The Gardening Thymes

Transcription

1 Master Gardener Associa on of Grayson County The Gardening Thymes Fall, October 2018 Editor s Note As summer is winding down, I m already thinking of what I can do differently next year to make my garden even better than it was this year. Watering was a big issue this summer. We either got a lot of rain in a short period, or no rain for many days. If you have a large garden, you might consider putting in a watering system, maybe on a timer. At the very least, rain barrels closer to the garden. As it cools down this fall, it s a good idea to start cleaning up the garden area and getting rid of weeds, so that you can get a jump-start on being ready for planting next spring. Don t forget to take time and enjoy the crisp, cool fall weather! Happy Fall, Y all! Robin Be sure to make plans to join us this year! LOCATION CHANGE For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. Edwin Way Teale University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Cooperative Extension Service Free fun for the entire family!

2 October: November: Monthly Garden Tips! These tips are based on our average frost dates. Please use them as a general guideline. Our weather can vary greatly in Kentucky, not only from year to year, but also within the various zones. Check weather forecasting sources regularly for extended outlooks. Save wildflower seeds to sow now, or sow early next spring. Plant mums to add extra color to the fall garden. Harvest pumpkins and squashes for storage before the first frost. Divide large clumps of rhubarb. Plant garlic. Leave carrots, onions, and parsnips in the ground & harvest as needed. Apply heavy mulch to keep the ground from freezing. Plant a cover crop of nitrogen producing plants, such as clover, cow peas or vetch, to plow under next spring. Sow seeds for frost-tolerant perennials. Keep leaves raked to prevent matting, add them to the compost pile. After using straw bales for fall decorating, use the straw for mulching, or move them to a garden location to try straw bale gardening next spring. Protect roses for winter. Plant spring flowering bulbs. Mulch flower beds with compost or mulch to prevent having damage to plants. Cover strawberries with 2 of mulch for winter protection. Increase humidity around houseplants. Divide and replant crowded fall-blooming bulbs. December: Begin planning for yard & garden improvements for next spring. After your last mowing of the year, run the gas out of the mower before storing. Clean up the mower and sharpen the blade. Keep suet and seed available for the birds that stick around during the winter. Drain your hoses and put them away. Clean and oil your garden tools for winter storage. Pre-chill tulips and hyacinths for forcing indoors. Check the back page for information on Kentucky Master Gardener Training 2019 Tentative Evening Classes in Leitchfield next Spring We are on Facebook! Keep up to date with the latest local gardening news plus upcoming workshops and seminars by liking us on Facebook. Master Gardener Association of Grayson County Kentucky

3 Time to Plant Garlic for an Early Summer Harvest By: Robin Mundy, Kentucky Master Gardener Fall is the perfect time to plant garlic, and should be planted 4 to 6 weeks before the first projected frost. Garlic loves the cold temperatures and if planted now, it will be ready to harvest next spring and summer. Most types of garlic require 40 days or more of temperatures below 40º F. Once the garlic cloves go through the cold period of cold days, they will split into several new cloves and then form bulbs. It takes about 6 months of cold days from planting to harvest. To Plant Choose larger garlic bulbs, because the larger the clove, the bigger the head will become. Separate the bulb into individual cloves. Plant each clove root side down in rich, fertile and loose soil, 4" deep and 4 to 5" apart. Garlic will go dormant in the cold winter months. Mulch after the ground freezes with a 2-3 layer of straw or shredded leaves, to insulate it through the winter. Cut back the scapes as they appear, so that the plant will begin to put all of its resources into growing a big delicious garlic bulb. (Scapes are the flower bud of the garlic plant. They taste just like garlic and can be used just like garlic in any recipe). To Harvest Garlic is ready to harvest next year when the tops begin to brown, fall over and die. To cure, hang the garlic out of the direct sun in a well-ventilated space, such as a back porch or inside a barn for about two weeks to fully cure. Cooking with Garlic Leaves The long garlic leaves (sprouts) have a mild garlic flavor, and can be used fresh or dried while cooking, in the same way that you would use chives. Cut leaves from the outdoor growing garlic before winter when the garlic goes dormant, then chop and either dry or freeze the leaves. Wallace Avenue Community Garden The first year of the Community Garden has come to an end and it was a huge success! The gardeners did an amazing job of taking care of their plots and the harvest has been plen ful! We ll make announcements early next spring of when we will have informa on available and will begin taking applica ons for next year. Looking forward to seeing you at the Garden!

4 Fall Lawn Maintenance Tips By: Luke Jacobs, Kentucky Master Gardener Fall is the perfect time for working on your lawn. The end of summer does not mean the end of lawn care. With autumn nearly upon us and winter rapidly approaching, you are probably not spending much time thinking about your lawn. But autumn, with its cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall, is the ideal time to prepare your lawn for next spring. Take these simple steps with your lawn now and you'll have a head start on a healthy lawn for next spring. Keep on Mowing Continue to water and mow your lawn, as needed, throughout the fall. Then as the season ends, drop the mower's blade to its lowest setting for the last two cuttings of the year. That will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass, and there will be less leaf to turn brown during the winter. As you lower the blade, remember not to trim off more than one-third of the grass blade at any time. If necessary, gradually lower the cutting height until the time of the final two cuttings. Aerate the Soil Fall is also an ideal time to aerate your lawn so that oxygen, water, and fertilizer can easily reach the lawn's roots. This is usually done by using a special machine. You can rent a gas-powered, walk behind lawn aerator for about $70 per day. The self-propelled machine will quickly punch holes into the soil and extract plugs of dirt. Aerating the soil will help your lawn s roots. Rake the Leaves Raking leaves is no one's idea of fun, but it's important to remove fallen leaves from your lawn as soon as possible. Don't wait until every leaf has fallen before you begin to tackle those leaves. If you do, the leaves will pile up, and form an impenetrable mat. Just be sure to remove the leaves before they turn into a soggy, suffocating mess that can kill your grass and cause fungal disease. Leaves can be mulched with a mower or added to your compost pile. Fertilize for Future Growth If you fertilize your lawn only once a year, do it in the fall. Why? Because grass grows much more slowly as the weather turns cool, but the grass roots and rhizomes continue to grow quickly. A fall application of fertilizer delivers essential nutrients for the grass to grow deep roots now and to keep nutrients on reserve for a healthy start next spring. Wait until mid-to-late fall, then apply a dry lawn fertilizer to all grassy areas. Adding compost to the lawn also helps add organic matter to the soil. Weed Control If broadleaf weeds, like dandelions, have taken over your lawn, now is the time to fight back. Weeds, like most plants, are in the energy-absorbing mode during the fall. They're drinking in everything that comes their way, including weed killers. Apply an herbicide now and the weeds won't return in the spring. These simple fall steps will lead to a better spring lawn. Extra materials can be found at the Extension Office for more details: UK Publications: AGR-209; 51; 55; 78; 208; 212 Grayson County Extension Service (270) Commerce Dr. Fax: (270) Leitchfield KY graysonext.org Whitney Carman Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent Grayson County Coopera ve Extension Service To file a complaint of discrimination, contact Tim West, UK College of Agriculture, ; Terry Allen or Patty Bender, UK Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, ; or the USDA, Director Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg. 14th & Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC ( ).

5 Tips for Moving Houseplants Indoors By: Robin Mundy, Kentucky Master Gardener It s time to start thinking about transitioning your plants indoors. The best time to move houseplants indoors are when the temperatures are frequently 50 to 60 F. Plan ahead for where they need to be placed. Remember back in the spring, when you had to slowly acclimate your seedlings and plants to the sunshine outdoors? In the fall, you have to do the reverse with the plants destined to spend the winter in the house. About a week before the final move, move plants from the sun to partial shade for 3 or 4 days, then to full shade for another 2 or 3 days. Before the Big Move Check all houseplants closely for insect infestations. Check both sides of the leaves and the soil surface. If possible, set the pot in a bucket of water for minutes to drive any pests out of the soil. Be sure to place indoor houseplants requiring more sunlight in south-facing windows. Provide artificial light, if necessary. Turn plants a half turn every couple of days. Maintain an appropriate temperature range, without drafts. Provide humidity for houseplants, by setting pots on trays with aquarium gravel or pea gravel and a small amount of water. Plants that require a lot of humidity will do better in a bathroom or close to the kitchen sink. Or use a humidifier or spray bottle to add more moisture in the air around the plants. Prune and pinch back new growth on houseplants regularly to keep them full and bushy looking. Avoid over-watering indoor plants, which cause root rot. A good way to know when to water is when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. Water less often, but more thoroughly. No need to fertilize during the winter, because plant growth is slower. Since cacti go dormant during the winter, keep them in a cool location (about 50 F) and don t water until there are signs of new growth in spring. If you see significant growth indoors, your cactus may be a summer dormant, which means it will need additional watering. Just be sure the soil is well-drained. Air circulation is important for cacti indoors. Keep gift plants and holiday plants quarantined for a week or two, to make sure they do not have pests that might spread to your other houseplants. With proper preparation and care, houseplants can be an important asset to our homes. For some, gardening is a hobby that can be brought indoors and continued on a smaller scale through the winter. Just having living plants in the home can be good for our mental health. But there has also been some research that suggests that houseplants can help purify the air in our homes. ( houseplants-that-clean-the-air.html)

6 Kentucky Master Gardener Training Program 2019 Are you an enthusiastic gardener? Have a green thumb? Or even a brown thumb? Enjoy talking about gardening? Want to learn more to become a better gardener? If so, we want you! The Grayson County Extension Office is taking names for an interest list to possibly host a class in The 14 week Master Gardener course includes: Basic Botany, Entomology, Fruits, Annual and Perennial Flowers, Landscape Design, Lawn Management, Ornamental and Woody Plants, Pesticides and Pesticide Safety, Plant Pathology, Soils, Fertility, and Vegetables. This course is a condensed version of an Agriculture/Horticulture degree. All classes are taught in a relaxed atmosphere and are easy to understand. Class fee is $100 and includes all training materials. Evening Classes are tentatively scheduled to begin in February, For more information or to get your name on the interest list, please contact Whitney Carman, Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agent, at Save the Date! LOCATION CHANGE Saturday, October 13, th Annual Extension Family Farm Fest 10:00 am 2:00 pm Join us for this FREE Family-Friendly Event at the Grayson County Extension Office held at 123 Commerce Drive in Leitchfield (the brick building across from the Huddle House). PLEASE PARK AT POTTER S HOPE CHURCH PARKING LOT (next to the Extension Office) May 4, 2019, Saturday 10th Annual Master Gardener Plant Fair & Spring Fling, in Leitchfield at the Grayson County Middle School front parking lot. For more information, contact the Grayson County Extension Office at , or check us out on Facebook: Master Gardener Association of Grayson County Kentucky