November 15, 2005
What's in this Issue:
#1 Master Gardening Tips#2 Lynne's Backyard Gardening Tips
#3 New Gardening Product of-the-Month
#4 Odd & Strange Gardening News
#5 Great Plant of the Month
#6 Invasive Plant of-the-Month
#7 Garden Pest of-the-Month
#8 Feedback - Anonymous
#1 Master Gardening Tips
County Extension Agents
You want credible gardening advice on a specific circumstance? Many times good gardening websites will give a lot of concrete information but will at the end of the article say… “be sure to contact your Local County Extension Agent”.
This can be the correct thing to say because there are so many questions in gardening that really depend on the local region you live in for exact answers. Variances in weather, pest, disease, and other regional differences, make your local extension agent a very valuable resource when you are a gardener.
About the Cooperative Extension System:
The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, part of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Congress created CSREES through the 1994 Department Reorganization Act. CSREES' unique mission is to advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations.
What does all this mean?
You’ll contact this wonderful agency for any odd or detailed gardening questions you cannot get answered. There are many very informative websites out there covering major amounts of gardening advice. They cover what they can but it all can’t be covered or known. Many gardening questions have standard answers but there are always parts of the equation that is very region specific.
Important: To find out how to contact your “Local County Agent” click the link below to read more…
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#2 Lynne's Backyard Gardening Tips
Paperwhite Narcissus Bulbs
One of my favorite things to do in the winter is to force bulbs indoors. It is a sure way to brighten up any room and make you anxious for spring. There are so many bulbs you can grow indoors and so many ways to grow them; you can find them in almost any garden center. Be creative in your containers, you can use nearly anything.
Each bulb has its own instructions but basically you put them in a little bit of soil, point side up, keep them cool until they sprout, then keep them warm. Follow the directions for forcing on whichever one you purchase. The most common bulbs for forcing are Amaryllis, Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths and my very favorite, Paperwhite Narcissus.
Many things in gardening can be difficult, so this is your easy rewarding flower. Paperwhite’s are easy to force indoors and they can fill a room with their fragrance. Simply put, just purchase firm bulbs, put them in your container with some stones about half the way up the bulb, put some water in the container, put them in a cool, bright room until they grow a couple of inches and then move them to a warmer room.
If you get started soon you can have them coming up for Christmas. Paperwhites make great gifts whether in the bulb stage or in the flowering stage. There are a few more details than what’s described above, but it’s still easy to do and the results are very rewarding. To read more details on Paperwhites click the link below to “Read More”.
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#3 New Gardening Product of-the-Month
Wheelbarrow & Bucket Screener
How would you like to have an unlimited supply of high grade topsoil or compost? The Wheelbarrow Screener works like a giant cheese grater on hard soils and compost materials. It saves time and money and is made of high grade materials to last.
Some of the other great reasons for the Wheelbarrow Screener:
Does the work of a tiller without the cost of repairs.
Roots don’t do well in hard soil or going around rocks.
Sift out pest and rhizomes before they take over your garden.
Save your back and legs by not having to pick up endless rocks.
No more backbreaking trips to buy and carry heavy bags of topsoil.
There are many other reasons to consider this great product including a smaller bucket version for smaller projects. Click the link to read more about this company and product performance.
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#4 Odd & Strange Gardening News
Dinosaur Tree Discovered
While on a hiking trip in Australia in 1994, David Noble noticed an unusual looking grove of trees growing deep in a canyon. This particular area was very inaccessible with more than 400 deep plunging canyons. Mr. Noble collected samples of this strange looking tree which had strange bark looking like bubbles of chocolate. It also had fern like leaves growing in spirals, multiple trunks, and grew to heights of 125 feet.The samples taken took a few months to figure out but in the end it was revealed that this was an ancient species thought to be extinct… The Wollemi Pine. Previously this pine was only known from 120 million year old fossil leaves. It was reported that this is the botanical equivalent to finding a dinosaur alive today.
Click the link below to read more about this "dino-aged" tree wonder...
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#5 Great Plant of the Month
English Ivy
There are many types of ivy in the world and each area has its own varieties that can survive in their climate. In most regions, there are varieties that will survive the winter. Ivies make terrific ground covers and add that special touch to the side of a home when allowed to grow freely.Ivy is not a parasite to a tree because it only attaches to the surface and does not take nourishment from the tree; it only takes nutrients from the ground where it is planted. One way that ivy can harm a tree is it makes the tree more vulnerable to being blown over by heavy winds because it creates more mass between the branches.
For areas in your yard that are root bound by trees and you need some ground cover, ivy is an excellent solution because it is fairly drought tolerant and just grows along the surface. Ivy does not like to be wet and will die quickly if it sits in water too long, especially the variegated variety.
English Ivy - Blessing & Curse
Good old-fashioned English Ivy seems to be the hardiest for ground cover, but if you have a very shady area that you need some contrast, the variegated varieties really stand out. This Ivy is great but it can be both a Blessing & a Curse. Read the rest of the article for more information...
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#6 Invasive Plant of-the-Month
Garlic Mustard
Garlic Mustard is a very invasive plant that can grow well in shaded areas, dense shade, and even in locations getting full sun. That pretty much makes this a tough and stubborn plant to contend with. Garlic mustard infestations can be very dense and advance over wide areas quickly.
Garlic Mustard is an early spring competitor that invades forest & wooded stream banks. It monopolizes light, moisture, and soil nutrients where it aggressively dominates the ground layer. Once it is established it has the ability to exclude and eliminate many herbaceous species.
Threats not only include native plants but animals as well. By taking away the natural plant life to the forest area, wildlife species that depend on these plants for food are denied a place to make a living. To find out more about how to control this plant click the link to read more...
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#7 Garden Pest of-the-Month
Fungus Gnats
Fungus Gnats are very common and exist all around us. However, we generally only really notice them when they get out of hand. In the garden this is usually controlled because predators and changes of weather and seasons keep their populations in check.
These insects produce a large cloud because there are so many of them swarming around. This is one of those cases where an insect pest is mostly a nuisance. For the most part, they don’t cause damage or significant problems to your garden or home, but who wants hundreds of fly-like gnats filling up your airspace.
The majority of problems occur indoors, in greenhouses, or on potted plants where their numbers can soar into large numbers. Outbreaks of Fungus Gnats are not fully understood but scientist believe it is related to soil moisture levels and high humidity. When soil moisture is higher it favors egg development and the Fungus Gnats can go from egg to adult 10-14 days.
Click the link below to read more about this pesky insect...
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