From the Desk of Mikaela Boley There are lots of questions to be answered at this time of year— and hopefully, this issue of In the Garden will cover some of those topics, and bring you up to date on what is happening in Talbot County. As you are thinking about putting the garden to bed, there are some important topics to keep in mind: Last date for fertilizer use is November 15th for Maryland. Homeowners may not apply fertilizer until March of 2017. Hold off on cutting back your shrubs and perennials— perennials are best left until early spring, since they provide much needed habitat and food for wildlife. Shrubs and trees are best pruned during the dormant period (winter). The exception is spring blooming shrubs and trees, which should be left until after their bloom period. Soil amendments and cover crops will do wonders for new plots, bare ground, or vegetable gardens. Leaving bare soil is an opportunity for erosion, so be sure to cover these areas with a temporary cover crop or mulch in the meantime. Go ahead and “leave your leaves”— shredded leaves make great mulch and finely shredded leaves may be kept on lawns to provide some organic material. As long as they do not smother the turf, they are a great addition to the soil. Cheers- Mikaela Boley Talbot County Master Gardener Newsletter Winter 2016 IN THIS ISSUE: 2— Bay-Wise Report 3— Going Bay 4— The Naon’s Lawn 5—Poplar Island 6—Food for Thought 7— Ask Mikaela 8—9 MG Events and Announcements “I went for a walk in the woods and came out Taller than the trees.” - Henry David Thoreau Volume XI, Issue IV TALBOT COUNTY • 28577 MARY’S COURT, SUITE 1 • EASTON, MD 21601 • (410) 822-1244 • FAX Educating People to Help Themselves Local Governments • U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone be- cause of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and expression. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Human Resources Management, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742. IN THE GARDEN Tulip poplar leaf– Liriodendron tulipifera Photo Credit: Mikaela Boley NEWSLETTER
Transcript
From the Desk of Mikaela Boley
There are lots of questions to be answered at this time of year— and hopefully, this issue of In the Garden will cover some of those topics, and bring you up to date on what is happening in Talbot County.
As you are thinking about putting the garden to bed, there are some important topics to keep in mind:
Last date for fertilizer use is November 15th for Maryland. Homeowners may not apply fertilizer until March of 2017.
Hold off on cutting back your shrubs and perennials— perennials are best left until early spring, since they provide much needed habitat and food for wildlife. Shrubs and trees are best pruned during the dormant period (winter). The exception is spring blooming shrubs and trees, which should be left until after their bloom period.
Soil amendments and cover crops will do wonders for new plots, bare ground, or vegetable gardens. Leaving bare soil is an opportunity for erosion, so be sure to cover these areas with a temporary cover crop or mulch in the meantime.
Go ahead and “leave your leaves”— shredded leaves make great mulch and finely shredded leaves may be kept on lawns to provide some organic material. As long as they do not smother the turf, they are a great addition to the soil.
Cheers-
Mikaela Boley
Talbot County Master Gardener Newsletter
Winter 2016
IN THIS ISSUE: 2— Bay-Wise Report 3— Going Batty 4— The Nation’s Lawn 5—Poplar Island 6—Food for Thought 7— Ask Mikaela 8—9 MG Events and Announcements
“I went for a walk in the woods and came out Taller than the trees.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Volume XI, Issue IV
TALBOT COUNTY • 28577 MARY’S COURT, SUITE 1 • EASTON, MD 21601 • (410) 822-1244 • FAX
Educating People to Help Themselves
Local Governments • U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone be-
cause of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender identity and
expression. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Human Resources Management, Office of the Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural
With 2016 winding down, it is time to reflect on a successful season of Bay-Wise. Even though the weather is getting chillier, winter is still a great time for consultations and certifications that didn’t get done during the summer months! In fact, sometimes the best consultations are made when the landscape is a blank canvas, and individu-als have time to plan and prepare to make changes in the spring. Monthly meetings were a great hit, and sending out a huge THANK YOU to our hostesses, as well as a round of applause:
Lisa Marie Ghezzi Dede Hoopes
Marie Davis Pam Keeton
Mikaela Boley Janet Mackey
Pat Jessup We look forward to hosting monthly Bay-Wise meetings again in 2017, starting April. Meetings will take place on the 2nd Tuesdays of the month, from 11am-2pm. We are looking for hostesses and topics pertaining to Bay-Wise subjects. We are also in the process of scheduling another 3-day Bay-Wise Advanced Training for those of you who have not had the opportunity. This training will proceed the Master Gardener Basic Training, which will allow new interns to take part. The trainings will tentatively take place on Saturdays to accommodate those with a working schedule. And another round of applause for your leaders Lisa Marie Ghezzi and Marie Davis! Thanks to these ladies, the Bay-Wise season has been a huge success. -Mikaela Boley
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In honor of National Bat Week (Oct. 24-31st), we’d like to pay special tribute to our favorite flying mammal, and remind humans that bats play an essential role in the ecosystem. Despite being a spooky mainstay of Halloween decoration, bats consume mosquitoes, pollinate flowers, and spread seeds to encourage plant growth— all done while we are sleeping. By keeping your property rich in biodiversity and native plants, you are also helping support local bat populations. However, some bats are viewed as pests and unwanted guests in buildings, homes, and other structures. While a very small percentage of bats present a risk for rabies and histoplasmosis (<1%-3%), you want to treat wild animals with care and caution. Any bat that comes into contact with pets or humans might need to be evaluated. Here are some important facts about bats and buildings: Bats cannot chew their own entry holes, and usually enter a structure through a
crack or hole that is existing. Sealing up these holes and cracks around the roof will deter bat denning.
Increased lighting and wind/drafts are undesirable for bat roosting. Floodlights or other bright lights should be installed by a professional electrician to avoid risk.
Installing exclusion doorways is effective for holes and entries with confirmed bat activity. One-way doors, screening, netting, or using a Batcone® will leave bats unharmed, and prevent them from returning to a roost. Note: exclusion should not be used from May 1st– August 15th to avoid trapping bat pups indoors.
Non-effective techniques include noise and ultrasonic devices, repellents, toxicants, and shooting. It is illegal to kill a bat.
For additional resources on bats, and how to manage them, consult this Bat Conservation International guide to proper exclusion. A major threat, along with loss of habitat, is a fungal disease called White-Nose Syndrome (Pseudogymnoascus destructans). This disease is fatal, and can cause up to 99% of deaths in an infected colony. For more information about this disease, and how you can help, visit:
www.whitenosesyndrome.org
Facts, figures, and information thanks to National Park Service– Bats (NPS.gov) and Bat Conservation International (batcon.org). For a bat field guide in Maryland, visit Maryland Department of Natural Resources webpage.
The Washington Post carried an interesting column by Adrian Higgins on September 20 about the renovation of the Mall in Washington D.C by the National Park Service. Here is my summary of that article. The eighteen acres is heavily used – as many as 3,00 events and 33 million millions visitors in a year – the national fireworks, the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, Presidential inaugurations, the Blossom (formerly Smithsonian) Kite Festival – to name a few. Consequently there were bare patches the density of cinder block where even the weeds had difficulty surviving. To begin with the old soil was scraped off followed by extensive construction below ground to manage rainwater. This included a four-inch layer of pea gravel, French drains, drainage lines, subterranean columns of gravel connecting the turf to buried pipes, and cisterns. The walkways were widened with curbs and gutters to channel runoff into the cisterns. This water is filtered and disinfected before reuse in the irrigation system. The new soil is a blend of 80% sand (to promote a vigorous root system), 10% topsoil and 10% peat. Although direct seeding is the preferred method for establishing a new lawn, the Park Service laid sod so that the work could be done in a timely manner. The sod is a customized mixture of tall fescue and bluegrass. Given the high proportion of sand, Washington’s hot humid weather, and heavy usage, the mall will receive aggressive maintenance. It will be mowed twice a week in the growing season, over seeded weekly from mid-May to the end of October, aerated twice a month, a chicken manure compost will be spread in March, April, September and October, and a weak solution of urea as a foliar feed in every two weeks in the growing season. The soil will be watered heavily and then allowed to dry out. The watering system is linked to an automated weather station that monitors temperature, humidity and soil moisture. A low-impact herbicide will be used to control crabgrass and other weeds. Finally, events on the Mall will be more tightly controlled. Madison and Jefferson Drives will be closed for some events in order to use paved surfaces, pedestrian decking will be translucent so that light can still reach the grass, and after major events the areas will be closed for a time to allow the turf to rebound. I am looking forward to seeing this new Mall, knowing full well that my lawn will never look anything like it. However, if Michael Stachowicz, the National Park Service’s turf guru, has some low budget advice, I’d listen.
The Nation’s Lawn
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By: Janis Trainor
Another year is finished on Poplar Island– Master Gardeners spent a collective 108
hours (approximately) making sure our native demonstration garden was a
beautiful first stop for visitors to the island. This demonstration garden boasts a variety of
native perennials, grasses, flowering forbs, coastal shrubs, and trees.
A huge “thank you” to Maryland Environmental Service for supporting and assisting
Master Gardener volunteer efforts on Poplar Island. The staff have been so
accommodating, and even rescued us from torrential downpours on one occasion.
Interested in visiting Poplar Island? Master Gardeners reserve 6 spaces on the boat, and
visit once a month from April to October. The boat leaves from the Maryland
Environmental Service dock located in Tilghman from 9am-12pm on the scheduled date.
We look forward to returning in 2017!
Stay tuned for the 2017 Poplar Island trip schedule!
Contact Janis Trainor for information about the Poplar Island Demonstration Garden: [email protected].
Poplar Island
Seeds (cleaned and rinsed) from fall squash (acorn, pumpkin, butternut, etc.) Olive Oil or melted butter Make your own flavor of roasted seeds by using some of the suggested combinations below: For sweet: Cinnamon & sugar, nutmeg if desired For savory: Cracked pepper & Himalayan pink sea salt For spicy: Red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and/or cayenne pepper For cheesy: Dried basil or oregano, par-mesan cheese, ground black pepper For vampire protection: Black pepper & garlic powder For curry-lovers: Curry powder, soy sauce, cumin, and pepper For Marylanders: Old Bay Spice Make sure seeds are rinsed and clean of pulp (a colander works well). After rinsing, lay out seeds on paper towel and dry them before adding ingredients. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Toss olive oil or melted butter into bowl with seeds,
enough to coat them evenly. Lay out cookie sheets and dump oiled seeds onto sheet— you want to be able to spread them out, and too many seeds will not roast as evenly. Sprinkle choice of seasonings over the seeds and put into oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes, depending on quantity of seeds roasted. Stir with spatula every 15 minutes to cook evenly. Toss into a salad, use in a snack mix, or eat as a delightful treat.
Fun Nutrition Facts: Pumpkin seeds are full of antioxidants,
such as Vitamin E High in manganese, phosphorus,
magnesium, and copper Valued as good source of zinc Valued for anti-microbial benefits
(including anti-fungal and anti-viral) 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds are 180
calories (without seasonings)
Roasted Squash Seed Variety
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Food for Thought
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Ask Your Horticulturist:
Mikaela Boley is the Horticulturist and Master Gardener Coordinator for University of Maryland Extension in Talbot County. The Extension Office often has questions from homeowners and members of the public regarding home gardening, soil testing, plant and insect identification, plus much more. Do you have a question that needs answering? Want to talk gardening or get advice for environmentally friendly practices in the residential landscape? Please contact Mikaela Boley,
Home Horticulturist and Master Gardener Coordinator at (410) 822-1244 ext. 12, or by email [email protected].
Dear Mikaela, I’ve been finding hoards of lady bugs infesting my house recently– it’s almost as if they appeared overnight. Not only am I finding them indoors, but they are all over the outside of the house as well! They stink and I am tired of finding them in my cupboards and linens. Is there any way to prevent or get rid of them? -Lady Bug Crazy Dear Lady Bug Crazy What you are probably referring to are multicolored Asian lady beetles, or Harmonia axyridis. Since the weather has been changing, and finally getting colder, the insects are probably looking for refuge and start to cluster together this time of year. They are also attracted to light colored surfaces outdoors, particularly on the south side of buildings (where it is warmest). While annoying, these beetles do not carry disease, feed on clothing or materials, and they do not reproduce indoors. In fact, they are quite beneficial in the landscape and outdoor community by preying on aphids. Entering through cracks and crevices, you can do your best to seal up any spaces that they will enter into the home— this includes windows and doorways. Caulk or weather strip any cracks and openings. Insecticides are not recommended. Using a hand vacuum is an easy and effective way to remove large clusters, which do not permanently reside indoors. Empty the bag outdoors afterwards. Just remember that these groups of beetles are temporary residents, and will move on shortly. Good luck. -Mikaela
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Please contact Mikaela Boley, Master Gardener Coordinator with any question or to volunteer to help
