By The Yard. Spring Lawncare Tips HORTICULTURE NEWSLETTER. Fayette County Extension April, Inside this issue:

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1 Fayette County Extension April, 2019 Cooperative Extension Service Fayette County Extension 1140 Harry Sykes Way Lexington, KY Phone (859) Inside this issue: Pest Patrol: Now is the Time to Deal with Carpenter Bees Moving Plants Outside 4 5 Secret Health Benefits of Gardening Flea Beetles Pests of Spring Vegetables Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: Part II flyer April Quick Tips Recipe: Lean Green lettuce Taco 7 Lexington Lions Club Bluegrass Fair flyer 2019 Gardener s Toolbox Registration Form Follow us on Facebook! Fayette County Cooperative Extension Horticulture By The Yard HORTICULTURE NEWSLETTER Spring Lawncare Tips Beginning this month, there is always a renewed interest in our lawns. Spring is the time to prepare your lawn for the rest of the year, and here are a few good management practices that will help you keep a healthy lawn throughout the season. Mowing at the proper height is a great start. The recommended mowing height for tall fescue is 3 to 3.5 inches, and for Kentucky bluegrass the height is 2 to 2.5 inches. Mowing at the best height for the grass encourages a deeper root system, discourages weeds, and helps reduce watering. Do not just assume your mower setting labels are correct, spend a little time and check the accuracy. Setting up your mower is a relatively easy task. Park your mower on a concrete or other hard surface and measure from the blade to the surface to get the proper height. There is no need to be exact but within ¼ inch will do. Following recommendations for mowing height and frequency will make your lawn care duties easier and result in a more attractive yard. A good sharp blade throughout the mowing season is also very important. Surgeons use very sharp instruments so the cut will heal quickly just as you should do with your blades. When your mower blade cuts the tip of the grass blade, the wounds are susceptible to infections and insects. The sharper the blade, the quicker your grass will recover. Another tip is to mow often so that only one-third of the grass blade is removed at any one time. During the spring, the lawn may need to be mowed more than once a week. Mowing off more than 50 percent of the leaves at one time causes scalping, which results in an increase in weed competition and in the death of some grass plants during the hot summer. A good fertility program for your lawn should be based upon a soil sample. Most of the time, you should not apply nitrogen in the spring. Nitrogen promotes top growth and will only increase your time on the mower. For most fescue lawns, nitrogen should be applied in the fall to help develop the roots, increase density, and prepare the plant for the spring Continued On Page 2

2 By The Yard Page 2 Spring Lawncare Tips, continued green up. Higher maintained lawns can benefit from a small dose of nitrogen early in the spring, but be careful. While mowing the lawn, what should be done with the grass clippings? The answer is, leave the clippings on the lawn. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn saves time, money, and energy, since you don t have to stop and empty the bagger or buy trash bags. Clippings also add free fertilizer to the lawn, possibly as much as 25 percent of the lawn s annual nutrient needs. Contrary to popular belief, grass clippings do not significantly increase thatch. Clippings contain 75 to 85 percent water and decompose quickly. Thatch is a tight, intermingled organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems, and roots that develops between the green leaves and soil surface. A little thatch is good, since it helps moderate temperature extremes at the soil surface and provides a cushion effect on the surface. Weeds can be a big problem in home lawns. Good weed management starts with a healthy lawn so make sure you are mowing at the proper height and fertilizing correctly before attacking your weeds. There are two types of weed control, pre-emergent control and post-emergent control. Pre-emergent is the best way to control the most common home lawn weeds such as crabgrass, dandelion, and many others. Most pre-emerge products come in combination with a fertilizer so make sure the nitrogen content is very low for spring application or you will be mowing more than you planned. Timing your pre-emerge application is important. You must make sure that you get it applied before the weeds you are trying to control start growing. As soil temperature increases this spring, your weeds will start to germinate. Instead of monitoring your soil temperature, there are indicator plants that will let you know when you need to apply your weed control. A good indicator plant for pre-emerge application is the forsythia. When you see the bright yellow flowers starting to bloom, it is time to apply your pre-emerge. Make sure to follow all label directions when applying control products. These tips are just some basics. Different grass varieties and soil types require unique management practices. Your local Extension Office has detailed information on home lawn maintenance and will take your soil samples for testing to help you customize your lawn maintenance. Source: Andrew Rideout, Agent for Horticulture, Henderson Co. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky

3 By The Yard Page 3 Pest Patrol: Now is the Time to Deal with Carpenter Bees Figure 1. Carpenter Bee (Photo: Lee Townsend, UK) Carpenter bees (Figure 1) are beginning to buzz about after spending winter as adults in the tunnels where they were raised last summer. After mating and a little spring cleaning, females will re-use their home tunnels while the others will have to find new sites. Carpenter bees usually do not venture far, so many tunnels can appear in suitable wood over several years. Carpenter bees chew ½-inch diameter tunnels that follow the wood s grain. Females may use their strong mandibles to extended the galleries by more than ½-inch per day. After construction, females spend much of May gathering pollen and nectar that is fashioned into bean-sized portions of bee bread. The female will deposit an egg on each loaf and separate them into cells. Impact Tunneling in soft wood is the main damage inflicted by carpenter bees. Over time, increasingly larger carpenter bee populations can weaken wood. In addition, the accumulating waste from the bees stains surfaces directly below nest openings. Damage becomes significantly worse if woodpeckers discover carpenter bee galleries. These birds will destroy wood to reach the succulent bee larvae just below the surface. Finally, the buzzing of these intimidating bees can stress those that live or work around the structures used by carpenter bees as nesting sites. Females are not aggressive but can give a painful sting if antagonized. Males, recognizable by the yellow spot on their faces, hang out near nesting sites and may investigate intruders who enter their space. While intimidating, males do not have stingers. Management Preventative Measures Carpenter bee control is not easy, so prevention is the best long-term strategy. Use hardwoods (when practical), or cover softwoods with flashing or screen to prevent injury to areas that are chronically attacked. Close barn and shed doors while bees are establishing new galleries; this helps reduce infestations in outbuildings. General maintenance of wood helps because carpenter bees exploit rough areas on wood surfaces to begin a nest. Filling cracks and crevices, sanding, and painting or varnishing exposed wood will make it less attractive. Insecticides There are some insecticide options, but accessibility and dimensions of infested surfaces can make treatment impractical or limit its success. Dust Formulations The use of dust formulations of insecticides applied directly into tunnel openings has been the favored option. In this approach, bees are exposed to the dust as they enter and leave. Ultimately, they should receive a lethal dose. Example dusts include boric acid dust, or products such as Bonide Termite & Carpenter Ant Dust (deltamethrin). Diatomaceous earth and combinations of dusts with desiccants are also possibilities. Sprays Insecticide sprays can be applied into tunnels, but bees may not pick-up of the dried residue as rapidly as they would with dusts. Insecticide applications to wood may provide some preventive effect, but bees are not ingesting the wood, only gouging it away; they can work quickly though the treated surface. Example sprays include Bayer Home Pest Control Indoor & Outdoor Insect Killer (cyfluthrin), Bonide Total Pest Control Outdoor Formula (permethrin), Bonide Termite & Carpenter Ant Killer Ready to Use (deltamethrin), and Spectracide Bug Stop (l-cyhalothrin). After treatment, tunnel entries should be filled and sealed so they are not attractive to bees next season. Source: Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky

4 By The Yard Page 4 Moving Plant Outside Moving houseplants outside in late spring or early summer is good for them; they get better air circulation and light exposure. This also is a good time to repot your container-bound plants. Wait to move plants outdoors until at least mid- to late-may, or when the weather is consistently warm. Since most houseplants have a tropical origin, temperatures below 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit might damage them. Even if you know a particular plant prefers high-light conditions, don t immediately put it or any houseplants in direct sunlight outdoors because they will need time to adjust to a higher light intensity. Instead, gradually increase the amount plants receive by first moving them under a covered patio or large shade tree for seven to 10 days. If you notice foliage bleaching or burning, reduce the amount of sunlight for another week or so before moving a plant to a more intense light location. As your houseplants receive more light, most will require more water and will benefit from increased application of a generalpurpose, houseplant fertilizer. To test soil moisture, stick your finger into the first few inches of soil; if it feels dry, water the plant. When applying fertilizer, always follow the label instructions for the amount of fertilizer and water to use and application frequency. It s a good idea to check for pest problems on your houseplants outdoors so you can control the situation before it gets out of hand. Always read pesticide label directions to be sure the product is labeled for your houseplants. Insecticidal soap is an environmentally-friendly, effective product that will take care of most houseplant pests. To learn more about home and garden topics, contact the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service. Source: Rick Durham, Horticulture Specialist, University of Kentucky 5 Secret Health Benefits of Gardening Working in dirt boost mood, lowers dementia risks. Gardening offers opportunities for physical activity and, in the case of community gardens, socialization. In addition to providing nutritious veggies and fruits for your dinner table and beautiful flowers to decorate it, gardening offers a variety of health benefits. 1. Exposure to Vitamin D Vitamin D increases your calcium levels, which benefits your bones and immune system. A 2014 Italian study, published on the National Institutes of Health website, found that exposure to sunlight helped older adults achieve adequate serum vitamin D levels. So outdoor activities like gardening are a perfect way to get your sunshine while pursuing a fun hobby. (But don t forget the sunscreen to protect your skin, and sunglasses for your eyes.) 2. Decreased Dementia Risk A 2006 study found that gardening could lower risk of dementia by 36 percent. Researchers tracked more than 2,800 people over the age of 60 for 16 years and concluded that physical activity, particularly gardening, could reduce the incidence of dementia in future years. 3. Mood-Boosting Benefits A study in the Netherlands, cited by CNN, suggests that gardening fights

5 By The Yard Page 5 5 Secret Health Benefits of Gardening, continued stress even better than other hobbies. Participants completed a stressful task and were then told to read inside or go outdoors and garden for 30 minutes. The gardening group reported better moods afterward, and their blood tests showed lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 4. Enjoyable Aerobic Exercise Gardening is a great form of aerobic exercise; plus, you might become so engrossed in your work that you don t even realize you re breaking a sweat. Pulling weeds, reaching for various plants and tools, and twisting and bending as you plant will work new muscles in your body and help with strength, stamina, and flexibility. 5. Helps Combat Loneliness After retirement, many people struggle with fewer socialization opportunities, and community gardens can be a fun way to engage with others while providing benefits to neighborhoods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community gardens are "collaborative projects on shared open spaces where participants join together in the maintenance and products of the garden, including healthful and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables." The American Community Gardening Association offers a locator tool for finding your nearest community garden. The association recognizes that community gardening improves people s quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education. Source: Kim Hayes, AARP Flea Beetles Pests of Spring Vegetables Figure 3. Striped flea beetle on leafy greens (Photo: Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky) While flea beetles are a common problem of spring vegetable crops, they can be particularly troublesome following mild winters. We often refer to flea beetles as if they were a single pest; however, there are several different species of flea beetles, and on some vegetables there may be three or more different species present at one time. In general, flea beetles cause round holes in leaves making diagnosis easy. The exception is the corn flea beetle, which just feeds on the upper surface of foliage leaving parallel scratches. Early-season flea beetle damage can retard plant establishment and growth. Heavy populations can destroy young plants Managing Flea Beetles Generally, a few flea beetles is not enough to warrant an insecticide application; however, we want to keep damage at a level where it doesn t retard seedling growth. This means try to limit damage to less than 10% to 20% defoliation. Young plants should be monitored once or twice a week until they become established. Some seed treatments and at-planting systemic insecticides will provide some control of flea beetles, but they should still be monitored for activity. Resistance to insecticides continues, and it is becoming a serious problem for flea beetles as many products are not as effective as they once were. While we are fortunate to have several effective insecticides, prolonged use of the same mode of action may result in reduced effectiveness. Because of this, producers should not use insecticides with the same mode of action for consecutive generations of flea beetles or season after season as the sole flea beetle insecticide. Often local populations of this insect may be resistant to one group of insecticides, and in other areas they may be resistant to others. What works well in one county may not work at all in another. The new IRAC codes on the labels should help producers identify products that can be used in rotation. Source: Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist, University of Kentucky

6 VEGETABLE GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: Part II Maintenance and Summer Crops Thursday, May 16th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Southern States of Lexington 2570 Palumbo Dr. Free but must RSVP Limited seats available! Please call to RSVP This class will cover some of the most basic questions for any first time gardener when it comes to maintaining the new plot. Topics will include things like watering, pest/weed management, and fertilizing. We will also cover some of the warm season crops like tomatoes, peppers, beans, and squash. Participants will receive a copy of our vegetable growing guide and a packet of seeds. Class will be led by Fayette County Horticulture Technician Carrie Spry. Sponsored by our Friends at Lexington Southern States Cooperative

7 By The Yard Page 7 April Quick Tips If you haven t trimmed back ornamental grasses and perennials, do so now. Remove flower stalks from bulbs. Apply fertilizer and make sure to leave the foliage to die back naturally. The leaves provide food for next year s flowers. Continue planting trees and shrubs. You can begin trimming evergreens now through late summer. Pruning after the spring flush of growth will result in less re-growth. Add organic matter to flower beds and garden plots. Incorporate into the soil where possible. Edge beds for a crisp, clean look. This will also keep creeping weeds from encroaching as rapidly. Apply new mulch to beds as needed. Total mulch depth should not exceed 3-4 and a 2 layer is usually sufficient. Keep mulch away from tree trunks and bases of shrubs. If you have a spray program for fruit trees, begin spraying after flower petals drop. As always, follow label directions very carefully. Better yet, plant fruit trees with natural disease resistance. Sharpen mower blades. Clean cuts make for a healthier, more attractive lawn. Crabgrass preventer should be applied by the middle of the month. If you start seedlings indoors, gradually toughen them up with brief trips outdoors on nice days. Start with short times in a shady spot at first. They sunburn easily. In the vegetable garden you can plant potatoes now. You still have time for peas, lettuce and onions if you didn t plant in March. In late April you can begin planting beans. Don t forget to register for 2019 Gardener Toolbox Classes. A condensed registration form is enclosed in this edition of By The Yard newsletter. For a detailed listing of the 2019 Gardener s Toolbox class, visit: gardeners_toolbox_2019pdf or call (859) to have a copy mailed to you. For More Plate It Up Recipes, Visit: plate-it-kentucky-proud

8 Saturday, May 4, 2019 Fayette County Extension Office 1140 Harry Sykes Way (formerly 1140 Red Mile Place) Lexington, KY Stop by anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Attend demonstrations and take home one FREE Garden Kit containing plants, seeds and vegetable gardening book. DEMONSTRATIONS: Using Your Fresh Produce Container Gardening Soil Prep Planting Maintaining Your Garden FREE GARDEN KIT All materials while supplies last. First come first served basis. LIMIT ONE GARDEN KIT PER FAMILY

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10 2019 GARDENER S TOOLBOX - REGISTRATION FORM Name: Phone: Address: City: State: Zip: TOTAL Amount Enclosed $ IMPORTANT REMINDERS! Sign up early for classes to avoid being turned away because class is full. ALL classes, including the Free ones 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. Please make check payable to: Fayette County Master Gardener Association Mail To: Gardener s Toolbox ~ Fayette County Extension Office 1140 Harry Sykes Way ~ Lexington, KY For more information, call (859) ~ 2019 GARDENER S TOOLBOX CLASSES ~ Class and Cost Class and Cost Thursday, 4/4: Pruning Trees and Shrubs, Cost: $10.00 Thursday, 4/11: Spectacular Sunflowers, Cost: $10.00 Tuesday, 2:00 p.m.: Chicago Botanic Garden s Plant Trial Program, Cost: Free Tuesday, 4/30: The Challenges of Dry Shade, Cost: $15.00 Thursday, 5/9/19: Unusual Large Annual Flowers that Wow, Cost: $10.00 Tuesday, 4/23: Top Performing Perennials for the Chicago Botanic Gardens Trials, Cost: Free Thursday, 5/2: Growing Great Tomatoes, Cost: Free Thursday, 5/16: Vegetable Gardening for Beginners, Part II, Maintenance and Summer Southern States Cooperative, 2570 Palumbo Drive, Lexington, Cost: Free Tuesday, 5/21: Spring Herb Gardening, Cost: Free Thursday, 5/23: Perennial Ferns, Cost: $15.00 Thursday, 5/30: Perennials for Shady Gardens, Cost: $10.00 Tuesday, 6/4: Late Flowering Perennials, Cost: $10.00 Thursday, 6/6: Figs Without the Fuss, Cost: $10.00 Tuesday, 6/25: Primocane Blackberries, Cost: $15.00 Thursday, 6/27: Growing Blueberries in Kentucky, Cost: $20.00 Tuesday, 7/9: Starting New Plants from Cuttings, Cost: Free Thursday, 7/18: Perennial Plants of the Year, Cost: $5.00 Tuesday, 7/30: Hydrangeas, Cost: $20.00 Thursday, 8/8: Low Input Lawn Care: Seeding and Renovation, Cost: Free Tuesday, 8/27: Harvesting and Storing Herbs, Cost: Free Tuesday, 9/17: African Violets, Cost: $10.00 Thursday, 9/26: Peonies, Cost: $20.00 Thursday, 10/10: Tulips, Cost: $20.00 Tuesday, 10/22: Unique Daffodils, Cost: $15.00 Tuesday, 10/29: Garden Clean Up with Emphasis on More Natural Approaches, Cost: Free Tuesday, 11/19: Attracting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects, Cost: Free Thursday, 11/7: Jamie s Farm and Garden - A Virtual Tour, Cost: $25.00 Thursday, 11/21: Holiday Gift Ideas From Your Herb Garden, Cost: $5.00 Tuesday, 12/3: Tips for Decorating with Fresh Greenery, Cost: $10.00

11 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Fayette County Cooperative Extension 1140 Harry Sykes Way Lexington, KY Lexington, KY PERMIT 112 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Newsletter Enclosed Jamie Dockery County Extension Agent for Horticulture Cooperative Extension Service Fayette County Extension Service 1140 Harry Sykes Way Lexington, KY (859) UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, Fayette County education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race, color, ethnic origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or By the Yard physical or mental disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportunity Office, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Room S-105, Agriculture Science Building, North Lexington, Kentucky