July 2020 News for Polk County
|
|
Home Garden Design
Garden planning and design is a perfect way to stretch horticultural and creative muscles in ways that will serve you well into the future. By employing permaculture design principles, you can create a landscape that utilizes the natural elements ...
Read more
extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home, Lawn and Garden Tips for June
|
|
Yellow Jackets
These bees can ruin outdoor activities until frost. With insect prey (their usual diet) becoming scarce, yellow jackets scavenge for other sources of nutrition, especially sweets, e.g. fruits, ice cream, soft drinks. A dilute solution of ammonia and water (6 oz. of ammonia per gallon of water) sprayed in and around trash cans and sponged onto outdoor tables and food preparation surfaces may help to repel yellow jackets from these areas. Use household ammonia, not bleach. Aerosol sprays that control wasps and hornets work well to control individual yellow jackets but are not very effective on the nest. Carbaryl (Sevin) is a better choice for nest control. Carefully locate the nest and drench the nest with a Carbaryl solution at dusk or after dark. Do not drench the nest with gasoline as it causes damage to surrounding plants and soil.
Crape Myrtles
The beauty of crape myrtles is shown in their color this month. Prune spent flower blossoms to prolong the flowering period. If the leaves appear dark and sooty or almost uniformly charcoal gray, you have sooty mold, the result of an aphid infestation. Spray with horticultural oil or soaps according to label directions. Next year,
watch for and treat aphids
in May. Some have problems with powdery mildew. Use horticultural oils as an organic way to control mildew. Many chemical fungicides such as Immunox or Daconil will control the problem as well.
Grasses
Fescue goes naturally semi-dormant during extremes of hot and/or dry weather; it can survive 3 weeks without water. Water only when grass shows signs of wilt (footprints will show when grass is walked on and the grass will seem to darken). The most effective watering method is to water to the point of runoff, turn off sprinkler to let water soak in, then water again, repeating until the root zone is wet. Unless the water reaches the roots, where it is taken up by the plant, you waste both time and water. Water in early morning if possible; late afternoon or early evening is the worst time to water as the grass stays wet for a longer time and encourages diseases. Do not get discouraged if you spot crabgrass and brown patch. It is common this time of year and with a little over seeding in the fall, you will have a beautiful fall lawn and an even nicer spring lawn.
Warm season grasses such as Bermuda and Zoysia need to be fertilized during the warm months of the year. Apply .5 pounds of nitrogen each month during the summertime. (1.5 pounds of 32-0-0 per 1000 square feet) Be sure to water these grasses during dry times.
Evergreens
July and August are the months to take semi-hardwood cuttings of evergreen shrubs such as azalea, boxwood, holly, and camellia. Remove the leaves from the lower half of cutting and dip in rooting powder. Set in a well drained media in a container that can be placed in a clear plastic bag or set in a cold frame. Place them out of direct sunlight and keep moist for about 6 weeks. (For more information, explore the NC State Extension publication
"
Plant Propagation by Stem Cuttings
")
Bagworms
Bagworms are often found on arborvitae, Leyland cypress, and juniper. Not to be confused with the large fall webworms, Bagworms make small (1/8″ to 2″ long), diamond-shaped silk bags. This month, it is best to control Bagworms simply by hand picking the bags. Pesticides are not effective once bags have been produced.
Trees
You can remove suckers, water sprouts and dead shoots from trees this month, but it’s definitely too hot to do any pruning.
Deadheading Flowers
Always remember that if you cut off (deadhead) blossoms when they die, you will prolong the flowering period of flowering plants.
In the Garden
What to plant this month? It’s a little late to be planting, but consider second crops of cucumbers and bush beans at this time. Be aware that disease issues are more intense on second crops so be prepared to treat diseases proactively. Also, begin to plan your fall garden so you can start planting that next month. Be sure to harvest cucumbers and squash regularly. The more frequently you harvest, the more the plants will produce.
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.
|
|
Is Your Horse Drinking Enough H2O?
As horse owners, we do everything we can to ensure the health and well-being of our equine companions. We get the proper vaccinations, ensure proper nutrition...
Read more
currituck.ces.ncsu.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foraging for Backyard Edibles
Weeds may be popping up in your yard. But don't toss them in the compost pile just yet - you might be able to use them for a fresh, colorful spring salad. Several plants and weeds common to our landscapes are actually...
Read more
homegrown.extension.ncsu.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
You have probably heard the buzzing of a bee, but did you know that one of the ways that bees can communicate is through dancing? That’s right. Dance! Well, dance...plus a few other cues. Watch this video with your children, then talk about the different ways insects (and other creatures) communicate with one another.
|
|
Create Your Own Summer Camp (We've Made It Easy For You!)
|
|
4-H in Your Polk County Backyard
|
Bemoaning your lack of Summer camp options this year?
Maybe you heard about our four-part 4-H Backyard Explorations series back in the Spring, but didn't have time to check them out.
We think you'll find that the series could be easily customized into a home-based Summer camp program!
|
|
|
|
The second of three "Canning & Preserving Made Easy" workshops is coming next week and we still have spots left!
This will be an in-person workshop, but don't worry...we'll be practicing safe social distancing protocols throughout the class!
|
|
|
During the summer, two-thirds of youth ages 5-12 spend at least three hours a day on screen activities (computer, video games, and mobile devices). With the COVID pandemic, it’s likely that number is even higher. Before COVID, only 47 percent of these same youth are engaged in any physical activity during the summer. That’s even less activity than kids get during the school year! In addition to being less active, kids are also consuming fewer healthy foods during the summer months, which can easily lead to summer weight gain.
You may think back on your own youthful summers, filled with swimming, camping, fishing, biking, running and climbing. For a variety of reasons, today’s youth are not necessarily having the same experiences. Being home without structured activities--especially in a summer without camps, trips, or athletic leagues--makes it difficult for kids to stay active and healthy.
Parents also find it harder to feed children nutritiously during the summer. Cost is a major factor. School breakfasts and lunches provide a convenient, healthy, and inexpensive option for parents that they may miss out on in the summer.
But there are other factors that influence what children eat. Changes in sleep patterns and routines may mean that kids are preparing some of their own meals. And while kids are at home for longer periods of time during the day, it is likely they are doing a lot more snacking or “grazing” than usual. This usually means consuming higher calorie foods loaded with sodium, fat, and sugar.
There are some strategies that parents can use to get their kids up and moving and eating healthier. We have two advantages in the summer – longer daylight hours and fresh seasonal produce. There is plenty of daylight remaining after dinner to take a family walk together or enjoy a fun game of tag. A trip to the farmer’s market on weekends can provide food for healthy meals and snacks during the week. Let kids pick out fruits and vegetables they like and encourage them to pick at least one new food each week to try. Easy-to-eat vegetables such as carrots, cherry tomatoes, and sugar snap peas are great for dipping in hummus, guacamole, bean dip, salsa, or low- fat dressing. Fresh fruit to pair with yogurt or cheese is also a good choice.
Keep healthy ingredients easily accessible for kids to create their own meals and snacks. Some snack combinations could include string cheese with an orange or pear; nut butter with apples; or dried fruit with nuts and seeds for a great trail mix. Kids can also have fun creating their own combo meals. Tacos, pasta dishes, pizza, wraps, and sandwiches can be healthy with the right ingredients. Onions, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and other vegetables are great options. Try different lettuces and greens for extra crunch and color. With a little pre-planning, and some guidance on nutritional options, this could be a fit and fresh summer to remember!
|
|
|
|
Jimmi Buell
is the Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Polk County
|
|
|
N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation and veteran status. NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and local governments cooperating.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
