Around and About the Garden with Annette

Transcription

1 HORTICULTURE NEWSLETTER Cooperative Extension Service Daviess County 4800A New Hartford Road Owensboro, KY (270) Around and About the Garden with Annette Tips From Annette Spring is Here! Enjoy the Gardening Season! In the fall, fertilize trees and shrubs. Fertilizer applied now results in new growth that the roots cannot sustain. Avoid working soil in the garden when it is wet. This will compact the soil and create difficult growing conditions. Growing vegetables in food safe containers provides a way for growing vegetables when the garden is too wet to work and brings them close to your door for easy access. Herbs can be grown in containers too. Scout vegetables and landscape plants for insect pests and diseases. After identifying the problem, determine the amount of damage that can be tolerated. Then decide if cultural practices will manage the problem. If you are not able to identify a plant problem, bring a sample of the problem for identification to the Extension Office. Please also bring a photo of the plant if possible. If you are not able to identify an insect pest bring it in a container with white vinegar to the Extension Office for identification. Except, moths should be brought in a container without anything else because liquids remove the scales on the wings which makes the pattern used for identification. Fertilize the lawn with nitrogen in the fall. Upcoming Events Thursday, May 3, 2018 Rain Barrel Construction for Homeowners Workshop 1:00-3:00 p.m. Repeated at: 6:00-8:00 p.m. (Make check payable to RWRA.) Your check, with class session noted on check, must be either mailed or hand delivered to the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Office at 4800A New Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303, or sign up online at eventbrite.com. Search for the event Tuesday, May 8, 2018 Spring Checklist and Services that An Arborist Provides 6:00-8:00 p.m. Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Office Owensboro Regional Farmer s Market The market is located at the corner of Parrish Avenue and Triplett Street (Owensboro Health), 1205 Triplett. Open Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., beginning June 2. A satellite Market will be located at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, 1201 Pleasant Valley Road on Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., beginning May 16.

2 Spring lawn fertility By Brad Lee, Extension Associate Professor, University of Kentucky, Plant and Soil Sciences and Paul Andy Rideout, Henderson County Extension Agent for Horticulture Education Lawns provide great benefits in urban settings by controlling erosion, filtering runoff before it reaches our streams and groundwater, and by moderating temperatures during the hot summers. Every homeowner has their own expectations of how nice their lawn should be. Some homeowners spend considerable resources to ensure a weed free, thick, healthy lawn with multiple applications of weed control products and many opt for irrigation and consequently, annual water costs. Many of us, however, choose to maintain our lawns with minimal inputs. Less fertilizer, less pesticide use, and reduced water needs. When choosing a low maintenance lawn management plan, we must also accept the fact that our lawn will most likely not be that same dark green, uniform stand of grass as seen with higher maintenance lawns. Proper fertilizer applications are important to provide the needed nutrients for the grass to remain healthy. To maintain good quality turf with minimum weeds, some nitrogen is required every year. Tall fescue needs lbs of nitrogen per thousand square feet yearly. The best time to apply the nitrogen is from mid-october through late December. This timing allows the turf to develop a better root system to withstand the upcoming hot summer. Applying nitrogen in late fall also helps the turf recover faster and promotes an earlier green-up in the spring. Low maintenance lawns without regular irrigation should not require any nitrogen in the spring. So, what about the other nutrients like phosphorus or potassium? It is always best to get a soil sample to identify the need for other nutrients. Excess nutrients have many other consequences that extend beyond our own lawns. Brad Lee with the University of Kentucky explains this very well: Excess phosphorus (P) can lead to algal blooms and subsequent degradation of Kentucky s surface waters. In addition, these algal blooms have the potential to of 25 years of soil test P data from every county in Kentucky demonstrated that the average P levels in home lawns and gardens are considerably higher than agricultural soils. In addition, while agricultural soil P levels have been declining since 1990, the P levels in home lawns and gardens have been applying unneeded P to their soils. It is imperative that homeowners test their soils prior to applying fertilizer. The soil test results will explain how much (if any) P is needed. Testing the soil for its fertility and applying fertilizer based on those soil test results will be less expensive for the homeowner and much better for Kentucky s lakes, rivers and streams. lawn includes a soil sample to determine what nutrients are needed and plan to apply nitrogen in the fall. Other good low maintenance practices include: keeping a sharp blade, mowing at the proper height, and applying pre-emergent if crabgrass has typically been a problem. As always, your local University of Kentucky Extension Office can help you determine the best plan for your lawn. 2

3 Update on Emerald Ash Borer Extent of emerald ash borerinduced ash decline in Kentucky based on aerial and ground surveys as of (Map provided by A. Nielsen, Kentucky Division of Forestry) White Zone Lack of detected EAB activity in this area does not mean there are no active infestations. The borer may be present for 3 to 4 years before infestations reach detectable levels. For example, infestations around Evansville, Indiana are a potential source of beetles for the Owensboro area. What to Look For Symptoms of EAB infestation include crown die back, epicormic shoots, splitting bark exposing serpentine galleries, and D-shaped exit holes. Crown Die Back Epicormic Shoots Serpentine Galleries D-shaped Exit Holes Management Options in the White Zone Best actions for trees in the white area are to: 1. Check landscapes for ash trees and 2. Determine whether to follow a protection program By Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist Managing Emerald Ash Borer: Decision Guide included with Newsletter CLOVER MITES Figure 1. Clover mite (Photo: Lee Townsend, UK) Clover mites are accidental invaders that can be a temporary nuisance during early spring. These tiny, reddish-brown creatures have very long front legs and appear as moving dark spots to the naked eye. Sheer numbers, plus the resulting red-brown stain left behind if they are crushed, make them unwelcome visitors. Clover mites are not blood feeders and will not harm people or pets; nor will they infest household products. Clover mites that make it indoors will soon die. Clover mites (Figure 1) feed on clover and grasses. They can be especially abundant in the heavy, succulent growth of well-fertilized lawns during cool spring and fall months. They typically enter homes around windows or doors so these mites are usually seen crawling along sills or thresholds. Management A soapy rag or wet sponge can be used to clean mites from surfaces. Wipe carefully to avoid crushing the mites and causing stains. The crevice tool of a vacuum cleaner may also be used to pick up mites. Rely on non-chemical control indoors. Do not apply insecticides to kitchen counters or other interior surfaces. There is an increased potential for invading mites when grass extends up to the foundation. A plant bed or open area will provide a barrier that will stop many mites and provide a long term solution to persistent problems. Avoid over-fertilizing lawns. This creates situations that are ideal for mite populations to increase to tremendous numbers. Many mites may be removed from lawns by a strong hosing with water, but this will need to be repeated as necessary. A barrier spray of a lawn and garden pyrethroid insecticide (g., permethrin, cyfluthrin, or cyhalothrin ) may reduce movement of the mites from grasses to patios, decks, or house walls. Use a compressed air or hose end sprayer to treat at the base of all exterior doors, garage and crawl space entrances, around foundation vents and utility openings, and up underneath siding. It may also be useful to treat around the outside perimeter of the foundation in a 2- to 6-foot-wide band along the ground, and 2 to 3 feet up the foundation wall. Follow label directions. By Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist 3

4 Asian Asparagus Salad 1 pound fresh asparagus 1-1/2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce 2 teaspoons sugar or artificial sweetener 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 1. Snap off and discard the root ends of the asparagus. 2. Wash remaining stalks thoroughly. 3. Slice stalks into 1-1/2 inch lengths on the diagonal. 4. Blanch asparagus for 1-3 minutes in boiling water, until bright green in color. 5. Cool immediately under cold water and drain. 6. Combine soy sauce, sugar, olive oil, and sesame seeds in a small glass bowl. Mix dressing until sugar is dissolved. 7. In a gallon zip-seal bag, add asparagus and dressing. Turn bag to coat asparagus with dressing and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. 8. Turn bag again and chill for an additional 15 minutes before serving. Yield: 4, 1/2 cup servings Nutritional Analysis: 70 calories, 4.5 g fat,.5 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 250 mg sodium, 7 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein. Buying Kentucky Proud is easy. Look for label at your grocery store, farmers market, or roadside stand. In Season Locally in April and May Cabbage Green Onions Herb Transplants Leaf Lettuce Radishes Strawberries Flowering Bedding Plants Hanging Baskets of Flowers Vegetable Transplants FLOWER OF THE MONTH GoldDust Mecardonia hybrid Courtesy of Proven Winners Common Name: Gold Dust Mecardonia hybrid Type: Annual Zone: 9 to 11 Height: 2-5 inches Spread: inches Bloom Time: Planting to Frost Bloom Description: Yellow Sun: Full sun; if it does not get enough sun, it will start turning black underneath. Water: Moderate to moist Maintenance: Easy Flower: Showy, small Leaf: Green Habit: Trailing, spreading Tolerate: Heat Daviess County Horticulture Facebook Page We encourage you to view and like us at: Contact us for more horticultural information at *Local greenhouse cucumbers and tomatoes may be available in May. Annette Meyer Heisdorffer Daviess County Extension Agent for Horticulture Education for Horticulture 4

5 4.5 ft. Decision Guide Begin with an inventory of your ash trees How many? Where are they? Do you want to save your ash trees from EAB? Ash trees will be killed and need to be cut down. Protect your urban forest. Act Now. Save Trees. Save $! Save money. Have unwanted ash removed before they die. I don t know. Determine how big your trees are. Get DBH. Measure the distance around the trunk (at 4.5 ft. above the ground) and divide it by three to get iameter at reast eight. A professional can help. 20 in. DBH Are they greater than? You will need professional insecticide treatment. Homeowners can treat. Use a soil drench containing imidacloprid. Treat trees between April 1 st and May 15 th. Always follow all insecticide label directions. Are some worth saving? Valuable to landscape or owner? Healthy and few signs of EAB? Located in the right site? Hire a Tree Care Professional Get at least two estimates Hire a certified professional Ask for references and insurance To find one in your area visit: Team up with your neighbors and seek discounts for managing all your trees at once! Ensure that drenches are applied to bare soil within 1 ft. of the trunk. Managing Emerald Ash Borer: U.S. EPA Authors: Annemarie M. Nagle and Cliff Sadof

6 Managing Emerald Ash Borer: Decision Guide Authors: Annemarie M. Nagle and Sadof John Obermeyer, Extension Entomology, Purdue University Which trees can be saved? Trees CAN be saved if they are: Healthy and vigorously growing, with more than half their leaves. Enhancing the landscape. Valuable to the owner. Showing only few outward signs of EAB These ash trees are healthy, have all of their leaves, and provide shade and beauty to the landscape. They would be good treatment candidates. Trees should NOT be saved if they are: Unhealthy, with more than half of their leaves missing. Planted in poor sites or are not important to the landscape. Showing many outward signs of EAB n, such as woodpecker damage, bark splits, and water sprouts at the tree base. These ash trees are too unhealthy to be e ec vely treated. This ash tree is not planted on the right site. It will require maintenance to keep it clear of power lines. What are the treatment Homeowners can protect healthy ash trees: With a trunk less than 20 in. iameter at reast eight (see reverse for DBH measurement). With over the counter soil drench products containing 1.47% imidacloprid. These products are most when applied between April 1 st and May 15 th. Professionals can protect ash trees: With a trunk DBH of up to 20 inches or greater Later in the year, and/or by using specialized equipment to apply that contain imidacloprid, dinotefuran, or benzoate. Which new trees should be planted? a tree that can thrive in your Remember that some trees can become very large. Contact your city forester, or local garden center or nursery for advice on choosing the best species to replace your ash. Also look for ideas at our link to replacement species on < REMEMBER: Choose Diversity! Replant with several di erent tree species to increase your neighborhood s resilience to future pest problems.