ERS PUT KNOWLEDGE TO WORK

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1 IN THE GARDEN NOW HELPING GARDENERS PUT KNOWLEDGE TO WORK SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 Emerald Ash Borer Moves Towards Southeastern NC Lisa Rayburn Extension Agent, Horticulture Contact Us: NCCE-Onslow County 4024 Richlands Hwy. Jacksonville, NC (910) (910) Fax edu North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Emerald Ash Borer. Photo: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, or EAB) is a metallic- green beetle that bores into ash trees (Fraxinus species), ultimately killing them. This beetle is not native to the United States. It is originally from Asia and was first detected in the US near Detroit, Michigan in Since then, it has spread to Quebec, Ontario and twenty- five states in the US. Emerald ash borer was first detected in NC in 2013 in Granville County, and later in Person, Vance and Warren counties. In 2015, EAB was found in eight new NC counties Wayne, Franklin, Wake, Durham, Graham, Johnston, Orange and Wilson. The detections in Johnston, Wilson and Wayne counties brings EAB one step closer to Onslow, so we need to be aware and stay on the lookout for this insect.

2 Quarantine area for emerald ash borer in North Carolina Emerald ash borers overwinter as larvae within the tree. Adult beetles begin to emerge from May to June and can be found in the summer months. The adult beetle is ¼ to ½- inch long and is slender and metallic green. When the adults emerge from a tree, they leave behind a D- shaped exit hole. (Please note that EAB are not the only beetles that leave a D- shaped exit hole in trees. Species of native buprestid beetles leave a similar shape hole when they emerge from host trees.) Counties under Quarantine for EAB Durham Johnston Wake Franklin Orange Warren Graham Person Wayne Granville Vance Wilson EAB lay their eggs on the bark of ash trees. When the eggs hatch, the larvae bore through the bark and feed in the vascular tissue of the tree. This feeding causes serpentine tunneling marks, known as feeding galleries, which are found under the bark of infested trees. This damage disrupts the movement of nutrients and water within the tree, eventually killing the tree. Outward symptoms of EAB in ash trees include a general decline in the appearance of the tree, such as thinning from the top down and loss of leaves. Clumps of shoots, known as epicormic sprouts, may emerge from the trunk of the tree and increased woodpecker activity may be noticed. Serpentine galleries under bark William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org D- shaped exit hole David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org Adult EAB can fly at least half a mile from the tree where they emerge, but are more commonly spread when humans move infested materials such as nursery stock, logs, and firewood into uninfested areas. For this reason, all counties with detected EAB are under a quarantine that restricts the movement of ash nurserystock, ash plant material (trees, limbs, branches, lumber, bark chips) or hardwood firewood of any species. Businesses affected by this quarantine can apply for a compliance agreement with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS).

3 The NCDA&CS and NC Forest Service are working with the US Department of Agriculture s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to conduct an ongoing survey for EAB throughout the state. They are using a combination of purple prism traps and green funnel traps which are placed in ash trees in the spring and monitored throughout the beetle s flight season for EAB then removed in the fall. An interesting biosurveillence strategy is also underway. Biosurveillence is the use of living organisms to detect other living organisms think of bomb- sniffing dogs being used to find hidden explosives. In this case, researchers are using native groundnesting wasps that naturally feed on wood boring beetles. These wasps, specifically the species Cerceris fumipennis, hunt native beetles and will hunt EAB if they are available. The wasps then bring their prey back to their burrow to bury it. By observing these colonies and collecting some of the prey the wasps bring back, scientists are able to monitor for EAB. This is currently one of the most promising strategies to monitor for EAB. Citizens can support this effort, WaspWatcher, by identifying and monitoring Cerceris fumipennis colonies on their property. Homeowners and landowners are encouraged to report any symptomatic activity in ash trees to the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division hotline at or newpest@ncagr.gov. The pest can affect any of the four types of ash trees grown in the state. Researchers in Ohio have found EAB also infests white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). This small native tree is widespread in North Carolina and another potential host. So far, there is no evidence that EAB will infest Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus). For additional information about EAB: nt/entomology/eabprogram.htm Details of the quarantine and compliance agreements can be found here: nt/entomology/eabfaq.htm For information about Cerceris fumipennis and the WaspWatcher Bioserveillence Program: Cerceris fumipennis female with prey. Photo courtesy of WaspWatcher Program Follow us on Facebook at deninginonslowcounty. For additional classes check out on the Onslow County Cooperative Extension website at edu/events/.

4 Should You Winterize Your Lawn? By now, lawn winterizing products are easy to find in the lawn and garden centers. This may give you the impression that the use of winterizing fertilizers is a desirable practice but that isn t necessarily true in our area. Both warm and cool season turfgrasses grow in North Carolina and most winterizing fertilizers do not differentiate between the two. While cool season grasses, like fescue, grow during cool temperatures and benefit from fall fertilization; warm- season grasses such as centipede, St. Augustine, bermudagrass and zoysiagrass are entering dormancy during the late fall. These warm- season grasses can be injured by fertilizers containing nitrogen if they are applied in the fall. (Nitrogen is the first number on a bag of fertilizer.) Then applied too late and too heavily to warm- season turfgrass, nitrogen fertilizer will promote shoot growth at the same time the plant's metabolism is slowing. This results in a depletion of carbohydrates and stress on the plant. The new, tender shoots are also less tolerant of cold temperatures and more susceptible to fungal diseases such as large patch. The additional nitrogen will however be available to cool- season weeds and that is the last thing you need. So late season fertilization with nitrogen is not desirable in warm season turfs. However, potassium may be a beneficial nutrient for your lawn. (Potassium is the last number on a bag of fertilizer.) Potassium plays the key role in winterizing because it has been shown to enhance cold tolerance of turfgrasses. If a soil test indicates that your soil is low in potassium, it can be applied at a rate of 1 pound of potash per 1000 square feet of lawn. Materials available include muriate of potash ( ; use 1.6 pounds per 1000 square feet), or potassium sulfate ( ; use 2 pounds per 1000 square feet). Just remember that if you have been fertilizing throughout the summer with fertilizers containing 8 to 15% potassium, such as or , it's unlikely a fall application would be helpful. So the only winterizing fertilizer you need on your lawn is one that contains potassium; and you only need that if your soil is low in potassium. Save the nitrogen for after green- up next spring.

5 Plant Now for Fall and Winter Harvest Just because it s fall doesn t mean the vegetable gardening season is over. You still have time to plant crops that will keep you harvesting produce through the winter and on it to spring. In the coastal plain, many cool season crops can be planted in September. Brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi can be planted through the middle of September. Keep an eye out for caterpillars on these crops. You can protect your plants with row covers or control caterpillars with products containing Bt or spinosad, if needed. Root crops are another great fall option. Plant beets, radishes and turnips through the middle of September while parsnips and rutabagas can be planted through the end of September. These vegetables will hold well under cool conditions and can be harvested as needed. Plant leafy greens like lettuce, arugula and mustard for a quick harvest. You can harvest baby greens when the leaves are 4-5 inches high. Trim the leaves off with a pair of kitchen shears while leaving the growing point intact. These plants will resprout several times for multiple harvests. Cool season herbs like dill, parsley and cilantro can be direct sown or set out as transplants in September and will stay green well past the first crop. Harvest as needed for fresh use. Consider planting garlic and onions in October. These crops will be ready to harvest next spring. Choose short- day varieties of onion like Grano or Texas Supersweet. Sample your soil now to determine fertilizer needs for next growing season. In our area, gardeners should test the soil every 2-3 years. Make sure your soil samples are submitted to NCDA&CS prior to Thanksgiving to avoid peak season soil sample fees. Dividing Perennials Mid- September through October is a great time to divide perennials in our area. Dividing perennials promotes plant growth while allowing you to easily create more plants. Vigorously growing perennials like chrysanthemums and asters may need to be divided every season or two, while slower growing plants may never need division. Many perennial plants benefit from regular division but don t divide on a time schedule, let the plant s growth habit dictate whether you need to divide it. Perennials need to be divided when: flowering is reduced or flowers get smaller, the center growth dies out but there is growth around the edges, bottom foliage is sparse, the plant loses vigor, the plant flops over or requires staking or it has simply gotten too large for its space in the garden. Of course, even if your plant is growing and blooming well, you may choose to divide it to create more plants for your garden or to share with friends. Perennials should not be divided while they are in flower. Flowering demands a lot of energy from the plant and you do not want to stress a plant by dividing it at the same time. The general rule of thumb is to divide spring- flowering plants in the fall and fall- flowering plants in the spring. Good options for fall division are spring blooming bulbs like daffodil and amaryllis, daylilies, hosta, lamb s ear, echinaceae, and black- eyed Susan. Wait until spring to divide your cannas, chrysanthemums and ornamental grasses. For details about dividing perennial plants, check out this excellent reference: ants/landscape/flowers/hgic1150.html

6 Association Meetings Onslow County Master Gardener Volunteer Association: The second Thursday of each month at 9 am. September 10 and October 8. For more information about the Onslow County Master Gardener Volunteers and our upcoming training class, contact the extension office at Onslow County Beekeepers Association : The second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. September 8 and October 13. For more information about the Onslow County Beekeepers Association including how to become a member, contact Eric Talley at Onslow County Farmers Market: The first Tuesday of each month at 4 pm. September 1 and October 6. For more information about the Onslow County Farmers Market including how to become a vendor, contact the Market Manager, Caleb Benoit, at Find Gardening Information on the Radio I host the Garden Journal on Public Radio East. The Garden Journal airs Friday at noon on all PRE Stations and Saturday at noon on News and Ideas. In Onslow County, that is 91.5 FM and 89.3 FM on Fridays and 91.5 FM Saturdays. Tune in and join me. Is there a topic that you would like me to address on the show? If so, me at lisa_rayburn@ncsu.edu and you may hear your answer on the air. You can also find me on WJCV once a month as Melvin Bland and I discuss all things garden and yard related. You can join us at 98.3 FM and 1290 AM. We ll be on air Sept. 3 rd and Oct. 1 st at 8 am Onslow County Farmers Market The Onslow County Farmers Market is seasonal. Since our market sells local produce, we are not able to stay open all year round. Please note that the Farmers Market has three different locations and times, with a slightly different mix of vendors at each location. Each market also has a different closing date for the season: Saturdays at 4024 Richlands Highway from 8:30 to 1:30 pm. This market will close for the season on November 7. This means this market remains open even after the others have closed! Tuesdays at Camp Lejeune in front of the commissary from 10 to 2pm. This market will close for the season on September 29. Thursdays on Western Boulevard in front of Big Lots from 10 to 2 pm. This market will close for the season on September 10. Market vendors carry a variety of local products including produces, meats, cheeses, wine, eggs, honey, baked goods, handcrafted products and more. Find out more about our local farmers market through their website or follow them on Facebook: w- County- Farmers- Market/

7 Fig Balsamic Jam Makes 12 to 14 pint jars 6 Pounds Fresh Figs remove stem and cut into quarters 4 ½ Cups Sugar 1 ½ Cups Balsamic Vinegar Use a large pot. Add all of the above ingredients to the large pot. Stir well to combine all of the ingredients. Place on the stove on high heat and bring to a boil. Once its really bubbling, lower the heat to medium. The sugar will begin to thicken and the figs will soften. Once the figs are soft, about 45 minutes to one hour, simply test by pressing the spoon against a fig to the side of the pot. If soft and the liquid is thick, then it is probably ready. Remove from the heat and let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes. Using an emulsion blender, puree the jam. If you like it with chunks, then process less. Jam can be refrigerated at this stage and used within 2-4 weeks. You could also freeze or can your product. To can: Add jam to each sterilized pint jar leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe around each rim to remove any of the jam that spilled. Put the lid and rim on each jar and tighten, but not too tight. Add each jar to the boiling water of the large pot with tongs and use a canning rack. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Using tongs, remove each jar and place onto a towel on the counter. This will prevent the jar from cracking if it hits a cold, hard surface. Let cool. You may hear the lids popping. The popping means the jar is sealed. After 24 hours, check each jar to ensure you can t press and hear a popping sound. If you do, it means it did not seal. If a lid did not seal, replace the flat lid and re- process to obtain a tight seal or refrigerate and use within 2-4 weeks. UPCOMING CLASSES AND EVENTS Fall Garden Tips and Tasks September 12th 10 am Discuss timely fall garden tips and tasks for the vegetable and flower garden with a Master Gardener Volunteer. These tips will help your garden look good through the winter months and grow better next year. Location: Northwoods Recreation Center, 621 Henderson Drive. Call to register. Hypertufa September 19th 10 am Learn how to build your own hypertufa planter. Hypertufa is a durable, lightweight cement mixture that can be used to make planters of various sizes and designs. You will learn a variety of techniques and get to take your container home with you. Location: Onslow County Extension Office, 4024 Richlands Highway. Cost is $15 and preregistration is required. Call Vermicomposting October 3rd 10 am Learn how to compost with worms! This technique does not require much space, is easy to do and converts kitchen scraps in to nutrient- rich worm castings for your plants. Location: Onslow County Extension Office, 4024 Richlands Highway. Call Recipe adapted from t.com/.

8 CONTACT US If you have questions about lawn, landscape or garden problems, contact your local Cooperative Extension office. In Onslow County call , Mon Fri, 8 am and 5 pm, or visit us online anytime at While you are there, you can post your questions to be answered by using the Ask an Expert widget (in the upper left hand corner). Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact an agent of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in your county. The use of brand names in this publication does not imply endorsement of the products or services named or criticism of similar ones not mentioned