February Plant of The Month Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop)

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1 Washington County Cooperative Extension Service February 2016 Volume 12, Issue 2 Inside this issue: Time To control Fruit Diseases Cont.. Time To Control Fruit Diseases Master Gardeners News Earthworms Cause Rough Lawns Prune and Fertilize Fruit Trees To Do s For February 6 Beekeepers News 6 A Note From Dennis HORTICULTURE February Plant of The Month Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) Suggested planting rate: ten bulbs per 1 / ft sq. Planting Location: Sun - partial shade Height: 4-6" Blooms: February Bulb size: 6+ cm bulbs USDA zone: 4-6 Notes: Small, white pendulous blooms with long, slender petals that drape delicately over the perianth. Blooms early like crocus and is very hardy. Excellent for naturalizing under trees and in the grass, as they multiply rapidly once established and like moist, almost heavy soil. Wheelbarrow Series Schedule 7 Recipe Of The Month 8 Plant of the Month Hellebores Recipe Of The Month 10 Follow Us at Washington County Horticulture 9

2 Time To Control Fruit Diseases Winter believe it or not is a mixture to apply to the apple twigs tree or on the ground. good time to prepare fruiting crops and branches just as the buds begin Prune out black knot disease for the season ahead. It has been to swell next month. swellings from plum trees. too cold for most of the winter for Obtain a scab Obtain brown rot and many of us to feel like braving the fungicide with ingredients such as man- ingredients such as scab fungicides with outdoors to any activities that aren t cozeb, captan, myclobutanil, or thiophanclobutanil. Read and sulfur, captan, or my- absolutely essential, but on the next warm day it is very important for us ate-methyl so that understand the chemical labels. to get some work done to insure a sprays can be applied nice fruity harvest this summer. as green foliage Grapes- The diseases Many fruit diseases can be partially (green tips) is just of concern in early controlled by being vigilant with emerging and repeated periodically anthracnose, cane and Black Rot On Grape spring are black rot, cleanup and fungicidal sprays at proper times. Also, remember pruning should take place in late February months. mildew. throughout the spring leaf spot, and downy on fruiting trees. Below is a list of Carefully read fungicide labels before Prune the grape canopy to allow making spray applications. fruit crops along with diseases of good sunlight penetration and air Stone fruits-the diseases of concern movement, as well as to maximize concern and some in early fruit production. things to do to spring Prune out any diseased, dead, or help you have a are cankered vines. successful harvest. peach Remove and destroy all of last Apples-The diseases of concern plum leaf curl, year's fruit mummies hanging on the vine and lying on the ground. in early spring are black Apply lime-sulfur sprays to the scab, cedar rust, knot, dormant vines just as buds begin to and fire blight. and swell to prevent anthracnose. eventually If you are ordering nursery Obtain fungicides with ingredients such as captan, mancozeb, my- brown stock, plan on Fireblight on Apple rot and clobutanil, or thiophanate-methyl to growing diseaseresistant apples. Nursery catalogs will leaf spot management. scab. be used for black rot and cane and indicate varieties that are scabresistant. sprays now to prevent peach leaf Apply fixed copper or Bordeaux Be prepared to apply fungicides as the first green leaves are beginning to curl. In some parts of the state, it Prune out old fire blight cankers appear on the vines and to repeat the may be already too late because of now, while it is still cold, so new infections won't occur. called for on the pesticide label. applications throughout the spring as warm weather, buds may have begun to swell and leaf curl infections may Prune also to thin the tree canopy to allow good air movement and berry disease of most concern in the Brambles- The raspberry and black- have just begun. Prune to thin the tree canopy to sunlight penetration. spring are anthracnose and orange allow good air movement and sunlight penetration. Remove and destroy fruit mummies left on the tree from last sea- Prune out dead and winter- rust. Prune out any diseased or cankered twigs and branches from the son. injured canes. Remove nearby cedar trees, Apply lime-sulfur fungicide to trees. source of rust diseases, if possible. the canes in early spring just as the Remove and destroy last year's Obtain fixed copper or Bordeaux buds begin to swell, but before green mummified fruit still hanging in the tissue emerges.

3 Be prepared to remove and destroy orange-rust infected blackberries and black raspberries. These plants will appear abnormally whitish and spindly in early spring as they emerge from the ground. If orange rust is present in the Brown Rot On Peach neighborhood, remove and destroy wild blackberries growing in nearby fields and fencerows, if feasible. If, because of rainy weather last year, plants died from root rot disease, improve drainage in the garden or grow brambles on raised beds. Time To Control Fruit Diseases Strawberries- The diseases of most concern in spring will be fruit rot diseases. Apply straw mulch to the beds between the rows and under the canopy so that fruits will not have to touch the ground. Provide adequate spacing of the strawberry plants to provide good sunlight penetration and air movement to help reduce gray mold fruit rot. Hand remove dead leaves and stems from the strawberry bed to reduce the presence of the gray mold fungus. If sprays, such as captan, are to be used to prevent fruit rot, the sprays need to be applied to the strawberry flowers in early spring. Blueberries- The diseases of most concern will be twig blights and cankers. Prevent twig canker diseases by avoiding stressful growing conditions. Mulch blueberries with organic matter, such as wood chips, and adjust the soil ph if necessary to provide favorable growing conditions. Prune out dead and dying twigs and branches from the blueberry plants. If, because of wet weather, blueberries are declining and dying due to root rot disease, improve garden soil drainage or grow blueberries on raised beds. Washington County Master Gardener Association News And Events February 18, Meet at the Opera House Board Room off of Main Street at 6:00 PM. We will have soup pot luck. Joe Rogers will be presenting the Missouri Botanical Garden. March-Date to be determined, however we will make hypertuffa planters to sell at the Green Festival. April-Date to be determined, however we will be getting organized for the Green Festival. Want To Become A Master Gardener? Contact The Washington County Extension Office For Details New Classes Start Fall 2016

4 Earthworms Can Cause A Rough Lawn Earthworms, particularly night crawlers, can be abundant in moist soils that contain moderate, or greater, amounts of organic matter. Worms take in and process soil and organic matter, then deposit the remnants (castings) during nocturnal surface visits. The castings dry into crumbles, leaving a rough, uneven soil surface. Earthworms are a large component of a mole s diet, so their presence can result in increased tunneling by these small mammals. Earthworm Activity and Its Benefits No pesticides are registered for earthworm control because of their generally beneficial contributions to soil health. These creatures break down accumulated thatch, pull organic matter into the soil, and dig tunnels that allow increased aeration and water penetration. They also mix large amounts of soil into the thatch layer. This helps to increase microbial activity and enhances growth of turf grass. Earthworm activity depends directly on soil moisture and temperature. They become active when soil thaws in spring and move deeper as the soil warms and dries. Management Options There are few options to reduce earthworm activity or to mitigate surface disturbance. A roller may be used to flatten castings. Some golf course managers top-dress with sand in areas where earthworms pose chronic problems. The thought is that this abrasive material will irritate the soft outer covering of earthworms and force them to relocate to sites where their activity is less objectionable. By Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

5 Prune and Fertilize Fruit Trees Now is the right time to prune most fruit trees. Apples, plums, pears, cherries and just about any other tree fruit you can think of need a little help now before they actively start pushing out new growth (wait and prune peaches after flowering) Pruning is a necessary process that will increase your yields, decrease insect and disease problems, and give you a healthy tree in the process. A good cut healing nicely. Notice the branch collar growing over the wound. When pruning fruit trees always make cuts flush to the branch collar, this is the raised area with a few wrinkles at the base of each branch or limb. It is important that you don t leave a stub or cut the limb flush with the trunk, meaning don t cut the branch collar off. If you leave a stub it will have to rot and fall off before the collar can grow over and seal off the wound. If you Prune out fire blight cankers. cut flush to the trunk it may never properly heal and you will invite insect and disease problems. Pruning is necessarily to remove damaged branches. Thin out the tree especially in the middle where most insects and disease problems arise. This is a moist stagnant area with little air flow. By thinning the middle of your tree you will increase the air flow thus decrease insect and disease problems. Branches that are crossing or touching should also be removed. By crossing I mean they are close enough that in a few years they will be rubbing or touching. Many times branches will hang lower when the fruit load is high and will cause wounds or bent areas on the stems. If you think a limb will be a problem with a large fruit load then remove it. Tent Caterpillar Eggs Any dried mummy fruit still hanging on the tree should be removed and composted or discarded. Mummies account for the largest insect and disease inoculums on most fruit trees. If you see any canker spots from fire blight cut the limb back down into healthy wood, but do it soon because fire blight will be active starting in mid March. If you are worried about spreading fire blight further then dip your pruning equipment in a 10% bleach solution each time you make a cut. Look for insect eggs while pruning your trees. The most prevalent will be tent caterpillar. Their eggs look like raised tar spots on the stem. The egg mass is really hard and it s easier to prune it out than to try and scrape them off. If you want you can spray your fruit trees with dormant oil labeled for fruit trees, this will smother many of the insect eggs. Be sure to read the label and cover the branches and limbs completely. If your fruit trees haven t grown as you wish or don t seem like they are healthy you should have a soil test done. As a general rule most fruit trees need ¼ pound or ¾ pound per tree per year of age broadcast under the tree. Be sure to take it out to at least the drip line where the feeder roots are. If you maintain a lawn fertilizer program your fruit trees probably don t need fertilizing. Over fertilizing can be worse than under fertilizing because it will cause a lot of soft succulent growth, fewer flowers, and increased instance for insect and disease problems. Remove fruit mummies!

6 To Do s For February Trees And Shrubs If you are growing your own February is a good time to vegetable transplants in window seals prune trees and shrubs. Of course or under lights remember as a general rule it takes about six weeks for depending on bloom time. a good sized transplant to grow. One note of caution on pruning, if the tree or shrub is an This means you can start ornamental and blooms in the spring broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, and other don t prune it until after it blooms. Fruit trees should be pruned now cool season garden plants in mid through the beginning of March. February. These will be planted in the garden in late March. If you aren t sure what your soil needs it is always a good idea to Again, take a soil sample now have a soil test done. It only costs for your vegetable garden. This will $7.00 and it will save you time and keep your fertilizer bill down and money in the long run. your plants healthy. Now is also a good time to If you haven t ordered your force branches of flowering trees and vegetable seeds yet go ahead and do shrubs indoors. Several varieties it so you will get them in plenty of such as flowering quince, dogwood, time for spring. forsythia, star magnolia, crabapple, Lawn flowering cherry, and pussy willow If your lawn needs lime it can are all good candidates for forcing. be applied now or anytime. You Vegetables don t need lime on a lawn unless the ph is below 6.0. Lincoln Trail Beekeeper s Association News and Events The beekeepers meet the first Monday of each Month at 6:15 PM at the Washington County Extension Office. If you would like to join, come to a meeting, dues are $ Each meeting has a pot luck so bring a dish! A Note From Dennis Don t apply nitrogen now. Wait until October, November, or December. Nitrogen applications in the spring will force your grass to grow succulently and quickly causing more frequent mowing and weak shallow rooted turf which will be more susceptible to drought. Apply phosphorus and potassium anytime of the year as your soil test indicates. Mid February and March are the times to sow new lawns or over seed old ones. September is the best time but now is the second best. Pre-emergent control herbicides can be applied in late February and March. This will help control annual weeds. A second application may be needed in late May or June for good crabgrass control. Don t apply pre-emergent herbicides if you sowed or plan to sow grass seed this spring. So far so good with the winter weather! Granted we had a big snow, but it melted quickly and we had no subzero weather so our plants are still in good shape. I have stated here several times that I don t like winter, however so far this one has been easier for me..being very busy helps! Tori and Gabby have not had such a good winter, they have had more illnesses this year than the last five combined.i guess you have to catch up on all those bugs sooner or later to strengthen your immune system. Luckily they have parents with good benefits such as banked sick days so we can alternate who stays home with them. I just don t know how single parents do it! If you haven t had time to check out the new Wheelbarrow Series the class listing is enclosed and I hope to see you soon!

7 2016 Gardener s Wheelbarrow Series Schedule You Still Have Time To Sign Up!!! January 26th Morning Great Annuals For Cutting, From Seed $5.00 Evening Great Annuals For Cutting, From Seed $5.00 February 9th Morning Straw Bale Gardening Free!!! Evening Straw Gale Gardening Free!!! February 23rd Morning Growing Honeyberry In Kentucky $20.00 Evening Growing Honeyberry In Kentucky $20.00 March 8th Morning Dennis Favorite Summer Vegetable Varieties $10.00 Evening Dennis Favorite Summer Vegetable Varieties $10.00 March 22nd Morning Dennis Perennial Picks $20.00 Evening Dennis Perennial Picks $20.00 April 5th Morning Fabulous Phlox $20.00 Evening Fabulous Phlox $20.00 April 12th Morning The Summer Garden Headliner, Hardy Hibiscus $20.00 Evening The Summer Garden Headliner, Hardy Hibiscus $20.00 April 26th Morning Growing Magnificent Melons In Kentucky Free!!! Evening Growing Magnificent Melons In Kentucky Free!!! May 10th Morning Culinary Herbs For The Epicurean $10.00 Evening Culinary Herbs For The Epicurean $10.00 May 24th Morning Fabulous Ferns For Indoors And Out Free!!! Evening Fabulous Ferns For Indoors And Out Free!!! June 7th Morning Hens And Chicks Free!!! Evening Hens And Chicks Free!!! June 21st Morning Cold Hardy Bamboo Free!!! Evening Cold Hardy Bamboo Free!!! August 16th Morning Fall Vegetable Production Free!!! Evening Fall Vegetable Production Free!!! August 30th Morning Pollinator Friendly Gardening Free!!! Evening Pollinator Friendly Gardening Free!!! September 13th Morning Delightful Daylilies $15.00 Evening Delightful Daylilies $15.00 September 27th Morning Peonies The Queens Of Spring $25.00 Evening Peonies The Queens Of Spring $25.00 October 11th Morning Alternative Alliums $10.00 Evening Alternative Alliums $10.00 October 25th Morning Garden Tool Maintenance And Storage Free!!! Evening Garden Tool Maintenance And Storage Free!!! Basic Registration For Any and All Classes $5.00 x Total From Above Total

8 Washington County Cooperative Extension Service 211 Progress Road Springfield KY, Office Fax We Are On The Web!!! washington.ca.uky.edu Facebook at: County-Horticulture/ February Recipe Of The Month Glazed Butternut February Squash Recipe With of The Turnips Month and Carrots Ingredients Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 2. Cut vegetables into ½-inch pieces. 3. Coat a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. 4. Combine the first 6 ingredients. 5. Bake for 10 minutes. 6. Stir in syrup and bake an additional 20 minutes. 1½ cups cubed butternut squash 1½ cups sliced carrots 1½ cups cubed peeled turnips 4 teaspoons oil ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Cooking spray 2 tablespoons maple syrup