Graham County Gardening Newsletter

Transcription

1 Graham County Gardening Newsletter December 2003/January 2004 Proper Tool Maintenance Now is the Time! Submitted by Master Gardener and Horticulture Technician Sue Martin With the fall planting season coming to a close, this is a good time to maintain all of your garden tools. Gather up all of your shovels, forks, hoes, trowels, and pruning equipment. The first step is to use a wire brush to remove any dirt. Your tools will last longer and this step may prevent the spread of pathogens and weeds. If you notice any rust, sand lightly with steel wool or light sandpaper to remove it. Sap can be removed with a solvent such as turpentine. Once the tools are clean you can begin to sharpen them. Large tools such as shovels should be held in a vise or against a firm surface. Use a fine to medium grit flat file to put a 45 degree edge on the blade of the tool. Most tools are sharpened on only one side. You may still be able to see the beveled edge that it came with. Push the file away from you in a diagonal motion across the edge of the blade. The best method to sharpen pruners is to use a whetstone. Apply a few drops of oil or water to the stone and rub the beveled edge of the blade against the stone using a curving motion. After your tools are cleaned and sharpened apply a coating of light oil or a lubricant oil spray to prevent rust. Some gardeners put a quart of 30 weight motor oil to a bucket of clean sand. After each use, tools are plunged into the bucket before being put away. The sand cleans off loose soil and the motor oil lubricates the tool. Next, tackle the handles. If the handles are wood, sand them with medium grit sandpaper to remove nicks and splinters. Rub them when done with a coat of boiled linseed oil to protect the wood. If you have power equipment you plan on storing over the winter, drain the gas tank or use a gas stabilizer to prevent corrosion. This is a great time to have lawn mowers and such serviced and the blades sharpened. Beat the summer rush! This is also a good time to clean empty flower pots and seed starting trays. Use a stiff brush to remove soil and mineral deposits. Clean them with a solution of one part household bleach to nine parts water to sterilize them. Rinse thoroughly, dry, and store. For more detailed information on gardening call the Cooperative Extension Office at Randall Norton, Ph.D. Extension Agriculture Agent Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences is an Equal Opportunity employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to sex, religion, color, national origin, age, Vietnam Era Veteran s status, or disability

2 In the December Garden: When frost is predicted, protect frost sensitive and tender plants with cloth or burlap. Suspend the cloth or burlap over the plant without letting it hang on the leaves. Do not tie the cloth closed around the bottom of the plant. As the heat radiates from the soil surface it helps to prevent frost damage. Pre emergent herbicides may be applied to help control the emergence of winter annual weeds. Be sure to always read and follow label directions. Add compost and manure to garden areas as they become open. The addition of organic material not only provides a source of nutrients but also improves soil tilth and water holding capacity. Start to plant bare rooted trees, roses, grapes, and cane berries later in the Plant spring flowering bulbs early in the month such as iris, tulips, daffodil, crocus, and hyacinth. Irrigation of winter dormant trees and plants is critical to maintaining healthy plants. This water may be supplied through winter rains. If winter precipitation is less than normal, as it has been in recent years, this water will need to be supplied through irrigation. A good irrigation once per month should be sufficient. Save heavy pruning until plants are fully dormant. Prune now only to remove dead or diseased limbs. Plan to attend the Pruning Demonstration on January 24, 2004 (more details to follow). Remove all old fruit (mummies) from trees and all debris from the ground below. Sprinkle granular insecticide to reduce existing insects. This will significantly reduce the codling moth problem next year. In the January Garden: Continue to add compost and manure to garden beds as they become vacant. Mulch to keep winter weeds down and to conserve moisture. Plant head lettuce through the 15th of the Plant asparagus, beets, cabbage (plants), carrots, chard, kale, leaf lettuce, green bunching onions, peas, and spinach all Tomato and pepper seeds may be started indoors after January 10th. Set out perennials and cool season annuals, such as alyssum, calendula, chrysanthemums, dianthus, daisies, larkspur, pansies, snapdragons, stocks, and violas. Start to plant bare rooted trees, roses, grapes and cane berries. Fertilize citrus now. Cover when temperatures are predicted to be in the mid 20's or lower. Begin pruning deciduous trees and shrubs. Come to the Pruning Demonstration at the Safford Library, PD Room, on January 24. Between rains, irrigate deep rooted plants, such as trees, occasionally, but thoroughly. Once a month is usually sufficient for trees and many shrubs. Shallow rooted plants require water more often (every 2 3 weeks). Don t forget that dormant bermudagrass lawns still need to be watered once a

3 Thank You Master Gardeners Water Festival Safford Firth Park Ralph McClellan, Kitty Voelckel, William Priest Corn Field Days Safford Agriculture Center Pat Brubaker, Joyce Noland, Ralph McClellan, Susan Syfert, Kris Sheryl Fall Harvest Festival Gene Fowler, Sue Martin, Kris Sheryl, Marilyn and Doc Weaver Farewell (sort of) As my job of Horticulture Technician has come to a close, I want to express my appreciation to all the great people I have worked with over the last 4+ years. Due to lack of funding, the Graham County Extension Office will be assuming the duties of Master Gardener Coordinator. To help this transition happen smoothly a list has been made of the responsibilities I have held in this position. I have offered to complete the records for the 2003 volunteer hours. I will also be available for any information that may be needed. I am sure that the program will still get the attention that it has had in the past and will continue to grow within the community. I will continue to support the organization in the capacity of a certified Master Gardener. See you at the next activity! Happy Gardening, Ruth Anne Neff December 4 th Phelps Dodge Room at the Safford/Graham County Library 6:00 pm General Meeting with election of officers 6:30 pm Potluck with the welcoming of the new Associate Master Gardeners from the Fall Gardening and Landscaping class. Please invite any gardening guests (or family members) that you would like to attend. Drinks and place settings will be provided. For more information call Marilyn Weaver at or e mail at weavers@vtc.net. January 8, 2004 Master Gardener Meeting. For more information contact the Extension Office at Fourth quarter volunteer hours are due to Ruth Anne along with any other hours from 2003 not previously submitted. See the enclosed article entitled 4 th Quarter Volunteer Hours Deadline for details. January 24, 2004 Annual Pruning Demonstration. Additional information will be mailed out at the beginning of January. February 2004 Annual High on the Desert Conference. Sponsored by the Cochise County Master Gardeners. For more information contact the Extension Office at

4 4 th Quarter Volunteert Hours Deadline January 8 th, 2004 Who: Volunteers, Associate Master Gardeners, and Certified Master Gardeners What: Any volunteer time in the period from October 1 st to December 31 st along with any other 2003 hours not previously submitted. When: On or before January 8 th. It will save you time if you turn it in by this date and do not have to be contacted and reminded. Where: Please turn in to Ruth Anne Neff, perhaps at the monthly Master Gardener meeting. She can be reached at Hours can also be dropped by her house or the University of Arizona Graham County Cooperative Extension Office in Solomon. Why: The importance of these hours is to show that Graham County has active people helping our community in a variety of ways. These hours are looked at and often used to determine available slots for training opportunities, scholarships, and programs for our community. This will be the final 2003 tally. Insect of the Month: Fruit Bud Beetle (Conotelus mexicanus) Several calls have come in to the office lately about a strange looking insect that has been found in rose bushes around the valley. These insects are found specifically in the floral structures of the plant. The Fruit Bud Beetle (Conotelus mexicanus) falls under the classification of non pollinating insects, meaning that even though they reside in the floral structures of the plant they do not enhance the pollination process. They are pollen feeders and will typically not inflict any damage on the flower or plant. The flower provides a nice habitat for breeding and feeding on pollen. The fruit bud beetle is a slender, black beetle with short wing covers and clubbed antennae that are commonly found congregating in the interior of flowers on many different plants. During the summer they may also be found in flowers of squash, melon, and cotton plants as shown in the picture to the right. Occasionally these insects will also be found in wounds on fruit and often thought to have caused the wound. However, these pests are merely secondary and are benefiting from the wounds caused by another insect or some physical damage caused to the fruit. It is not recommended that any treatments take place to control these insects. They will cycle through on their own and will be gone as winter temperatures continue to arrive in the valley

5 Graham County Master Gardener General Meeting December 4, :00 pm Phelps Dodge Room of the Safford/Graham County Public Library Election of New Officers Potluck Dinner Begins at 6:30 pm Please invite any gardening guests or family members that you would like to attend. Drinks and place settings will be provided. For more information call Marilyn Weaver at or e mail at weavers@vtc.net Person with a disability may request accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting UofA Graham County Cooperative Extension at Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. ARIZONA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THE UNIVERSIT Y OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300