Giving the Garden a Cold Shoulder

Giving the Garden a Cold Shoulder….

Mother Nature is going to give us all the cold shoulder this evening!  It may seem to be hitting us a little early, but according to UK’s weather service, by October 18^th we have a 50% chance of a frost or freeze. We have been experiencing a few low morning temperatures, but it looks as though Jack Frost has made his first date with Jefferson County for the fall. So, just what does that mean for our gardens?

First, harvest all tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, etc. Unripe tomatoes can be picked and placed on the counter until ripe or wrapped in newspaper to be stored for a short time (only store tomatoes that are blemish and disease free). Cole crops, such as kale or broccoli, can not only handle a frost, but may taste better if harvested afterward. 

Garden cleanup is essential after all the crops have been harvested. Disease and insect control starts with disposal of spent plant material including discarded fruit. This is a great time to test your garden soil. If the pH needs to be adjusted (lime to raise it, sulfur to lower it), you have time to get the results and then apply any amendments before spring planting.

Some fall reminders include:

*You can still plant spring bulbs through mid-December, if necessary. 

*It’s getting a little late for transplanting peonies.

*Run over any fallen leaves with your mulching mower before putting them on your compost pile. Don’t forget to turn your compost pile occasionally during winter.

*ALL HOUSEPLANTS SHOULD ALREADY BE INDOORS!!! Remember that most houseplants are from tropical regions, there is nothing tropical about a frozen African violet or peace lily!

*Some temporary insect invaders may be seen indoors, but most of these are looking for warmth and do not want to live on you or your home.

*Do not store firewood up against the house to avoid wood eating insects (keep off the ground if possible). 

Along with the cool temperatures we have beautiful fall days to look forward to. Trees haven’t reached their peak colors yet and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. So sit back with a warm cup of apple cider, light a fire (or turn on a virtual one on TV) and enjoy our Kentucky fall weather!

More on composting:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ho/ho75/ho75.pdf

Information concerning firewood and insects:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef626.pdf

Pest proofing your home:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef641.pdf

Name This Bug!

 Name This Bug!

 We recently received this question by email:

    " I think my tree has a problem with pine beetles, can you help me?"

We identify insects (and diseases) that plague plants in and around the home. Just remember that we need whole insects!  Bits and pieces or insects stuck on tape are notoriously difficult to ID. If you have the insects, collect several (whole, not smashed) and place in a jar with alcohol. Bring them to our office for identification. We are located in the Urban Government Building and our office is open 8am to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday.  If we cannot ID them here, we can send them on to the entomology lab at UK.

Getting back to our answer to the question.....

 

What variety of pine do you have?

Have you seen an insect? If so where are you seeing the insects?

Are there holes in the bark/trunk?

Can you see what looks like sawdust at the soil level of the trunk?

Is there sap on the branches, bark or trunk?

Are the needles dropping off or appear wilted?

This is a link to some of the problems that pines have in our area.

Southern Pine Beetle:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef443.pdf

Pine Borers:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef443.pdf

Pine sawflies:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef410.pdf

Diseases of Pines:

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ppa/ppa16/ppa16.pdf

We cannot come out on site. A certified arborist can evaluate the tree(s)and what you are observing. Valuable trees in our landscapes may need on site evaluation as soil, structures, slope and other factors in the environment may play a part in the health of these plants.  

You have questions?  We have answers!

There's a New Bug in Town!

There’s a New Bug in Town!

We have been busy answering questions about the stink bug that is starting to plague homeowners.

A relatively new pest invader to our area, it is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB).  They were introduced to North America in the late 90’s from Asia and showed up here in Louisville in 2010/2011. 

For home owners they are considered primarily a nuisance.  Like the Asian Lady Beetle, they are attracted to our homes and other structures to find a place to overwinter.  They do not breed in our

homes, do not carry disease and do not bite(or feed)on humans.  

Excluding them from your home is the best control. Pest proofing includes sealing entry ways from cracks around windows, doors, pipes, chimneys, etc.  Once indoors insecticides are not advised.  Chemicals will kill the insects present but will not prevent the BMSB from re-entering

the area.    Try zapping them up with a vacuum cleaner to avoid most of their smell (they smell like strong cilantro) and the stain they may leave behind.   

The BMSB is an economic problem to farmers as they damage crops.  Our entomologists tell us

they feed on the sap of many different plants including fruits, vegetables, field crops and ornamental  landscape plants.  

When the weather warms in spring the BMSB will leave the protected areas where they have overwintered.

For additional information on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and pest proofing your home check out the two publications below!

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug:

http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/BMSB/welcome.html

How to Pest Proof Your Home

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/entfactpdf/ef641.pdf

Mums the Word

Mums the Word….

Looking for a fall garden project that can repay you in flowers until a heavy frost?  A hard working perennial that is easy to care for?  Consider the garden chrysanthemum.  An entire palate of colors are now available just pick the size and shape you desire!  Traditionally fall “mums” are available in 6 inch pots or larger and covered in buds. (Small mums without blooms are sold in the spring usually in 3 to 4 inch pots.)  Once they are established in a landscape they are repeat performers that require little extra care.

They can be left in pots on a porch or deck as long as they are watered, but be sure to plant them before a heavy frost.  Choose a sunny well drained spot for planting your mums.  Unless they go through severe stress their blooms will not die due to transplant shock.  A layer of mulch applied around the plants can prevent root damage due to heaving of the soil.  Heaving is due to the freezing and thawing that occurs during a Kentucky winter.  Mulch will insulate the roots and allow them to establish through cold weather.  After the blooms and foliage has died back in late fall simply prune the plants at soil level.  Rake the mulch over the crowns or tops of the mums to protect them. 

Next spring your chrysanthemums will start to grow from the root system.  A slow release fertilizer for blooming plants is the only special care other than proper watering.  In early summer the growing tips can be cut back to encourage branching and more blooms.  This works well with mums that are on the edges of garden beds as compact plants with a lot of color bring dimension to the landscape especially at the end of the growing season.  Chrysanthemums set bloom in the fall as a response to changing light levels. That means the shorter days of fall trigger the bloom sequence (darkness for over 11 to 12 hours is required).  Greenhouses that produce florist mums (not hardy enough for a KY winter) can force mums to set bud and bloom year round by controlling the plants’ exposure to light and darkness.

Selection can be the hardest part in choosing a type of chrysanthemum!  Petals, bloom shapes and plant height can vary dramatically.  There are flowers that resemble daisies with bright yellow centers, or fancy petals shaped like spoons or delicate long legged spiders.  Blooms may be huge ball shaped pompoms on longer stems.  Then there are short stocky cushion mums that bloom earlier in clusters.

           

Choose healthy plants that are free of leaf spots and insects.  Make sure they are labeled as hardy for climate zone 6.  If you want to select plants of one specific color, at least one bloom should be open for comparison!  Once you have made a choice, take home and enjoy as they should provide your home with texture and color for years to come!

For specific info on mum varieties:

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horticulture/gardenflowers/mumsdaisies.pdf