Hello Horticulturalists!
Needless to say, the weather this year has been interesting. Hopefully, we will have a dryer and cooler fall. Be sure to take the time to clean out the debris from your garden and landscape, including old fruit. We had a lot of disease issues this growing season and removing that debris will decrease the likelihood of problems next year.
H O R T I C U L T U R E
Autumn has arrived in Kentucky, and now is one of the best times to plant new trees. Planting during cooler weather allows the trees to focus on good root development.
When trees and shrubs are moved from one growing site to another, they endure stress that results in poor root establishment. This stress can come from difference sources, such as improper planting methods, poor planting material or not taking care of the tree after planting (such as not watering during dry periods). This can result in a condition known as “transplant shock”. Plants that suffer from transplant shock may exhibit decline, dieback, reduced growth, and potentially death. In addition, plants experiencing transplant shock are more susceptible to secondary disease issues.
Woody plants can take up to five years to establish and recover from the stress of being relocated (planted).
For more information on transplant shock and related disease problems, including symptoms, causes, and prevention, review the publication from the University of Kentucky Plant Pathology Department, Transplant Shock: Disease or Cultural Problem? http://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/ppfs-or-w-19.pdf
Pay Dirt is available by email! If you wish to receive this newsletter in email format, please email me at amanda.sears@uky.edu. In the subject line, put the word newsletter and your name. We will not share your email address with any outside groups. If you wish to continue receiving this newsletter by regular mail, you don’t need to do anything.
Amanda Sears County Extension Agent for Horticulture
amanda.sears@uky.edu https://madison.ca.uky.edu/content/horticulture
When we see a problem in our home and garden, our first inclination is how do I fix this? But the better question to ask ourselves is why is it there? By thinking about the root cause of the problem, often we can prevent it from happening again in the future.
For example, if an insect is in a place it really should not be, try to figure out why it is there in the first place.
How did this insect get in the house? Could it have come in under a door or in with something I brought from outside such as firewood?
Is it coming inside because the weather outside is turning cooler? Lady bugs and stink bugs make their way in doors this time of year because they are think our houses look like rock outcroppings, a great place for them to overwinter.
Is there something here it wants? Is it attracted to something inside, like fruit on the counter or grains in your pantry? Pantry pests such as grain moths can become a problem in kitchens when your stored grains and cereals become infested.
Another example of a problem you might encounter is nuisance wildlife.
What is this animal attracted to? Is it hungry? Chipmunks are very common around birdfeeders. Controlling the amount of seed that falls to the ground can help with control of these animals.
Has the environment somehow changed to make things more attractive for this animal? For example, is a porch light causing the area to be darker at night.
Is there a place that is attractive for it to live? Is there easy access under your deck or an old groundhog den nearby? These can be attractive places for
skunks to take up residence.
You can also look at diseases in our lawn, garden and landscape the same way.
If you had blossom end rot on your tomatoes, why might the spot have shown up? We have plenty of calcium in our soils so this problem is often associated with uneven watering.
What is causing the spots on the leaves of my tree? Have we had strange weather patterns this year? If I look at the leaves, do I see insect damage? Leaf galls, which are irregular plant growths caused by insects have been bad this year, but in most cases are not a serious problem.
Why are some areas of my landscape showing disease problems and not others? Am I doing anything different in that area? Does that area not drain as well? Is there a down spout in the area contributing the amount of moisture in the soil?
By changing the way we look at problems, we can help prevent them in the future. By being proactive, we do not have to reach for pesticides as often.
Sealing entry points is a great way to keep insects from entering the home.
If chipmunks are a problem, check your birdfeeders to make sure there are not a lot seeds on the ground.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers
• Soil Testing • Insect Identification • Plant Disease Diagnosis • Plant Identification
For Horticulture questions, please contact me at 859-623-4072, or e-mail, amanda.sears@uky.edu. You may also stop by and visit me at the Madison County Extension Center.
Farm City Banquet
Dr. Deborah Reed, Professor in the UK College Of Nursing and UK Extension’s Agriculture Nurse, as well as a member of a Kentucky farm family, will be the speaker at this year’s Farm City Banquet which will be held on Monday, November 5th, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service Office. Dr. Reed’s talk is entitled, “In These Times…” and it will focus on managing during stressful times whether you are on the farm or in the city.
Tickets are $10 each and are on sale now. You must purchase your ticket before the event, tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the Madison County Cooperative Extension Office located at 230 Duncannon Lane in Richmond, Kentucky.
Get your tickets early and join us for this annual community event! For more information call 859-623-4072.
Berea Farmers’ Market: Open on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm through the end of October. In November, they will move to an indoor location. The outdoor market is located at 416 Chestnut Street in Berea, across from Peoples Bank. For more information check their Facebook page or website: www.bereafarmersmarket.org. They also offer a weekly newsletter via email.
Harvest 859 Farmers’ Market: This market is now setting up with the Madison County Farmer’s Market. See below for time and location. For more information, check their Facebook page. Madison County Farmers’ Market: The Madison County Farmers Market will be set up in the Richmond Lowes parking area across from White Castle on Saturdays now through October 27 from 8 AM to 12 noon. To keep up-to- date on potential weather closures and market produce availability, check the MCFM Facebook or their website at http:// www.madisonkyfarmersmarket.com/.
If you are interested in learning to identify trees, an easy one to start with the sassafrass. Most trees have one shape of leaf. Leaves on the sassafrass can be three different shapes all on the same tree, as seen on the seedling in the picture. One leaf does not have lobes, one has one lobe (looks like a mitten), and then the third has two lobes (trident shaped).
The University of Kentucky Department of Forestry has information and videos to help you learn how to identify leaves.
https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/tree-101 https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/files/for_1_sample.pdf
*The events below will be held at the Madison County Extension Office, 230 Duncannon Lane, Richmond.*
Gardeners of Madison County, Monday, October 15th 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Everyone is welcome and further information can be obtained by calling or texting Jerry Cook at 859-200-7884.
Madison County Beekeeper’s Association Monday, October 22nd 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Everyone is welcome! Potluck begins at 6:00 pm. For more information call Kent at 859-623-3576, or Paul at 859-582-6172.
October 15 to the end of November (Thanksgiving) is a good time to plant spring flowering bulbs. There are a lot of different spring flowers to choose from including dwarf iris, crocus, daffodil (I call them jonquil), hyacinth, and tulips.
Select quality bulbs. Keep them in a cool, dry, dark place until you are able to plant them. Choose an area to plant your bulbs that is sunny and well drained. If your soil is a heavy clay, you may need to amend the area with compost, peat moss or other organic matter. Another option would be to make a raised bed in the area.
When planting, dig a hole four times the height of the bulb. Place the bulb in the hole, pointed end up. Then fill in the hole. After planting, water the area with a gentle stream of water.
Whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, you can Plate It Up with delicious recipes that put a new twist on your favorite Kentucky Proud foods. Visit http:// fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/piukp-recipes to find all the Plate It Up recipes using Kentucky Proud products.