Spring Gardening Tips

 March 2020 / Volume 156
March Horticultural / Garden Tips
Learn about what you should be doing in the month of MARCH.  A selection of garden tips (Lawn & Turf, Flowers & Vegetables, Trees & Shrubs, Fruits, and General Gardening) can be found by clicking GARDEN TIPS.

For Fruit Tree owners, a couple of handy OSU Fact Sheets on fertilization and maintenance are:

HLA-6259 (Small Fruit Fertilization and Maintenance Schedule)
EPP-7641 (Common Diseases of Stone Fruit Trees & Their Control)
Tulsa Master Gardeners
Video Podcasts

The core mission of the Tulsa Master Gardeners is to provide OSU Extension research-based horticultural information to the local home gardeners and the community.  Given that, we try to reach as many folks as possible through multiple media platforms such as TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, and this e-newsletter. And, as a part of our social media push, we can also be found on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. To supplement all of these effective ways to communicate, we have now added a new feature - Video Podcasts.  It is called Garden Talk and we invite  you to check it out.

In each episode we talk about a current pest problem, highlight a plant of interest, discuss what we should be doing right now in our lawns and gardens, and answer your questions.

For the latest podcasts, click on:
Master Gardener Podcast 010
Master Gardener Podcast 010
Main Show 011
Main Show 011


Lots Of Great Upcoming Spring Events 
with
Tulsa Master Gardeners
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tulsa Master Gardeners
at
Mother Road Market

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tulsa Master Gardeners
Spring 2020 Lunch & Learn Series
Downtown City-County Central Library
================================
WE ARE BACK FOR A 4TH GREAT YEAR!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tulsa Master Gardeners
Spring Plant Sale / Main Annual Fundraiser
-------------------------------------------------------------
Online Sales Are Open!
Special Section This Year Featuring "Gathering Place" Plants
===========>    CLICK HERE TO SHOP NOW    <==========
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Top 12 Veggies To Plant In March
  • Beet
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Peas, Green
  • Potatoes, Irish
  • Radishes
  • Rhubarb
  • Spinach
  • Turnips
March Short Story
Six Pre-Emergent Myths Busted

#1 No prior crabgrass issues = no need for pre-emergents
Crabgrass seeds can be transported great distances, by the wind or by animals. And, weed seeds are viable for a long time in the soil.  Best to treat the yard every year.

#2 Thick lawns don't need to be treated
While it is true that thick, healthy lawns are able to shade the soil surface and reduce crabgrass germination, there is no guarantee that the lawn will be able to maintain its lushness throughout spring and summer.  Applying a pre-emergent herbicide can serve as an insurance policy on the off chance the yard suddenly loses its luster.

#3 Soil aeration breaks the pre-emergent control barrier
Because pre-emergent herbicides create a barrier in the soil, it is a commonly-held belief that aeration will disrupt this layer.  There have been several published research articles that demonstrate no reduction of weed control with spring aeration.

#4 Spot-treating is more effective
The consensus among scientists is that this method is ineffective.  It is better to treat the entire yard with a pre-emergent herbicide to create a complete soil barrier.

#5 Post-emergent herbicides are better
Pre-emergent herbicides have very little chance of affecting the established turf and require far fewer applications. Pre-emergent applications are easier to schedule because the products won't degrade if applied early. For  the cheaper and easier option for  controlling crabgrass , beating it to the punch by putting down a pre-emergent is the preferred method

#6 Pre-emergents must be applied at an exact time
There are several timing factors that people tend to go by, either waiting for a specific month depending on their region, or monitoring soil temperatures. Crabgrass starts to germinate when the soil temperature has been above 50 degrees for several days. The most important thing is to remember that it is better to apply early than too late.

Oklahoma Proven Selections for 2020

               {Hornbeam}                                                  {Red Yucca}         
 
             {Sweet Flag}                           {Brazilian Verbena}
In 1999, the faculty of Oklahoma State University's Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture began the Oklahoma Proven Program - a program designed to evaluate, recommend and market plants best suited for our challenging Oklahoma climate and soil conditions.

Every year since, winning selections are released in the four categories - tree, shrub, annual, and perennial - just in time for planting! 

Click on OKLAHOMA PROVEN for descriptions of the 2020 winners (as shown above) as well as a link that shows all of the Oklahoma Proven selections dating back to 1999. .
Growing Amaryllis Bulbs

Arguably, the most challenging time of the year to maintain indoor plants is during the winter months. Lower moisture and light levels combined with shorter days and the furnace running, plant lovers' hands are somewhat tied. However, with just a little foresight and planning, managing becomes a lot less stressful and more manageable by growing certain bulbs.  Of all flowering  bulbs, Amaryllis is perhaps one of the easiest to grow.
 
The Amaryllis is prized for its huge showy flowers from a big beefy bulb. It provides a dramatic show during our drab months of February and March. Furthermore, t hey do well both indoors and out, and maintain their blooms for several weeks. 

Click on AMARYLLIS to see just how easy it is to grow this beauty indoors or out.
An Invaluable Tool For Gardeners: The Mesonet

Spring is almost here and we are all anxious to get back to doing what we love most, working in our gardens. How soon can I start planting? What is the soil temperature in my area? Is the soil wet or dry? What's the latest on our famously changeable weather? We are in luck! Here in Oklahoma the answer to all these questions, and many more, is available 24/7 on the Internet at the Oklahoma Mesonet site found at http://www.mesonet.org. An App for the site is also available from Apple and Google for your smartphone.
 
Designed and implemented by scientists from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, the Mesonet is a network of 120 automated environmental monitoring stations throughout the state. There is at least one station in each county and each station takes measurements every five minutes. These measurements are combined into "observations" which are sent to the Oklahoma Climatological Survey every five minutes so the data you see on the website is never more than 5-10 minutes old. To see data for the station nearest to you, click on the city and type in your zip code. There are four stations in the Tulsa area: Tulsa, Bixby, Hectorville and Inola.

For more information on this invaluable gardening "tool", click on MESONET and get smarter about gardening!
DID YOU KNOW?

The Tulsa Master Gardener Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization.  As such, it receives no city, state or federal funding for its Tulsa community outreach programs. In fact, the Tulsa's Master Gardener programs are self-funded by its own fundraisers, from member donations, and from public donations.

The main Tulsa Master Gardener fundraiser is its Annual Spring Plant Sale that is held each April.  Other fundraisers include the Garden Tour and Garage Sale in June.  And, one of the most important income sources that sometimes gets overlooked are the personal and corporate donations.  These are so important in helping us to meet our financial obligations and we want you to know they are very much appreciated. 

MG Endowment Fund
 
The Tulsa Master Gardeners have been around for over three decades, since 1983.  And, we plan to be around for many more decades. Furthermore,  we are considered one of the top five Master Gardener county programs in the entire nation. We are because of the size of our Foundation membership, the number, diversity and activity level of our various community outreach programs, and our overall financial strength!  
 
So, we are pleased to announce, in partnership with the Tulsa Community Foundation, the Master Gardener Foundation has established an Endowment Fund to ensure our long-term financial strength. Our plans are to build this fund for many years before making any withdrawals from it. Please consider us as you make your annual gift giving as well as longer-term estate planning decisions. Remember, all donations are fully tax deductible! 
 
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the long-term success of the program, click on   TULSA MASTER GARDENER ENDOWMENT FUND.
 
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund our annual expenses, click on  TULSA MASTER GARDENER AGENCY FUND.
 
We thank all of you for having been such faithful contributors both in the past and in advance for your future consideration and participation!  Proud to be a part of the Tulsa area - such a giving community!  

MG GENERAL FUND
Judy Feuquay
Marilyn Baldwin

MG ENDOWMENT FUND
Sandy Mills
Oklahoma Pest Management Association


IN HONOR OF BEVERLY KLENDA
* Sue Young

IN MEMORY OF STEVE WOOD
Susan Braselton
John & Susan Cravens
Diane Hambric
Chester Jacewitz
Alyne Eiland
Julienne Lovelace
Jack & Carolyn Rogers
Ann McKellar
Susan Hart
* Kirby Williams

* Donated to MG Endowment Fund

Got a Question? Or Maybe a Soil or Plant Sample?
MG logo
Our Master Gardeners are on hand to assist you with even the toughest gardening questions. Visit us in person, by phone, via email or online! Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.


Address: 4116 East 15th Street (Gate 6 at the Fairgrounds)
Phone: (918) 746-3701

Need More Information?
butterfly
law n fertilizer
complex leaves
All about butterfly gardening in Tulsa County.

How to Take a Soil Test
How to collect a good sample of soil from your lawn or garden and get it tested at the OSU lab.

Once you have collected your soil test and gotten the results back, now what? Find out here. 

Show and tell.
Cool Season Lawn Care (Fescue)
12-month maintenance calendar.
State horticulturists, nurseries and growers pick favorite plants, shrubs and trees for use in the Oklahoma landscape. See the winners for this year and years past.


A list of recommended trees with descriptions. 

A list of over 60, by size and color.

Visit our demonstration garden on  15th Street, open 7 days a week. 

Current and historical source of rainfall, air temperatures, soil temps and much more. Click on Bixby station.  



  
BECOME A MASTER GARDENER!
 
                                    Like what you've seen
                                               
Tulsa County Logo
OSU Extension Logo Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.