APRIL ISSUE | 2021
WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?
3 Great Gardening Programs ONLINE
April Garden Chores
Garden Helpline OPEN
Growing Tomatoes
Year of the Garden Bean
MG Plant Sale May 8th
Invasive Plant Pocket Guide
Hardiness Zones Map
Pruning Clematis
Cicada Mania
Bee Swarms
Call 811
Helpful NCSU Resources, Master Gardener Blog & more!
Applications available now for
Extension Master Gardener training in
Buncombe County
Click on the
can to learn more!
Deadline June 1st
JOIN US ONLINE
for
THREE GREAT PROGRAMS!
GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAINS
presents:
Gardening for All Abilities
Thursday, April 15, 2021
10 to 11 a.m.

FREE Virtual Event

Presenters: Mary Hugenschmidt and Suzanne Wodek, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers
 
Are your special needs or changing physical abilities keeping you out of the garden?
Are your garden chores becoming more challenging? Do you know how to select tools and equipment that will keep you healthy and safe in the garden?


In this presentation Mary Hugenschmidt and Suzanne Wodek, Master Gardener Volunteers and longtime teachers of therapeutic horticulture, will tell us about ergonomic tools, garden structures and design, and proper body mechanics to get us back in the garden and keep us gardening for life. 

Registration: The talk is free, but registration is required. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
THE LEARNING GARDEN
presents:
Planning and Growing a Botanical Dye Garden
Monday April 19th, 2021
10 to 11 a.m.
FREE Virtual Event

Presenter: Pat Strang and Joyce Tromba, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers
 
Learn how to select and grow plants that will give you a rainbow of colors to dye any kind of fiber. Or use these plants to make inks and paints. Pat and Joyce discuss plant selection, garden design, and maintenance, as well as when and how to harvest your dye plants. You will get information about where to buy seeds and seedlings, and you will learn how to save your own seeds. Dye plants are easy to grow and will connect you to the garden in a whole new way.

Registration: The talk is free, but registration is required. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
SATURDAY SEMINAR
presents:
Wood Pallet and Straw Bale Gardening
Saturday April 24th, 2021
10 to 11 a.m.
FREE Virtual Event

Presenter: Phil Roudebush, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
 
Join Phil as he explains how to use straw bales and recycled wood pallets for gardening in small spaces. This popular technique is also an easy and economical way to overcome problems gardeners encounter with heavy clay soils.

Registration: The talk is free, but registration is required. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
APRIL GARDEN CHORES
LAWNS
*DO NOT fertilize cool-season lawns (fescue and bluegrass). Nitrogen applied this late is an invitation for brown patch fungus disease in June.
*Maintain mowing height for fescue lawns at 3 to 3 ½ inches.
*This is a good time to hit broadleaf weeds, such as clover and dandelions, with a spot spray of a selective herbicide that is labeled for these plants.
*Reduce lawn area and cut out problem areas:
- Wet and/or shady 
- Constant, heavy traffic areas 
- Difficult to maintain areas: narrow strips, tight angles, under trees
*Expand mulched area around trees and beds.
*Tolerate diversity. Many weeds provide important resources for pollinators - especially early spring bloomers.
*Plant "Turf Type" white clover that are lower growing, less vigorous, smaller leaves and less flowers.
*GROW a BEE FRIENDLY LAWN. Go  HERE to get your ToolKit Now!
 
ORNAMENTALS
*Apply a fresh layer of mulch to landscape beds before summer weeds germinate. Pull the winter weeds first. Only add enough mulch so that the total depth of mulch is not more than 4 inches.
 *Try planting those spent Easter lilies in the garden. Keep them indoors until May, and then plant them about 5 inches deep in a sunny location. They probably will not bloom again this year, but should be back next summer.
 *Let the foliage of the spring bulbs die most of the way down before cutting the leaves. The bulb needs to absorb that energy for next spring.
 *As soon as spring blooming shrubs have finished blooming, it's time to prune if they have gotten too large.
 *Do not plant frost-tender (summer annual) flowers before May unless you will be able to cover them in case of frost.
*Don't let winter annuals like henbit and chickweed go to seed. Hand pulling is effective where broadleaf herbicides are nonselective and can harm landscape plants.
 
FRUIT
*Pull weeds in the strawberry bed and put straw mulch between the rows.
*Weed the garlic and asparagus beds to reduce undesirable weeds.
*Fertilize fruit trees, blueberries, grape wines and brambles.
*Finish pruning brambles, grape vines and fruit trees.
 
VEGETABLES
*When the soil is not too wet to work, till or turn over the soil for May planting; incorporate lime and phosphate according to soil test recommendations.
*When planning the vegetable garden, remember to rotate the location of plant families from year to year if possible. This is particularly important with tomatoes and legumes.
*Set out transplants for cool-season crops such as cabbage, broccoli and lettuce. 
  -Make sure they are hardened off before planting into the garden.
*Still time to plant potatoes as well as seeds for lettuce, beets and leafy greens.
*Still time to start transplants of warm-season vegetables.
*Begin "hardening off" warm-season transplants a week or two before planting in early to mid-May.
*Have row cover fabric handy if frost-sensitive crops are planted before May.

Trying to decide what vegetable varieties to grow?
check out the
Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners citizen science project with Cornell University. Over 7,000 variety profiles are listed with seed sources

When is the last frost?

The average last frost and safe planting date for tender summer annuals in our area is Mother's Day (May 9, 2021).  

Is the soil warm enough to plant vegetable seeds?

It all depends on what you want to plant. Lettuce, Radish and Pea seeds can germinate around 40 degrees. Corn, Cucumbers and Pumpkin seeds do better closer to 60 degrees.

GO HERE TO SEE SOIL TEMPERATURE NEAR YOU

GARDEN HELPLINE IS NOW OPEN!
Two Ways to Get Help with Your Gardening Questions:

Call 828-250-4878
OR
with your questions and photos.
EMGVs are working remotely from home
Monday & Wednesday 10 - 2 and Friday 10 - 12
Call and email any time!
 for the
Western North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs
GROWING THE BEST TOMATO!
There are 3 kinds of tomato gardeners.

  • Those who do everything, at great cost and get good results.
  • There are those who give it their best and salvage what they can when late blight hits.
  • AND then there are those who plant container varieties for the joy and taste and visit their local tailgate for what they need to eat and preserve for the winter.

If you fall into any of these camps you know that diseases, insects and various disorders make growing tomatoes in our region a challenge. And if you are like most gardeners you are not willing to give up.

Starting with disease resistant varieties is THE first step to growing tomatoes here.
Check out this BLOG POST "Blight-Resistant Tomatoes: WNC Leads the Way in Research" by the EMG Janet Moore to learn more.

Learning what to look for and how to manage diseases, insects and disorders is essential for every tomato grower's toolbox.
Check out this VIDEO "Tomato Problems Diseases and Pests" by EMG Phil Roudebush to learn more.
YEAR OF THE GARDEN BEAN
NATIONAL GARDEN BUREAU CELEBRATES THE
YEAR OF THE GARDEN BEAN
Garden beans are great for beginning and all gardeners. They can provide a long season of harvest or be sown in succession. They are quick to mature and should be harvested frequently to continue production. They can also be grown on a trellis for privacy or on a frame to provide shade for the weary gardener!
CLICK ON THE BEAN IMAGE TO READ MORE
MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE
MASKS & DISTANCING REQUIRED!
Buncombe Master Gardeners are working hard to make this plant sale safe for shoppers.

They are also busy digging, potting and making preparations so there will be an abundance of plants to choose from!

MAY 8th
9 - 3

Proceeds from this sale help fund Buncombe EMG
education programs and activities.
DID YOU MISS Gardening in the Mountains or Saturday Seminar in March?
No Worries- Recordings are Now Available!
Gardening With EarthBoxes®--Debbie Green 2-2021

This is a talk by Debbie Green, an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer and experienced Earthbox® user. Debbie covers planning, planting, watering and other m...

Read more
www.youtube.com
HELP STOP THE SPEAD OF EXOTIC NATIVE PLANTS!
DOWNLOAD NOW
for western North Carolina.
Put this guide in your pocket for reference as you shop
perennial and woody plants for your garden this season.
THIS IS A DO NOT BUY LIST.
Produced by the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Weed Management Partnership.
DO PLANT HARDINESS ZONES MATTER?
YES! Plant Hardiness Zones matter. As gardeners we need to know the average low temperatures to know what plants will do well.

Knowing the hardiness zone in your specific location, especially in the mountains, can make a big difference. Depending on where you live on the mountain you could be in zone 5B or 7A.

Read what the EMGs say about why you should pay attention to the hardiness zone when buying plants for your garden.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PRUNE CLEMATIS VINES?
"When" depends on which flowering clematis you are growing. Clematis are divided into 3 groups. Each group is based on when the vine flowers.
To know which group, is to know the best time to prune.

Most labels indicate the group. If you dont have the label and dont know the name - dont prune it and pay attention to when it flowers!

Group 1 - Flowers on old (last years) wood early to mid-spring.

Pruning to manage the size and remove weak or dead stems is usually enough. If more pruning is needed, do so after flowering.

Evergreen types are in the group: C. armandii, C. alpine, C. cirrhosa, C. macropetala, and C. montana.


Group 2 - Flowers first on old (last years) wood AND then again on new wood.

Prune some in early spring, to clean up and remove weak growth, and again after main flowering time is complete, if needed. Severe pruning of this type won’t kill the plant but can set back flowering.

Spring and mid season double and semi-double large flowered types are in this group: ‘Nelly Moser,’ ‘Henryi,’ ‘Marie Boisselot,’ and ‘Elsa Spath.’

Group 3 – Flowers only on new wood (new growth in the current season) and flowers best when cut 12 – 24” from the ground in early spring. Remove old stems completely.

Large-flowered, late blooming types are in this group: C. viticella, C. recta, and C. jackmanii.
CHECK OUT THESE AND OTHER TYPES OF CLEMATIS
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE IT?

KLEM-ah-tiss

Go HERE to listen
GO-TO PUBLICATIONS ON PRUNING!
This first of four publications in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series introduces basic pruning concepts and key terms.

This second in a series offers tips on selecting the right tool for the job and for evaluating a tool’s quality.

This third in a series offers general tips on pruning most landscape plants.

This final publication in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series gives tips for pruning specific plants.
CICADAS ARE COMING! maybe...
According to CICADAMANIA.COM, Brood X (10) of the 17 year periodical cicada is expected to emerge in 15 eastern US states in the spring of 2021. These states include Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. The North Carolina counties include: Cherokee, Surry, Wilkes.

The site also notes that "some precursors (stragglers) from Brood XIV should emerge as well." While they will only be stragglers, we have 2025 to look forward to when Brood XIV is expected to emerge in Buncombe County. LUCKY US!

FOR ALL YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT CICADAS
click on the cicada image
NEED HELP WITH A BEE SWARM?
1. Go to wncbees.org and click the "Report a Honey Bee Colony or Swarm" tab. This tab opens a new page with an on-line form, which should be filled out completely.
 
3. Once the form is submitted, that information is sent to the BCBC Swarm list; individuals will respond quickly, often the same day, as catching a swarm is a time-sensitive task.
 
4. If honey bees are in a STRUCTURE (walls, attics, etc.) this is a much more difficult situation. You can still utilize the BCBC Swarm list however most beekeepers will not have the capability to  remove the bees if they are in a hard-to-reach location in the structure. If this is the case, you will need
to contact a pest control company to determine if professionals can assist in the removal process.
 
5. Identification is important.  Wasps, hornets, bumblebees, and other native bees are important pollinators and beneficial insects.
TO LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY NORTH CAROLINA BEES

THE NC EXTENSION GARDENER PLANT TOOLBOX is a new plant database to help with plant selection for gardeners throughout North Carolina. Detailed descriptions and photographs of over 4000 plants are included.
Search for plants based on cultural condition, landscape function,
whole plants traits, flower and foliage color.
CHECK OUT THE NC EXTENSION GARDENER PLANT TOOLBOX HERE

LEARN HOW TO SELECT A PLANT USING THE PLANT TOOLBOX HERE
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!
Online requests are possible.. 

Service to underground utilities can easily be cut when digging at any depth for any of the following projects; building a terrace or retaining wall, installing irrigation or drainage lines or even planting a shrub or tree.

Having the utilities located within the project area can save yourself and the utility company time and money.
 
Allow 48 hours for the utilities to be marked. Note that only the public utilities up to your meter will be marked. Your private septic lines or the water lines past the meter will not be located. Also be aware that the marking is not exact and will not tell you the depth of the lines. 

Once lines are marked, take a picture or make a map for your future reference!
 
Find more information on the North Carolina 811: visit www.nc811.org

CHECK OUT THE
BUNCOMBE MASTER GARDENER BLOG!
The Buncombe County Extension Master GardenerSM
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. 

Posts are short, fun to read, and offer good information compiled by your Buncombe County Extension Master Gardeners. 
CLICK HERE to sign up!
VIDEOS FOR ALL GARDENERS!
Extension Master Gardener volunteers have created several gardening videos to help gardeners learn about vegetable gardening in
raised bed and straw bales.

CHECK THEM OUT ON THEIR WEBSITE
A GARDENING GUIDE TO OUR MOUNTAINS
Created by the Extension Master Gardener (BCEMG) volunteers in Buncombe County, this guide provides a complete month-by-month description of what to do (and not to do), along with tips on invasive species, mulching, composting and creating bird- and pollinator-friendly habitats.

Funds raised through this publication go to support the many educational and outreach programs provided by BCEMG volunteers.

How to order: Send $13 (checks payable to Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener) to the Cooperative Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, N.C. ATTN: Buncombe County Master Gardener. Include mailing address for shipping.

Copies are available at the office for pick up for $10. Please note that due to Covid-19 office hours are limited and so please call in advance. 828-255-5522.
RESOURCES FROM NCSU
for market and home gardening!
Vegetables

North Carolina is a strong national producer of fresh and processed vegetable commodities, serving local and international market demands. The U.S. Agriculture 2012 report ranked the state a top ten vegetable producer in sweet potatoes,...

Read more
horticulture.ces.ncsu.edu
Small Fruits

The Horticultural Science Small Fruit Programs are focused on optimizing production of bunch grapes, muscadines, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Breeding programs are active in developing varieties of strawberry,...

Read more
horticulture.ces.ncsu.edu
Tree Fruits & Nuts

Success in horticulture necessitates a multi-disciplinary approach; NC State's tree fruit research is based on this foundation. Tree fruit information is specific to North Carolina production with valuable support and information shared from...

Read more
horticulture.ces.ncsu.edu

Soil Testing Information for Gardeners

If you are curious to learn more about why and how to soil test your lawn and garden, check out the links listed in the link below.

Read more
gardening.ces.ncsu.edu
COVID - 19 RESOURCES - NC STATE EXTENSION
The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone! NC State Extension COVID-19 RESOURCES & INFORMATION website has information and resources helpful for home gardeners, agriculture, families and youth.

STAY SAFE * STAY CONNECTED * STAY HEALTHY
THE OFFICE IS OPEN...
CALL FIRST BEFORE COMING!
The Extension office is open but with limited staffing.
SOIL BOXES & FORMS ARE OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR
AND CAN BE PICKED UP 24/7
Please make appointments for dropping off samples and seeking information. 
Call the office or contact the agent directly using this link.