Iowa State University Extension and Outreach November/December 2015 The Potting Shed Official Jones County Master Gardeners Newsletter Coordinators Column Just a friendly reminder to be an active Master Gardener you must record at least 10 educational hours and 20 volunteer hours for 2015. Please let me know if you need assistance record- ing your hours. Thanks to everyone’s contributions, assistance and/or participation with the Fall and Winter Arrangement workshops. Both a HUGE success!! I hope you have a chance to see our display at the LCC in Anamosa. 2016 Calendar of Events is coming soon. Kim Master Gardener Late Fall Activities Fall Arrangement Workshop—November 1st, 2015 2015 Interns Complete Training MaryKay Ackermann Vickie Bone Mary Burrack Cheryl Caspers Rusty Caspers Pam Jacobs * Janel Martersen Kayla Pins Marty Scharff Winter Holiday Arrangement— December 6th, 2015
Transcript
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
November/December 2015
The Potting Shed
Official Jones County Master Gardeners Newsletter
Coordinators
Column
Just a friendly
reminder to be an
active Master Gardener
you must record at
least 10 educational
hours and 20 volunteer
hours for 2015. Please
let me know if you
need assistance record-
ing your hours.
Thanks to everyone’s
contributions, assistance
and/or participation
with the Fall and
Winter Arrangement
workshops. Both a
HUGE success!! I hope
you have a chance to
see our display at the
LCC in Anamosa.
2016 Calendar of
Events is coming soon.
Kim
Master Gardener Late Fall Activities
Fall Arrangement Workshop—November 1st, 2015
2015 Interns
Complete Training
MaryKay Ackermann
Vickie Bone
Mary Burrack
Cheryl Caspers
Rusty Caspers
Pam Jacobs *
Janel Martersen
Kayla Pins
Marty Scharff
Winter Holiday Arrangement—
December 6th, 2015
Christmas City Celebration—Wyoming
Mary Burrack, Misty Farr, MaryKay Ackermann and
Kim Miller set up on Friday, December 4th 2015
Assembling Master Gardener Display
at the Calkins Barn using tomato
cages, grape vines, red dogwood and
dried plant materials
Tree
Walk
Lawrence
Community Center—
Anamosa
December 11/12/13
DISPLAYS DISPLAYS
PromotingPromoting
Master Gardeners Master Gardeners
in Jones Countyin Jones County
Fences Serve as Successful Barriers to Slow Snow
Control drifts with advance preparation and proper placement BY GREG BRENNEMAN
AMES, Iowa – Even though the weather has been unseasonably mild, winter is in the air and snow is
inevitable. Rural landowners can be better prepared to deal with drifting snow if they erect snow fences,
according to Greg Brenneman, agricultural and biosystems engineering specialist with Iowa State Uni-
versity Extension and Outreach.
These barriers, either constructed from wood or plastic, prevent snow from blowing across farm fields
and blocking streets or driveways. Snow evaporates with the wind so “you don’t have to store all the
snow in the county, but fences can help you plan for the snow to come,” Brenneman said.
Some snow fences are better than others. “Research shows that the best snow fences are half solid and
half open,” he said. “Fifty percent porous snow fences let blizzards blow through the slats, but still slow
the wind.” These fences force drifts to form downwind.
In the past, wooden picket fences were often used for snow fences. But Brenneman said plastic snow
fences are preferred today because they cost less and are lighter weight. However, fencing materials dif-
fer in quality and plastic fences designed as safety fences are not as heavy duty as those specifically de-
signed as snow fences.
Snow fences must be properly placed in order to prevent more problems, he said. If the distance be-
tween the fence and road to be protected is less than 30 times the fence height, then the snow drift may
reach the road.
“That can make a drift problem worse, instead of eliminating it,” he said. For best results, he advises
landowners to keep 4-foot snow fences at least 80 feet, and preferably 120 feet, from a road or driveway.
Brenneman provides the following tips for proper snow fence installation: Locate the fence perpendicu-
lar to the prevailing wind direction, make it as long as possible, leave a bottom gap of 6 inches, and en-
sure that steel posts are on 8-foot centers. He also recommends that end posts be braced with a steel
post driven into the ground at an angle and securely wired to the fence. Plastic fencing materials should
be sandwiched between two wood laths and wired tightly to the steel post at the center and near the top
and bottom.
Aside from fences, a long-term solution to stop drifting snow is to build up roads and driveways so snow
blows across them. “By elevating driveways above the surrounding terrain, wind will sweep snow off the
roadway. Usually the roadway must be 1-2 feet higher than the nearby landscape to make this effec-
tive,” he said.
Living snow fences of evergreens and shrubs can be planted as permanent snow fences. A good rule of
thumb for living snow fences in Iowa, according to Brenneman, is to allow 100-150 feet for trapping
snow between the tree planting and the area to be protected.
Other techniques to keep roadways clear are to mow down grass and weeds alongside them so snow
doesn’t accumulate and leave cornstalk stubble undisturbed to trap snow in fields.
AMES, Iowa – The poinsettia is one of the most popular potted flowers in the United States.
These colorful plants can be found in nearly every household or business during the December
holiday season. However, taking care of this festive flower can sometimes be tricky.
Why is my poinsettia dropping some of its leaves?
The leaf drop is likely due to some type of environmental stress. Improper watering is the most
common reason for leaf drop on the poinsettia. Over-watering will cause the lower leaves to turn yellow and drop.
Plants that are allowed to get too dry will wilt and also drop leaves.
The water needs of a poinsettia can be determined with your finger. Check the potting soil daily. When the soil be-
comes dry to the touch, water the plant until water begins to flow out of the bottom of the pot.
The pots of most poinsettias are set inside decorative pot covers. When watering these plants, carefully remove the
poinsettia from the pot covering, water the plant in the sink, then drop the poinsettia back into its pot cover.
Also, make sure the poinsettia is not located near a heat source or cold draft. Warm, dry air blowing across the plant
from a furnace register or rapid temperature fluctuations, such as near a door, can also cause leaf drop.
My poinsettia suddenly wilted and died. Why?
The sudden death of the poinsettia was likely due to a root rot. Pythium and Rhizoctonia root rots typically occur when
plants are watered too frequently and the potting soil is kept saturated. Allow the surface of the potting soil to dry to
the touch before watering poinsettias. Also, don’t allow the poinsettia pots to sit in water. Discard excess water which
drains into pot coverings or saucers.
Small, white insects flutter about my poinsettia when I water the plant. What are they and how do I control them?
The small, white insects are likely whiteflies. Whiteflies are common insect pests of poinsettia, hibiscus, chrysanthe-
mum and a number of other indoor plants. They are most often noticed when watering or handling a plant. When dis-
turbed, whiteflies flutter about the plant for a short time before returning to the plant.
Whitefly adults are small, white, moth-like insects. Female adults lay eggs on the undersides of the plant’s foliage.
After five to seven days, the eggs hatch into small, pale green, immature insects called nymphs. The nymphs crawl a
short distance before settling down to feed for two to three weeks. After feeding for two to three weeks, the nymphs
progress to a nonfeeding stage and then finally to the adult stage.
The nymph and adult stages of whiteflies feed by inserting their short, needle-like beaks into foliage and sucking out
plant sap. Heavy whitefly infestations may cause stunting or yellowing of leaves, leaf drop, and a decline in plant
health.
Whiteflies on poinsettias and other indoor plants are extremely difficult to control. Prevention is the best management strategy. When purchasing plants, carefully check for whiteflies and other insects. Avoid purchasing insect-infested plants. Insecticides are not a good control option as they are not very effective. It’s often best to tolerate the presence of a small infestation of whiteflies on a poinsettia and then promptly discard the plant after the holidays.
Yard and Garden December Article
2016 Garden Calendar - Guests of the Garden Richard Jauron
For many, hosting birds, butterflies, bees, and other guests in the gar-den is one of the most rewarding aspects of gardening. As each month passes you'll find striking, closeup photos of those visitors who can captivate the gardener with their unique personalities. Some guests, however, can be annoying and frustrating. Whether or not we invite garden guests, they will come. Our gardens will be more suc-cessful if we plan ahead for their visits. This year's calendar offers ways to welcome invited guests and hints to deter those who drop by to help themselves. Use the large calendar grid to note planting, emergence, and harvest-ing dates and totals. Track your garden's progress and record your
invited or uninvited garden guests too. Take advantage of timely tips for garden chores to work in your garden. Horticulture resources at Iowa State and County Extension offices are at your finger-tips. Find out who and where they are all located inside. Chances are they are closer than you think! Supply is limited, be sure to pick up enough copies for yourself and for holiday gifts. Gardeners, anyone who enjoys the outdoors and the beauty of nature alike will certainly thank you. The 2016
Garden Calendar is available at the Extension office for $7.00 each.
Garden Tips
Guidelines to Seasonal Chores
Early Winter December
Trees and Shrubs
Gently brush heavy snow from evergreens to prevent breakage. Flowers
•Check stored bulbs or roots of cannas, dahlias, and tuberous begonias and discard any that are discolored or rotting.
Herbs
•Try starting seeds of herbs (such as parsley or basil) for a windowsill garden. Houseplants
•Rotate plants regularly to prevent one-sided growth. •Raise humidity by placing plants on pebble trays. Vegetables
•Order seed of vegetables and flowers for next year’s garden (PM 607). •Make plans for next year’s garden. Be sure to rotate crops to a different location each year (PM 814, PM 819).
