Weed Control

Control weeds prior to planting vegetables and flowers. Glyphosate is a common post-emergent weed killer which allows you to plant very soon after spraying. It is also possible to use certain pre-emergent herbicides in the garden as well. Treflan, which contains the active ingredient Trifluralin is labeled for both ornamental and some vegetables. In ornamental plantings you can utilize Snapshot or Surflan as well as others in ornamental beds to prevent weeds. Grass killers such as Poast--which contains the active ingredient Sethoxydim--can be sprayed directly on most broadleaf crops, and will only kill the grass and not your crop. One can also keep ahead of weeds during the growing season by simply hoeing frequently in the top inch of soil to prevent new seeds from germinating. Organic alternatives include spreading corn gluten to prevent weeds from sprouting or utilizing landscape fabric to physically prevent weeds.

 

Transplants

Frost-sensitive bedding plants and vegetables can be safely planted in May. Make sure to tease out the roots of the plants to prevent circling roots. More Transplanting Guidance

Wet Soil

If your clay soil is wet from excess rain, be sure to allow it to dry thoroughly prior to tilling or digging it. Working a soil too soon after a rain can cause “clods” of soil that will ruin the soil structure for years to come. On the contrary if your soil dries out be prepared to water to get the best out of your lawn and garden. 7-10 days without rain can lead to serious drought issues for your lawn and garden during the hot summer.

Crape Myrtles

Watch plants carefully for evidence of aphids and spray as needed. (Insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or chemicals are available). These aphids are responsible for the black sooty mold often seen on Crape myrtles later in the season. If powdery mildew occurs, apply sulfur based fungicides or Immunox fungicide which provides good control. You will also want to keep an eye out for the ambrosia beetle which bores into the tree and leaves straws of sawdust sticking out of the trunk. These beetles infect the trees with the ambrosia fungus which can kill the tree. Protective sprays of bifenthrin can prevent infestation. Once the trees are infected, however, there is no cure.



Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy can be eliminated with multiple sprays of Glyphosate or a product containing 2-4d or triclopyr, which are broad leaf weed killers. Do not apply herbicides on a windy day to prevent injury to desirable plants. Goats are a good natural way to eliminate this troublesome weed.

Hummingbirds

It’s time to hang up hummingbird feeders. Any feeder can attract hummingbirds, so the most important design feature to look for is ease of disassembly and cleaning. Hummingbirds get the energy they need to maintain their astonishing metabolism primarily from flower nectar and the sugar water they find at feeders. For protein and other nutrients, they also eat soft-bodied insects and spiders. The sugar water we use to fill hummingbird feeders is only a supplement to the birds’ natural diet. It’s not necessary, but a commercial “nectar” mix that includes additional vitamins, protein, or other substances can be helpful. Remember: do not put honey, Jell-O, brown sugar, fruit, or red food coloring in your feeder! If you are trying to attract hummingbirds to your garden, these plants can be particularly inviting to them.

Blackberry Orange Rust

If you see an orange substance on the backs of your blackberry leaves it is Orange Rust. This disease can kill leaves and cause a reduced crop. It will persist from year to year, so if you have an infection it is best to destroy the infected plants. It’s also important to remove all wild blackberries that may be harboring the fungus. There are no effective chemical controls at this time. The varieties Cherokee, Cheyenne, Comanche, Choctaw, Arapaho, Ouachita, and Shawnee are considered resistant.

Spring Bulbs

Do NOT cut back spring bulb foliage until it turns yellow and brown. This foliage makes the food for the bulb to bloom next year.

Rhododendron

You can prune your rhododendron/azaleas after they finish flowering. Be sure to spray your azaleas with soapy water or horticultural oils to kill lace bugs which will turn the leaves a grey color. You will need to coat the undersides of the leaves to get control of these pesky insects. Imidacloprid is a chemical systemic control that can be utilized after blooming as well.

Aphids

Aphids vary in color from green, black, brown, red, pink, etc. They are soft-bodied insects and they suck sap from their needle-like mouthparts from buds, leaves, twigs and developing fruit. The results include leaves that may be stunted and distorted and fruit that becomes misshapen. Aphids can be found along stems or on the underside of a leaf. Did you know that aphids have a natural predator: ladybugs! Non-chemical removal of these pests includes washing them off the plant with a steady stream of water or spraying soapy water on the leaves. Repeat again in 3-4 days to catch any survivors. Chemical control of aphids includes spraying Pyrethrin or Malathion.

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

4-H Summer Program Registration is Here!

The Winter/Spring semester of 4-H was full and fantastic. So, now it's time to look toward summer...and what a summer of fun it's going to be at the Extension Center! If you haven't heard yet, the KIDS are coming!! And when we say that, we don't just mean our favorite students. The newest members of 4-H will have four legs, fur, and forage for grass. That's right...GOATS are moving in here at Extension! We're excited to be able to offer a brand new 4-H Summer Program focused on learning about, raising, and showing Nigerian Dwarf goats.

But that's just ONE of the exciting programs we're offering for youth ages 5-18 this summer. Browse the full list below and then get your child(ren) or grandchild(ren) registered as soon as possible--these programs fill up quickly !

2019 Summer 4-H Programs Offered



Be the first to find out about what's coming up for youth in Polk County by subscribing to the 4-H newsletter !

Men's Cooking Class 2019 was one for the record books! Congratulations to each graduate on a job extremely well done!

May is Barbecue & Grilling Month

With the weather becoming warmer, we feel ready to break out the grill. May is National Barbecue Month. Sure, most of us think “meat” when barbecuing or grilling, but why not throw some fruits and vegetables on the grill for a healthier option? Plus, they have a great flavor when grilled. Here are some quick ideas for grilling fruits and vegetables. Of course, you'll want to check your instruction book for exact times and directions for your grill.

Electric Fencing for Goats

 Having goats to take care of unwanted brush and weeds can be a tremendous biological control. However, building fence can be an issue for several folks. Cost, labor, and the know-how are a hinderance of using “natures weed-eaters” to benefit our land. A simple solution to this problem is using electric netting to secure goats around a desired area. This idea is simple and very do-able for most land owners.

Electric netting is a temporary poly-wire type fence that can be staked to create a perimeter fence, cross fence, or simply to surround a desired area that needs to be grazed or browsed. For instance, if you have heavy weed pressure of multiflora rose bushes in one area of a pasture, you can simply circle the brush with this fence, attach a solar fence charger to the netting, and then allow your goats to browse until the desired vegetation is gone. Once they have stripped this area you can then move your fence and goats to the next area.

While the popular misconception that goats will eat anything is clearly not true, goats will clear an amazing variety of brushy weedy species in a relatively short time. Research shows us that goats can clear 50-90% of brush in a single year and that brush will be down to as low as 2% within 5 years. However, there are some weeds that goats do not prefer. Weeds such as nimble weed, wild strawberry, and yellow-crown beard are usually passed over by goats.

As with anything, there is some labor involved with this practice. You will have to unroll and stake your fence for each rotation. Along with this, you will have to make sure there is a clear path for your fence so that the netting can be adequately electrified. Ensuring fresh water is available is extremely important for your animals as well.

While this approach will not be a cure-all for everyone, it can be a beneficial and economical way of clearing unwanted brushy-type weeds, without having to build permanent fencing for your animals.