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Master Gardeners of Greene County
April 2023
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Photo: Redbud garden at the Springfield Botanical Gardens.
(see A Last Thought toward the bottom of the newsletter for more details)
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Table of Contents for April's Newsletter
SAVE THE DATE! MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE
Planning Your 2023 Garden Part 4
Roses Care and Planting
Classes and Workshops
Missouri Master Pollinator Steward Course- Zoom
Annie's Project - Inspired - Webinar
Heirloom Plants & Starting Seeds - Workshop - In Person
Gardener Conference - All Welcome
The Tallgrass Prairie Above & Below the Soil Surface
Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays-Season Four
For Pollinators' Sake Don't Clean Up the Garden too Soon
Author's Corner - Lenora Larson
Don't Touch the Daffodils
Food Preservation Online Classes
Garden Hour with MU Extension
Newsletters of Interest
Gardening Programs and Reading
Missouri Natives vs Invasives
Researched Based Garden Links
How Far Can a Spider Fly?
Garden Links
One Last Thought
Get Your Soil Tested Now
Previous Newsletter Link
Need a Speaker for One of Your Meetings or Groups?
Gardening Questions Hotline - Phone, Email and Web Questionnaire
Subscribe to the Newsletter
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** Editor's note: There is still time to get your soil tested. Get it done early so you can have your soil amended before spring planting season. See toward the bottom for more information. | |
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SAVE THE DATE!
MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE
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Master Gardeners of Greene County & Garden Society annual plant sale!
In the Mizumoto Japanese Garden Pavilion within the Springfield Botanical Gardens, 2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield.
Sale includes house plants, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, bulbs, grasses, vines, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
Free admission. Prices vary per plant.
Held RAIN OR SHINE
Arrive early for best selection!
Master Gardeners accept cash, credit cards or check.
Other plant and garden groups, also, sell items near the Gray/Campbell Farmstead (some groups may not accept credit cards).
See Facebook event link for added details.
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Planning Out Your Garden - 2023 - Part 4 | |
It's that time of the year to finish planning you spring garden: If you are a new or seasoned gardener, the University of Missouri Extension program has valuable information aviable for your review to assist with making the 2023 gardening season productive. Below are some guides you will find helpful. More will follow monthly, or you may do an online search by topic at this MU Extension website here.
April is National Gardening Month by writer Linda Geist for MU Extension Mar 23, 2023: Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years. For those who lacked the motivation in the past to garden, consider the following benefits of this popular pastime here.
Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination post by Ken Johnson for Univ Ill Extension Jan 20, 2023: Unfortunately, as seeds get older, their germination rate decreases. Fortunately, there is an easy way to test your seeds to see if planting them will be worthwhile. Learn how here.
Soil Temperature and Seed Germination by Jason Reed PSU Extension Mar 22, 2021: Seeds of different plants have different requirements when it comes to soil temperature. Find out what you need to know about soil temperature for starting seeds in spring here.
How to Kill Grass Naturally, Using Newspapers If you have newspaper, cut the grass as short as possible, layer newsprint 8-10 sheets thick overlapped, cover with quality mulch. When it's time to plant something, it is easy to pick the spot and clear where you want to set your plants. Of course, the newsprint turns to a beneficial soil amendment. I have seen this done successfully a number of times. Learn more here. NOTE: This can be done with one layer of cardboard, but it takes longer for the cardboard to break down. You can cut holes in the cardboard to plant you plants.
THREE LINKS: Planning a Raised Bed Garden? Here is excellent extension information for use when planning a raised bed garden from three extension departments: Raised-Bed Gardening - University of Missouri Extension here.
PLUS: Safe Container Gardening - University of Illinois here.
PLUS: Toxicity Concerns about Raised Bed Construction Materials (Wood) - Iowa State Extension here.
THREE LINKS: Growing potatoes in home gardens by Marissa Schuh & Cindy Tong, UMN Extension: Potatoes grow from seed tubers, not true seed. They originated in the Andes and come in a variety of types, colors and shapes. Learn more here.
PLUS: Home Garden Potatoes by Bob Westerfield, UGA Extension here.
PLUS: Enjoy Colorful Potatoes by Michele Warmund MU Plant Science & Technology Mar 3, 2023: Today there's no shortage of different types of potatoes that can be purchased at the local grocers or grown in the home garden or for colorful, tasty dishes. Learn more about the potato's history, different types and cultivars plus how to grow and care for them here.
Fruit Production - Missouri by Michele Warmund, Division of Plant Sciences: Missouri is home to almost all temperate zone fruit plants, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, blueberries, grapes, apricots, cherries, plums, nectarines, peaches, apples and pears. They can be harvested from mid-May through the end of Oct. Continue reading here.
Wildlife cameras in the garden: 'A snapshot of what you need to know' by OSU Extension: Wildlife cameras can document the activity of rarely seen wildlife. There are many fun and educational benefits to placing a wildlife camera on your property. Learn more here.
LAST TIME!
Buy native trees and shrubs from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) State Forest Nursery' Order are still being taken through April 15, 2023. Supplies are limited so order as early as you can. For complete details use this MDC link here.
'Right Species, Right Place: Considerations Before You Order Tree Seedlings in Missouri' by Hank Stelzer Forestry State Specialist, MU School of Natural Resources: Missouri is part of the great central hardwood forest region and has more than 160 native tree species. Continue reading here.
Make a Note! Connect with the MU Extension County Office in your Missouri location for questions / information or use the search feature on this webpage here.
REVIEW Planning Your Garden 2023 Archives for basic important planning information January, Chapter 1 here, February, Chapter 2 here and March, Chapter 3 here.
Remember we are in Zone 6B for the SW Missouri area. Don't forget to check the recommended zone for growing plants or seeds when reading your catalogs.
Planting your garden? It is still possible to have frost across Missouri and other Midwest states. These two charts will help you determine possible frost threats, the first from the USDA is their US Hardiness Zone Map and uses zip codes here. Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather. These dates are not absolutes.
The second is for Hardiness Zones for Missouri counties and cities here.
Missouri Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide this guide provides frost/freeze probabilities, tables, maps and dates for 103 National Weather Service Cooperative (NWSC) weather stations in Missouri. Learn more here.
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So you went out and bought a rose and now you need to plant it. First, dig a hole about 4" in diameter than the container it is in. If not in a container, then you want to dig about 6" - 8" wide or 4" bigger than the root ball. You want it just deep enough to cover the roots.
Next, add about a good handful of peat moss to the soil and NON-SYSTEMIC insecticide rose food according to directions. It should just say rose food. The systemic kind will KILL ALL bugs and pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Mix food well with the peat moss and dirt so as to not burn the roots.
Spread out roots and set in hole. Cover with dirt. Water well. Roses do not like wet feet, so do not water daily. Check your soil to see how dry it is.
I add about 1/4 C of Epson's Salt around the bush/plant. I then take about 1/2 of a steel wool roll and unroll it and place that around the plant. This is for iron. (You can use a foliar spray if you would like, but I always forget to use it and find this way is a bit cheaper.)
Cover area with some mulch. Being careful not to put too much around the stem.
For pruning after blooms, prune ABOVE a five leafed set of leaves at a 45 degree angle with the leaf facing outward. Preferably on a lower part of the stem for better strength. Roses should be pruned with either gardening scissors or a sharp pruner. It is best if you dip the pruners or scissors into a diluted bleach water solution before each cut. Be sure to oil them after pruning or they will rust. You can use motor oil to do so.
Roses love air space. Do not plant in close groupings.
For black spot, you need to spray BEFORE you see it. Do this at leaf break or as new leaves come on. If you get black spot and all your leaves fall off, you have not killed the plant. It will put on new growth. Your rose bush will just look ratty for a while. But as soon as you see leaves, spray for black spot, as this can happen several times throughout the growing season. CLEAN up all dead leaves and wash hands before touching the plant or you will reinfect the plant/s.
Rose: A Brief History' From MU Extension read here.
Roses: Selecting and Planting read here.
Roses: Care After Planting read here.
Summer Care of Reblooming Roses read here.
Winterizing Roses read here.
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Missouri Master Pollinator Steward Course- Zoom
Thursdays April 6th Through May 11th
Zoom sessions are 10 am - noon
By MU Extension begins to help participants learn about pollinators. “Pollinators such as bees, birds, butterflies, bats and insects play a crucial role in the production of most fruits and vegetables,” says Tamra Reall. Pollinators support healthy ecosystems. Lecture sessions will be recorded. Learn complete details and register here.
Annie's Project - Inspired - Webinar
Begin April 17 through May22nd
Six Online Classes
Value-added ag webinar classes offered by MU Extension: The Value-Added Agriculture Series is modeled after Annie’s Project, a national nonprofit that educates and empowers women in agriculture. MU Extension has offered Annie’s Project programming since 2005. Classes open to all. MU Extension specialists will offer six online classes, two hours each, on a variety of value-added topics. Learn complete details, review topics and how to register here.
Heirloom Plants & Starting Seeds - Workshop
In Person
Wednesday April 19th
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Free
At Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield. Join us as John Lenz with Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. teaches us about heirloom plants and how to start seeds for our summer gardens. Mark your Calendar! For more information, click here: or call 417-891-1515.
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2023 International Master Gardener Conference
June 18 thru June 22, 2023
You don't need to be a Master Gardener to attend! Open to the gardening public. Attend the full conference.
Early-bird registration includes the discounted rate through March 1, 2023. IMGC 2023 is taking place in Overland Park, KS which is in the Kansas City, MO area.
Interested? More information here.
The Tallgrass Prairie Above & Below the Soil Surface
Wednesday April 12th
4:00 pm - Zoom
MPF Free Webinar
The tallgrass prairie ecosystem exhibits some of the most complex relationships between what we see above ground and the soil below. By evaluating plant-soil feedback in Missouri’s prairies, we strive to understand the efficiency of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that drive productivity, biodiversity, and nutrient cycling in the prairie soil ecosystem. This webinar, to be held via Zoom, will include a 30-minute presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. A link to a recording of the webinar will be sent to all registrants. Register here.
Welcome to Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays
Season Four
Starting April 5th
Join live at 11:30 CST via Zoom
Each week starting April 5th the Univ. of Kentucky County Extension Agents and Specialists bring an informative 30-minute program straight to your computer. In addition, review the topics with videos on file for seasons one, two and three, plus season four YTD. You can join us live at 11:30am CST/12:30pm EST on ZOOM each Wednesday. Click the individual dates and register here.
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For Pollinators' Sakes, Don’t Spring Into Garden Cleanup Too Soon!
By Justin Wheeler for The Xerces Society Mar 16, 2023: Early spring garden cleanup can disrupt critical invertebrate habitat and leave pollinators out in the cold. So when can you unleash your itchy green thumbs and reach for the rake? That answer can vary based on location and annual climate trends. We've curated a list of questions to ask yourself to help determine when the time is right, here.
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AUTHORS CORNER - Lenora Larson | |
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Butterflies Go Native in your Garden! For Central Kansas State Edu. Created Apr 19, 2017: Native plants and native butterflies evolved together so native plant aficionados may already have an unintentional butterfly garden! Topics: Integrate a Butterfly Garden into Your Existing Space + The Secret to Success: Loving and Feeding Caterpillars + More. Read pdf here.
Native Plants in the Ornamental Garden For Johnson Kansas State Edu. July 2019 Topics: Location, Location, Location + Expanding Your Palette of Native Plants + Guidelines for Success (for Both Natives and Ornamentals!) Read pdf here.
The Love Connection: Pollinators and Flowering Plants Long Lips Farm, K-State Edu pdf April 2019: While some flowering plants still use wind as the mechanism to pollinate their flowers, most require an animal mediator to carry the male pollen from one flower to the female ovary of another flower. The number one pollinator bees and other pollinators. Read pdf here.
Butterflies Around Us This a 30-article Facebook archive authored by Lenora Larson: If you like butterflies and butterfly gardening this educational series has again been republished by The Garden Word on Facebook. Exploring these excellent articles will provide informative information, learn and enjoy. Take your time, pick and choose articles of interest! Get started here.
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This self-paced course provides research based information needed to safely and successfully preserve food at home. Participants of all levels of food preservation experience are welcome, including individuals with little or no previous food preservation experience. This course covers pressure canning, boiling water bath canning, steam canning, dehydration, and freezing. Highlights include preserving salsas, pie fillings, pickling, sweet spreads, and harvesting and storage of produce.
Registration is $30.00
Click here for more information and registration.
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Get your Lawn and Garden Questions Answered at the Garden Hour with MU Extension | |
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Virtual Town Hall: Mandy D. Bish - MU Extension Specialists will address lawn, garden, and insect questions during the 'Garden Hour' with MU Extension. NOW EVERY Wednesday of the month from 12-1pm. The virtual event is free. To register for the virtual event and/or ask a gardening question, please visit.
To see recordings from previous events, please check out the YouTube videos on the MU Extension IPM channel here.
For more information visit. Or contact Mandy D. Bish, MU Plant Science & Technology at (573) 882-9878 or email: bishm@missouri.edu
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The Garden Spade Newsletter March 2023 Articles include: A Rainbow of Colors-Bromeliads - Let It Snow For the Plants - Asparagus Recipe - Spring Season Lawn Weed Mgmt. - Seed Starting - Tree Wound Care - Enjoy Colorful Potatoes - African Violets - What is It? - Kids Ask Dr. Bug - Gardening Tips - Upcoming Events & Flyers + Read pdf here.
Monarch and Milkweed Project News by Journey North March 29, 2023: Eastern Monarch Migration Picking Up. Endings and beginnings as monarchs leave their overwintering sanctuaries in search of milkweed, nectar, and water as they journey north. Journey North is a citizen science project of the Univ of Wis–Madison Arboretum that engages citizen scientists in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. Read more monarch news here.
Hummingbird Project News by Journey North March 30, 2023: Northward Movement Picking Up. It's hard to believe but a few hummingbird species have reached their breeding territories already. Journey North is a citizen science project of the Univ of Wis–Madison Arboretum that engages citizen scientists in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. Read more hummingbird news here.
The Network News by MU Extension - March 2023 - Articles include: A livestock legacy lives on; memorial fund recognizes the late Eldon Cole + Celebrating the 20th year of Annie’s Project + Extension Master Gardener program turns 50 + Applications open for Missouri Century Farms + Survey to help guide state broadband efforts + Neighborhood Leadership Academy awards 20 mini-grants + Details plus more, including back issues, here.
Missouri Produce Growers (Video) Newsletter March 24, 2023 Topics: Planning for Insects in Cucurbit Crops + Crop Rotation Basics + High Tunnel Sanitation + Upcoming Class Offerings + Info on 2023 MO Tomato School 5/16-5/18 + Details & Other Resources for Growers Here
Preserve it Fresh, Preserve it Safe: March/April 2023 newsletter. Types of canners, see here for pdf.
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Gardening Programs and Reading - In Person!
April Dates
Explore Culture and Sustainability in the Springfield Library's One Read Title, "The Seed Keeper", then Explore culture, food and sustainable practices in these programs inspired by “The Seed Keeper” including Book Discussions + How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden + Farming with Native Plants in the Ozarks + Introduction to Laser Engraving Acrylic Plant Stakes + Much More.
Pick & Choose, Details Here.
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Missouri's Native vs Invasive Plants | |
Celebrate the value of Missouri trees and forests during Arbor Days in April by planting native trees and practicing proper tree care' by Joe Jerek MDC Mar 28, 2023: MO Arbor Day is Fri, Apr 7. Missouri has been observing the state's official Arbor Day on the first Friday in April since 1886. Get information on backyard tree care + Orders accepted to April 15 for a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings from the State Forest Nursery. + Info on Arbor Day and Missouri's Tree City USA communities. + Get details and information here.
Now is time to enjoy wildlife and plan to improve habitat by writer Linda Giest for MU Extension Mar 6, 2023: “This time of year provides many opportunities for conducting mgmt. practices on your property and also for getting outdoors and observing wildlife,” Bob Pierce says. A variety of wildlife species will benefit from well-planned habitat mgmt. activities, whether in your backyard or in agricultural areas. Learn more here.
Interested in Native Plants? Explore, Native Plant Database from Grow Native! Pick the right native plant for the right place. This searchable database of 300+ plants native to the lower Midwest includes trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, sedges, rushes, and wildflowers suitable for landscaping as well as species for creating wildlife habitat, stabilizing streams, and for other ecological purposes. Start here.
TWO LINKS: Missouri's Native Honeysuckles: Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) by Grow Native! Clump-forming vine. Great species for hummingbirds. The red flowers are prolific for about a month in May/June followed by sporadic flowering the rest of the season. Learn more here.
PLUS: Yellow Honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) by MDC: Found primarily in the Ozarks, but it is increasingly available at native plant nurseries and might be found in cultivation statewide. Learn more here.
NOTE: Please be careful, don't plant any of the invasive honeysuckles.
TWO LINKS: Tackle Missouri's Invasive Plants! Get involved with invasive plant eradication initiatives near you. Learn more online here.
PLUS Discover how to include native plant species in your own backyard here.
Invasive Species Management Missouri Invasive Plant Lists by Dianne Van Dien for Nature Lab from Missouri Conservationist March 2023: All over the U.S., nonnative invasive plants are outcompeting native plants and disrupting ecosystems... With more than 140 invasive plant species recorded in our state, how do land managers decide where to focus their efforts? Learn more here.
TWO LINKS: Avoid invasive Callery pear tree during spring planting by MDC: Also known as the Bradford pear, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, or Aristocrat, is a highly invasive tree that multiples quickly and crowds out Missouri native plants. CALLERY PEAR BUY-BACK EVENTS Learn more here.
PLUS: Callery Pear Background, Life History MDC pdf, read here.
Wild onion (Allium stellatum) by MDC Field Guide: Wild onion is a perennial, growing from a bulb, with the odor of onion or garlic. Flowers in umbels (the flowers all arising from the tip of the stalk) that are held erect at flowering (not drooping). Learn more here.
PLUS: Nodding wild onion (Allium cernuum) by Missouri Botanical Garden: A Missouri native plant which occurs primarily in rocky soils on glades, bluff edges, open woods and slopes in the Ozark region of the state. Learn more here.
Native Edibles by Grow Native! Native plants are the foundation of nature’s web of life, providing food for thousands of insects, which in turn become food for songbirds and other cherished wildlife. Many native plants also provide food to people. Fruit from pawpaw and persimmon trees can be used to make many kinds of desserts, for example, as can nuts from black walnut and hickory trees. Learn more here.
Meaningful Design and Stewardship of Native Landscapes Grow Native! Webinar Video Feb 2, 2023: In this presentation, join MDC Native Landscape Specialists, Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, as they examine the importance of planning and maintaining native gardens with intent. From fundamentals of landscape design to editing existing plants, they will discuss the benefits and unique challenges of stewarding a native plant garden. View the video here.
Cedar Pollen by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Mar 2, 2023: This is the time of year when male eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) release their clouds of love in the form of pollen... Cedar pollen is distributed by the wind and doesn't seem to care if it lands on a receptive female cone or a human nostril. Learn more here.
Hummingbirds Need More Than Sugar Su Lyn Rogers, naturalist, notes in MGAM, "It’s good to remember that hummingbirds need much more than sugar water to support them. They need protein from small insects, especially when they are raising babies. Native plants are best for them as they provide natural nectar and pollen, as well as caterpillars and other small insects that might not be supported by exotic, non-natives. Pesticides kill their food, so it makes sense to reduce or eliminate them." Learn more here.
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Researched Based Gardening Links | |
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Diagnosing Holes in the Yard by IA St Univ Extension: This guide helps diagnose what's digging, tunneling, feeding, and otherwise disturbing turf grasses. Read here.
Crocus: Herald of Spring by David Trinklein, MU Extension, read here.
Pansy: The smiley face flower by MU Extension Mar 6, 2023: In Missouri, late March and early September are ideal months to plant them for color that extends for many weeks. Because pansies can be planted very early, they bring an end to the winter doldrums. Many confuse pansy with its more petite relative, the viola. Learn more here.
Lungwort: Attractive Plant with an Odd Name by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Technology Feb 23, 2023: Apparently, someone in antiquity thought the leaves of a certain member of the Boraginaceae (forget-me-not) family of plants looked very much like diseased human lungs. Thus, lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) got its rather unappealing common name. Learn more here.
Lichen or Not? Written by Mark Bower for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Post / Editor Bob & Barb Kipfer Feb 21, 2023: Recently, while walking behind Bob and Barbara Kipfer’s Bull Creek abode, I (almost literally) stumbled across a log which was partially covered by what looked like green slime with little fungi growing from it. Learn more with photos here.
How do you tell the difference between… (Episode 1 – Butterflies and Grasshoppers) Chris Helzer, The Prairie Ecologist Mar 2, 2023: For this inaugural installment, I'll start with two common groups of animals: butterflies and grasshoppers. Those of us who see these animals frequently can easily tell one from the other but probably don't think much about how we're doing it. For the uninitiated, the two can look very similar. Learn more here.
Deciphering Botanical Latin (Scientific Names) Video by Dr. James Trage for Missouri Native Plant Society (MPF) Mar 1, 2023: If you don't know, you can learn from Dr. James Trager, who will bring together his linguistic expertise and extensive knowledge of Midwestern flora to present an enthusiastic introduction to the Latin that botanists use to give unique names to plant species. Understanding scientific names of plants helps plant enthusiasts learn and remember them, as well as to communicate unambiguously with others about these beautiful and important living beings. View the video here.
Peeper Season by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Mar 8, 2023: This time of year is when male spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) audition for their ladies. They have emerged from hibernation and the three year olds are now ready for mating. Learn more here.
The Science Behind Honey’s Eternal Shelf Life by Natasha Geiling for Smithsonian Magazine Aug 22, 2013: A slew of factors—its acidity, its lack of water and the presence of hydrogen peroxide—work in perfect harmony, allowing the sticky treat to last forever... what exactly makes honey such a special food? Learn more here.
Spirea: New Look for an Old Favorite by David Trinklein, MU Plant Science & Technology Mar 9, 2023: Spireas are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. Once considered somewhat 'common' or 'old fashioned,' plant breeders have made vast improvements recently in growth habit, leaf and flower color, and overall garden appeal. Learn more here.
Pruning Raspberries, Blackberries and Gooseberries by Michele Warmund: Brambles are biennial plants with two types of canes, primocanes and floricanes. For fall-fruiting raspberries and blackberries, berries are harvested in Aug or Sept from 1-year-old canes called primocanes. Learn more here.
Growing Blueberries in Missouri This pdf guide by Patrick Byers & others for Dept. of Ag. / MSU should help you here.
PLUS: Missouri Blueberry Production with Patrick Byers, MU Extension, a YouTube video for SCG July 2021 here.
Plant rhubarb, the pie plant by Linda Geist for MU Extension Mar 7, 2023: March is an ideal month to plant rhubarb, a perennial vegetable that favors cool weather. It produces large, floppy leaves attached to succulent stalks or petioles that grow from short, thick underground rhizomes. Learn more about growing this full-sun plant here.
Broccoli: Loved by Some, Loathed by Others by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Technology Mar 20, 2023: Broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrition that is relatively easy to grow in Missouri in the cool weeks of early spring or late fall... when properly prepared it can... be quite tasty... the National Garden Bureau has named it its "Vegetable of the Year" for 2023. Learn more here.
Squirrels - Integrated Pest Management Strategies by Missouri Botanical Garden: Three squirrel species are commonly identified as living in Missouri and surrounding areas: the fox squirrel, Sciurus niger, the gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, and the southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans. Unfortunately, very little can be done to control squirrels, especially in areas where oak and nut trees provide a fairly predictable source of food. However, read on to learn more here.
New guide has tips for controlling black vulture damage by Julie Harker for MU Extension Feb 24, 2023: Missouri’s growing population of black vultures has led to increasing attacks on vulnerable livestock. Black vultures often inflict damage... to livestock, kill and feed on domestic fowl and scar animals that survive. Read more here.
The Stories and Saviors Behind Heirloom Seeds by Anne Ewbank for Gastro Obscura Mar 6, 2023: There’s a certain romance to growing seeds with a history, especially if they’re heirloom varieties that people have fought to preserve. Five fruits and vegetables we think would suit here.
TWO LINKS: Bean Rust by UCON IPM College of Agri: Bean rust is a serious fungal disease. Learn more here.
PLUS: Rust on green beans #672054 by Ask Extension, with important additional reference links at the bottom here.
Pristine Ponds Be Gone! by Nancy Lawson, Humane Gardener Mar 21, 2023: As wood frogs kick off the season with a cluck and a bang, it's time to forget "maintenance" and learn what amphibians really need (and don't need) to thrive and successfully reproduce in wildlife ponds. Read more of this post here.
Dead Bug Chronicles by Chris Helzer, The Prairie Ecologist Mar 21, 2023: Yes, I’ve written and illustrated an entire blog post about dead insects. It’s a little morbid, but also fascinating, and often beautiful... You’re not obligated to read it, though I would if I were you – there are some intriguing stories included. Photographing insects is a lot easier when they’re not moving. Continue reading here.
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A LAST THOUGHT Have you been to the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield, MO? If not plan a group or family fall's visit today. In addition to the many beautiful floral and demonstration gardens, a number of gardening organizations are headquartered there, including MU Greene County Extension office and the Master Gardeners of Green County Hotline. Questions call 417-891-1515 or tour the gardens and all of the other attractions online. | |
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**Basic soil testing analysis is done by the MU Soil Lab in partnership with our Master Gardeners of Greene County. Results include fertilizer and lime recommendations. Additional tests are available for nutrient management plans, environmental issues, potting mixes, compost, manure and water usage. Each sample should contain a total of 2 cups of dry soil and from 6 to 7 inches deep and about 5 or 6 different areas. Results are typically provided within two weeks.
Bring the soil sample(s) to the Greene (or local county office) County Extension office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Master Gardeners can complete the paperwork and submit your test. One of our extension specialists will review your results. In most cases, gardens, lawns and fields should be tested every two years.
The cost is $30 per sample. Feel free to call if you have any questions:
417-874-2963.
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Need a Speaker for a Meeting or Group? |
Master Gardeners of Greene County are unavailable at this time to speak to garden clubs, civic organizations, schools and other groups on a wide variety of topics within the world of gardening, horticulture, landscaping and the environment.
Please keep us in mind for a future date.
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