Garden Plugs. A newsletter for Henderson County. Henderson County Center May-June 2011 NOW IS THE TIME UPCOMING EVENTS

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1 Garden Plugs A newsletter for Henderson County Henderson County Center May-June 2011 NOW IS THE TIME Contact Us Henderson County 740 Glover St. Hendersonville, NC (828) Phone (828) Fax henderson.ces.ncsu.edu Editor: Diane Turner diane_turner@ncsu.edu masteryourgrden.blogspot.com Twitter ID: NCCE_DAT Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Lawns Do not fertilize tall fescue and bluegrass lawns again until September. Excess nitrogen can lead to brown patch disease in lawns. Mow tall fescue lawns to 2 ½ to 3 inch height. Research has shown that mowing to the proper height will help control weeds. Keep an eye out for small plants of crabgrass and other summer weeds so you can pull them while they are small. Ornamentals Begin to remove foliage from spring blooming bulbs as the leaves turn completely yellow and brown. Plant annuals now in the landscape, be sure to keep them well watered and deadheaded to encourage continual blooming throughout the summer. Miscellaneous Do not plant warm season vegetable crops such as peppers and tomatoes until after Mothers Day. Soil temperature should be warmed up to at least 65 degrees before planting. Keep garden vegetables watered with at least 1 inch of water per week, especially tomatoes. Hummingbirds are here and hungry. Make a sugar solution for the feeder by dissolving 1/4 cup of sugar in 1 cup boiling water. 05/12/11 05/13/11 05/17/11 06/03/11 06/14/11-06/16/11 2:00pm-3:00pm 10:00am-11:00am 3:00pm-4:30pm 10:00am-12:00pm 9:00am-11:00am UPCOMING EVENTS Grow a Great WNC Lawn Spring Garden Walk Container Gardens Hypertufa Leaf Casting Intro Botanical Drawing Etowah Branch Library Bullington Center Bullington Center ** Bullington Center ** Bullington Center ** Person with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate in activities mentioned in this newsletter, please contact Diane Turner at during business hours at least 5 days prior to the event to discuss accommodations. **fee required 1

2 BROWN MAMORATED STINK BUG Since last autumn, the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) has been invading homes and other buildings throughout the state. The stink bug feeds on a variety of hosts in the landscape, including but not limited to Buddleia sp., hibiscus, zinnia, and sunflower. Both fruit trees, such as apples and peaches, and vegetables can also serve as host plants. Stink bugs inflict leaf and fruit damage primarily from feeding with needlelike mouth parts. The North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual suggests either malathion or permethrin as a control agent for ornamentals and vegetables. The biggest problem for homeowners is the bugs overwintering behavior of collecting inside structures and homes when seeking shelter, much like the multicolored Asian lady beetle. They do not harm people, but they can emit an unpleasant odor when crushed or vacuumed. Appearance in homes usually begins about late September or early October. For homes, sealing and caulking all entry spaces usually keeps stink bugs at bay. If they are found inside, hand removal and vacuuming are the best options. A piece of ladies hosiery over the vacuum s nozzle allows for easy disposal of the insects and keeps the odor from lingering in the vacuum canister. BULLINGTON CENTER PLANT SALE A visit to the Bullington Center is a delight to anyone who appreciates the beauty and texture of flowers, ornamental and evergreen shrubs, and trees. The center's unique, natural setting changes with each new season. The existing gardens include colorful perennial borders, a butterfly garden, a shade garden, and an herb garden containing fragrant and dye, medicinal, and biblical herbs. The most recent addition to the grounds of the Bullington Center is the therapy garden which offers horticultural therapy programs to elderly and disabled populations. This garden brings hope through specifically designed gardening activities. Each year thousands of school age children and adults attend programs offered at The Bullington Center. The BOOST (Bullington Onsite Occupational Student Training) program is a program offered to special needs sophomores in the high schools of Henderson County. Each week students come to the Center to work on the grounds, gardens and in the greenhouse as basic job skills are emphasized. The spring plant sale is scheduled for Friday April 29 th & Saturday April 30 th at the Bullington Center from 10:00am until 4:00pm. Plants available for purchase will include perennials, herbs, heirloom vegetables, small trees and shrubs, and unusual annuals. Be sure to mark your calendars for this annual event. For more information go to 2

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4 GARDENING IN HENDERSON COUNTY & SOCIAL MEDIA Are you blogging? A blog is a personal or corporate website in the form of an online journal, with new entries appearing in sequence as they are written, especially as dealing with reflections or opinion, and typically incorporating links to other articles. They are free and it is very easy to post articles. Most importantly, they allow you to get information from your extension agent (or other source) in a timely manner. Whereas hard copy newsletters take weeks to go from writing to delivery, a blog takes minutes. Follow my blog at Who are you following on Twitter? If you aren't already using twitter to share your interests, your daily dealings or what you are doing in your garden, why not start now. Twitter is a great way to build and maintain relationships when you don't have time to call or write. Its also a great way to keep up with what's new and exciting in your community. Why not become a leader in neighborhood by sharing what you know and are learning. Now, you can get the latest gardening updates about what's going on in Henderson County by following me, my Twitter ID is NCCE_DAT. Should you have Facebook too? Facebook can be thought of as your home on the Internet. It's a place people can go to leave you a message, browse through your photo collections, or even chat with you while you are online. It can be a great way to keep in contact with friends and family, and even find long lost friends that you haven't spoken to in years. Be sure to keep up with upcoming events or past successes of NC Cooperative Extension Henderson County Center or the Bullington Center through their Facebook accounts. The Master Gardener Volunteer Info line is open for the season. Volunteers are available to answer your gardening questions on the phone, via or you may bring problem samples into the office for diagnosis. Contact us at: Phone: Address: NC Cooperative Extension 740 Glover Street Hendersonville, NC hendersonmgv@gmail.com Info line hours: Monday ~ Thursday 9 am to 12 noon or 1 pm to 4 pm Friday 9 am to 12 noon 4

5 PROTECTING YOUR GARDEN PLANTS FROM COLD SPRING NIGHTS Temperatures are known to fluctuate drastically throughout the spring season here in the mountains of WNC. There may be many nights that we have lows be in the 20's. Should you do anything with your plants in your home landscape? If temperatures are not going to be in the 20's where you are, be happy. If they are, you should get busy. First, please understand that normally very cold hardy plants WILL BE DAMAGED by frost and temperatures in the 20's when they are actively growing. Evidence of this is the number of germinating Colorado blue spruce and sugar maple seedlings that are killed by frost every spring if not protected or all those 'Mountain Fire' Pieris japonica that have the new spring growth killed by frost when new vegetative growth precedes a 25 degree morning. Flower petal tissue is probably the most susceptible to cold injury right now along with the tender new vegetative growth on a wide variety of plants. Temperatures will not be cold long enough to do serious damage to the roots of most normally hardy plants. As a homeowner, do everything you can to physically protect cold susceptible plants. Pulling a light weight blanket (with support of some sort so the blanket does not break the new growth off your plants) or just moving plants under cover will all help. If the temperature gets too low into the 20's and you do not protect, you will lose flowers and the new vegetative growth. So, bottom line protect susceptible plants if the temperatures are likely to be in the 20's. Plants in bloom may lose some flowers but most of them will probably be okay or just experience minimal loss of new growth. Increased summer pruning and an increased possibility of pests are the only real problems. Exerts taken from Spring Cold, Article Written by Dick Bir, Extension Horticulture Specialist Emeritus Yesterday the twig was brown and bare; To-day the glint of green is there; Tomorrow will be leaflets spare; I know no thing so wondrous fair, No miracle so strangely rare. I wonder what will next be there! ~L.H. Bailey 5

6 Garden Plugs A newsletter for Henderson County Gardeners May / June 2011 Contents: Now is the Time! Bullington Center Plant Sale Social Media in Henderson County Upcoming Events Brown Mamorated Stink Bug Master Gardener Info Line Cold Spring Nights Diane A. Turner Extension Agent, Horticulture Henderson County 740 Glover St. Hendersonville, NC NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID HENDERSONVILLE NC PERMIT NO. 73