Volume 7 Issue 11 December 2016

Transcription

1 Over the Garden Gate Clinton County Master Gardener Newsletter Volume 7 Issue 11 December 2016 Editor: Carol Machael, cmachael@gmail.com; Published on the first Monday of the month except during January and December. To submit an article it must be sent by as a Microsoft Word attachment to the above address. To be accepted for publication in the next newsletter, articles must be received 10 days before the first Monday of the month. Articles will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the editor. If you are mailing something to me please use new contact info: 502 Apple Valley Lane, Clinton. MG Interns attending Christmas party. Ten others not attending. Pictured: L to R: Lori Callahan, Loren Andresen, Mary Meyer, Marcia Duval, Linda Rayburn, Scott Matthew, Anna Matthew MASTER GARDENER YEAR END REPORT Clinton Eagle Watch - Brenda Council reported that a good turnout of volunteers were present and several contacts were made. Hort in the Heartland - Master Gardener volunteers served on the organizing committee, presented programs and helped to sponsor the event. About 120 people attended this excellent education opportunity. Next year Hort in the Heartland will be held on March 4 th. Plant Sale - $ was raised from plant sales in Clinton and DeWitt. The committee members include: Brenda Council, Willard Larsen, and Jerry Richter. The weather that weekend should be noted as very cold and breezy, so a special thanks to the volunteers who braved the cold. Deb Monroe accepting the Master Gardener of the Year award from Linda Lamp. Congratulations, Deb! Well deserved for your work in so many facets of the Clinton County MG program...in the garden, on the board, and much OLC - Many cold clean-up days were scheduled but a steady core group of 16 volunteers got the job done. Updating the gardens continue with the removal of overgrown shrubs and planting new and varied shrubs and perennials. Three large ceramic containers were donated by Marilyn Sethness for the north side of the fence. The shed area was cleared, pruned, cleaned, stained and decorated. Water feature was removed. A stone planter was built, filled and will be planted next spring. Several benches have been replaced. Continued on page 3

2 Volume 7 Issue 11 Page 2 December 2016 CLINTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES Advisory Board Meeting-Nov. 15,2016 Extension Office-DeWitt, IA-9AM Roll Call-Linda L., Deb M., Brenda C., Deb N., Bonnie M., Willard L., Mark S., Roger R. Approval of Oct. Minutes-Approved by all. Financial Report-Balance same as last month. $ Mark stated the board needs to think about setting up budget amounts for next year. Marks' report-classes are going well. Reminder that everyone has to have their hours reported by the 28th of Nov. to be eligible for awards given out at Christmas banquet. Committee/Reports/Events OLC-Willard-workday will be set to clean up grounds & put protection on trees. It was a good year for the OLC with all the new designs and plants. May need to reconsider a deposit for use of the OLC for events to cover cost of clean-up or damage that has occurred previously. Publicity-Deb N.-Christmas party-committee formed and planning is underway. Board members will provide desserts for event. Invitations will be sent from Ext. office. Cost is still $15 per person. Old Business- Memoriam spending- Will allow up to $50.00 for flower or family memorial wishes. Write-up of Committee Events-will continue to work on books for different events to help any new chairperson with how to proceed. Shirts-will discuss next meeting Advisory Board-new members-still need 2 people to fill vacancies on board. New Business Pizza Ranch fund raiser - Nov. 28th - please wear badges for ID. Members should ask family & friends to attend. Try to announce on radio program. Deb will send for help & info. Master Gardener room/storage- still looking for place to settle. Lot of room changes at Ext. Office. Master Gardener of the Year- Adv. Board will read nomination at meeting & choose. Friend of the Master Gardeners Award will be added again this year. Next Adv. Brd. Mtg. will be on Jan 17,2017 at the Extension Office in DeWitt, IA at 9AM Brenda Council, Secretary

3 Volume 7 Issue 10 Page 3 November 2016 Clinton County Fair - Great participation at all seminars which included Dennis Schrock, Margo Hansen, Bud La Fevre, Jerry Banse, and Dennis Wright. About 30 MGs attended and many volunteered. Container contest had varied and inspirational entries. Photo contest had several entries and judging comments were helpful. Vegetable garden was big draw with Willard s weird veggie varieties. Vegetable Show was held in the auditorium. The OLC was toured and enjoyed by many fairgoers. Newsletter - Printed monthly by Carol Machael and provides news of local MG activities as well horticulture related topics. Garden Walk - Committee members included Bonnie Meyers, Debbie Neels, Anita Abbott, Dave Meyer, and Brenda Council. $ made and 177 people attended, commenting on the wonderful diverse selection of gardens. These monies are ear marked for education and scholarship purposes. Monarch Migration Event - Nine volunteers were present to help with education material, activities and handed out milkweed seed balls that volunteers made. Unfortunately Rhonda Brady s bus broke down and unable to appear. Publicity Committee (newly established) - A Publicity Committee has been formed and in need of members. Debbie Neels has been responsible for sending MG information to appropriate media outlets for all events. This includes Clinton and Maquoketa radio stations, Quad City Times, Clinton Herald, and the DeWitt Observer. Thank you Debbie. Bickelhaupt Arboretum - Many volunteer opportunities to work on the grounds, helping with classes and events etc. Advisory Board meetings are held on the premises every other month. Thank you to Margo Hansen for being an exceptional partner with Clinton County MG.. Interns - A new class of 17 interns attended the MG program this fall. This is a big commitment and all should be congratulated. Goals for 2017 Organize committee notebooks. Increase education opportunities Continue updating OLC Total Hours to date: Volunteer 1863 Education 415 Contacts 2531 Monetary value of service hours $56,950 Treasury Balance as of November 2016 is $ Merry Christmas And Happy and Healthy New Year to All!

4 Volume 7 Issue 11 Cover spinach and other overwintering crops with a row cover, and then top with 8 inches of straw. Make holiday decorations from holly and evergreen prunings. Wrap trees to protect them from deer and rabbits. December 2016 Force some paperwhite narcissus bulbs: Put them in a bowl with pebbles and water, set the bowl in a bright cool window, then enjoy the show. Don't keep a live Christmas tree indoors for more than a week or two plant it in the hole you dug last month. Inspect houseplant for insect pests; treat with insecticidal soap spray, if necessary. Use cut Christmas tree limbs to protect tender perennial beds. By December, all the pots and chairs and statuary and yard art are put away. The lawn and fall If the ground is finally frozen an inch or so deep, it is now safe to apply winter mulches to newly transplanted or tender perennial flowers, roses and strawberries. This will insulate them from the cold above ground and help reduce the fluctuations of temperatures in the soil throughout the season, which can heave their root balls right out of the ground. Avoid rock salt, which is sodium chloride, to melt sidewalk and driveway ice. Products made of calcium chloride or potassium chloride cause less damage to plants. For traction, sprinkle sand, kitty litter, or wood ashes sparingly. Mix with a little melting compound if more than just traction is needed. Minimize de-icing and traction products to reduce pollution in storm sewers and streams. leaves have been mowed for the last time this year and the gutters cleaned out. Despite the weather, plants and gardening can still be part of your holidays if you wish. Decorate with evergreens, winter berries, and holly both inside and out. Start with a live Christmas tree. Dress it with garlands of cranberries and popcorn for an old-fashioned look. Put them outside as well as a treat for wildlife. Use boughs and branches to dress-up empty planters left outside if they are not already frozen. MASTER GARDENERS VOLUNTEER : Extension Office Plant Partners: Willard Larsen willardllarsen@gmail.com Eagle Point Nursing Home and Rehabilitation or Community Garden: Willard Larsen OLC/County Fair: Roger Rittmer rogr@iowatelecom.net Bickelhaupt Arboretum: Margo Hansen mahansen@eicc.edu Curtis Mansion: Liz Clements and justice for all The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative format for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC

5 Phytophthora Root Rot of Christmas Trees..from UW Extension What is Phytophthora root rot? Phytophthora root rot is a common disease of Christmas trees including Douglas-fir, balsam and as well as true firs (e.g., Fraser, balsam and Canaan), spruces, and pines. The disease has caused significant problems in Christmas tree production in several states. Losses due to Phytophthora root rot have been particularly high in Fraser fir Christmas tree production. Symptoms of Phytophthora root rot are often not observed until the disease is quite advanced. Above ground, affected trees initially have single branches (typically low on the tree) with needles that turn from green to yellow to red-brown, and remain on the tree. Soft, sunken areas (i.e., cankers) may also form on trunks near the soil line. As the disease progresses, trees wilt and die. Below ground, affected trees have root systems with a reduced number of fine, water-absorbing roots. What roots remain are often black and lack white growing points. The outer tissue of these roots easily sloughs off and the interior root tissue is also typically discolored. Discolored roots may, but oftentimes do not have a foul odor. Phytophthora root rot is caused by several species of the fungus-like organism (i.e., water-mold) Phytophthora. Six Phytophthora species are known to be involved in Christmas tree root rot in the upper Midwest. These organisms can survive for many years in soil and plant debris as thick-walled resting spores that can eventually germinate and directly infect trees. Alternatively during wet periods, certain of these resting spores can germinate to produce swimming spores that are attracted to the roots of Christmas trees and other host plants. Resting spores can be moved from field to field on seedlings and transplants, on soil clinging to field equipment and hand tools, in irrigation or flood water, and even on boots and shoes. If you have trees that you suspect are suffering from Phytophthora root rot, have them examined by a professional plant disease diagnostician. If the diagnostician confirms Phytophthora root rot, dig up and burn any symptomatic trees and limit access to the area of the field where the trees were grown. Quarantining the area can help limit spread of contaminated soil to other areas of the field. Avoid compaction of soil. Avoid heavy equipment, such as ATV or truck driving, or even walking paths, in areas where trees are being planted. Cool the soil. Consider cooling the soil with a drought tolerant cover in between tree rows such as Sheep Fescue. Avoid moving soil from root rot areas to new areas. Phytophthora lives in the soil and can be moved with equipment-shovels, planting augers, even boots. Also, disinfect tools after working in a root rot area with a solution such as 50% Clorox. Don t allow people to walk in root rot areas-keep these cordoned off. Chemical controls. Chemical controls are not practical for the home gardener.

6 Iowa State University Clinton County Extension 400 East 11th Street DeWitt, Iowa More Annual Master Gardener Awards 500 Hours Award: Deb Neels Lifetime Master Gardener Award: Mike Clemence 100 hour club for 2016 Linda Lamp, Deb Monroe, Deb Neels, Willard Larsen, Brenda Council, Dave Meyer, Bonnie Meyers, Al Rathje.