Garden Wise Gazette - Collin County Master Gardeners
Transcription
Garden Wise Gazette - Collin County Master Gardeners
1 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Garden Wise Gazette The Garden Wise Gazette is an outreach of the Collin County Master Gardeners Association (CCMGA) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to the citizens of Collin County for horticultural education, interest, and information. Lak e Lavon May/June 2014 In this Issue . . . Anticipating the Future of Horticulture . 1 Water Conservation: Memories of the 1950’s Drought ...................... 3 Collin County Master Gardener Training Class ............................ 4 Save the Date: A Walk in the Park ... 5 Save the Date: The 11th Annual Bulb & Perennial Mart ................ 6 New Pest on Crape Myrtle ................ 7 Tycoon Tomato Named Texas Superstar .......................... 9 Garden Checklist for May.................. 11 Garden Checklist for June.................. 12 The Garden Show 2014 Featured Sponsors ....................... 13 — March 20 14 Anticipating the Future of Horticulture article by Dr. Greg Church, Ph.D. County Extension Agent – Horticulture Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County photos of Lake Lavon by Jim Ewoldsen, Collin County Master Gardener / CCMGA President What does the future have in store for gardening and landscaping? No one really knows, but the current methods used by the typical homeowner or property owner likely won’t have a place in the future. The decrease in available water for irrigation, greater restrictions on pesticide use, and growing environmental harm from the overuse of fertilizers will change how people in the future manage their plants for food and beautification purposes. Help Desk FAQs.............................. 14 A growing percentage of residents of Collin County and other areas of the country realize the need to conserve water. Their realization is either through personal revelation or mandatory Gardening in Collin County ............. 14 — continued on page 2 The Garden Wise Gazette is published six times a year, providing information applicable to the upcoming season. The July/August issue will be released on July 1, 2014. 4 3 2 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 photos courtesy of Jim Ewoldsen Anticipating the Future of Horticulture (continued from page one) water restrictions, the latter being the more likely reason. Collin County has experienced several major factors that contribute to our water shortage: drought, invasive species such as the zebra mussel, and rapid population growth. Even if you take away the drought and increase the water supply, it is still predictable that the future will require water conservation. The future water supply will not be able to keep pace with increase in use by the growing population. The Texas State Water Plan for the future requires water use to decrease by at least 20% in the future. To give you an idea of what 20% means — Stage 3 water restrictions are designed to achieve a more than 10% reduction in water use. However, we achieved a 23% reduction overall in 2013. Therefore, in the future, we won’t be able to water more than we can today under current Stage 3 water restrictions. The use of harsh pesticides has dramatically decreased over the past 50 years due to increased restrictions by the EPA. As evidence of the negative impacts of pesticides on the environment and human health is discovered, more products are taken off the market. There are an increased number of less toxic or even “environmentally friendly” pesticides available to consumers. However, there is still a monetary cost to the use of these products. Pesticides, whether good or bad, lead to a dependency on their use, and don’t solve the real problem that exists. Knowing why these pests, diseases, or problems occur will lead someone, seeking knowledge and wisdom, to realize the best course of action is to prevent the problem before it occurs. The advent of synthetic fertilizers are credited (in part) with the start of the “Green Revolution” — a time when agriculture technology was used to increase crop production worldwide and saved over a billion people from starvation. Synthetic fertilizers may have a place in agriculture crop production for many years to come, but their overuse and abuse in urban areas (or any area) has a negative environmental consequence. Soil fertility is key to achieving proper growth and development of plants. However, using fertilizers properly or preferably using alternative sources can achieve protection for the environment. Through the realization that these three major issues have a huge impact on the future of horticulture, we can start the change now to prepare ourselves for the future. Fortunately, a method already exists that solves all these key issues. This method uses a systems approach to address all the issues facing the future of horticulture. This systematic approach works with natural systems that already exists in our ecosystem and leads to an environmental equilibrium that addresses those problems that face our gardens and landscapes. This system is called Earth-Kind® Environmental Stewardship. Earth-Kind® Environmental Stewardship. Earth-Kind® landscaping uses research proven techniques to provide maximum garden and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting the environment. To learn more, please visit: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind 2 1 2 3 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Water Conservation — an ongoing, critical issue facing all of Collin County Memories of the 1950’s Drought sy of DMagaz photo courte ine.com by Peggy Gleghorn, Collin County Master Gardener Intern Residents of North Texas, and indeed all of Texas, should never take water for granted. It is one of our most precious resources. Water is probably never fully appreciated until there is little or none to drink. Today, as we labor under Stage 3 water restrictions, my thoughts return to my childhood days in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. From 1948 to 1957, Texas received 30-50 percent less rain than normal, and temperatures rose above average. The 1950’s brought the second-, third- and eighth-driest years ever in the state – 1956, 1954 and 1953, respectively, according to the National Weather Service. There were periods of rain during those years, but nothing to soften the drought. Dallas used two main water reservoirs – Lake Dallas and Garza Little Elm. Those water systems dried up or at least we could no longer receive water through the system in Oak Cliff. At some point in time late in the summer or fall of 1956, the Dallas City Council decided to run a water pipeline from the Red River (Lake Texoma) to Oak Cliff. (Sound familiar?) They evidently did not evaluate the Red River’s water quality – it was saline. The saline water running through our pipes was available for washing, bathing, running the water coolers – anything but drinking. (Recently, someone asked me about lawn watering but lawns were not my main concern at that time since I was a child and I don’t remember anything about them.) East Dallas received its water from the White Rock Pump Station. White Rock Lake became a muddy hole and large catfish were caught at the spillway. Dallas sits on an aquifer that was rarely opened for public consumption. Until that time, few residents knew about its existence and it became our lifeline. Above ground faucets placed on boards connected to the aquifer were installed. The water department notified residents the dates and times to take water jugs to the site. My Mother’s family came up from Bryan/College Station for the State Fair each year. Her youngest sister decided to brew a pot of coffee one morning before breakfast using the tap water. The coffee wasn’t exactly what she expected. Another pot was promptly brewed using the artesian water. Much better! In the 1950’s most homes were not equipped with central HVAC systems of any type. To cool our home, my Dad installed a large water cooler with chains holding it to a bedroom window. Water ran through the coils and a blower sent cool air into the home. An attic fan ran for nighttime cooling. (Yes, it was safe in those days to open our windows at night.) The salty water ruined the motor in our water cooler and long salt icicles hung from its housing. Large cracks developed in school playgrounds and yards. My brother and I took swimming lessons in a large public pool in Oak Cliff that became so — continued on page 4 3 4 6 5 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Memories of the 1950’s Drought (continued from page 3) dirty from lack of water that the City closed the pool never to open again. (Cigar and cigarette butts floated on the water at times!) The large pool at Fair Park also closed during the drought period as well as other public pools. Dallas City Council members voted to build new water reservoirs to prevent Dallas from running low on water when drought conditions existed. Lake Grapevine came on board first, followed by Lake Lavon. Lake Tawakoni was next and in the 1960’s Lake Ray Hubbard was brought on line. Rain returned to our parched area in 1957. The artesian well was capped, Lake Lavon filled up sooner than expected, and once again we had city water. However, the length of dry, arid weather with high temperatures made an indelible impression on all who experienced that time in Dallas history. I don’t know of anyone who wishes to repeat those days. Today, the population of this area has expanded and once again our water reservoirs are being tested. Many residents find it difficult to believe that one day, the water will run out. We depend on it to run our power plants, provide for our comfort, run our irrigation systems for green lawns, and a variety of other uses. As in the 1950’s, droughts come on slowly, downpours go to parched ground instead of watershed areas, and summer temperatures begin to evaporate water in our reservoirs. The drought conditions that Dallas and all of Texas experienced in those dry years of the 1950’s can and probably will occur again in our state’s future. When the water table in those reservoirs begins to run low, residents will once again realize just how precious a drop of water can be. Collin County Master Gardener 2014 Training Class article by Kim Schultz, CCMGA Training Class Committee Co-Chair The 2014 Collin County Master Gardener Training Class, sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will begin Tuesday, September 2, 2014, and run for 12 weeks ending on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. The class includes instruction by several speakers including, the Collin County Horticulture Extension Agent Dr. Greg Church, knowledgeable Master Gardeners, and local experts. The 2014 class will include several hands-on activities and two field trips. Class sizes generally range from 50 to 55 students. Master Gardener trainees are required to attend 65 hours of classroom training in exchange for 65 hours of volunteer commitment their first year after training in order to certify as a Collin County Master Gardener. To apply for the 2014 Class, please go to: http://ccmgatx.org/about-us/master-gardener-training Download the Application Packet, Background Check, and Volunteer Agreement forms. Once completed, mail the forms and the class fee of $200 to the address on the bottom of the Application Packet by the deadline of August 1, 2014. 4 1 2 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Save the Date: A Walk in the Park by Kathleen Brooks, CCMGA Interactive Adult Education Project Leader photos courtesy of CCMGA The Collin County Master Gardeners will be hosting tours of the award-winning research and demonstration gardens at Myers Park on Saturday, June 28, from 9 am – Noon. Over the past five years, we have partnered with the staff at the park to install gardens that include: perennials, annuals, crape myrtles, vegetables and herbs, as well as the demonstration gardens around the office. Master Gardeners will be on hand to serve as guides and to answer your questions. Our butterfly experts will be in the perennial garden pointing out the various plants used as host and nectar plants by butterflies and other pollinators. Our Youth Education Committee will have fun, educational activities for children in the Pole Barn. An information booth will also be available to provide answers to general gardening questions. Learn more about Collin County’s rural heritage at The Collin County Farm Museum. The museum will be open for tours and is located in the Wells building next to the perennial garden. With 8,528 square feet of collections, restoration exhibits and historic farming equipment, you’ll learn about Collin County’s agricultural history from its early settlement up to the 1960’s. Rainwater collected from the roof of the Farm Museum fills tanks located on the north side of the museum and is used to irrigate the perennial research garden. The Water Conservation Committee will have hands on displays where you can learn more about drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting. Specialists will be available to answer your irrigation questions. Why not make plans to join us at Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney on Saturday, June 28, 2014? You won’t want to miss “A Walk in the Park.” See you there! Myers Park & Event Center 7117 County Road 166 McKinney, TX 75071 For directions, please go to: www.collincountytx.gov/myers Questions? Please call the Help Desk at: (972) 548-4232 5 1 2 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Save the Date: The 11th Annual Bulb & Perennial Mart Begins August 1st by Dawn Bluemel Oldfield Collin County Master Gardener and Public Relations Chairperson photos courtesy of CCMGA Mark your calendars! The pre-sale for bulbs for the 11 th Annual Bulb and Perennial Mart is right around the corner! The Collin County Master Gardeners Association will be offering heirloom and naturalizing bulbs by pre-order only from August 1-31. These easy-to-grow bulbs have been researched and are proven to be suitable for our climate and soil. Many of these hard to find bulbs will not be available for purchase at local nurseries. Pre-ordered bulbs will be available for pick-up at the Bulb and Perennial Mart on Saturday, October 18th in the Stall Barn at Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney, Texas. The Bulb and Perennial Mart will begin with an “Early Bird” seminar at 8:30 am, with preorder bulbs available for pick-up at 9:00 am. CCMGA will be selling a selection of perennials and more varieties of spring, summer, and fall blooming bulbs during the event. The perennials offered at the sale have been proven to be winners in the International award winning Research and Demonstration gardens at Myers Park. These Texas tough plants will add color and beauty to the garden throughout the year. This fall fundraiser benefits CCMGA community outreach programs and horticultural and water conservation education in Collin County. Information about the Bulb and Perennial Mart, a color brochure with descriptions of bulbs available for the pre-sale and an order form will be available August 1, 2014 for downloading at the CCMGA website: http://ccmgatx.org The International Award Winning Research and Demonstration Gardens Myers Park, McKinney, Texas Mailed orders must be accompanied by a check or money order payable to CCMGA and must be received no later than August 31, 2014. Visa and MasterCard will be accepted for online orders only. Please call the Collin County Master Gardeners Association at (972) 548-4219 or (972) 548-4232 for questions and additional information. 6 1 3 2 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 New Pest on Crape Myrtle excerpted from “Insects in the City — New Pest On Crape Myrtle” by Dr. Mike Merchant, Ph.D. Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texans (and many other southerners) love their crape myrtles! And why not? Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia species) is one of the few trees that bear colorful flower displays through much of the summer, come in a variety of stunning colors, is easy to grow, and until now has been relatively pest free. Unfortunately, the pest-free reputation is changing with the advent of a new exotic scale pest. In 2004 I received a call from a local lawn maintenance company that was having a difficult time controlling an unusual scale on crape myrtle at a commercial property in Richardson, Texas. Crape myrtle branch with a heavy infestation of scale. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Photo Crape myrtle trees infested with BMBS in Richardson, TX. Black sooty mold deposits on the branches and trunks of infested trees are often the first sign on an infestation. Note the white, scale encrusted upper branches. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Photo After examining it I thought this scale might be something new, and sent samples of the insect off to experts for identification. Under the microscope it appeared to be an Eriococcid scale called azalea bark scale, Eriococcus azaleae. Azalea bark scale is a common pest of azaleas in the eastern U.S., but had never been recorded as occurring on crape myrtle before. A suggestion by a retired USDA scale specialist led us to change our minds and believe that the scale might actually be a closely related scale known as Eriococcus lagerstroemia. This scale is an important pest of crape myrtles in China, Japan and Korea. The difficulty was that no one knew how to tell these two scales apart. And because the only place that the scale occurred was in the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex, it was difficult to interest others in investigating the problem without some financial backing. After several years of slow spread through several north Texas counties, last year the scale made its move. In 2013 the scale appeared in several locations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. As a result, this winter researchers from the University of Arkansas and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection service agreed to lend a hand and take a closer look at these tiny insects. Molecular and new microscopic examinations now appear to confirm that our new scale is likely to be a recent import from Asia, probably Eriococcus lagerstroemia. Last year Dr. Mengmeng Gu, Extension Horticulture specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife, had a chance to see these scales in their native Asian environment in a trip to China. The messy crape myrtles she saw there stimulated her interest in the scale, and led us to coauthor two new publications with the University of Arkansas. Both now Texas and Arkansas have fact sheets on this pest. — continued on page 8 7 4 5 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 New Pest on Crape Myrtle (continued from page 7) Many pest control professionals provide IPM services for landscape and turf pests, so it will be important to be able to recognize and identify it when you see it. Crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) is a small white scale that bleeds pink when crushed. A scale-encrusted crape myrtle branch. Note the pink blood from crushed scales where a finger has been dragged across the infested stem. Photo by M. Gu No other insects found on crape myrtle share these characteristics. They can be found on the trunks branches and twigs of crape myrtle. Don't be surprised to find this scale in Arkansas, Louisiana, southern Oklahoma, Germantown, Tennessee, and possibly South Carolina. In Texas the Dallas/Fort Worth area is widely infested and it may also be found in Tyler, Longview, and College Station. Based on the current rapid spread, within the next ten years this scale will likely be common in many communities throughout the South. Crape myrtle bark scale fact sheets may be found at: www.agrilifebookstore.org www.uaex.edu/publications Texas A&M AgriLife Water Education Network excerpted from http://water.tamu.edu Water demand in Texas is projected to increase by 22 percent between 2010 and 2060. As a result, protecting water resources and utilizing water conservation practices will be essential to sustain the state’s water supply-and-demand balance. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service delivers a wide range of resources and programs focusing on water conservation, water management and water quality. With its statewide network of professional educators, trained volunteers, research partners and community collaborators, AgriLife Extension is ready and able to impact issues that affect the well being and prosperity of Texas Residents. Click here to browse resources offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Water Education Network. To learn more about featured programs, click here. To sign up for updates by email for all of the most recent Water Education Network news and resources, please click here. 8 1 2 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Tycoon Tomato Named Texas Superstar ® by Robert Burns, Extension Communication Specialist Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service COLLEGE STATION — Tycoon tomato has many characteristics that rival or even best the Celebrity tomato, the long-standing favorite of many commercial and home growers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist. Tycoon tomato has superior resistance to diseases and nematodes, and it can produce very large fruit of superior quality. All these characteristics and more won it the Texas Superstar® title, said David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension agent for horticulture in Bexar County and member of the Texas Superstar® selection board. For example, Tycoon is resistant to tomato yellow leaf curl virus, a disease that has become a major problem for many varieties in the past few years, Rodriguez said. It is also resistant to the fungi verticillium and fusarium, races one and two, and tomato spotted wilt virus, as well as nematodes. Tycoon is an annual and determinant variety, which means that it is bushy rather than vining, and produces and ripens all its initial fruit crop at nearly the same time, most often within about a two-week period, he said. Most home gardeners as well as commercial growers prefer determinant varieties because they’re easier to manage and usually don’t take up as much space. Also, the plants continue to produce fruit well into the summer, another plus for Texas gardeners. As if all these favorable characteristics weren’t enough to qualify Tycoon as a Texas Superstar, it’s also capable of growing very large tomatoes, Rodriguez said. A common-size tomato for most reliable varieties, including Celebrity, is about 6 to 8 ounces. “But we’ve been seeing and hearing reports from other growers as well that under optimum management, Tycoon can produce tomatoes 1 pound and larger and of very high quality,” he said. As for flavor, that’s a subjective matter, Rodriguez noted, but Tycoon does have a very good sugar-to-acid ratio, which should please most people’s taste. All Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests throughout the state by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension horticulturists, said Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research horticulturist and chair of the Texas Superstar executive board, Overton. To be designated a Texas Superstar a plant must perform well for consumers and commercial growers throughout Texas, Pemberton said. Superstars must also be easy to propagate — which ensures the plants are not only widely available throughout Texas, but also reasonably priced. — continued on page 10 9 4 3 5 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Tycoon Tomato Named Texas Superstar (continued from page 9) In addition to disease resistance, summer plants must tolerate Texas heat well, and Tycoon has proven itself exceptional in this regard too, Rodriguez said. “Tycoon was released at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition in 2011,” Rodriguez said. “A good chunk of the tomatoes that are released locally here in San Antonio tend to be looked at real closely in the rest of the state. We have been testing Tycoon at the tomato trials we do here in south Bexar County since about 2007 or 2008. We’ve been getting real good results locally, thanks to help from cooperators like Verstuyft Farms and Rodney Peterson of Peterson Brothers wholesale nursery, as well as statewide.” Tycoon’s resistance to tomato yellow leaf curl virus was a major factor in its being chosen as a Superstar, he said. “In the fall, within about a 150 mile radius of San Antonio, when they start defoliating cotton, we get a lot of whiteflies driven into the urban areas,” Rodriguez said. “Whiteflies are a vector of the virus, and it’s been devastating for growers in the San Antonio area, as well as others, such as in the Rio Grande Valley. “In a randomized block planting of different varieties — AgriLife Extension’s fall trials test the same varieties as in the spring — they were all devastated by the disease, except for a plant here and a plant there, which was unaffected. And guess what that unaffected plant was: Tycoon.” Optimum management for Tycoon is the same as other determinate tomatoes, he said. It needs full sun, and should be planted early spring after the danger of frost has passed. In the summer, optimum planting times are 80 to 90 days prior to the first freeze in the fall, and it’s best to use high quality transplants. If seed is used, it should be started six to eight weeks prior to the planting date. And, as it is a bushy determinant variety that can grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, Tycoon will need to be staked. Fall-planted tomatoes go in as early as July 4 to no later than late August, Rodriguez said. “Back in the early 80s, Celebrity tomato, which is probably still the traditional standby tomato that everyone should grow as the backup tomato, has become an allAmerican selection tomato,” Rodriguez said. “At this point, looking at how Tycoon has been performing and from feedback from others, in the future we think it will possibly be as highly ranked as Celebrity.” Texas Superstar is a registered trademark owned by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, a state agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System. More information about the Texas Superstar program can be found at: http://texassuperstar.com Along with Pemberton and Rodriguez, other Texas Superstar board members include: Dr. Cynthia McKenney, Texas Tech University, Lubbock Dr. Mike Arnold, AgriLife Research, College Station Dr. Larry Stein, AgriLife Extension, Uvalde Dr. Dan Lineberger, AgriLife Research, College Station Dr. Tim Davis, AgriLife Research, College Station. 10 1 2 3 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Photos courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net Garden Checklist for May Plant: Mulch: • It is not too late to direct sow seeds of sunflower, zinnia, morning glory, portulaca, marigold, cosmos, periwinkles, and gourds. • Replace or replenish mulch materials in flowerbeds and shrub borders to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth. • Achimenes, cannas, dahlias, and other summer-flowering bulbs can also be planted in May. • During the summer, soil moisture becomes extremely important and essential for good plant production and gardening success. Because continual watering is costly and time consuming, it pays to conserve the moisture around plants with mulch. Mulches are usually applied 2 to 6 inches deep, depending on the material used. In general, the coarser the material, the deeper the mulch. * • May is a good time to plant caladium tubers, impatiens, coleus, begonias, and pentas in shady areas. Prune/Pinch Back: • Allow the foliage of springflowering bulbs to mature and yellow before removing. • Pinch back the terminal growth on newly planted annual and perennial plants. This will result in shorter, more compact, well-branched plants with more flowers. • Prune climbing roses as they complete their spring bloom season. Remove dead or weak wood as needed. Other Tasks: • Make cuttings of your favorite chrysanthemums and root them in a mixture of sand and peat moss. Cover cutting box with plastic and place in shaded area for 5 or 6 days to prevent wilting. • Take a critical look at your landscape while at the height of summer development. Make notes of how you think it can be better arranged, plants that need replacement, overgrown plants that need to be removed, and possible activity areas that can be enjoyed by family members. * • Check for insects and diseases. Destroy badly infested plants. Spider mites can be especially troublesome at this time. Select a chemical or organic control, or use insecticidal soap. * * Repeat these tasks in June. My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower and I told him of course he could, so long as he didn't take it out of my garden. — Eric Morecambe 11 1 2 3 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Garden Checklist for June Repeat the starred (*) May tasks in June. A few additional duties include: Plant: • There is still time to plant some of the colorful, heattolerant summer annuals. Direct-seed zinnias and portulaca, and purchase plants of periwinkle, salvia, marigold, and purslane. Be sure to water transplants as needed until roots become established. • June is the time to select daylily varieties as they reach their peak of bloom. Prune/Pinch Back: • Re-blooming salvias, should be pruned back periodically during the summer. To make the job easier, use hedging shears, and remove only the spent flowers and a few inches of stem below. • Fall-blooming perennials, such as Mexican mint marigold, chrysanthemums, physostegia, and Salvia leucantha, should be pruned in the same manner during the summer to keep them compact, reducing the need for staking. This type of pruning should be completed prior to September 1, since flower buds begin forming about that time. Irrigation: • Supplemental irrigation is essential for many ornamental plants such as coleus, caladium, geranium, dahlia, azalea, and camellia during the hot dry summer days ahead. • Water lawn and garden thoroughly, but not too frequently. As a general rule, soak to a depth of 8 inches. Finish watering by 10 am to lessen the chance of disease, conserve water, and meet the watering restrictions for your city. Roses: • Fertilize roses every 4 to 6 weeks. Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer immediately after a flush of bloom. • Continue to spray susceptible roses with your preferred synthetic or organic black-spot control every 7 to 10 days. Other Tasks: • Removing faded flowers from plants before they set seed will keep them growing and producing flowers. A light application of fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks will also be helpful. • Houseplants can be moved out of doors this month. Sink the pots in a cool, shaded garden bed to prevent them from drying out so quickly; water pots, container plants, and hanging baskets often. Monthly feedings with houseplant fertilizer will encourage continued growth. • Now is the time to plan for next spring. Consider digging and dividing any crowded spring bulbs. Once the bulbs have matured and the foliage has turned brown, it is time to spade them up and thin out the stand. Crowded bulbs produce fewer and smaller blooms. They usually need thinning every 3 to 4 years. Photos courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net 12 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 The Garden Show 2014 . . . Success! Partly sunny skies and moderate temperatures attributed to approximately 8,500 guests attending this year’s Garden Show. To those of you who were able to attend, we thank you! For those of you who weren’t able to attend, mark your calendars for The Garden Show 2015, which will be held on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, 2015. The Garden Show cannot happen without all of us working together! Thank you to our CCMGA volunteers, our vendors and especially our sponsors for all of your hard work and participation making the 2014 show a success! Bruce Batman & Linda St. Romain — Co-Chairs, The Garden Show 2014 Each month, we will feature a few of our invaluable Garden Show 2014 sponsors in the Garden Wise Gazette. This month, we’d like to introduce our title sponsor, Ag Power and silver sponsor, Chambersville Tree Farms. Ag-Power, Title Sponsor Chambersville Tree Farms, Silver Sponsor article by Shirley Brown, Ag-Power article by Michele Tesdall Collin County Master Gardener Intern Since 1972, Ag-Power has been one of the most progressive dealers of agricultural and consumer equipment in Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. Besides carrying a full line of John Deere equipment for lawn & garden, commercial, and agricultural needs, Ag-Power also offers a full line of fuelefficient Honda Power Equipment and powerful, environmentally responsible STIHL power tools. Once primarily selling large agricultural equipment to the farmers in Collin County, Ag-Power has adjusted to the changing needs of its customers by offering smaller agricultural equipment as well as the full line of lawn and garden, and commercial equipment. At Ag-Power, not only will you find the equipment you need, but a well-stocked parts inventory (including John Deere and competitive parts) and service to take care of your equipment, along with knowledgeable and caring staff. Customers can get the parts they need for whatever equipment they own and, if not in stock most parts can be obtained overnight. A well-trained service staff can assist the customer in keeping their equipment running with as little downtime as possible, while a large fleet of service field trucks also assists by servicing equipment at the customer’s location. Jack Radke, owner, has laid a foundation for Ag-Power’s commitment to being a leading corporate citizen and supporting our communities and has ingrained this mission in all 17 Ag-Power locations. With 18,000 square feet of inside display space, the entire family can browse through the large line of equipment, merchandise, toys, clothing and much more. Ag-Power looks forward to you visiting them at any of their locations for any of your sales, parts or service needs. For more information or to find a location near you, please visit our website at: www.ag-power.com Situated about 13 miles north of McKinney in Celina, Chambersville Tree Farms (CTF) is a North Texas organic wholesale grower specializing in Japanese maples, crape myrtles and roses. On their 266 acre farm you can choose from North Texas’ largest selection of Japanese maples, over 30 varieties of crape myrtles, and more than 300 varieties of roses. Included in CTF’s rose offerings is their Heritage Rose Garden featuring the largest collection of tea and China roses in the Southwest. CTF has set a high standard in its industry, one of providing beautiful plants while minimizing human impact on land and community. Their focus is on native and adapted plants, and an adherence to an organic growth and maintenance approach. They back their products with a one-year-fromplanting-date assistance program. For the first year, customers are but an email or a phone call away from the expert assistance and advice of CTF’s staff who can help create a plan, and recommend service providers for the care and maintenance of a CTF purchase. Among its highly praised staff are two degreed horticulturalists, two Tree Stewards, and a combined 125 years of experience in this trade. In addition to the business of growing and selling high quality plants, CTF boasts a picturesque event venue perfect for outdoor weddings. Also, coming up on Saturday, May 3rd is their annual Rosedango: Rose and Wine Celebration. An all-day event with free admission, Rosedango will have vendor booths, speakers, and Texas vintner, Mike Wiggins, owner of Lenoir-Sage vineyards, as well as catered lunch and dinner available for purchase. Chambersville Tree Farms is much more than a nursery. It is your destination for your landscape tree and rose needs. Check out ChambersvilleTreeFarms.com, as well as Rosedango.com for complete information. 13 1 2 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County Volume 7, Issue 3 Help Desk FAQs Collin County Extension Horticulture & Collin County Master Gardeners 825 N. McDonald Street Suite 150 McKinney, Texas 75069 Phone: 972-548-4232 Metro: 972-424-1460 x4232 Email: [email protected] Dealing with the Drought Water Conservation & Irrigation Resources Efficient use of water is a big concern for Collin County gardeners. First, we recommend visiting the Texas Urban Landscape Guide. It is one of the most comprehensive sites on the web covering efficient water usage for Texas homeowners. Then, follow these links to learn more about using water wisely. • Drip Irrigation: Salvation for the Gardener • Landscape Water Conservation...Xeriscape Irrigation Tips (and more) for Container Plants • MULCHING: • • RAINWATER HARVESTING: • The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting • Rainwater Harvesting: An Underutilized Conservation Project MORE WATER WISE TIPS: County Extension Agent: Greg Church, Ph.D. Email: [email protected] Garden Wise Editor: Bonnie Landon Email: [email protected] Collin County Master Gardeners Association http://ccmgatx.org http://collin-tx.tamu.edu Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or nation origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating. Easy Gardening...Mulching Mulches for Enhanced, LowCost, Low-Maintenance Landscapes GENERAL RAINFALL INFORMATION: • • Water Wise Council of Texas Efficient Use of Water in the Home Landscape and Garden • • Effect of Irrigation Frequency on Drip-Irrigated Vegetables • • Water Management on Turfgrass Monthly and Annual Rainfall for D/FW U.S. Soil Moisture Monitoring Gardening in Collin County One of the main objectives of the Collin County Master Gardeners is to help gardeners identify suitable plants for our area. Our website — ccmgatx.org — features recommendations and information about plants that have proven to perform well in our part of Texas. Here are some links to helpful information: Plant Pictures Pages http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu USDA Plant Hardiness Map http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources Texas Superstars http://texassuperstar.com/ Vegetable Picker http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources Water Conservation & Irrigation Tips http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources Plant Diseases http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources All About Insects and Pests http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources 14