Woodford HortUpdate. August/September A Note From Faye. Fall Gardens

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1 Woodford HortUpdate August/September 2016 Woodford County 184 Beasley Drive Versailles, KY (859) Fax: (859) Extension.ca.uky.edu A Note From Faye Please join us on Saturday, October 1 st for our Fall Gardening Workshop. Sign up soon to reserve your spot (see attached flyer for more details)! Also, please like the Woodford County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Facebook page and the Woodford County Extension Master Gardeners page to find out about upcoming events/workshops and for some helpful horticulture hints and information. Be sure to get out and support your Woodford County Farmer s Market and take advantage of the fresh fruits, veggies, baked goods and much more! Your gardening tips, comments and questions are always appreciated. Please or call anytime. Happy Gardening! Fall Gardens August is your last chance to plant these vegetables: Turnips Beets Broccoli Carrots Collards Bush Beans Cabbage Bibb lettuce Kale Cauliflower Kohlrabi For late August and into early September you can plant the following: Mustard greens Radishes Leaf lettuce Spinach Provide regular, frequent watering (possibly daily) until the crops are up and growing. It is best to plant seeds deeper than you do for a spring garden because soil is cooler and moister down a little deeper. Before planting, remove any existing debris including crops and weeds. This material can be composted. However, if you suspect any plants had diseases, do not add those to the compost. You may need to apply a fertilizer before planting.

2 Saving Tomato Seeds Saving tomato seeds is very easy and a great way to continue growing your favorite variety of heirloom tomatoes for years to come. By saving the seeds from the best fruits of the season, you are assuring the continuation of excellent fruit production in the coming seasons. You are selecting the best from your own particular growing conditions. Here is all you need to do: Squeeze the seeds from a tomato into a clean jar. Remember, use one of your top quality specimens. Add some water to the jar Cover the jar with plastic and poke some holes in the plastic. Place the jar on a shelf out of direct sunlight for several days. After three or four days, a layer of mold will have formed on the surface of the water, and you will notice that the seeds have settled on the bottom. Use a spoon to remove the mold from the jar. Now gently run water into the jar and carefully pour off the rinse water. The seeds will stay on the bottom of the jar as long as you pour the water off gently. Keep doing this until the water runs clear and all that is left is clean seeds. Pour these seeds onto a coffee filter. You can also use a paper towel, but the seeds tend to stick to paper towels. Order spring-flowering bulbs for fall planting. Fall Quick Tips Don't fertilize woody plants now. It stimulates late growth that will not have time to harden off properly before winter. Hand-prune and destroy bagworms, fall webworms and tent caterpillars. Prune out and destroy the raspberry and blackberry canes that bore fruits this year. They will not produce fruit again next year, but they may harbor insect and disease organisms. Mid-August through mid-september is the best time to seed lawns in Kentucky. When purchasing seed, choose a turf-type tall fescue. Tall fescue is the best adapted grass for Kentucky. To insure success, make sure the seed is covered with soil and water daily until the seed germinates. Begin mowing when new grass is 3-4 inches tall. Fall is also the ideal time to fertilize your lawn and control weeds. Keep the garden well-watered during dry weather and free of weeds, insects and disease. Divide crowded perennials now through mid-september. Finish trimming shrubs and hedges this month to allow time for re-growth to mature before winter.

3 Bacterial Leaf Scorch Can Torch Landscape Trees Source: Kimberly Leonberger, Extension Associate, and Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension Plant Pathologist Kentucky s landscapes are populated by many trees that are susceptible to bacterial leaf scorch. This disease may not kill trees instantly, but over time, it can have devastating effects. Pruning and reducing stress can prolong the life of infected trees; however, there are currently no methods to prevent or cure bacterial leaf scorch. Bacterial Leaf Scorch Facts Infected trees exhibit premature leaf browning (Figure 1), marginal necrosis, and defoliation. In subsequent years additional branches will present the same symptoms until the entire tree becomes prematurely brown (Figure 2). Symptom development typically occurs in mid- to late summer Symptoms of bacterial leaf scorch can resemble abiotic/stress, so confirmation by a diagnostic lab is advised. Trees such as sycamore, maple, and oaks are susceptible. Pin oak and red oak are the most commonly reported hosts in KY. Caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Spread by leafhopper and treehopper insects. Management Options There is no cure for bacterial leaf scorch, and trees will eventually die once infected. The following suggestions may help preserve the appearance and life of diseased trees: Prune newly infected trees to preserve appearance. Water trees in the heat of summer to reduce stress. Tree-injections can be costly and do not cure the disease; however, they may prolong the life of the tree. Replace infected trees with species that have shown resistance to the disease. Suggestions include: European beech Kentucky coffeetree Shagbark hickory Common sassafras Tuliptree Additional Information Bacterial Leaf Scorch: PPFS-OR-W-12.pdf Figure 1: Premature leaf browning of a pin oak tree branch infected with bacterial leaf scorch. (Photo: John Hartman, UK) Figure 2: Pin oak tree that has turned entirely brown prematurely from many years of bacterial leaf scorch infection. (Photo: John Hartman, UK) View this newsletter and find a variety of other information and upcoming events on our county website. Visit us at: Follow us on Facebook at:

4 Turf in Shade Source: University of Kansas Extension Around the Yard I am often asked, What s the best shade grass for Kentucky? The answer is simple but requires explanation. Tall fescue is the best shade grass for Kentucky. That does not mean that tall fescue is the best shade grass of all those grown. Fine fescues are actually better adapted to shade than tall fescue, but they have difficulty surviving Kentucky summers. It might be better to say that tall fescue is the best shade grass adapted to Kentucky conditions. Although tall fescue is our best shade grass, does not mean that tall fescue is all that good in the shade. Large trees that produce deep shade will not allow tall fescue to survive over the long term. I say over the long term because fallplanted cool-season grasses will often do well under shade trees through the fall and spring when there is less leaf cover and growing conditions are better (cooler and moister) than in the summer. We often see people plant tall fescue in the shade each fall and then wonder what happens the following summer. The answer is stress from multiple fronts. Sunlight that passes through the leaves of trees has had most of the good light that drives photosynthesis stripped out. The grass struggles to make the food it needs for survival and growth. When this poor diet is combined with the additional stresses of drought and heat, tall fescue is unable to survive. So, what should you do if you have too much shade for your turf? You have three choices. Reduce the shade by pruning up the lower branches of your trees so more early and late sun reaches the turf. This is not practical with many trees because it can destroy the desired shape. A second option is to plant a groundcover that is well-adapted to shady sites such as periwinkle, pachysandra or English ivy. Another solution would be to mulch the area under the tree. For more information contact me or see the publication entitled Trees, Turf and People, which can be found at the following website: Planting Trees in the Fall Source: NC State Extension The fall season can be an excellent time to plant trees. During the spring, soils are cold and may be so wet that low oxygen levels inhibit root growth. The warm and moist soils associated with fall encourage root growth. Fall root growth means the tree becomes established well before a spring-planted tree and is better able to withstand summer stresses. However, certain trees do not produce significant root growth during the fall and are better planted in the spring. These include beech, birch, redbud, magnolia, tulip poplar, willow oak, scarlet oak, black oak, willows, and dogwood. Fall-planted trees require some special care. Remember, that roots are actively growing even though the top is dormant. Make sure the soil stays moist but not soggy. This may require watering not only in the fall but also during the winter months if we experience warm spells that dry the soil. Mulch also is helpful because it minimizes moisture loss and slows the cooling of the soil so root growth continues as long as possible. Evergreens should be moved earlier in the fall than deciduous plants. They need at least six weeks before the ground freezes for the roots to become established.

5 Orange or Green Gypsy Moth Traps Source: Carl Harper, Office of the State Entomologist and Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist About 8,000 orange (Figure 1) or green cardboard traps are being pinned to trees to survey for gypsy moth, a serious threat to forest and landscape trees. The traps, placed in an approximately 2-kilometer grid, contain a pheromone to attract male moths. The inside is coated with a sticky substance to catch moths, but the traps do not contain an insecticide or anything that would pose a risk to people, pets, or wildlife. Surveyors will collect the traps during August. This is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Kentucky State Entomologist. Some gypsy moths are found every year in Kentucky. However, there are no established breeding populations. The survey program keeps track of annual moth flight and identifies areas of high activity that are trapped more intensively. Figure 1. Gypsy moth survey traps will be orange or green in 2016 (Photo: B. Sears, Mad- Hosts & Gypsy Moth Characteristics Gypsy moth caterpillars can feed on more than 500 species of trees and shrubs. Oaks are a preferred host while apple, sweetgum, basswood, gray and white birch, poplar, willow, and hawthorn are also favored. Older instars can feed on hemlock, pines, and spruce. Caterpillars are recognized by the five pairs of blue dots and six pairs of red dots on their backs. They are also very hairy. Dividing Peonies Source: Kansas State Extension Peonies are a favorite perennial of gardeners because of their beauty and low maintenance. Though peonies can be left in place indefinitely, many gardeners wish to increase their plantings and use a process known as division to accomplish this. Keep in mind, however, that peonies often take about three years to return to full bloom and size after division. Fall is the traditional time to divide these plants. The first step in division is to remove the foliage. Peonies are essentially dormant by September 1 even though the foliage is still green. Then dig out the entire plant. Shake and wash off as much soil as possible so that the pink buds or "eyes" are visible. Peony roots are tough, and a sharp knife is needed to cut the roots into separate pieces. Make sure each division has three to four buds. Make sure the location chosen for planting receives at least a half-day of full sun. However, the more sun, the better. Space the plants so that there is at least 2 feet between dwarf types and 4 feet between the standard types. Follow the same rules for planting these divisions as you do for new plants. Make sure the pink buds are about 1 inch below the soil surface. If they are set more than 2 inches deep, flowering may be delayed or completely prevented. As you set the plants, firm soil often as it is added around the plant. If the soil is not firmed, it can settle and pull the plant down with it. Water in well after planting and water as necessary through the fall and winter to keep the soil moist. It is often a good idea to add mulch to the new planting to protect it from heaving. The alternate freezing and thawing that commonly occurs during winters can "heave" weakly rooted plants out of the ground. Add a mulch of straw, leaves, compost or other material after the soil freezes. Remember, it is not the cold that harms these plants but the alternate freezing and thawing of the soil.

6 Fall Slaw Recipe cup or green 10 ounces Brussels Granny Smith apple, ½ cup celery, bell ½ cup dried ¼ cup raw, shelled 2 ¼ cup olive 2 lemon celery In a large and next six 2. In a small whisk Pour over and Makes 6 Serving size: ¾ Cost per recipe: Cost per serving: Source: Leslie Senior facts per serving: g 1.5g 0g 25mg 27g carboh 4g fiber; 19g sugar; 3g 8% Daily Value of A; 180% Daily Value of C; 4% Daily Value of Daily Value of Note: This is a way serve Brussels but you also the Happy Gardening! Faye Kuosman, County Extension Agent for Horticulture faye.tewksbury@uky.edu Upcoming Events August Kentucky State Fair; Kentucky State Fairgrounds, Louisville, KY Grow, Cook, Eat Series, 5:00 6:30 p.m., 4 th Tuesday of the Month, Woodford County Extension Office August 23 rd Sprouts & Microgreens, $5.00 & September 27 th Garlic, $8.00. Please call the Extension Office to register, September 6 - Woodford County 4-H/FFA Invest In Youth Sale; Woodford County Fairgrounds, Versailles, KY September 7 - Rinse & Return Program; Woodford Feed Fertilizer Storage, Versailles, KY October 1, Master Gardener Fall Gardening Workshop KSU Small Scale Farm Grant - Deadline: October 1st and December 1st Funding Amount: Up to$5,000 for farmers & $15,000 for agriculture groups Eligible Entities: Kentucky farmers and Kentucky agriculture groups including farmer markets Link: October 22, nd Annual Bluegrass Forest Foray

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