Off Road Equipment Solid, foam, or calcium filled tires Tires with a bead greater than 1¾

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1 Cooperative Extension Service Clark County 1400 Fortune Drive Winchester, KY (859) Fax: (859) extension.ca.uky.edu When it rains, it pours! That statement could not be even any more truthful! We certainly have had a lot of rain. I know that we have not had it near as bad as some of our neighbors to the south, but it sure has brought about even more diseases in plants. I m sure that many home gardens are winding down. For me, it has just been one of those years that I say, maybe it will be better next year. Aren t we always looking ahead anyway? I hope you are able to attend several events that we have coming up that are designed to help you do just that. Don t forget that the Clark County Extension Service is here whenever you have questions as you plan for the future of your home, landscape, and garden. (1055 Early Drive Winchester) Tires from scrap/ salvage yards, recycling facilities or tire retailers! Off Road Equipment Solid, foam, or calcium filled tires Tires with a bead greater than 1¾ David Davis Clark County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources Sponsored by Kentucky Division of Waste Management and Clark County Solid Waste

2 Page 2 Thursday, 4:00 pm Fallis Farm (3070 Ecton Rd.) Don t forget about this upcoming opportunity to learn more about strawberry production using black plastic mulch! This workshop is designed specifically for new, or potential new growers interested in annual strawberry production. Topics will include: Where to Start with Plasticulture Strawberries for New Growers David Davis Clark County ANR Agent Plasticulture Strawberry Production Overview. Dr. John Strang UK Extension Specialist Strawberry Disease Management. Nicole Gauthier Extension Plant Pathology Pre-registration is not required, but we do request that you let us know you plan to attend. RSVP by calling (859) , or by (david.davis@uky.edu). Clark County Cooperative Extension Service We have had a great Fall Farm, Landscape, and Garden School so far! We have completed our fall lawn care class, and our fall gardening update. In addition to the upcoming Strawberry Growers Workshop, we also have two great classes that you can attend. Tuesday, Thursday, 5:30 pm Winchester Clark County Public Library 5:30 pm Clark County Extension Service In addition to regular pruning and maintenance activities, learn about recommended practices for taking care of your trees following storm damage. This portion of the program has been added following recent storm damage and events. Given all of the disease issues that we have had this year, it is good to know how to treat your heirloom seeds to minimize the risk of infecting the garden for years to come. If you would like more information, or to register for any of these upcoming programs, contact the Clark County Extension Service by calling (859) , or by ing david.davis@uky.edu. Space is limited to 30 participants, and please plan to bring your own seed to treat. We still have space available, but register soon to avoid the waiting list. RSVP is required to attend this event!

3 Page 3 Just because it is the fall of the year, it doesn t mean that the gardening season has to end. There are many fall garden crops that you might want to try. The gardening season can also be extended in the winter months for some crops with a little bit of planning. Here are a few things to consider if you are not quite ready to end your gardening for the season just yet. There are a several types of garden plants that can be planted in the fall, and harvested later in the early winter months. It is a little too late for turnips, but turnip and mustard greens will probably have enough time to grow to be harvested before a killing freeze. There are even a few of the garden crops that can be planted in the fall, overwintered, and then gardeners can have a jump start on them in the spring. Cold Crops like broccoli, or some seeded crops like onions, lettuce, carrots, and beets can be planted in the fall. Keep in mind that a row cover, cold frame, or low tunnel may be needed to keep some of these garden plants from freezing in the winter months. It is not your typical large scale traditional or raised bed garden, but indoor container gardens are a good fall/ winter option also. As long as the plants can receive enough sunlight, water, and nutrients, things like cucumber, tomato, small pots of herbs, and other container garden vegetable plants grow great indoors. They may not taste exactly like summer garden vegetables, but they are a break from what is usually found in the grocery stores in the winter months. Cold Frames can be built out of recycled building materials. They can be a great way to use natural energy from the sun to grow crops on a small scale in the early winter. However, be mindful of where you locate cold frames. Place them in area where they will get favorable sun exposure in the winter. They need to heat up to protect the vegetables that you plant in them. Small root crops such as carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips are the best for cold frames in the cooler fall and early winter months. Low tunnels are miniature versions of hi-tunnels that many of our farmers market producers utilize. This is basically a miniature version of a nonheated greenhouse. Low Tunnels are most easily implemented onto raised beds, there are low tunnel kits available for traditional gardens as well. Low tunnels are made of clear, UV resistant plastic. Row covers are made of fabric. Row covers, however, are best used to protect from frost, because they do little to protect vegetables in a freezing event. If you would like to discuss how you might extend the gardening season in the fall, feel free to contact the Clark County Extension Office by calling (859)

4 Page 4 I have recently noticed that fall colors are starting to show on many of our beautiful trees. That means that it will not be long until they start to fall onto the ground. Each year that brings up the issue of how to deal with falling leaves? Many people like to keep the leaves out of their lawn. So, they get out the leaf blowers, yard rakes, or install baggers on the mower to pick up leaves. This sometimes creates the problem of what to do with the leaves once they are picked up. Each year, I often notice leaves raked, blown, or otherwise piled in front of the curb out on the street. The main problem is that the curb is designed to channel storm water out of the road. These piles of leaves can back up storm water, be washed into drains, and create flooding issues. Although there is often a scheduled pick-up day in Winchester, it is still important to collect leaves in the lawn instead of in the storm water drain. Make sure to check with the Public Works Department, or leaf pick-up promotional materials for the recommended way to place leaf litter for pick up. Know your pick-up dates, and avoid placing leaves for long extended periods of time in areas where they might find their way into the storm water collection system. In addition to flooding. leaves that get into the storm water system may end up in streams. When heavy accumulations of leaves from city streets end up in streams, they can cause issues for aquatic wildlife, and lower water quality. That s because leaves contain nutrients such as phosphorous, and nitrogen. As leaves break down in streams, these nutrients are released and can lead to excess algae and other water quality issues. As both the excess algae and the leaves begin to break down, the process can rob the water of oxygen. In some cases, this can be harmful to fish and other living organisms in those streams. Someone once asked me how leaf litter from urban areas was any different from the forest. The answer is human involvement. Leaf litter in the forest will break down on the forest floor, and seldom makes it into stream in heavy concentrations. When we remove leaves from lawns, we are bringing about an unnatural collection of them. Not to mention that they will break down very little when they are placed in the storm drains as compared to the forest floor that is filled with insects, and other living organisms in the soil. I would also encourage each homeowner to consider where their leaf litter ends up. It may end up being incorporated into a recycled mulch, wood chip, or yard waste pile. This is the best case scenario, but your leaf litter may also end up in the landfill where it will not have any benefit. So, before you accumulate your leaves and place them into the garbage, consider other options to deal with them. Consider mulching your leaves with a mower. Mulching leaves with a mower actually adds nutrients to the soil, and will also benefit the soil in your lawn by adding organic matter. Another option is to store leaves to be added to your home compost pile as a carbon source throughout the year. They can be added throughout the year to food waste, lawn clippings, or other nitrogen sources to make a nutrient rich compost that can be added to flower beds, landscaping, or gardens. Leaf litter is an issue that all our Clark County residents need to have a plan on how to deal with it. This is especially true in downtown Winchester where it can cause significant problems with the storm water management system. If you have any questions about dealing with leaf litter, feel free to contact the Clark County Extension Office by calling (859)

5 Page 5 Powell County Beekeepers Association Clark County CES Beekeepers Interest Group Hands on Demonstration Working Hives Fall Hive Inspection Discussing Fall and Winter Prep Activities

6 Page 6 A quick reminder from Clay Stamm, Clark County ANR Agent... FREE FORAGE TESTING 6:30 pm Clark County Farm Bureau (115 S. Highland Street Basement) Members of the Clark County Cattlemen Association can receive up to 5 free forage tests (not including silage) if samples are taken and submitted to the Clark County Extension Service October 1-5. Samples and payment will be mailed out on the afternoon of October 5. For those that aren t members of the Clark County Cattlemen Association, testing is $10 per sample. Someone can come out to take samples at the farm, or check out a forage probe from the Clark County Extension Office. Sign-up to make your reservation early! For more information, or to sign up to have someone come out to your farm to take samples, contact the Clark County Extension Office by calling (859) Complaint Procedure 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 of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg., 14th & Independence Ave, SW, Washington DC ( ).