Buncombe County Center                                                                                   April  2018            
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SATURDAY SEMINAR
April 14
10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
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"Raised Beds from A-Z"
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Presented by: Nell Armstrong and Mary Ann Snedeker, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers 
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Do you have poor soil? Bad drainage? Limited space? Aching knees or back? Raised beds may help you solve these common problems. This program covers different types, materials, and uses of raised beds. The presenters will discuss locations-such as yard, deck, or balcony-and will provide tips on how to build a raised bed. You will learn about different soils and fertilizers to use and how to prepare your beds for reuse the next year.
                                                            
Part of this program will be outdoors. Please dress accordingly. If you have difficulty standing for 20 to 30 minutes, consider bringing a folding chair or stool.

Free.  Please call to regis ter 828-255-5522.
Location:  Buncombe County Center,  49 Mt Carmel Rd, Asheville NC 28806  
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GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAIN SERIES
April  19
10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Photo by Donna Sapp, EMGV
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"Planting for Pollinators
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Presented by: Meghan Baker, Small Farms Agent, Buncombe County
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Bees and other pollinators are a keystone species to 85% of the world's plants and play a critical role in  our ecosystem. Much of our food supply relies on the work of bees and these beneficial pollinators. They are crucial to a healthy environment and we gardeners can help!

Come learn how and what to plant in your garden to attract these valuable pollinators. Meghan will  discuss plant selection and gardening best practices that will transform your garden into a healthy and  beautiful habitat-for both you and our valuable pollinators.

Free.  Please call to regis ter 828-255-5522.
Location:  Buncombe County Center,  49 Mt Carmel Rd, Asheville NC 28806  
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APRIL GARDEN CHORES
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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.

 

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.

 

Fruits

*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.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!  
Cool Season Leafy Greens

Lettuce, spinach, kale collards and swiss chard can still be sown from seed or planted as transplants. 
Sow lettuce seed and in 45 days eat and enjoy!

GO HERE to read more from the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County.
SAFE PLANTING DATES

It is hard to resist the urge to plant during beautiful warm days of spring. Remember however that most of our warm season summer annual flowers and vegetables are frost sensitive. The 'average' last frost date for most of Buncombe County is April 25. But it can vary by a couple of weeks depending on where you live on the mountain or valley. 'Average' stills means there is a 50% chance of frost.
 
The 'safe planting date' for our area is when there is only a 10% chance of frost. For most of the county the safe date does not arrive until the second week in May.


HARD TO HOLD 'EM BACK

The pictures below of emerging foliage of daylillies and hostas and the first flowers of our native honeysuckle were taken on March 17. Inevitably the foliage tips will suffer frost damage before the last frost of the season. 

No harm will come to the flowers and as the plant continues to grow. In a couple of months this time will be forgotten.


IS IT HENBIT OR DEAD NETTLE?

Purple deadnettle and Henbit are common winter annuals and are often mistaken for one another. Deadnettle is similar to henbit in appearance although the upper leaves have short petioles and the lower leaves have long petioles. Henbit DOES NOT petioles. Purple deadnettle also has upper leaves that are distinctly red- or purple-tinged. 
Purple deadnettle and henbit both have distinctive four-sided (square) stems, and flower in early spring.
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What is a petiole?
A petiole is the stem or stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the stem.
Sometimes it is called a leaf stalk.

ARE YOUR HOUSEPLANTS
HANGING ON BY A THREAD?

By now indoor tropical houseplants are showing signs of a long dark winter season. Take a close look and inspect for insects and signs of over or under watering. 

If the soil is dry take the container outside on a warm spring day or into a sink or tub and run clear lukewarm water over the soil until it is thoroughly saturated and runs through the drainage holes. This removes built-up fertilizer salts.

If you haven't fertilized in a while, apply a 1/2 strength liquid fertilizer to the moistened soil. Wait until early May to move plants outside.

 

DID YOUR ROSEMARY SURVIVE THE COLD?

Gardeners around the county are reporting rosemary plants with brown foliage. Although it may have survived the more milder temperatures of last winter, it is not reliably winter hardy here in the mountains and may  look pretty rough right now and even appear dead. 

Scraping the bark of a few stems in search of green tissue might not reveal the full extent of the live or damaged wood. When in doubt - wait. Look for new growth and prune back anything dead and damaged. 

In case you need to replace a rosemary there are two varieties to look for that are cold hardy to our region:  Rosemarinus officinalis 'Madeline Hill', also known as Hill Hardy Rosemary and  Rosemarinus officinalis 'Arp'. 

To learn how to winterize herbs for better survival  
GO HERE  
 
 


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Fire season in western North Carolina typically runs Mid February - Mid May and Mid October - Mid December. Of course between the time when plants "green up" and leaves drop and there is adequate rainfall fire risk is low. 

Whether you live in town or out in the county, anytime is a good time to learn how to protect your home and property from fire.

Go to FIREWISE.ORG and take the Home Owner Assessment, find plant lists, watch videos and locate other  resources.
See the "homeowner" section.

WHAT SOIL AMENDMENTS ARE BEST?

 

For clay soils common to most gardens in our region adding  organic matter creates openings in the soil for air and water to move and improves soil structure allowing plant roots to grow. Composted manures, leaves and plant material are some good examples. 

Sand is NOT recommended as a good amendment for clay soil since clay and sand particles when mixed together create adobe or a concrete-like soil. Peat moss is another amendment that is NOT recommended given it's water-holding capacity, creating wet sticky soils. If you are dealing with heavy clay, rocky or poorly drained raised beds would be a great alternative.

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REFRESHING MULCH 

Spring is a fine time to replenish mulch and get on top of the weeds. Since mulch breaks down and needs to be 'top dressed' every year or two, make sure that when mulch is added on top of existing mulch that the total depth does not accumulate more than 3-4 inches total. 

Too much mulch can encourage the plants to develop shallow roots, becoming problematic during periods of drought. Always be sure to keep mulch at least 3-4 inches away from tree trunks and shrub stems.
 
What type of mulch you use is a matter of personal preference. READ HERE to learn more about using mulch properly from the Extension Master Gardener volunteers.



CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!

S ervice to underground utilities can easily be cut when digging at any depth, building a terrace or retaining wall, installing irrigation or drainage lines or even planting a shrub or tree. 

Before you bring in trenching or excavating equipment or even use a mattock or shovel, save yourself and the utility company time and money and have the utilities located within the project area.
 
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

Got a gardening question? 
We've got answers! 
Visit Our 
Extension Master Gardener Info Table.
Locate the  Extension Master Gardener Info Table at tailgate markets and garden events in Buncombe County where you'll find Master Gardener volunteers ready to help.

Ask questions, get advice, and explore trends and best ideas in gardening. Bring samples of plants and insects for identification and problem diagnosis. You can also learn about upcoming Master Gardener programs and pick up soil test kits.

The Extension Master Gardener Info Table is open at select events beginning in April.  Click here to download the 2018 schedule.
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SAVE THE DATE
Spring Fling Plant Sale, May 12 

Mark your calendar and get ready for the fifth annual rose and plant sale, sponsored by the  Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society and the Extension Master Gardener SM Volunteers of  Buncombe County.

When: Saturday, May 12, 2018 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Asheville Area Red Cross 100 Edgewood Road Asheville, NC off Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville

The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society will sell many varieties of roses, including own-root,  fragrant, miniature, and old garden roses. Expert rosarians will be on hand to help you choose  the perfect rose and to give practical advice on growing and caring for roses. 

Extension Master Gardener SM volunteers will offer a huge selection of plants for any garden  spot. Choose among perennials for sun or shade, groundcovers, native plants, and plants that  attract pollinators. Our volunteers will help you select the right plant for the right place and  answer your gardening questions.

Rain or shine, we'll see you there!


READ BACK ISSUES of 
MOUNTAIN GARDENER NEWSLETTER
If you cant find the previous issues of the Mountain Gardener Newsletter in your inbox go HERE to our county website look for NEWSLETTERS on the left and scroll down to find previous 2018 copies to download. 

SIGN UP NOW!

The Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGVs for short!) produce a blog on a variety of topics including current insect and disease issues and gardening tips and activities for all ages and abilities.  

  Click here  to sign up! 
GARDEN HELPLINE IS OPEN

NEED HELP WITH GARDEN QUESTIONS... 
Identifying plants, insects, diseases?
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Extension Master Gardeners are now available to answer your gardening questions.  Office hours for the Garden Helpline are  Monday - Thursday from 10:00am - 2:00pm.

Reach them by Phone (828-255-5522), Email ([email protected]) or walk-in 49 Mount Carmel Rd. 
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Please bring fresh samples showing all stages of symptoms. 

Contact:
Alison Arnold, Extension Agent, 
Consumer Horticulture
49 Mt. Carmel Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
828-255-5522