Polk County Center February 2018
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Director's Feature
It's been cold and I for one am ready for spring. Extension has a lot going on in preparation for warm weather. We have been actively working on our new research garden preparing the soil and planting spring crops inside under lights. We have selected 44 varieties of vegetables to trial this year with the hope of selecting some excellent performers for our growers here in the county. This garden will also demonstrate how to grow smarter, not harder. Come by our office this summer and let me give you a tour. We've also been teaching many classes including a large pesticide recertification class, sewing classes, healthy cooking classes, as well as many up coming classes in lawn care, soils, men's cooking, 4-H summer fun and many others. We appreciate your support of extension programing and hope you will continue to be a part of our future success.
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Horticulture
Pruning
February is the best time of year for major pruning and shaping of most trees and ornamental shrubs. At this time you can cut overgrown shrubs way back to rejuvenate them. You can also remove limbs from trees but never top a tree!
Spring-Flowering Shrubs
Spring flowering shrubs bloom on last year's wood and should not be pruned until after flowering. (if you want to preserve the bloom for this year) These include Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Forsythia, Spirea, Flowering Quince, Kerria, Pieris, Weigela, Abelia, Oakleaf and Macrophylla Hydrangeas, Beautyberry, Clethra, and Vitex to name a few. If you desire to cut these shrubs back substantially you should prune them in February and forget about the bloom.
Summer-Flowering Shrubs
These bloom on this year's wood and should be pruned before new growth starts. On deciduous shrubs, 1/3 of the oldest shoots should be cut back to the ground. Summer-flowering Buddleia davidii should have all shoots cut to 8-12" from the ground. Crape myrtle trees may be pruned at this time but try not to commit "crape murder" by cutting it to sticks.
Overgrown, Established Plants
Plantings of old established plants like Holly, Cleyera, Japanese Holly, Pittosporum, Ligustrum and similar broad-leaf evergreens can be cut back to 15-24" from the ground if you want to rejuvenate them.
Pine, Junipers, Fir, Spruce, Yew and Arborvitae will not withstand heavy pruning because most conifers don't have latent buds below the foliage area and do not readily produce adventitious buds. If a branch is cut back past the foliage area, it will not re-foliate. The best time to prune conifers is just after the new growth is completed, usually in late spring or early summer. Encourage bushier growth on pines by pinching out the new candles. Hemlocks are the exception to the rule. They will tolerate heavy pruning and are sometimes used for hedge plants.
Tree Wound Paints
These are useless in sealing pruning cuts and may actually do harm to the tree.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses should be cut back before new growth starts. Mow Liriope (Monkeygrass) to remove last year's unsightly foliage. Ornamental grasses may be divided now.
Fertilizing
Fescue Lawns
should be fertilized in late February. Use no more than 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 sf. Late or excessive fertilizing in spring predisposes fescue to Brown Patch disease.
Trees
If the tree is in good condition, well mulched, or in a natural area, it does not need regular fertilizing. If you fertilize your lawn regularly, you are fertilizing trees in the area also.
Shrubs
Most shrubs respond well to an application of a slow release fertilizer. Apply according to directions and distribute it evenly over the entire root area but away from the stem.
Fruit Trees
Apply a dormant oil spray to fruit trees and ornamentals for control of overwintering insects and eggs. Do not apply to broadleaf evergreens when freezing temperatures are expected.
Wild Garlic (Wild Onion)
Control with 2, 4-D Amine. Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent as a surfactant to help herbicide adhere to the narrow leaves. Spray in late February/early March, and again in late August. Control may require two years of persistence, spraying in both growth seasons.
Roses
Thin bush roses to 3-5 good strong canes and shorten canes to 15". Prune climbers after they flower in early summer. Shrub Roses such as the popular variety "Knockout" need little if any pruning but can be pruned hard if they are over grown.
Grapes
Prune after most cold weather is over, late February/March. Bleeding will not hurt the vines.
 What to plant the last week of this Month? (Provide protection for transplants if temps drop below 26 degrees).
Cabbage Carrots Beets
Lettuce Onions Broccoli
Peas Turnips Cauliflower
Radishes Spinach
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Berry and Asparagus Plant Sale
Polk County Cooperative Extension
Blueberries $8 ea (Brightwell, Climax, Premier, Southland and Tifblue)
Raspberries $5 ea ( Josephine)
Strawberries $8 for 25 (Brunswick & Galletta) Bulk orders receive discount
Asparagus $6 for 5 ( Jersey Knight)
Order now for pick up in March
Call: (828) 894-8218 for more information
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Polk County 4-H
4-H SUMMER CAMP REMINDER
Registration is open, and filling up, for our week long summer camp at Betsy Jeff Penn,
June 24
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June 29, for ages 8
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14. The cost is $220.00 which includes, transportation, lodging, food, activities, t-shirt and $15.00 store card. The registration form is linked below. A $50.00 deposit is required and total payment due by June 8th.
Camp Registration
2018 4-H SEWING PROGRAM
The 4-H sewing program is underway. Youth and instructors are excitedly working on creating their breathtaking garments for the upcoming fashion revue. They will be working twice a week through mid-March to complete their projects. The sewing program encourages children, both boys and girls, to learn to sew.
Not only does it teach useful life skills, but it inspires creativity, hands-on learning, and, possibly, paves the way for the makers and engineers of the future.
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2018 4-H Sewing Class boasting the wonderful sewing equipment that was graciously donated to our program by Baby Lock USA.
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Men's Cooking Class Returns In March
Cooking chores are often shared in today's households, but that was not always the case. Many men have never had cooking responsibilities until life circumstances thrust cooking chores upon them.
The Polk County Cooperative Extension Men's Cooking Class offers a fun and friendly way for any man to learn basic skills, as well as advance and new techniques in the culinary arts. This award-winning program has been a staple of the Cooperative Extension for over 30 years.
Men take the course for a variety of reasons - personal interest, increased cooking responsibilities due to loss of or disability of a spouse, and more than one at the urging of his spouse. Whatever the reason, participants learn cooking skills, have fun, and enjoy fellowship with class members. Laughter is a key ingredient used in each class.
The course also covers topics such as meal planning, buying and storing food, healthy eating, shopping on a budget, food safety; and special classes on Ethnic cooking. No cooking experience is required.
The 2018 Men's Cooking Class begins Tuesday, March 6, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., and runs for 10 weeks on Tuesday mornings at the Extension Center in Columbus. Each class includes instruction, hands-on practice, and a delicious lunch prepared by class members. The class ends in May with a gala graduation ceremony.
Jimmi Buell, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences, will be the instructor for the class. The 10 week class is $75. Registration is required. Class size is limited, so sign up soon. For more information, or to register, call the Polk County Extension Center at 828-894-8218
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Family Consumer Science
Celebrating Milestones
The Polk County Extension Community Associates(ECA) celebrated some milestone Birthdays on Friday January 20th. All the ECA club members came to the Extension office to celebrate and honor our special guests.Lillie Cleland (Left) and Sarah West (Right) celebrated their 92nd Birthday and Betty Hendricks (middle) celebrated her 100th Birthday.
Way to go Ladies!
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Livestock
Grazing and Pasture Management
Even though some may consider winter to be farmers "down time," most know that is certainly not the case. While yes, the sun is not beating down and we aren't sweating like we will be in a few months, much work still needs to be done in the winter months. We could even argue the fact that winter months are the most important, simply for the fact that this is when a lot of plans for the year are developed. With all the plans to be made, I simply wanted to make sure we are covering the essentials, and also adding new ideas into our plans.
I have recently had the opportunity to attend several grazing and pasture management seminars. Through hearing several different speakers and seeing several different producer's operations, a fire has certainly been sparked within me to make sure we are utilizing our pastures and fields to the most of their ability. At the latest seminar, offered through the Forage and Grassland Council, we had the privilege of hearing from world-renowned grazing expert Jim Gerrish. This is a man that certainly knows how to get the most out of his pasture. While many great topics were covered, the part that stuck out the most in my mind was the fact that he can manage 550-650 cow calf pairs on around 3.5 acres! Now certainly they are not on this small amount of land all the time, but the 3.5 acres are areas that he has his pasture sectioned off into to rotate his cattle on. Not only is it unbelievable that he can get that many cattle to cooperative in moving each day, but the fact that he would think enough outside the box to even try managing these many cattle on this small amount of land.
So with the thought of new ideas, I certainly encourage each of you to venture out and try something new this year. Maybe you've never taken a soil sample of your land? Maybe you want to add in some kind of rotational grazing practice? Maybe you want to figure out a way to graze closer to year round? How you could achieve higher yields from your hay field, or even receive higher premiums for better hay?
As we begin preparing for grass to start back growing in the next few months, lets be progressive with our plans and try and get as much out of our land we can. Who knows, maybe one day you could be rotating 650 head of cattle on 3.5 acre lots!
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Tell a Friend
Please feel free to forward the newsletter to your friends. If they would like to receive the letter, ask them to contact the Cooperative Extension Center in Columbus at (828) 894-8218/894-8219, or email [email protected].
Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for insuring that the extended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label, Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact an agent of the North Carolina Extension Service in your county.
NC State University and NC A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation.
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