August 2019 News for Polk County
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Director's Focus: Taking Care of Your Soil
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This is the time of year for my favorite garden produce to be coming in. I love watermelon and
cantaloupes! Mine have sprawled all over the garden at this point and there are many that are
just days away from being fully ripe. This is the reward for a diligent program of weeding, watering and soil maintenance.
Just because all is well with our produce, though, doesn’t mean that it’s time to rest on our laurels. After we take the time to enjoy the bounty of our garden, lets remember that now is the time to think about our soil. If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to
test your soil
. The NCDA provides free soil testing to NC citizens from April to November. When it’s hot outside, and you don’t want to do much else, stop by the Extension office and get a soil test box to send your sample to the lab.
After a couple of weeks, you will get a report detailing your soil makeup and what you need to do to fix it for the best garden you can possibly have next year. Many people find this report hard to read. If that's true for you, Extension can help. I'm available to help you interpret your report and make the best possible plan to fix any soil problems you may have. By taking the time to send off a soil test, you will save yourself money and limit environmental damage from excessive fertilizer. Be a good steward of your land, have a great garden and be informed--get your soil tested!
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Scott Welborn is the County Extension Director for Polk County
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Learn about the
Research Garden
Monday, August 5 @ 1:30pm
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The public is invited to attend the quarterly meeting of the Foothills Association of Master Gardeners. County Extension Director Scott Welborn will be speaking about how the Research Garden is used to benefit our local gardeners. The meeting will be held at the Extension Center at 79 Carmel Lane in Columbus.
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Home, Lawn, and Garden Tips for August
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Watering
This year has been quite wet, but we are trending toward the dry side now (as we typically do going into late summer) so don’t forget to water dry plants and lawns. Give shrubs, flowers, and lawns a thorough soaking. Frequent sprinklings can do more harm than good. When watering shrubs during dry periods of summer and fall, be sure to apply enough water so moisture will move downward to the root system. It is helpful to make a 3-4" mound of soil about 18-24" outward from shrubs. Let water flood inside the mound and soak downward to roots. If you use overhead irrigation on shrubs, try to apply water at some time other than late afternoon because prolonged moisture on leaves overnight encourages disease growth.
Mulching
Mulching of shrubs and young trees can be very important in hot, dry weather. Shallow roots are protected from the sun, moisture is conserved, and weeds and grasses are controlled with a good mulch. A 3-4 inch layer of pine straw, leaves, pine bark or hardwood mulch will help grow strong, healthy plants.
Transplanting
August is a good month in which to transplant iris and daylilies. By doing so now, new transplants will have time to become well established before cold weather. Be sure to water well after transplanting.
No Pruning, Please
Late summer pruning should be avoided. It can stimulate new growth which will not have sufficient time to harden off before cold weather. February is the best time for major pruning, but dead or diseased wood may be removed at any time of the year. If you must cut back a tree or shrub, prune as little as you can and wait to do any major pruning until next February.
In the Garden
Growing a productive fall garden requires thoughtful planning and preparation. Now is the time to remove any previous crop residue and weed growth. Prepare the soil by adding organic matter, fertilizer or lime as needed. 1-2 lb of a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10 may be applied per 100ft² of bed space. An organic fertilizer can be used as well, but be careful with fresh manure as it may contain herbicide residue which will stunt your crops. Thoroughly incorporate the fertilizer if possible. Plant your crops between the middle and late part of August for a fall harvest. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and kale are all great fall/winter crops. Chose varieties that can be harvested in 50-70 days to beat the extreme cold.
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs
- Japanese Beetles/White Grubs- Late July/early August is the optimal time for controlling grubs with soil insecticides since they are still small and are close to the surface now. Applying at any other time of year will not give you the same results. For organic control, begin applying Milky Spore to build up the bacteria in the soil. You will need to do this for several years to get a colony started.
- Borers - Spray peach, cherry and plum trees for borers this month using an orchard spray, soaking the trunk and soil around the base of the tree.
- Mosquitoes— Unfortunately, there is no easy solution for managing mosquitoes. The most effective way to reduce the number of mosquitoes around homes is to find and eliminate their breeding sites—standing water. There are plenty of potential places in which mosquitoes can develop. A neglected bird bath, swimming pool, or clogged rain gutter can produce hundreds of new mosquitoes in just a few days. Mosquitoes prefer to rest in protected sites during the day. Yards with lots of trees, shrubs and dense vegetation are their favorites. Consequently, removal of tall weeds and overgrowth is part of an integrated mosquito management program.
NOTE: The use of brand names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service of the products or services named nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned.
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.
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Beekeepers: Registration Now Open for BEES Academy!
Are you a beekeeper with a number of years of experience who wants to increase your understanding of bees and improve your practices? Do you feel like you might need a "booster shot" to update what you learned in your beginner bee school? Wish...
Read more
growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu
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What To Prune In July & August
- Rose: prune leggy plants only and fertilize after pruning for fall flowering
- Hedges: as needed
- Brambles: blackberry & raspberry (prune the wood that bore fruit, cutting the canes near ground level)
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The latest issue of the NC State Economist covers the legal history of hemp, the need to clarify laws for farmers, producers and consumers, the impact of the 2018 Farm Bill, and the remaining limitations.
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Our Summer Programs are winding up, but we have had such a blast with all the students who participated in our camps, clubs, and workshops this summer. They were all enthusiastic and excited to learn about everything from the basics of cooking to how to take vital signs on a goat! If your child or teen was part of our Summer Program, thank you for giving us the opportunity to make memories with them and inspire them to stay curious about the world around them.
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Fall 4-H Clubs and Schedules will be Announced This Month
If you have been eagerly awaiting sign-up info for 4-H Fall clubs, it's almost time! This fall, we'll have some of your perennial favorite clubs, but also a couple new ones to note. As of right now, it's looking like we will be offering:
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- Goat Club
- Poultry Club
- Cloverbuds (ages 5-8)
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- Sewing Club
- Cooking Club
- Woodworking Club
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Registration for 4-H Clubs is on a first-come first-served basis, so be sure to get your registration submitted as early as possible, once it is open. Be watching for the
4-H Newsletter
or the
Polk County 4-H Facebook page
for details on clubs and registration dates.
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Yes, you "CAN" support 4-H!
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One easy way to support the year-round programs of 4-H? Drop your aluminum cans in our recycling bin here at the Extension Center. We've recently moved the collection bin from the historic 4-H center to our location at 79 Carmel Lane behind the Meeting Place Senior Center. We hope to see you and your cans often!
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Helen Blackwell is the 4-H Youth Development Agent for Polk County
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Family and Consumer Science News
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The smell, the sweet taste, the feel of it on your tongue--nothing is better than a cold watermelon on a hot day. Summertime brings memories of those childhood spitting seed contests and watermelon races. It is the classic summertime fruit. As much as we love watermelon, we don’t always think about its many health benefits, though.
- The cheery red color of the melon comes from lycopene, an antioxidant. Studies show it may help curb your risk of cancer and diabetes as part of a healthy lifestyle. Watermelon has more of this nutrient than any other fruit or veggie--even tomatoes. To load up on lycopene, choose a melon with bright red flesh rather than yellow or orange (and the riper, the better.) Also, seedless melons tend to have more lycopene than those with seeds.
- Watermelon is also rich in an amino acid called citrulline that may help move blood through your body and can lower your blood pressure. Citrulline has also been shown to improve blood vessel problems such as the slow wound healing associated with diabetes.
- Watermelon has a natural pigment called beta-cryptoxanthin that may protect your joints from inflammation. Some studies show that over time, it could make you less likely to get rheumatoid arthritis.
- Just one serving of watermelon gives you more than 30% of the vitamin A you need each day. This nutrient is one of the keys to keeping your eyes healthy. Vitamins A, B6, and C in watermelon help your skin stay soft, smooth, and supple. And remember, foods are the best way to get all the vitamins and minerals that your body needs.
- Juicy watermelon is 90% water, so it’s a simple way to help stay hydrated. Every cell in your body needs water. Even a small shortage can make you feel sluggish. Because 90 percent of a watermelon's weight is water, it's one of the best fruits to eat if you're trying to lose weight. A 100-gram serving contains only 30 calories.
- Trying to keep your blood glucose levels steady? You’re in luck. Watermelon has a glycemic index (GI) value of 80, about the same as a bowl of cornflakes. But it’s got few carbs. That means its glycemic load (how quickly it enters your bloodstream and how much glucose it can produce) is a mere 5. Enjoy a slice without guilt!
This watermelon recipe is one of our favorites here at the Extension Office. We use the watermelons and rosemary grown in our office garden to create a delicious drink we look forward to enjoying in the afternoons.
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Jimmi Buell is the Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Polk County
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