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Master Gardeners of Greene County
May 2023
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Table of Contents for May's Newsletter
Become a Master Gardener Classes - in Person
2023 Missouri Tomato School
Invasive Plant ID and Control Methods
Ask The Master Gardener
Hummingbirds
Gardener Conference - All Welcome
Leaf Cutter Bees
Author's Corner - David Trinklein
Food Preservation Online Classes
Garden Hour with MU Extension
Newsletters of Interest
Native Plants
Researched Based Garden Links
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.
If you have a subject you would like to see us have an article for, please hit reply and ask us for it. Or for a faster response to a question call the Hotline. More information on it at the bottom of the page.
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Become a Master Gardener Classes - in Person | |
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Register BEFORE May 2nd at Noon
Dates have now been set for the 2023 in-person classes in Springfield. Please see the schedule details listed below and respond by noon on Tuesday, May 2.
The mission of the Missouri Master Gardener Extension Program is “helping others learn to grow.” The Master Gardener program provides in-depth horticultural training to individuals throughout Missouri who then volunteer their time applying what they have learned to help others in their communities to learn about gardening and environmental education.
Classes this spring will be held in the afternoon from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center, located at 2400 S. Scenic Ave. in Springfield. Orientation sessions will be held on Tues., May 2 and Thurs. May 4. You only have to attend one orientation session.
Class times rotate from year to year; afternoon classes in 2023, evening classes in 2024, etc. If you can’t attend this year’s afternoon class but would like to be on the contact list for next year’s evening class, just let me know. There is also an online option that will take place this fall.
There is a lot of interest in this year’s in person class, a few spots are remaining, with registration limited to 40 people. These 40 people will be selected based on their commitment to fulfill volunteer requirements (30 hours the first year; 20 hours plus 6 continuing education hours each year after that) and become an active member of the Master Gardeners of Greene County or Christian County Master Gardeners. Details on this will be provided at orientation.
The cost to attend the class series is $200 per person and we will go over the registration process at orientation. Your registration fee includes a FREE Missouri Master Gardener Core Manual.
Class topics include Soil Health, Insects, Botany, Home Vegetable Production, Herbaceous Ornamentals, Turfgrass, Home Fruit Production, Plant Diseases and Diagnostics, Landscape Design, Trees, and Plant Propagation.
If you are interested in the training, please respond by noon Tuesday, May 2. Choose an orientation date (May 2 or May 4) and email Kelly McGowan with your name, phone number, email address and which date you will be attending. Kelly’s email is mcgowank@missouri.edu or call 417-874-2955.
2023 Class Schedule (all classes and orientation sessions are from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center; day/date fluctuations are due to room and speaker availability):
Orientation Dates (choose either May 2 or May 4 session; you don’t have to attend both) •May 2 (Tues.) •May 4 (Thurs.)
Class Dates: •May 24 (Wed.) •May 25 (Thurs.) •May 30 (Tues.) •June 1 (Thurs.) •June 6 (Tues.) •June 15 (Thurs.) •June 22 (Thurs.) •June 27 (Tues.) •June 29 (Thurs.) •July 6 (Thurs.) •July 11 (Tues.)
For more information on the Master Gardeners of Greene County, Springfield, MO please visit and explore the website here.
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2023 Missouri Tomato School | |
May 16th thru 18th
via Zoom or in-person
By MU Extension: Description - The annual “Missouri Tomato School” returns on (zoom and in-person) May 16-18 to give tomato growers tried and true methods to improve their tomato crop. The hybrid class kicks off on May 16 with a lecture via zoom or in-person in St. Louis. May 17th features farm visits in St. Louis, May 18th features 2 choices for regional farm visits in Southwest or Central MO. The Missouri Tomato School brings together national and regional experts, and tomato farmers to share the latest best practices, and time-honored methods for successful tomato production. Additional details and registration information here.
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Invasive Plant ID and Control Methods | |
May 10th at 4:00 - 5:00 pm FREE Webinar
MPF Free Webinar by Valarie (Repp) Kurre: Invasive plants can be found everywhere in Missouri, from urban backyards to sprawling pastures. This Zoom webinar will focus on some of the most common invasives that can be found across the state, how to distinguish them from other plants, and what control strategies can be used on them. The fundamentals of integrative pest management (IPM) will be discussed to give attendees the most options for controlling invasive species. More details and register here.
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Ask The Master Gardener from
the Springfield News-Leader
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ASK THE MASTER GARDENER is an informational garden Q & A column written by Mark Bernskoetter, member, Master Gardeners of Greene County. It's published with two or three topics most Sundays, as a community public education service, in the Springfield-News Leader. Pick up a print copy or view it in their online edition. Below are a couple of recent column questions to sample:
Q: I've heard spring crops referred to as "cole" crops and "cold" crops. What is the difference? H.R., Nixa
Though the names sound similar, there is a distinction between the two terms. "Cold" crops are plants that thrive in the early spring cold soil temperatures. Though the plants will not survive the heat of summer, many of the plants can be planted again in the fall when the outside temperature begins to drop. A few examples of "cold" crops include spinach, lettuce, peas and "cole" crops!
"Cole" crops, however, refers to a specific group of plants in the Cruciferae or mustard family. They are cool-season vegetables (or "cold" crops) that prefer temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal growth and can withstand light frosts without injury. Examples include: Brussels sprout, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, broccoli, turnips and watercress.
Q: I have a shady area where I struggle to get grass to grow, so I would like to have ground cover, but not something that will take over too aggressively. H.M., Bolivar
Here are some ideas for low growing plants that fill in nicely. Golden ragwort grows well in dry shade and you get yellow flowers in early spring, and yellow flowers in early summer grow on sedum acre. Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) and Purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) and Sweet Woodruff like a little more moisture, but do not need too much.
Of course, hosta are always a good shade option and some will naturally grow shorter and denser, like Diamond Tiara. Consider Brunnera macrophylla and Lungwort (Pulmonaria). Ajuga is one I like which some people consider invasive, but the darker cultivars are slower growing, however ajuga likes a little more watering.
Try these too: Epimedium, Cambridge geranium (Geranium cantabrigiense), Goldenstar (Chrysogonum virginianum), Yellow corydalis (Corydalis lutea), Spring cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana), speedwell (Veronica).
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.
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Are hummingbird feeders out? How to Make Hummingbird Nectar by National Audubon Society (NAS): In a few easy steps, you can bring these nectar-loving birds to your feeder. Follow directions here.
Hummingbird Feeding FAQs: Have a question? Consult our FAQ below to ensure your feeder does no harm—and helps your hummers thrive. NAS's got some of the answers here.
Seeing Fewer Hummingbirds at Your Feeder; Should You Worry? by All About Birds The Cornell Lab, read here.
17 Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds We live in zone 6b
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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.
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AUTHORS CORNER - David H. Trinklein | |
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David H. Trinklein, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Missouri, Plant Science & Technology
Col. Johnson's Dramatic (Tomato) Demonstration by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Technology Apr 24, 2023: Contrary to early 19th century beliefs, tomatoes are not poisonous. It took an eccentric New Englander by the name of Col. Robert Gibbon Johnson to kill this popular belief by merely surviving the consumption of one of today's most popular vegetables... fruits? Learn more here.
Caladiums: Peacocks of the Shade by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Technology Apr 12, 2023: When it comes to adding striking color to shady landscape areas, few plants can match caladium. Prized for their colorful, thin leaves, they add a translucent quality to the garden when the early morning or late evening sun shines upon them. Continue reading here.
Summer Color from Shrubs by David Trinklein, MU Division of Plant Sciences: For those willing to accept a little less color, there are a few fairly durable shrubs that produce summer flowers in spite of the heat typical of July and August in Missouri. For more information on "very useful species for summer color in shrub borders or screens," use this link.
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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 April 2023 by MU Extension: Articles include - Spring into April with Season-Inspired Plants - Peas - Be Very Quiet. We are Hunting Moles! - Spring Ephemeral Flowers - Unusual Crops for MO Gardeners - "Over Loving" Can Lead to Problems in the Garden - Starting Vegetables - What is It? - Gardening Tips - Upcoming Events & Flyers. Details, read pdf here.
State of Invasives - Welcome to the first issue of the quarterly e-newsletter of the Missouri Invasive Plant Council (MoIP). What is MoIP? + MoIP Invasive Plant ID & Control Resources + May 10th Invasive Plant Free Webinar with Valarie (Repp) Kurre + Invasives to Treat in Spring: garlic mustard, bull & musk thistles, multiflora rose, sweet clover + Details plus more news here.
State of the Ozarks Weekly News "Celebrating & Preserving the Ozarks!" by Joshua Heston: Featuring Apr 9, 2023 'SHADES OF SPRING' Fleeting moments of astounding beauty. A landscape of browns and grays changed, seemingly overnight, into an artist’s palette of transcending color. Continue reading and explore the newsletter here.
The Humane Gardener News by Nancy Lawson April 22, 2023 Topics: The Plants Are Coming Home + Going Wild for Wildscaping! + Wildscape: The Outtakes + Should we let nature feed the birds? + Monarchs need dead leaves + Radio & Podcast Interviews + Upcoming Events + Details & more here.
Missouri Prairie Foundation Newsletter Apr 25, 2023 Topics: 'Invasive Plant ID and Control Methods' MPF Webinar May 10th + Native Plant Sale Events Check Your Area on May 13, 20 & 27 + Paint It Prairie at Snowball Hill Plein Air Painting Event May 20 + MPF's 12th Annual Prairie BioBlitz June 3 & 4 at Carver Prairie + Spring Nature Hikes + Turtles Need Quality Habitat " Details & More Here.
Missouri Produce Growers (Video) Newsletter by MU Extension Hort Team Apr 21, 2023 Topics: Register for Tomato School Today! Class Size is Limited + Save $ on Fertilizer + Early-planting for Increased Sweet Potato Yield + Shiitake Mushroom Log Inoculation + Market Garden: Site Selection + Foliar Sample for Tomato Nutrient Deficiencies + Upcoming Class Offerings + Resources for Growers + Details & More Here.
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Violets by MDC Field Guide: Violets, as a group, are fairly easy to identify, with their colorful five-petaled “faces” so welcome in springtime. Missouri has 17 species. Some are very common while some are rare; many others are scattered or have limited distributions in the state. Many species have purple or bluish flowers, while others are white or yellow, and others have a variety of colors. Some species are confusingly similar. Leaf shape is often a key identifying feature. This page introduces Missouri’s violets as a group, click here.
Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists by The Xerces Society: We've prepared the following lists of recommended native plants that are highly attractive to pollinators such as native bees, honey bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, and are well-suited for small-scale plantings in gardens, on business and school campuses, in urban greenspaces, and in farm field borders. Filter by state/region, continue here.
Native Plant Database Provided by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center & Univ of Texas-Austin: Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists. "Easy ways to search the native range of a plant." Start your search here.
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Native Plant Societies -- U.S. & Canada, list compiled by American Horticultural Society: Every state and region have their own unique native plants. The native plant societies in your area can help you find answers to your questions. Find your state's Native Plant Society with their contact information here.
Serviceberry by Grow Native! In its native habitat, serviceberry is an understory tree in dry wooded areas or edge of wooded areas, but in cultivation it grows in moist or dry conditions but performs best in moist, well-drained soil. Learn more here.
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Researched Based Gardening Links | |
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Growing Home Garden Tomatoes This is a very popular Missouri gardening topic and we have a large readership. Some of our Missouri readers may want to review this MU Extension guide, 'Growing Home Garden Tomatoes' Reviewed by David H. Trinklein, Division of Plant Sciences, click here.
Plants and Their Environment by David Trinklein, MU Division of Plant Sciences: Plants are living organisms that contain chlorophyll and use it to manufacture their own food. Their cell walls are more or less rigid and support both the individual cells and the whole structure. Even when plants have reached what we regard as their full, mature size, they continue to expand and develop new leaves, flowers, fruit and shoots. Learn more here.
Don't Pass on Those Veggies! Eating the Right Amount Can Improve Mental Health and Happiness USDA ARS News Service Release by Maribel Alonso Mar 27, 2023: When healthy adults consume the daily amount of vegetable servings recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) it has a positive effect on how happy the person feels, according to a study completed by scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Continue reading here.
Twice as Nice Breeding Versatile Vegetables by Agricultural Research Service U.S.D.A. Republished: Can you eat your peppers and have them too? Yes, you can...have bred peppers to please both the eye and the palate. Continue reading here.
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What is the difference between a frost and a freeze? Answered by Mark Longstroth, for MI St Univ Extension here.
Spring Into Season-Inspired Plants by Michele Warmund MU Plant Science & Technology April 5, 2023: Spring is the season of new beginnings, especially for plant-lovers. Outdoors, spring-flowering bulbs, shrubs, and trees dot the landscape. Indoors, seasonal plants enliven and brighten dreary rooms. Learn more here.
Sky Pencil (Ilex crenata) aka Japanese holly or box-leaved holly by Missouri Botanical Garden Plant finder: Grown zone 6 to 8. 'Sky Pencil' is an all-female cultivar which needs a male pollinator in order to produce fruit. Evergreen, easily grown in average, medium moisture well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Learn more here.
Growing Lilacs in the Home Garden from ISU Extension, learn more here.
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Mexico's national flower brightens Missouri gardens Writer: Linda Geist for MU Extension Apr 12, 2023: Dahlias, the national flower of Mexico, burst with fiestas of colors in late summer and early autumn when other flowers begin to fade. These easy-to-grow annuals are popular choices for cut gardens or the backdrop of borders, says Kelly McGowan, MU Extension horticulturist. Learn more here.
Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs by David Trinklein, MU Division of Plant Sciences Pruning is an important practice for maintaining the health, size, form and vigor of trees and shrubs in the landscape. It can reduce transplanting stress by reducing leaf surface area to compensate for root loss during harvest from nursery fields. Pruning of trees is important during the first few seasons after planting. Learn more here.
Diagnosing Holes in the Yard by IA St Univ Extension: This guide helps diagnose what's digging, tunneling, feeding, and otherwise disturbing turf grasses here.
Large Crane Flies by MDC Field Guide: More than 500 species in North America north of Mexico. These large flies appear in large numbers during early spring. Crane flies are large, tan-colored, fragile flies with long legs that belong to the Tipulidae family of insects and are related to other true flies. Learn more here.
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Moles - Integrated Pest Management Strategies by Missouri Botanical Garden: Moles are a long-standing nuisance to the garden, known for unsightly tunneling and uprooting favorite plants. Moles are classified as insectivores but will also eat earthworms and other small animals in the soil. They only rarely consume plant material. Learn more here.
Lilac Borer and Ash Borer - Integrated Pest Management Strategies by Missouri Botanical Garden: The lilac borer, Podosesia syringae, can be a serious pest of lilacs, privet, and other members of the olive family. It also attacks ash trees, Fraxinus spp., where it is then known as the ash borer. Continue reading here.
Longhorned tick found in 3 areas of Missouri by Linda Geist for MU Extension Apr 3, 2023: Invasive pest is of concern to cattle producers. MU researchers are tracking the invasive longhorned tick, which causes weight loss, lost pregnancies and even death in cattle... the MU College of Vet Med found the tick on a Linn County pasture in August 2022... the northernmost appearance of the tick in MO. It also appeared in June 2021 near Springfield. Learn more here.
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TWO LINKS: Ants by MDC Field Guide: Status common - Some are considered home, garden, or crop pests. Others provide important services in attacking injurious insects and aerating the soil. Learn more here.
PLUS: Ants by Richard M. Houseman, Entomology Specialist, MU Extension: Learn more here.
TWO LINKS: Bees and Wasps by Tamra Reall MU Horticulture Specialist: The ability to sting, coupled with their great mobility, makes bees and wasps some of the most feared of all insects. Many species of bees and wasps are present in every geographic region of Missouri. These species vary in aggressiveness and other behaviors, however, and only a few need to be feared. Knowledge of their habits is the first step in reducing fear to a level of healthy respect and in deciding how to manage their presence around the home. Learn more here.
PLUS: Wasps - General Information by Missouri Botanical Garden: Most wasps are beneficial or nuisance insects but a few can cause damage to plants... A number of wasps are beneficial to the home gardener... Even more fortunately for the home gardener, they do not sting... Wasps that do sting are considered predatory wasps. Learn more here.
Conserving Missouri's Wild and Managed Pollinators by MU Staff Members for Extension: Although Missouri’s major commodity crops — corn, soybean and wheat — do not require animals for pollination many others do.... Learn more here.
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Pollinators by Missouri Dept of Conservation: When people think about pollinators, they usually think of honeybees... an import from Europe... Fewer people know that most of Missouri’s animal pollinators are native to the state, and that they represent an incredibly important resource for both native and introduced plants, including most Missouri crops. Learn more with text and video here.
The secret life of soil by OSU Extension: Soil is alive. Much more than a prop to hold up your plants, healthy soil is a jungle of voracious creatures eating and pooping and reproducing their way toward glorious soil fertility. A single teaspoon (1 gram) of rich garden soil can hold up to one billion bacteria, several yards of fungal filaments, several thousand protozoa, and scores of nematodes, according to Kathy Merrifield, a retired nematologist at OSU. Learn more here.
THREE LINKS: Simple Hydroponics by Glen Bupp for Penn State Ext: This article discusses how a passive hydroponic system can work for the home gardener and how to get started. Read on here.
PLUS: Hydroponics (Growing Systems) by OK State Extension: Learn more here.
PLUS: Small-scale hydroponics by UMN Extension: Continue reading here.
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Organic Vegetable Gardening Techniques by Sanjun Gu, MO State Vegetable Specialist, Lincoln Univ Coop Extension with MU Extension: In agriculture, the word organic has come to mean “foodstuff grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones.” According to the USDA National Organic Standard Board, organic agriculture. Learn more here.
Using Row Covers in the Garden by Nate Bernitz for UNH Extension: Row covers are a useful tool for gardeners for season extension, pest control, and frost protection. Continue reading here.
TWO LINKS: Create a Square-Foot, High-Yield Vegetable Garden by Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program: Would you like to grow abundant fresh vegetables in a small space with less weeding, no tilling, no heavy digging, and less work? If so, I recommend you try square foot gardening. Detailed four-step procedure here.
PLUS: The Square Foot Gardening™ method by Square Foot Gardening Foundation: Square foot gardening is a method of intensive gardening that involves dividing a garden bed into small square sections (typically 12 inches on a side) and planting a different crop in each section. This method is designed to maximize yields while minimizing space and effort. Learn more here.
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Introduction to Permaculture Gardening: Permaculture Design - Appendix G. by North Carolina State Extension: Permaculture includes replicating and restoring natural systems. With this ethic, permaculture emphasizes organic and sustainable methods of working with the land. It promotes the use of naturally occurring and locally available materials for design, installation and maintenance. Learn more about this here.
The Cut Flower Garden - Youth Gardening Activities Series by Donna Aufdenberg, MU Extension Field Specialist in Horticulture: This guide is one in a new series of youth gardening activities. See the related publications list for other guides in this series. Learn how to plant and harvest easy-to-grow flowers and how to arrange them in a vase in this colorful two-page guide. Kid-friendly, easy-to-grow flowers, get started here.
Plant Propagation by David Trinklein, MU Division of Plant Sciences: Plant propagation is the process of increasing the number of plants of a particular species or cultivar. There are two primary forms of plant propagation: sexual and asexual. In nature, propagation of plants most often involves sexual reproduction, or the production of viable seeds. Learn more here.
Farms that have been in the family since Dec. 31, 1923, are eligible to be recognized as Missouri Century Farms. MU Extension, the MU College of Agri., Food and Natural Resources, and Missouri Farm Bureau sponsor the program. The application deadline to be recognized as a 2023 Missouri Century Farm is May 1st. Details and application form 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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