October 2019 News for Polk County

Director's Focus: Lessons to be Learned From the Dry Weather

This lack of rain is starting to get me down. As a person that loves growing plants of all kinds, I see water as lifeblood. In general, North Carolina has plenty of rain and I know that this little drought we are having is a temporary blip in our normally-wet existence. Even though we know that it will rain eventually, this situation gives us an opportunity to think about how to handle situations like this. Firstly, we should consider planting warm season grasses like Zoysia and Bermuda in the lawn to eliminate the need for frequent watering. On the other hand, if Fescue is our grass of choice, we should consider installing irrigation systems to save our lawns in the event of a drought. We should also consider landscape mulching and proper soil preparation to help plants survive. Our homes should be our place to relax and to enjoy. I’ve never met anyone who enjoys lugging around hoses and sprinklers. Even if the rains return soon, (and I certainly hope they do!) let's take time this Fall to consider how we can better sustain our landscape in times of drought.

Scott Welborn is the County Extension Director for Polk County

Home, Lawn, and Garden Tips for October

Shrubs and Trees October is a good month to plant shrubs and trees(if it rains). At this time the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth and will allow your plants to get established before the harsh cold of winter and will give them a boost for next spring. Be sure to water the plants thoroughly for several weeks after planting to ensure they do not dry out if rain is not plentiful.  Mulching Fall is a great time to spread mulch in the landscape. Aim for a maximum depth of 3” to 4” around trees or shrubs and 2” to 3” around perennials. Do not pile mulch deeply around the trunks of trees and shrubs as it can cause them to rot.  Flowers It's still not too late for some fall color. You can plant pansies now for a little fall/winter color and they will be established and give you a good show of color in the spring as well. Houseplants Bring houseplants indoors when temperatures dip below 50°F. Give them a good bath in soapy water or spray with insecticidal soap. Move plants into partial shade for a week to condition them to lower light levels indoors. Remember that indoor humidity is normally very low inside the house in the winter, so be sure to mist your plant’s leaves with water along with watering their roots. Newly-Seeded Fescue Lawns Lawn seeding is typically done between mid-September and early November in our area. So far, our warm and very dry weather has led most people to put off seeding. Plan on overseeding in October as temps cool and moisture increases. New grass has very small, shallow roots. Keep them moist if the rains fail, and don’t let falling leaves smother them. Use a leaf blower on low power or rake very gently because you may uproot the tender young plants. Apply 10 pounds of 10-10-10 or 6 pounds of 17-17-17 fertilizer closer to Thanksgiving to give the lawn a final boost before winter. If you are thinking about installing a warm season grass lawn such as Bermuda or Zoysia, be sure to wait until May to do any seeding or sodding of these types of grasses. Winter Crops By this time in the garden you should have all your winter crops planted. For our area, those include root crops, cole crops and lettuces. These crops can provide you a harvest through most of the winter with very little cold protection. Fertilize these crops while it is still warm enough to achieve maximum growth. During these warm and dry periods, though, be sure to provide irrigation.  In areas you aren't using for fall vegetable production go ahead and plant a cover crop. Winter Rye (grain) or Annual Rye Grass are excellent choices for a winter cover crop. These plants are easy to grow and provide massive amounts of organic matter for your soil. They can help prevent Winter erosion, too. Leaving the soil bare should never be an option. Soil Testing To prepare for next year's lawn and garden success, this is a great time to do a soil test in your garden. Soil test kits are available here at the Extension Office and soil testing is free until the end of October. By knowing your pH and nutrient levels, you can correct them for optimum growth next year. It is critical to get your pH in the proper range so your plants can use the nutrients that are already in the soil. It can take 6-12 months for lime to take full effect so be sure to get it in the soil soon, if your test indicates that you need it. Should you need more information on any of these topics please stop by the Polk County Cooperative Extension office located at 79 Carmel Lane just outside of Columbus, or pop us an email or give us a call at 828-894-8218.

MEMBER NAME : Katelyn Ruff MEMBER AGE : 15 YEARS IN POLK COUNTY 4-H : 3 1/2 CURRENT CLUBS (Participant) : Advanced Goat Club, Sewing Club, Poultry Club CURRENT CLUBS (Volunteer Leader) : Cool Cloverbuds, Cloverbuds Goat Club In early 2019, 4-H member Katelyn Ruff heard about the WNC Dairy Beef Feeder Calf Project--a program designed to introduce new youth to livestock showing, feeding, and care. Although she had been an active member of 4-H for over 3 years, she hadn't had the opportunity to achieve one of her personal goals--showing a livestock animal. After attending the orientation meeting in Canton with her family and Polk County 4-H Youth Director, Helen Blackwell, Katelyn decided to turn in her application. On March 20, it was time to pick up her 110-lb. calf, who happened to have a heart-shaped spot on his head and a huge black heart design on his side. His destiny was sealed--Katelyn would name him "Romeo." All project participants received a bag of milk replacer, a bag of calf starter, a bottle, and a rope halter, thanks to sponsor Southern State Feed. Over the next 9 weeks, Katelyn bottle fed her calf, and spent time with him, earning his trust. During May and June, she worked on weaning him from the bottle and shifting to calf starter feed and then to Southern States Select Stock.

Also in May, Katelyn and her family transported Romeo back to the Livestock Center in Canton for a Vet Clinic. There, he was vaccinated, dewormed, castrated, and dehorned. Back at home, Katelyn continued to work with her calf, feeding him, bathing him (which he loved!) and beginning to halter-break him. Getting Romeo to walk in his halter was the biggest challenge of the project for Katelyn. Even with tips from Helen and NC Cooperative Extension Regional Livestock Agent Noah Henson, the calf dug his feet in and refused. It wasn't until Katelyn attended the WNC Ag Center Livestock Clinic that she finally got the ideas and inspiration she needed to get Romeo moving. The culmination of the project for Katelyn was showing her calf at two fairs--the Haywood County Fair and then the WNC Mountain State Fair. At the first fair on August 24, Romeo weighed in at 429 pounds. Although she didn't place at the Haywood County Fair, Katelyn learned a lot, and knew that her goals for the final fair were to set him up more smoothly and get even better at walking. Just two weeks later, Katelyn would load her calf up for the final time. Romeo was now 472 pounds and would be sold at the conclusion of the market show. Dressed in her show clothes, and with Romeo washed, dried, and groomed to look his best, she walked him with confidence at show time. When it came time for him to be auctioned, Katelyn's project calf sold for $1.08 a pound--even more than market value. Katelyn truly enjoyed the experience of the WNC Dairy Beef Feeder Calf Project and was proud to accomplish one of her personal and 4-H goals this year.

Meet the Twins

4-H goat, Latté, finally gave birth on Saturday, September 14! We are excited to have twin boys to add to the 4-H herd. With their matching heart-shaped noses, it would be difficult to tell them apart if it weren't for their differing eye color. Both boys are healthy, friendly, and are already skipping around the pasture like Maria in The Sound of Music! 4-H members in our Goat Clubs will be voting on names for the boys during this month's meetings.

Helen Blackwell is the 4-H Youth Development Agent for Polk County

Family and Consumer Science News

Members of the Polk County Extension Associates got "artsy" in September. After a group lunch together, they headed up the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Folk Art Center--a museum of Appalachian arts and crafts. One of their favorite parts of the trip was getting to watch a local maker of kaleidoscopes as he crafted his next piece.

Fermentation Wednesday, October 16, 2-4 pm Fermented foods have multiple health benefits including aiding in digestion and improving gut flora. Learn to make sauerkraut, kimchee, yogurt, and kombucha in this hands-on workshop. Materials fee for the class is $20 and includes a jar of fermented food to take home with you! Register

Jimmi Buell is the Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Polk County

‌