Although we don't regularly experience heavy snow throughout the winter months in Oklahoma, there are times when we get hit with a nor'easter. The affects can have us outside - shoveling snow and sprinkling various types of ice melt products to ease the assault of the storm. But, it is wise to know the effects that various ice melt products can have on our flower beds and landscape.

 

Click on ICE MELT to learn about the various products on the market, the effects they can have on our yard and beds, and how to minimize the adverse effects. 

While it is not recommended to prune rose bushes in early fall due potential new growth that could be damaged by unforeseen early freezing temperatures, in the dead of winter roses are dormant and their shape can be easily seen.  Therefore, i n order to enjoy a spectacular bloom of roses in May, it is important to prune your rose bushes in the winter months. 

For Oklahoma, February (around President's Day) is the best time to prune and shape dormant rose bushes before spring growth begins to show in late March. For more information on how to properly prune as well as other tips, c lick on WINTER ROSE CARE. 

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. Therefore, many gardeners are tempted to try for encore blooming the following year.  This is entirely possible if you follow certain guidelines.   Click on AMARYLLIS to learn how to make this plant re-bloom year after year.

IPM, or  Integrated Pest Management , is a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to prevention and control of garden pests with special regard to the environmental and human health. A successful IPM strategy relies on a continuous flow of knowledge, implementation, and evaluation of techniques used to produce positive results. While starting an IPM program may sound difficult, it is not. It is actually a fairly straightforward process. Begin with knowing your plants and their pests, then learn the four methods of control: cultural, physical / mechanical, biological and chemical. 

 

Click on IPM to learn more about each of these four practices, which are all good alternatives to broadly applying various chemicals to control pests and diseases.  

Ornamental grasses are a great addition to any landscape and provide texture, height and interest in ALL seasons. In addition, these grasses are easy to care for and maintain, and include many hardy varieties suitable for any climate. Enjoying ornamental grasses comes with little maintenance to give the plant its best chance to thrive and produce a healthy, beautiful plant for the landscape.

Pruning ornamental grasses can seem like a huge task, but there are ways to simplify the process.  Click on  ORNAMENTAL GRASS PRUNINGto find out how.

Winter is in full force and inevitably turns our thoughts to early spring.   Gardeners naturally start thinking of the creative possibilities for their gardens. For most gardeners, the joy of the entertaining dance of our favorite pollinators, from the ballet performance of butterflies, moths and skippers to the business of honey, bumble, carpenter, and sweat bees, to the magic of hummingbirds is motivation enough to plan our gardens to attract these delights of nature. 

Encouraging pollinators to visit our gardens goes beyond entertainment. Planting flowers and plants to encourage visits from our pollinators is also good stewardship over our earth . . . a win-win double hitter.  For a comprehensive story on this, click on  PLANTING FOR POLLINATORS.. 

January and February are often cold and dreary months for many gardeners.  However, planning for and starting vegetables and flower transplants from seed can make this a much more interesting time of year. Start by o btaining your seeds from reputable sources such as garden centers and seed catalogs. Also, talk to your neighbors, friends and garden centers about what has worked well for them.  

{Early symptom of Pine Wilt}                       {Mature pine killed by Pine Wilt}

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. 

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 E. 15th Street, Gate 6 at the Fairgrounds

Phone: (918) 746-3701