At the Garden Gate January / February 2010 Mahaska County Extension Horticulture Newsletter

Transcription

1 Mahaska County Iowa State University Extension 212 North I Street Oskaloosa IA Phone: Fax: Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8am 1 pm, 1:30 4:30 pm At the Garden Gate January / February 2010 Mahaska County Extension Horticulture Newsletter Keep Those New Year s Gardening Resolutions To Have a More Beautiful Yard or Garden, must be a popular New Year s Resolution for this upcoming year. Many people have already put action to their resolutions, and have signed-up for our Master Gardener Training. However, there are a few seats left in our class. This training is not limited to residents of Mahaska County. If you are interested in enrolling, you still can contact the Mahaska County Extension Office to learn how. Enrollment fee before January 1is $125, January 1-15 the enrollment fee is $150. The last day to enroll is January 15. Whether or not you are able to join us in this training, you can do things in late winter/early spring to make next summer s gardening more successful. First of all, do a soil test. This is the best way to know what is available and/or is needed for your plants to grow properly. By doing a soil test and adding needed nutrients (if needed) your garden will be ready for (Continued on page 8) Inside this Issue: Master Gardener Meeting Junior Gardeners Basket Making Workshop 2 Bring the Garden into your Home Speaker Series 3 ISU Extension Publications 4 Don t trash your Christmas Tree 5 Bee Keeping classes in Oskaloosa Rock Garden Speaker in Keokuk County 6 All American Selections All Iowa Horticultural Exposition 8 Gardening Questions & Answers 9 Garden To Do List 10 Growing Green Garden Calendar Upcoming Events 11

2 page 2 At the Garden Gate Master Gardener Meetings January 12, 6:30 pm We will be assisting with the Master Gardener training orientation, and having our business meeting afterward. February 9, 6:30 pm Program to follow: Glenda Buenger, Back to Basics Bee Club member, Beginner Bee Keeping There is no charge for this program and it is open to the public. Junior Gardeners 4H club The Junior Gardeners will have their regular monthly meetings on January 25 (starting seeds) and February 22 (topic to be determined ) at 7 pm. Junior Gardeners is a special interest 4-H club. If you are already a member of one 4-H club in Mahaska county, you do not pay an additional enrollment fee to join the Junior Gardeners. All Mahaska County 4-Hers are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Suzette Striegel at the Mahaska County Extension Office. Basket Making Workshop Join Patti Mitrisin for this hands-on workshop to create your own harvest/market basket. The workshop will be held Saturday, February 27, am - 4 pm. Materials and instructions will be provided to create one basket. Please bring: a cloth measuring tape, towel(s), dishpan/tub/bucket, & scissors. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably and bring their own sack lunch and snacks. Cost of the workshop is $22 for one handle or $27 for a swing handle payable to Patti. Registration and prepayment is required by February 17. To register, please contact Suzette Striegel (striegel@iastate.edu) at There will be no refunds, but a substitute may attend. Upcoming Events At the Garden Gate page 11 December 31 Master Gardener Training enrollment due Late fee applies after this date January 1 Office Closed for New Years Day January 12 March 30 Master Gardener Training Tuesday evenings 6:30 9:30 pm January 12 January 15 January 25 Master Gardener Meeting Following Master Gardener training orientation Last day to enroll in Master Gardener Training Junior Gardeners 7 pm February 9 Master Gardener Meeting 6:30 pm Program: Glenda Buenger Beginning Bee Keeping February 17 Basket Making workshop registration due February 22 Junior Gardeners 7 pm February 27 Basket Making Workshop 9-4 Events are at the Mahaska County Extension Office unless indicated. If you want more information about any of the Mahaska County Extension horticulture events or have horticulture questions, please contact Suzette Striegel, Mahaska County Extension Horticulturist by calling or ing striegel@iastate.edu.

3 page 10 At the Garden Gate Garden To Do List for January Check inventory of leftover or stored seeds Order flower and vegetable seeds Rotate houseplants to prevent one-sided growth Check trees and shrubs for rabbit damage Check overwintering bulbs in storage Check houseplant for insects, wash with soapy water if necessary Visit a conservatory or greenhouse Place ferns and orchids on pebble trays to raise the humidity Garden To Do List for February Gently brush or shake snow from evergreens Order Valentine s Day flowers Keep cut flowers in a cool location away from direct sun Begin pruning fruit trees Sow geranium seeds indoors Gently wash dusty houseplant leaves with a soft sponge and warm water Clean and sharpen garden tools Cut branches of spring flowering trees for forcing indoors These items are from the 2010 ISU Extension Garden Calendar. Growing Green This 12-month full-color calendar is available at the ISU Extension county (including Mahaska) offices or the ISU Extension online store at or (515) , while supply lasts. Cost is $6 (plus shipping and handling when ordered from ISU Extension Store). (Continued from page 9) Construct a sturdy fence at least at the outer dripline of the tree and allow zero activity within this area. Prohibited activities inside the dripline of the tree include lowering the grade, adding soil, trenching, parking or operating machinery in the area, and storing supplies, soil or excavation materials. Source: Ask the ISU Extension Experts; November 18, The Iowa State University Extension Master Gardeners of Mahaska County are offering classes for beginning gardeners. Theme for this year s classes are Bring the garden into your home. At the Garden Gate page 3 The classes are designed for beginners, however, other interested gardeners are encouraged to attend. Classes will be held Thursday evenings February 4, 11 and 18. Participants may attend one, two or all three classes. Cost for each class is $5, or $10 for all three. Topics for the classes are: February 4 Cutting flowers; February 11 Salsa and February 18 Canning. To register, please contact Suzette Striegel (striegel@iastate.edu) at or visit our website Mahaska County Master Gardeners Speaker Series All sessions to be held at the Mahaska County Extension Office at 7 pm. There is no charge for these programs and they are open to the public. Master Gardeners will hold a food drive for the Ecumenical Cupboard at each session. March 4 Peonies with Lucas Hudson, Hollingsworth Nursery March 11 Railroad Gardening with Joe Hall March 18 Growing Giant Vegetables with Marty Schnicker March 26 Children s Gardens with Jane Hogue, Prairie Peddler Come Ask a Master Gardener your gardening questions 6-6:30 pm prior to each speaker session.

4 page 4 At the Garden Gate PM 1213 IC 472 PM 607 PM 713 PM 874 PM 1383 PM 1429f RG 105 RG 214 RG 322 RG 325 RG 402 SUL 6 RG 316 RG 322 PM 2004 ISU Extension (ISUE) Revised Publication Mowing Your Lawn Publications of Interest Household Insect Pest Management Suggested Vegetable Varieties for the Home Garden Indoor Plants Starting Garden Transplants at Home Identification of Conifer Trees in Iowa Power Lines and Trees Garden Tips-Guidelines to Seasonal Chores Choosing an Arborist African Violets Language of Flowers Lighting and Houseplants Managing Storm Damaged Trees Poinsettia Care African Violets Home Landscape Design These publications (as well as many others) are available to purchase or download at any county Extension office or at the ISUE online store At the Garden Gate page 9 Gardening Questions and Answers What should I do with the potting soil in outdoor containers in the fall? After a killing frost in fall, remove the dead plants in pots, hanging baskets, and other containers and recycle the potting soil. The potting soil can be added to the compost pile or worked into the soil of flower and vegetable gardens. It s best not to reuse the potting soil in containers the following season. The structural and chemical characteristics of potting soils gradually degrade during the growing season. As a result, plants may not grow as well in the second year. Another concern with reusing potting soil is the potential for greater disease problems. Many plant pathogens persist in the soil. If the same plant materials are planted in the containers, disease problems may be more severe in the second year. Source: Ask the ISU Extension Experts; December 2, What effects will construction activities have on nearby trees? Construction of buildings, patios, garages, driveways, sidewalks, and roads often compromises the growing environment of nearby trees. The majority of a tree s roots are located in the top six to 18 inches of soil and often extend well beyond the edge of the tree canopy (dripline). Changing the grade by removing or adding soil around existing trees can cause extensive root damage. Removing soil can disturb and injure many of the tree s roots. Adding soil can reduce the movement of oxygen to tree roots, causing them to die. Trenching often severs major portions of the tree s root system. Soil compaction by heavy equipment and foot traffic reduces the supply of oxygen to the root system. Mechanical damage to the trunk of the tree caused by construction equipment can strip off bark and damage vascular tissue, reducing nutrient and water movement in the tree. Open wounds created by these injuries can serve as entryways for insects and decay-causing fungi. Severe construction damage can cause affected trees to decline and die. The best way to minimize damage to a tree during construction is to do nothing around, in or on top of a tree's root system. (Continued on page 10)

5 page 8 At the Garden Gate (Continued from page 7) AAS winners are selected from many new cultivars, based on performance in test gardens across the country, as well as in the greenhouse. Although not a guarantee of success in an individual garden, the AAS winners have proven themselves over a broad range of growing conditions. Grow these selections alongside your favorites for comparison! For more information about these and winners since 1933, visit (Continued from page 1) the upcoming growing season. To do a soil test (once the ground is not frozen) take many sub-samples from the entire area and mix the sub-samples together in a bucket. Once mixed, send a pint of the mixed soil to the ISU testing lab with the form and payment. Next, don t throw away those organic food scraps. Compost them or add them to your garden spot now to allow them to degrade for next year s garden. Remember that when adding noncomposted organic matter to growing plants will rob nitrogen. But after they have decomposed or composted they will supply nutrients to your plants. Finally, prune properly. Most plants except for early spring flowering plants can be pruned this time of year. Don t be afraid to prune, but do it properly. Always remove limbs all the way back to another limb using the three step method. Removing the diseased, dead, or problem limbs will make your trees and shrubs more beautiful and healthy. To learn the specifics on gardening topics mentioned above and others, we have both free and cost publications at our office. Iowa State Horticultural Society The All-Iowa Horticultural Exposition March 19-20, 2010; Bridgeview Center, Ottumwa Featuring: Internationally known plantsman Dan Heims & Famed garden designer and author Stephanie Cohen For More Information visit: Don t trash your Christmas tree Recycle it! Once the holiday season is over your Christmas tree has not become useless. Please consider recycling it! At the Garden Gate page 5 Do not burn the Christmas tree unless you have cut the tree to appropriate lengths and allowed for proper drying. Use caution, as many evergreen species burn hot and the resin may bubble and pop as it burns. Burning a Christmas trees in the fireplace or woodstove can be the cause of a house fire. There is also the potential for creosote buildup, the cause flue fires. Removed needles are excellent mulch for shrubs and flowering plants. Pine or balsam needles can be used for sachets or potpourri. Small limbs can be accents in winter floral arrangements. Smaller pruned branches can be used to mulch perennials. If you have access to a shredder, you can add the shredded limbs to your compost pile or use as mulch. Your tree set upright on your property can be a shelter for wild birds. They will like the addition of natural bird feeders. Placed on its side in a more woodsy area, other animals such as rabbits, moles, and other small rodents may also use the tree for a hiding place. If you can not recycle your tree, allow the Mahaska County Conservation Board (MCCB) to recycle it. Wreaths, swags and flocked trees will also be recycled by MCCB. Trees will be collected Dec 26th through Jan 9th. Please remove all lights, wire, ornaments, tinsel, nails, stands, metal support and other materials that were not part of the tree. Some of trees are chipped, foreign material can ruin a chipping machine. Non organic materials will not biodegrade. If you used a plastic bag to remove the tree from your house please remove the plastic bag at the drop off site. The trees will be used within the park system. They will have the following collections points... Southern Iowa Fairgrounds Kiddie Barn White Oak Conservation Area Nicholson Park Robertson Access Russell Wildlife Center If you are in need of Christmas trees for your own wildlife projects; or if you recycle your tree this winter, but wish to donate it this spring, please contact MCCB at

6 page 6 At the Garden Gate Beekeeping classes in Oskaloosa Beekeeping classes will be starting January 14. The classes will meet on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM; there will be nine classes at the Mahaska County Extension office, 212 North Street Oskaloosa. No pre registration required. For more information call Craig Greene at Young people are encouraged to attend. This project is supported in part by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, USDA Specialty Crops Grant Funds, Back to Basics Bee Club, and Iowa Honey Producers. Rock Garden Speaker in Keokuk County Keokuk County Master Gardeners will host Jamie Beyer on Thursday, February 4. Snow date is February 23. The meeting will be held at the Keokuk County Expo Hall, Sigourney at 6 pm. They will be accepting free will donations. His topic will be rock placement and techniques. Since the late 1980 s, Jamie has been involved with the design and installation of over 500 water gardens and features. Jamie and co-author, Veronica Fowler, have written the Ortho Book All About Garden Pools and Fountains. He has a Master s Degree in Fish and Wildlife Biology and is a Master Gardener; this gives him a broad background of fisheries, dynamics of water, wildlife ecology, and horticulture. He frequently speaks on many aspects of gardening to groups. Note: Jamie Beyer was very well received when he spoke at the Mahaska County Speaker Series in Don t miss this opportunity to hear a great gardening speaker! All American Selections 2010 Four flowers have been chosen as All- America Selections (AAS) 2010, based on superior performance in test gardens. Gaillardia 'Mesa Yellow' is the first hybrid blanket flower bred for compact growth habit and prolific flowering. The early, 3-inch daisy -like flowers are excellent for cutting but will attract butterflies if left on the plants. The neat mound habit reachs up to 2 feet in full sun, perfect for containers and limited-space gardens. Recommended spacing is inches. At the Garden Gate page 7 Snapdragon 'Twinny Peach' is a double-flowered snapdragon in a blend of peach tones -- soft shades of peach, yellow and light orange. This excellent cut flower comes from a plant producing many spikes in full sun. The compact plants (to 12 inches) will continue to flower all season with good heat tolerance in the AAS Trials. Recommended plant spacing is 6 inches. Viola 'Endurio Sky Blue Martien' was selected for its vigor and unique spreading/mounding. Fall plantings will bloom well past frost and will come back again for an early show of color in spring. It can also be planted in early spring and will provide a bounty of sky-blue blooms well into summer. The plants form neat spreading mounds up to 6 inches tall and inches wide, perfect for edging garden beds, window boxes and hanging baskets. Recommended spacing is inches. Zinnia 'Zahara Starlight Rose' is a bicolor rose-and-white blossom. It has good resistance to heat, drought, leaf spot and powdery mildew. The mature plants reach about inches tall and wide and with 2.5-inch blooms. Recommended spacing is inches. (Continued on page 8)