GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAIN SERIES
Thursday August 16
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
"Gardening with Native Plants
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Presenters:
Bill Jones, President of Carolina Native Nursery
Shelby Jackson, Partner and Horticulturalist, Carolina Native Nursery
Ever wonder what plants are best for our gardens here in the mountains of Western North Carolina?
For answers, learn from the experts-Bill Jones and Shelby Jackson of Carolina Native Nursery, located in Burnsville, NC, and specializing in native plants.
Together, Bill and Shelby will discuss the environmental importance of native plants along with their significance to birds and pollinators. They will touch on the evolution of natives, how they impact the surrounding environment, and their importance to both our region and your garden. They will also suggest specific shrubs and perennials that are best for your garden.
Whether you are planning a home garden, creating a butterfly or rain garden, or just adding natives to your existing landscape, choosing among the many beautiful plant options can be confusing. This talk will help you make good choices. Learning which plants are best and why is a great way to begin using native mountain species. Come join us to hear about the wonderful world of natives.
Free. Registration required.
Call 828-255-5522. Seating is limited.
Location:
Buncombe County Extension Center 49 Mt Carmel Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
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AUGUST GARDEN CHORES
Lawns
* Wait to seed and fertilize cool-season fescue or bluegrass lawns until the very end of August and even later if warm weather continues. Cool-season grasses won't respond when the weather is hot and dry.
* Now is a good time to examine turf for the presence of white grubs. With a heavy-duty knife or a spade, cut a 1 square-foot flap of sod and roll it back. Examine the soil and roots in the top 3 to 4 inches. Repeat this process in several locations. If you find an average of five or more grubs per square foot, treatment may be justified.
TO READ MORE ON WHITE GRUBS IN TURF GO HERE
Ornamentals
* Stay on top of weeds and remove them before they go to seed.
* Reinforce supports on tall varieties of Dahlias and remove lateral flower buds to increase size of the one remaining flower.
* Monitor trees or shrubs planted last year and provide a deep watering once a week when rainfall is insufficient.
* Deadhead garden perennials by removing faded flowers and dying stems to improve the appearance and possibly encourage a second bloom.
* Container gardens may need some late summer TLC and could benefit from grooming and a dose of liquid fertilizer.
* Now is NOT the time to fertilize shrubs and trees as they slow down growth and move towards fall leaf drop and winter dormancy. One exception is fall or reblooming roses where a quick release fertilizer can provide a late season boost.
* Also HOLD OFF on major pruning of shrubs and trees until after frost or late winter. Pruning now stimulates tender new growth that can be killed by the first hard frost.
Fruits
* Continue fungicide treatments on tree fruits. Follow label directions for pre-harvest intervals.
* Watch for peach tree borers on peach, cherry and plum trees.
* After harvest remove all the old fruiting canes on Blackberries. Leave the new shoots that started in the spring. Thin to four to six shoots per crown, training the best shoots to the trellis.
Vegetables
* Late blight on tomatoes and mildews on squash and cucumbers has arrived. Continue fungicide treatments to prevent disease development. If blight appears, remove plants immediately to protect remaining plants. Avoid working in the garden when the plants are wet. It's easy to spread diseases during this time.
* Start planting fall vegetables anytime in August. Look for starts of cool-season crops like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower at tailgates and in garden centers.
* Sow seeds for lettuce, kale, spinach, turnips and beets. Keep seedbeds consistently moist as seedlings emerge.
* Practice good sanitation. Remove spent plants from the garden as soon as harvest is complete. Also remove diseased plants as soon as possible.
Other
* Watch for yellow jacket nests while mowing and working around the outside of your home. This is the time of year they become very aggressive in defending their nest.
* Browning leaves on Black Locust trees are a result of the Locust Leaf Miner. Early in the season the larvae eat into the inner layer of the leaf tissue and later the adult beetle skeletonizes the undersurface of the leaf causing them to turn brown.
* Early yellowing and leaf drop on ornamental Cherries typically happens this time of year and is caused by either bacterial or fungal disease. Both are seen annually in our region and usually are not problematic. Best approach is to maintain good plant health.
* Tulip Tree foliage appearance, the result of the Yellow Poplar Weevil, is cosmetic only and will not cause long term damage to well established trees.
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BEST TIME TO HARVEST ?
Harvest vegetables when they are mature and during the cool part of the morning for best nutrient content and flavor. When to do that depends on the vegetable, specific variety and what you plan to do with it.
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DISEASES ON CUCURBITS
(a.k.a cucumber, watermelon, melon, cantaloupe,
squash and pumpkin)
Downy
Mildew was identified on July 20th in a commercial c
ucumber farm in Henderson County. The finding was confirmed by Extension Plant Pathologist, Inga Meadows.
Environmental conditions for downy mildew disease development is best when there is 1)
High-humidity and moisture (6-12 hours of moisture are ideal and usually occur as morning dew, rain or overhead irrigation) and 2) C
ool temperatures (~60°F).
In North Carolina, the disease typically begins in June and lasts throughout the growing season.
Trying to identify a specific disease can be a challenge. Downy mildew causes angular, yellow to brown lesions on top of the leaves that are restricted by leaf veins. Symptoms of anthracnose on the other can vary somewhat on different hosts however on cucumber leaves the spots start as water soaked areas and expand into brown spots which are roughly circular,
Once leaves are severely affected reduction in yield or plant death can occur.
In the home garden, once plants are infected, there is little that can be done to protect them besides weekly fungicide sprays.
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..... at a tailgate near you.
Ask Questions! Pick up Soil Kits!
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ORANGESTRIPED OAKWORM
The orangestriped oakworm is one of many concerns we get calls for in our office. This year there seems to be a preponderance of insects and diseases affecting oaks throughout our area with oak leaf blister and orange striped oakworm topping the list.
If you have oaks
GO HERE to read more.
Remember that maintaining health of large mature trees is key to a long life.
Go to
www.treearegood.org
for helpful information on caring for mature trees and to f
ind a certified arborist.
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TELLING PLANTS APART
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Oftentimes plants can be mislabeled, in the nursery and in the garden. The only time to tell them apart may be when they are in fruit or flower. Below are images of two different beautyberry shrubs that are often misidentified.
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Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst'
Derek Ramsey, CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
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Callicarpa americana
Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY - 2.0
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The plant on the left is called the Purple Beautyberry and is an introduction from China or Japan. It is more compact and has smaller leaves and the fruit is held in clusters above the leaves.
The plant on the right is the American Beautyberry. This native shrub holds the fruit clusters closer to the stem.
GO HERE for to learn more about the beautiful American Beautyberry!
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SEASON FOR SEEDING LAWNS or PLANNING FOR LAWN ALTERNATIVES
If you are considering renovating or over seeding your lawn, NOW is the time to act as cool season grasses respond to cooler temperatures, August 15 - September 15.
While lawns may be the best choice for areas that get heavy foot traffic, they can take valuable resources to maintain and impact the environment.
If you have areas of lawn in the landscape that are less utilized consider tolerating more weeds, converting more to garden space or planting groundcovers or other bee friendly plants.
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2018 MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR
September 7-16, 2018
The 2018 NC Mountain State Fair opens at the NC
Agricultural Center in a just few weeks! From September 7-16, it's the place to spend the last few days of summer and enjoy agricultural competitions, 4-H projects, rides, live performances, funnel cakes, and-of course-the Flower Shows.
The Flower Shows feature hundreds of entries from both adults and children in over 170 horticultural classes and approximately 30 design classes.
When and where
The Flower and Garden Department, located in the Expo Building, hosts two Flower Shows sponsored by the
Extension Master GardenerSM V
olunteers of Buncombe County
. The first show will be judged and available for viewing beginning Friday, September 7 at 9 a.m. The second show will be judged and ready for viewing on Wednesday, September 12 at 3 p.m. until Fair closing on September 16.
Register Online
The registration deadline to enter the Flower Shows is August 24.
All registrations must be completed online.
CLICK HERE
for instructions on how to register, details for exhibit classes, and rules for Division I, Department M-Flower and Garden.
See, Ask, and Learn
In addition to the competitive entries, the Flower and Garden Department will include educational exhibits by the Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose Society and
Extension Master Gardener volunteers. Extension Master Gardener
volunteers
will be on hand during the Fair to answer questions about the show and general gardening.
Enter the Flower Shows, then come out to enjoy the Fair. You'll see lots of beautiful flowers and have plenty of fun. Who knows . . . you may even win a prize!
Portions of this article was written by Barbara Hayes, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer.
Flower Show Registration Deadline, August 24
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PRESSURE GAUGE CHECK
To get your pressure gauge checked
call our office at
828-255-5522 to set up an appointment OR
go by the WNC Farmers Market Deli Bakery and
Ice Cream Shop on Fridays between 1 and 4pm.
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TOMATO FIELD DAY
AUGUST 16
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If you have ever struggled with late blight on tomatoes or wondered where the late blight resistant Mountain series was developed - do not miss this event!
This is a great time to learn more about tomato varieties that are new or in development and the latest production techniques for disease, insect and weed management for our region
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For more information, contact Jessica Edney or Jeff Chandler at 828.684.3562.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Gardening in the Mountains
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
September 20
Fall Lawn Care and Lawn Alternatives
October 18
Getting Ready for Next Year
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Saturday Seminars
10:00 AM -12 PM
September 20
All About Composting
October 6
Holiday Fun
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BACKYARD COMPOST DEMONSTRATION
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August 11
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10:00 am - 1:00 pm
WNC Farmers Market
Jesse Israel and Sons Nursery and Garden Center
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INFO TABLE
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August 4 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM City Market
N. Market St., Asheville, NC
August 11 9:00 AM - 12 Noon Black Mountain Tailgate
1st Baptist Church parking lot, 130 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC
August 11 8:00AM - 12:00 PM North Asheville Tailgate
UNCA Campus - P28, University Heights Blvd., Asheville, NC
August 18 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM City Market Tailgate
August 25 9:00 AM - 12 Noon Black Mountain Tailgate
August 25 8:00AM - 12:00 PM North Asheville Tailgate
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MASTER GARDENER BLOG!
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The Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
have a blog on a variety of topics including current insect and disease issues and gardening tips and activities for all ages and abilities.
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NEED HELP WITH GARDEN QUESTIONS?
Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs) are available to answer phones and provide assistance with your plant questions and problems M and F 9:30 - 3:30 and T, W, Th 10:00 - 2:00.
Call
828-255-5522
or visit our office at
49 Mt. Carmel Rd.
Please bring samples large enough for plant identification.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT NC STATE EXTENSION >>
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NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
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