March 2020 News for Polk County
Director's Focus: Spring Garden Recommendations
Many Polk County residents will be gearing up to start their spring gardens soon. In our area, that can mean as early as March 1. We have some great news for you: we can help with specific plant recommendations! Last spring, we utilized the Cooperative Extension Research Garden to test multiple varieties of beets, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce for our local area. To guide you in purchasing ideal varieties, we have published the results of that research right on our website .

Head over to learn which broccoli produced side shoots after it was cut, which carrot had no disease issues, which cabbage performed well both in spring and fall, and much more info about your favorite spring crops. Also, if you prefer to have all the variety information at your fingertips, stop by the Extension office to pick up a pick up a copy of the full 2019 Spring Research Garden Outcomes brochure.
Scott Welborn is the County Extension Director for Polk County
Home, Lawn and Garden Tips for March
Fescue
This is the month that cool season grasses really start to grow. If you haven't already, go ahead and apply your fertilizer. A  soil test  is the preferred method of determining how much to apply, but if you don't plan on soil testing, apply 10 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 1000 square feet of lawn space or 6 pounds of 17-17-17. This will get your lawn off to a good start. Note: anytime you apply a fertilizer with phosphorus in it, you should first aerate your yard so that the nutrient gets into the ground. 
 
Warm-Season Grasses
Grasses such as Bermuda and Zoysia need to be fertilized during the warm months of the year. Now is the time to conduct weed control for broadleaf weeds in your warm season grasses.

Crabgrass
Crabgrass and summer broadleaf weed preventers should be applied around March 1. A second pre-emergent treatment can be applied eight weeks after the first to maintain season-long control of crabgrass. Pre-emergent herbicides should only be used on established lawns. If you seeded your Tall Fescue lawn this spring, definitely wait until at least the second mowing before applying a pre-emergent herbicide. Dimension and Barricade are some good pre- emergent options.

Shrubs
Your shrubbery should be pruned this time of the year. Pruning prior to bud break is the safest pruning method for most shrubs. If you have shrubs that bloom on one-year-old wood (such as Azaleas and Hydrangeas) prune them  after  they bloom in order to enjoy the flowers. Now is a good time to clean up any fallen leaves and debris in your shrub beds to prevent diseases from last year from reappearing. Also this month, you can apply pre-emergent herbicides in the shrubs to prevent summer weeds. Snapshot, Freehand, Dimension, and Preen are a few name brands that are easily applied as a granular. Surflan is a good liquid option.

Fruit Trees
Fruit trees should be pruned prior to bud break. If you are just getting around to it, then you are late! It is still okay to prune, but you must do it ASAP! As your trees finish blooming, begin spraying with an all-purpose fruit tree spray according the the product label to prevent insects and diseases.

Other Trees
Remove any dead, diseased or crossing branches from your trees prior to bud break. Do NOT top trees!

Pasture
Apply 260 pounds of 17-17-17 per acre to get your fescue off to a great start. You may also want to spray under fence lines to remove weeds and utilize a broadleaf weed killer such as Crossbow to take out unwanted plants in the grazing grass.

In the Garden
There is still time to plant cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, beets, onions and basically any crop that can take a frost and that will be harvested within 60 days or so. It is also time to begin turning over your cover crops to prepare for summer planting. In our area, we plant the summer garden around May 1, and you will need the 6-8 weeks between now and then for your cover crops to decompose properly in the soil prior to planting. Now is also a good time to  conduct a soil test , as you will get back your results in plenty of time for summer planting.

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 drop us an  email  or give us a call at 828-894-8218.


SAVE THE DATE

 Orientation is Monday, Apr. 20
Communication is the backbone of our society, but being able to express oneself clearly and effectively is not something we are always able to do without some guidance. That’s where the 4-H Presentation Program comes in.

Participation in the 4-H presentation programs gives students the opportunity to learn:
  • How to speak before an audience with poise and confidence
  • How to find and research a subject
  • How to plan and organize thoughts and information in a logical manner
  • How to prepare visual aids
  • How to manage stress and time

Are you curious about the 2020 Polk County Presentation Program? Then make a plan for you and your child/teen to attend our introductory meeting on Monday, April 20 at 3:30 p.m. at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Polk County Center.
Three Polk County 4-H’ers, ages 14-18, are eligible to attend this year's 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus on June 15-17. 4-H Youth Development Agent Helen Blackwell will take three interested teens to the conference at the Hilton Embassy Suites in Cary, NC.

Conference highlights include:
  • Citizenship themed workshops
  • Panel discussions
  • Distinguished speakers
  • Visits with elected officials
  • Service opportunities

Cost per student is $200 (which includes lodging and meals), but the Polk County 4-H Youth Foundation may be able to cover some or all of the costs for interested youth. To find out more about this opportunity, email Helen or give her a call at 828-894-8218.
Helen Blackwell is the 4-H Youth Development Agent for Polk County
March is National Nutrition Month
Choosing nutritious foods and getting enough physical activity can make a significant difference in your overall health. For National Nutrition Month in March, the Cooperative Extensions encourages people to make informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits. 

This year’s theme, Eat Right, Bite by Bite, promotes eating a variety of nutritious foods every day, planning and creating healthful meals each week, and being mindful of the food you choose to eat. 
Make family mealtimes a priority: plan healthy meals in advance to ensure that you are offering a wide range of healthy items. Research shows that children who eat with their family tend to have a healthier diet. With busy schedules it can be hard to sit down for a family meal, but even one or two nights a week can have a positive effect.

Planning healthy meals isn't difficult if you make fruits and vegetables the focus ingredients. They are a great way to add color, flavor and texture plus vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Make 2 cups of fruit and 2 ½ cups of vegetables your daily goal. Try the following tips to enjoy more fruits and vegetables.

  • Variety abounds when using vegetables as pizza topping. Try broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini.
  • Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with low-fat milk frozen strawberries and a banana.
  • Make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low-fat cheese rolled in a whole wheat tortilla.
  • Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite low-fat salad dressing for dip.
  • Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms and onions.
  • Add color to salads with baby carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves or mandarin oranges.
  • Place colorful fruit where everyone van easily grab something for snack -on-the-run.
  • Stuff omelet with vegetables. Turn any omelet into a hearty meal with vegetables and low-fat cheese.
  • Wake up to fruit. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, cereal or yogurt.
  • Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach and carrots to lasagna , meat loaf or pasta sauce dishes.

These are just a few ideas to help you get started on building a healthy habit lifestyle. For more tips visit these two helpful websites: Eat Smart Move More NC  and Eat Right where you will find tips on eating a variety of nutritious foods every day.

Visit our blog for this wonderful way to blend warm vegetables and comforting avocados into a delicious salad for any night of the week.
Healthy Eating With An Instant Pot
Save the date and watch our blog and Facebook page for the announcement of open registration for this all-new class coming in April.
Jimmi Buell is the Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Polk County