GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAIN SERIES
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September 20, 10:00
am - 12:00 pm
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Presenters: Alison Arnold,
Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
As we move from summer into fall, lots of questions about lawn care arise with the change of seasons. What are the basic principles of fall lawn care? What does a healthy lawn look like? How can a homeowner reduce the costs and maintenance requirements of a lawn? Are there good alternatives to traditional lawns? Alison and Diane will answer these and other questions.
Lawns serve a number of purposes in the landscape-to set off a perennial border, connect different areas of the garden, or provide space for pets and people to play. But a healthy, attractive lawn requires care. In their talk, Alison and Diane cover the basics of good lawn care. They discuss the personal, financial, and environmental impact of lawn maintenance. And they introduce creative ideas and explore alternatives to traditional lawns as ways to reduce maintenance, lower costs, and be environmentally friendly.
Come learn all about fall lawn care and how to make positive changes in your lawn and landscape.
The talk is free, but
seating is limited and registration is required by calling 828-255-5522.
Location:
49 Mount Carmel Rd Asheville, NC 28806
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SATURDAY SEMINAR SERIES
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September 22,
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
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Lucy Bradley CC BY - 2.0
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Presenter: Phil Roudebush
Extension Master Gardener
Volunteer
Buncombe County
Decomposition is at least as old as soil itself. The modern practice of composting is little more than speeding up and intensifying natural processes of biological decomposition of organic wastes-something gardeners and individuals can do at home.
In his presentation, Phil discusses simple methods to compost yard, garden, and food materials. He defines compost and the "six rules of rot," including the importance of a critical mass of materials, particle size, carbon and nitrogen sources, moisture, and oxygen. Phil explains active versus passive compost methods and highlights worm composting (or vermiculture) of kitchen scraps. By the end of the seminar, you'll understand the benefits of using compost in the garden, the use of compost teas, and compost trouble shooting. You're ready to make compost at home!
Join Phil for a tour of the compost site at the Extension office following the presentation, weather permitting.
The seminar is free but registration is requested.
Please register by calling 828-255-5522.
Location: 49 Mount Carmel Rd Asheville, NC 28804
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SEPTEMBER GARDEN CHORES
Ornamentals
* Now is NOT the time to fertilize perennials and woody plants. Late-season nitrogen can reduce cold hardiness and force growth that can be damaged by hard frosts.
* This is a good time to cut flowers for drying. Good candidates for air-drying include celosia, yarrow, statice, globe amaranth, strawflowers, goldenrod and grasses.
* Leaving some of the few remaining seed heads of coneflower, sunflower and black eyed susan can be good for the birds to enjoy in the months ahead.
* Move houseplants indoors before temperatures drop below 45 F. Check for signs of insects and treat. Rinse off foliage, remove dead leaves and cut back long stems.
* Now is time to divide peonies that have not flowered well. Leave several "eyes" on each division and be sure to replant them with the eyes no more than 2 inches below the soil surface. Keep them watered this fall.
* Check evergreens for bagworms. Removing them now prevents re-infestation next spring.
* Pull spent summer annuals and replace them with pansies or ornamental kale or cabbage.
Fruits
* To reduce the reoccurrence of fruit rot in peaches and grapes next year remove all plant debris including mummified fruit left hanging on the plant and lying on the ground.
* Remove weeds and fertilize in strawberry beds where plants are forming next spring's flower buds. Also water if September rains are lacking.
* Prune blackberries and raspberries and remove the old fruit-bearing canes from this year. Also thin new canes to leave only 4-8 canes per square yard.
Vegetables
* Remove spent vegetable plants as soon as possible to reduce carry-over of insect and disease problems. Consider keeping a separate compost pile for diseased plants and do not use that compost in the vegetable garden.
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* Plant fall vegetables by mid-month. Sow lettuce seeds every couple of weeks for a continual harvest. Cilantro and dill can also be sown during cooler weather.
* Insects can be a problem with all of the cabbage family crops. Use row cover or a weekly application of B.t. bacteria spray to prevent cabbageworms. Use insecticidal soap for aphids if needed.
* Consider planting a cover crop on vegetable beds to build organic matter for next year's garden. Mark your calendar to mow and turn under in February or March before the next growing season.
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TIME TO PLANT COVER CROPS ...
We are in a good window for planting a winter cover or green manure crop. These crops are important soil management tools and help to add organic matter, improve fertility and soil structure, reduce erosion, suppress winter weeds and loosen compacted soils.
GREAT FOR NEW GARDEN SPACES!
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Austrian winter peas, Barley, Crimson Clover, Rye, Ryegrass, Triticale, Hairy Vetch and Wheat work well alone or in combination.
CLICK HERE and scroll down to
Table 17-4 for more information.
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Evaluate
the Vegetable Garden NOW!
This is THE BEST time to make notes about your vegetable garden!
What worked, what didn't work and what will you do differently next year?
Ask yourself the following questions to help get you started.
- What variety vegetable did you grow?
- Did you actually eat the vegetable and like the flavor?
- Were you able to manage the plant? on a trellis? with stakes?
- Did you give the plant enough space to grow?
- What insects and diseases were most prominent?
- Did you learn to I.D. the insects and diseases and how tomanage them?
- Did the soil drain well? What type of problems came from too much rain?
- Was the garden overwhelmed by weeds? what kind of mulch did you use?
What else would help you grow a better, more beautiful,
more abundant garden next year?
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PRESSURE GAUGE CHECK
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To get your pressure gauge checked
call the Buncombe County Extension Center 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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HARVESTING AND CURING
GOURDS
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https://cals.ncsu.edu/horticultural-science/
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If you are fortunate to have the sun and space to grow gourds then you are most determining which type of gourd you are growing since they vary in their tolerance to frost.
Cucurbita gourds are often decorative and have names that describe their shape like Egg, Crown of Thorns or Turks Turbin. These can be injured by frost and freezinfg temperatures and are best harvested when matuer but beofre cold weather arrives. These gourds should be kept cool and dry to cure which can take weeks and even months.
Lagenaria gourds are the functional class and have names like Dipper, Bottle, Birdhouse. These can tolerate light frost, can remain in the garden longer and need to handled carefully to avoid damage to the skin.
Luffa gourds are luffa gourds and can be harvested whenever they turn brown.
When harvesting gourds, cut them from the vine leaving a small section of the stem attached to the gourd.
To read more on curing and storing gourds
GO HERE.
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REGISTER NOW!
2018 WNC Gardening Symposium
October 3
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LATE SEASON LEAF DROP
A number of trees in the area have leaves that are turning yellow or brown and are dropping or have dropped completely. Below are a number of options depending on the tree in question.
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. To read more go
HERE.
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BRINGING HOUSEPLANTS
INSIDE FOR THE WINTER
Most houseplants are tender tropicals and should be brought inside when the night temperatures begin to drop below 45 degrees F.
Repot if necessary and trim foliage to remove spotted or browning leaves. Inspect and treat for insects. Mealy bugs and scale insects that come in on plants c
an grow in numbers as the winter season progresses, infesting nearby plants and making an indoor mess. Use water saucers and trays with castors to help manage the plants and protect flooring and furniture surfaces.
Help plants make slow adjustments to indoor light levels. Gradually move plants from brighter outdoor to lower indoor light conditions. Providing the best light required by the plant will provide the best overwintering results. Also be aware that some yellowing leaves or leaf drop can be normal during this time of adjustment.
Water thoroughly when the top few inches of the soil dries out and allow the water to completely drain through the pot. Fertilize with half strength liquid fertilizer every other month for maintenance.
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SOIL TEST FREE
UNTIL DECEMBER 1
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Make plans to soil test before adding fall amendments to the lawn, vegetable garden or landscape border.
If you are new to the area, new to the garden or breaking new ground take advantage of this
free service
. Soil testing establishes a baseline to help determine what and if any amendments are needed.
CURRENTLY THERE IS A 2 WEEK TURN AROUND TIME!
Peak season fees ($4 per sample) start December 1
Soil kits are available at our office on 49 Mount Carmel Rd or at an Ask-A-Gardener booth at an area tailgate
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Click Here
to find Extension Master Gardeners
..... at a tailgate near you.
Ask Questions! Pick up Soil Kits!
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MOUNTAIN STATE FAIR
September 7-16, 2018
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The 2018 NC Mountain State Fair, held at the NC
Agricultural Center, is a great place to spend time with the family enjoying agriculture exhibits and competitions, rides, live performances, and fried oreos.
The Extension Master Gardeners of Buncombe County also
sponsor 2 flower shows that feature hundreds of entries from both adults and children in over 170 horticultural classes and
approximately 30 design classes.
There will also be educational exhibits by the Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose Society and Extension Master Gardener volunteers.
Volunteers will be on hand during the Fair to answer questions about the garden and the show.
Come visit us
in the Expo Building towards the back of the fairgrounds!
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CHECK OUT
EXTENSION GARDENER NEWSLETTER!
The Mountain Edition contains information statewide and our local region.
STATE NEWS
Conifers and Japanese maples
St. John's wort
Squash blossoms
Vegetable varieties
The beauty of biodiversity
MOUNTAINS NEWS
Make some compost!
Ease into edamame
"Steps to Health" in action
Granulate ambrosia beetles
Summer lawns
Tips and tasks
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DOES IT REALLY HELP?
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YES! It is a GOOD PRACTICE to clean out the dead, diseased and insect infested plant debris from the vegetable garden at the end of the season.
Inga Meadows, Extension Plant Pathologist strongly encourages all gardeners
to NOT
put garden debris in the compost.
Options are to: (1) dispose in the garbage, (2) burn it, (3) bury it, or (4) compost in a pile that is NOT going to go back into the garden.
(Be sure to locate this compost pile in a
location away from your garden where drainage wont carry pathogens into your garden.)
The only time composting is recommended is when
temperatures in the pile can get over 130°F. This will kill most pathogens that are harmful to humans and pets. Over 140°F destroys most weed seeds.
Make a separate compost for weeds and disease and insect infested plants!
FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO START A COMPOST!
Visit the Extension Master Gardener
Compost Demonstration to learn how.. or the upcoming Saturday Seminar!
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BACKYARD COMPOST DEMONSTRATION
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September 8
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10:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Master Gardener Volunteers maintain compost demonstration structures at the WNC Farmers Market, close to Jesse Israel's Garden Center. There are four different composting methods on display. There is a single bin unit, a tumbling composter, a 3-bin method, and worm bin. The site is stocked with new informational pamphlets on the how-to and why of composting.
Come visit us to learn why and how to compost.
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ASK - A - GARDENER TABLE
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September 1 8
:00 AM - 12 Noon
City Market -
N. Market St.
September 15 8:00 AM - 12 Noon
City Market -
N. Market St.
Our volunteers offer free, unbiased, and research-based advice
on selecting and caring for
your ornamental plants,
vegetables, and lawn.
Feel free to bring plant and insect samples
for ident
ification or diagnosis, or just stop by to pick up a soil test kit!
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Gardening in the Mountains
11:30 AM- 1:00 PM
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October
18
Getting Ready for Next Year
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Saturday
Seminars
10:00 AM -12 PM
October 6 Holiday Fun
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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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