Mason County Newsletter Cooperative Extension Service Mason County 800 U.S Highway 68 Maysville, KY 41056 (606) 564-6808 Fax: (606) 564-9226 extension.ca.uky.edu Letter from the Horticulture agent: Hello Gardeners, As it is finally spring we can start getting into our gardens or at least start planning for our summer garden. We are excited to announce that Austin Howard will be the Horticulture/4H staff assistant, his start date is April 2nd. As it starts to warm up keep an eye out for insects for early detection and control. Termites are mainly discovered in early spring. Inside this issue: Transplanting....2 April tips.3 Class flyers...4 Class flyer & events.5 Broccoli pizza recipe... 6
Upcoming Horticulture Events April 9th, 6:00: Master Gardener Association Meeting April 9th, 7:00: Flower Shrubs April 12th, 7:00: Buffalo Trace Beekeeper Association Meeting, Speaker: Dewhite Wells, How to split hives. April 16th, 5:30: The Chicken Adventure (for kids) at the MC public library April 19th, 5:00-6:00: Strawberry patch walk, Lewis Co April 23rd, 5:00-7:00: Earth Day (for kids) at the MC public library May 5th, 10:00-12:00: Learn how to make candles from bees wax, Free class (hands-on) all to sign-up, limited space. May 9th, 1:00: Basic Flower Arrangement class * All Events will be held at the Mason County Extension Office, unless otherwise noted.
April Timely Tips Lawns Flowers Sharpen: tools and mower blades. Trim back: perennials and ornamentals Prevent crabgrass: apply preventer toward the middle of the month. Bare Spots: and thing areas should be over seeded. Annual grassy weeds: Can be controlled by applying pre-herbicides during March-April. Remove flower stalks : from bulbs and apply fertilizer. Leave foliage to die back. The leaves provide food for next years flowers. Do not mulch: beds too early as mulch can hold cold temperatures in the soil. For color: plant pansies in containers. Nitrogen: can be applied if needed. Vegetables Fruit Seeds started indoors: should have short periods of time outside to start the hardening process so they are ready for the garden. Start by putting them in a shady area. Garden Soil: should not be worked when wet. Plant potatoes: you still have time for lettuce, peas and onions Prune fruit trees in Feb-March, Peach trees are sensitive and should wait. Plan a spray schedule: great publication can be found through the Extension office telling what and when to spray. It is not only important to spray or bag your fruit such as apples but the timing is sensitive as well.
Successfully transplanting vegetables Source: Rick Durham, extension home horticulture specialist With springtime finally here, we turn our attention to the vegetable garden. Getting your transplants up and growing will give you some delicious homegrown produce in the months to come. Transplanting gives a plant more space to develop, but it will temporarily stop growth, not stimulate it. Therefore, for successful transplanting, try to interrupt plant growth as little as possible. Whether you grow your own transplants or purchase them, these eight steps can ensure successful transplanting into the garden. Transplant on a shady day in late afternoon or in early evening to prevent wilting. Ensure transplants are well watered and their than tugging on the plants. Plants growing in peat pots may be planted with the pot intact. Dig a hole large enough to hold the roots. Set the plants to the lowest leaf at recommended spacings. Press soil firmly around the roots. Pour 1 cup of a solution of soluble plant food and water mixed according to the label s directions. Put more soil around each plant, but leave a slight depression for water to collect. Break off any exposed parts of peat pots so that they will not act as wicks and pull water out of the soil. Shade the plants for a few days after transplanting on a very hot day by putting newspapers or cardboard on their south sides or cover them with a woven cotton fabric such as cheese cloth. Water the plants every 2-3 days during the next week. roots are thoroughly damp an hour or two before setting them in the garden. Handle the plants carefully. Avoid disturbing the roots. Try removing plants from their containers by knocking them out in an inverted position rather
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