of classes before registering. Many classes are limited in size and we can not allow un-paid guests to attend. Please make check payable to: Fayette County Master Gardener Association Mail To: Gardener s Toolbox ~ Fayette County Extension Office 1140 Red Mile Place ~ Lexington, KY

8 Cooperative Extension Service University of Kentucky Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service 1140 Red Mile Place Lexington, KY NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Lexington, KY PERMIT 112 Official Business RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Fayette County By the Yard Newsletter Enclosed Jamie Dockery County Extension Agent for Horticulture Cooperative Extension Service Fayette County Extension Service 1140 Red Mile Place Lexington, KY (859) Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, disability, or national origin. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES COOPERATING Be sure to check out and like the NEW Fayette County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Facebook page! We update regularly with photos, links, gardening tips, and tons of other information! fayettecountyextensionhort?ref=hl The Cooperative Extension Service prohibits discrimination in its programs and employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. To file a complaint of discrimination, contact: Rosemary Veach, UK College of Agriculture, Lexington, KY 40546, or Terry Allen, Associate Vice President of Institutional Equity, Lexington, KY 40546, or the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg., 14th and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C