Gifted Gardener D E C E M B E R
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Bringing the outdoor greenery indoors for the holidays
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KENTUCKY HOME MASTER GARDENERS CONTINUE TO DO GOOD FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
The Extension Master Gardener program has been a wonderful venue for like minded individuals to come together for common good. I have been conducting the Master Gardener program now for 12 years and Foods for 4 have trained somewhere north better of 100 individuals in the practice health are of horticulture and related fields. more What I find fascinating about the about program is the personalities and choice interests that these folks are willing to share with me.(I Poinsettia 6 learned to keep bees from a Facts master gardener). Everyone has KY fruit 6 a different set of skills they bring and vegeto the group and for me it is table always exciting when through Conferconversation I learn something ence. A new about an individual. All learning walks of life are represented opporwith as varied a background as tunity. you could imagine. About fifty folks continue to volunteer for Emerald 8 extension each year through the Ash Bormany activities that they proer Update mote. The group has many Control9 projects in their portfolio that ling Moles are worth mentioning. The bigKeeping 10 gest event by far is the Blooming Bardstown Garden tour. This Greenery event takes a lot of effort to put Fresh on but is well received by the community. Members of the 1
group helped with downtown plantings in Bardstown, New Haven and the Bark Park. They helped with the Nelson County Fair, Feeding America Program, and taught others about their passions for plants. They conducted large cleanup projects for those who could not help themselves and did it for the smiles. This is just a few of the projects that have been sponsored or conducted by your Nelson County Master Gardeners. With all their help we have been able to make little parts of our county even better. I just want to thank each and every one of my Extension Master Gardeners for their continued support of the Nelson County Horticulture Program. We have done a lot over the past years but there is much more to accomplish in the future with your help. If you are a person who wants to get involved in your community because you desire to see it grow in a beautiful way Master Gardeners may be for you. In the fall of 2015 we will conduct our thirteenth class and would love to have you join the ranks of Master Gardener. Stay Tuned.
WOODY PLANTS When gathering live greenery from your shrubs and trees, remember that you are actually pruning the plants.
BRINGING THE OUTDOOR GREENERY INDOORS FOR THE HOLIDAYS Decorating the house with fresh greenery is one of the oldest winter holiday traditions. Evergreens have been a part of winter festivals since ancient times. Evergreens are used to represent everlasting life and hope for the return of spring. Southerners have been decorating with greenery since colonial days, although the custom was not common in the Northern United States until the 1800s. Churches were decorated elaborately with garlands of holly, ivy, mountain laurel and mistletoe hung from the roof, the walls, the pews, pulpit and sometimes the altar. Lavender, rose petals and herbs such as rosemary and bay were scattered for scent. Homes were decorated in a simpler fashion with greenery and boughs in the window frames andholly sprigs stuck to the glass with wax. Today, decorating for the holidays with fresh greenery is more prevalent than ever. Greenery such as cedar, ivy, pine and holly 2
add a fresh look and natural scent to our homes. Gathering Greenery The first and often the best place to look for holiday greenery may be in your own landscape. Greenery gathered from your own garden will be far fresher than any that you can buy. You may also have a variety of unusual greenery that would be difficult to find for purchase. When gathering live greenery from your shrubs and trees, remember that you are actually pruning the plants. Consider carefully which branches to cut and which ones to leave. Distribute the cuts evenly around the plant in order to preserve its natural form. Types of Greenery Many different kinds of greenery can be used for holiday decorations. Pines, firs and cedars are good to use for indoor decoration since they dry out slowly and hold their needles best at warm interior temperatures. They may last for several weeks if properly treated and cared for. Hemlock, spruces and most
broadleaf evergreens will last longer ifused outdoors. Below are some suggested varieties to use in holiday decorating. White Pine: This soft, bluish-green, long-needled pine has excellent needle retention but wilts visibly if dry. It is readily available as premade garland and wreaths. Virginia Pine: This native pine has shorter, coarser needles, and is longlasting, with excellent needle retention. Virginia pine is readily available. Junipers: Fragrant, short, green or silver-blue foliage that may be adorned with small blue berries. The needles are often sticky. Red cedar is a native juniper and is readily available. True Cedars: Deodar cedar, blue atlas cedar, and cedar-of-Lebanon all have a wonderful fragrance. If small male cones are present, spray them with lacquer or acrylic to prevent the messy release of pollen at room temperature. Firs: All firs have wonderful scent and good tolerance of hot, dry indoor conditions. The needles are short and flat with excellent color and needle retention. Fraser fir wreaths and swags are commonly available from commercial sources. Spruce: Wreaths are the main use for spruce greens. The branches are stiff with short, sharp needles. Blue spruce is especially attractive because of its color, and it holds its needles better than other spruce. Needle retention is poorer on spruce than on other conifer greens.
Ivy: This vigorous vine is readily available in many yards. It makes an excellent green for holiday arrangements. The cut ends must be kept in water, or the ivy will quickly wilt. Holly: This most traditional holiday green comes in several forms, both green and variegated. Female plants display bright red berries. Make sure that holly does not freeze after cutting, or the leaves and berries may blacken. Mountain Laurel: This is a traditional evergreen in the South for wreaths and garlands. As with other broad-leaved evergreens, however, laurel holds up best when used outdoors. Boxwood: This small-leafed shrub is a longtime favorite for fine-textured wreaths and garland. It has an aroma that is either loved or hated. Be sure of your reaction before using it indoors. Magnolia: The large leaves are a glossy, dark green that contrast well with the velvety, brown undersides. Magnolia leaves make stunning wreaths and bases for large decorations. The leaves hold up very well even without water. Some other excellent evergreens that can be used for holiday greenery include: • Arborvitae • Ligustrum • Pittosporum • Podocarpus • Viburnum • Leyland Cypress • Nandina • Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) • Hemlock
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FRUITS
EAT FRESH THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS FOR BETTER HEALTH IN THE NEW YEAR
“Also consider these foods when you begin planning for your fruit and veggie plantings next spring. “
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The pictographs on these two pages come from a twitter account I follow called Daily Health Tips : Ask a Doctor. I find these pictures easy to understand and help me make better decisions in my food choices. As we go into the holidays remember these pictures as you graze the endless snack assortment at your next party. Also consider these foods when you begin planning for your fruit and veggie plantings next spring. Now we know we can’t believe everything on the internet but this source seems to have accurate and easy to understand information.
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FLOWERS
Poinsettia Facts 10 Interesting Facts About Poinsettias No flower says Christmas like the beautiful poinsettia. Learn a few facts about this traditional Christmas plant.
Poinsettias are not poisonous. There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today
tion (most likely to the sap) after touching the leaves. For pets, the poinsettia sap may cause mild irritation or nausea. Probably best to keep pets away from the plant, especially puppies and kittens.
Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae or Spurge family. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima. Many plants in the Euphorbiaceae family ooze a milky sap. Some people with latex allergies have had a skin reac-
Poinsettias are not poisonous. A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 leaves to have any harmful effect. Plus poinsettia leaves have an awful taste. You might want to keep your pets
KENTUCKY FRUIT & VEGETABLE CONFERENCE HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE The 2015 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show will again be at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Lexington, KY, Monday and Tuesday, January 5 and 6, 2015. Highlights of this year’s meeting will be preconference Tree Fruit, Small Fruit and Vegetable Round Table Discussions. During the conference there will be sessions on Farmers’ Markets, Com6
mercial Fruit and Vegetable Production, Greenhouse and High Tunnel Production, Small Fruit Production, Organic Production, the Grape and Wine Short Course, Direct Marketing, and Agritourism. We have many excellent out-of-state speakers this year including: Dr. Brad Bergefurd, Extension Horticulturist, The Ohio State University; Dr. Imed
from snacking on poinsettia leaves. Eating the leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves).
Poinsettias have also been called the lobster flower and the flameleaf flower, due to the red color.
Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico.
In Mexico the poinsettia is a perennial shrub that will grow 10-15 feet tall.
Dami, Viticulturist, The Ohio State University; Dr. Dan Egel, Extention Plant Pathologist, Southwest Purdue Agriculture Program; Cane Hickey, Ph.D. Student, Alson H. Smith Jr., Agriculture Research and Extension Center; Whitney Horral and Melanie Ellis, Indiana Growers, Melon Acres; Nathan Johanning, Extension Educator, University of Illinois; Michael Jones, Scott Labs; Dr. David Lockwood, Extension Fruit Specialist, University of Tennessee; Todd Steiner, Enologist, The Ohio State University, and Dr. Christopher Walsh, Professor of Pomology, University of Maryland. There will be an optional Celebration of Kentucky Wines Monday evening. This year there will be Exhibi-
There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today. Poinsettias come in colors like the traditional red, white, pink, burgundy, marbled and speckled.
The Paul Ecke Ranch in California grows over 70% of all Poinsettias purchased in the United States and does about 50% of the world-wide sales of Poinsettias.
December 12th is Poinsettia Day, which marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851.
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia/ facts.cfm
tor/Grower and Conference Luncheons featuring Kentucky Proud Products. We will have a Trading Post bulletin board to sell used equipment. If you are looking for equipment buyers, bring along a description containing your name, phone number and the equipment price. PLEASE make your room reservations directly with the hotel. Our block of rooms will be held until December 26th, 2014. After this, room prices will be higher. Be sure to let the hotel know that you will be staying for the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference to obtain our special suite room rate for a single or dou(Continued on page 10)
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LEARNING
UK RESEARCH SHOWS PROMISE IN FIGHT AGAINST EMERALD ASH BORER BY KATIE PRATT Entomology researchers in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment have received encouraging results in their fight to protect Kentucky ash trees from the emerald ash borer. EAB is an exotic woodboring invader that kills ash trees.
“The emerald ash borer first appeared in the state in 2009 in Central Kentucky and has spread each year since”
During the past two growing seasons, UK forest entomologist Lynne RieskeKinney, her lab members and personnel from the Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist have released three species of parasitoid wasps that may be capable of helping to stop the invasive insect. This summer, RieskeKinney and Bill Davidson, UK entomology graduate student, recovered one species, Tetrastichus planipennisi, from several sites and by multiple sampling methods. Tetrastichus planipennisi lands on the bark of a tree and detects the chewing vibrations EAB larvae make while feeding within a tree. The parasitoid then lays its eggs in
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the EAB larvae, eventually killing it. “Tree mortality occurs so rapidly that it is difficult to get parasitoids established in time, and ash conservation is primarily reliant on chemical protection,” Rieske-Kinney said. “Our approach uses lower amounts of chemicals to slow EAB development and delay tree mortality, releasing biological control agents and giving native parasites time to discover newly invading EAB populations. Our findings suggest that the parasitoid is becoming established in the research area.” The emerald ash borer first appeared in the state in 2009 in Central Kentucky and has spread each year since. It now appears in 35 counties in varying intensity. According to the Kentucky Division of Forestry, the state has more than 130 million white ash trees and 92.5 million green ash trees, but their distribution varies across the state. Counties with the largest number of ash trees include Henry, Bath, Spencer, Pulaski and Hopkins. Rieske-Kinney conducted research in the north-central Kentucky coun-
ties of Henry, Spencer, Fayette, Anderson and Shelby.
CONTROLLING MOLES
“The emerald ash borer is really well established in Henry, Shelby and Anderson counties,” Rieske-Kinney said. “While the EAB is present in Fayette and Spencer counties, we have not seen any tree mortality at our study sites in those counties yet. We’re hoping to catch the infestation as it arrives.”
Moles are a perennial problem in the lawns of central Kentucky homes. In the last 10 years the products have changed but not the method. As a beloved and recently passed turf specialist (Dr. A. J. Powell) used to say “a dead mole is a gone mole”. Eradication is the name of the game here and in his day it was commonly the harpoon trap that would do the trick but today it’s something else that ends the moles reign of terror.
In addition to the parasitoid establishment, UK forest entomology researchers found two native parasitoid groups with potential to be natural biological control agents for the borer. “One of the groups, Atanycolus, has been recovered by researchers in northern states as well,” she said. “The other genus, Heterospilus, is a parasitoid that has never been associated with the emerald ash borer before.” Heterospilus species are known to parasitize native wood-boring larvae, several of which are closely related to the emerald ash borer. Davidson and Rieske-Kinney recovered at least two species of Heterospilus in borerinfested logs. “Our findings suggest that this genus may easily transition to EAB,” she said. “They also suggest that our native parasitoids may be learning the emerald ash borer is available and may be using it as a host, hopefully contributing to EAB suppression.”
Back a few years ago Dr. Tom Barnes conducted a study comparing several techniques of mole eradication. His findings discovered that several of the old methods or popular items for sell on store shelves simply do not work. Some may drive them away for a short while but eventually they become use to it and they return. The product that turned out to work the best is a earthworm shaped bait that is placed in the varmints run (or path). The bait contains the active ingredient called Bromethalin and is lethal when it is ingested by the rodent. For this product to work effectively you first have to identify its main feeding run. To do this you simply roll the lawn down and watch to see which one pops back up first. In this first reopened run you will pull back the sod an reveal the subterranean path. In this path you will place the bait and trust the varmint will take it. Some things to remember:
Devise a way to keep the wanted animals from unearthing the bait since it is highly toxic to both cats and dogs.
There will generally be another mole take over the abandoned runs so you will have to stay diligent.
Grubs are not a favorite food of the mole so it is not a grub problem.
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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bardstown-Farmers-Market/199299616780198
http://honeyofablog.blogspot.com/
http://kentuckyhomegardens.blogspot.com/
ble (they are all suites) of $116.95. If you are told that the block of rooms at our conference rate is full on or before Dec. 26, please call Amy Stamper at Embassy Suites (859455-5109) to increase the number of rooms that we have blocked. The room cost includes an evening managers’ reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with drinks and a full cooked-to-order breakfast daily. We encourage growers to stay at Embassy Suites Hotel to help cover meeting overhead expenses. Note: If the hotel parking lot is full, meeting attendees may park along Aristides Street in front of the hotel. The $40 meeting registration fee includes a year’s membership in the KVGA, KSHS or OAK or entrance into the Grape & Wine Short Course. NOTE: WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PREREGISTER. LUNCHEON TICKETS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE REGISTRATION DESK. NAME BADGES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER MEETING ROOMS. PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS NEED TO BE IN OUR HANDS BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 19, 2014. Phone registrations will not be accepted. Participants that do not pre-register may register at the door. If you would like to serve on the KVGA or KSHS boards of directors or would like to nominate another member, please designate this on your registration sheet. If you would like to remain a member of the KVGA, KSHS, or OAK, please complete and return the form with a check to Ms. Mary Ann Kelley, Research & Education Center, P.O. Box 469, Princeton, KY 42445 to continue your association membership. You can get the registration form by following this link:
Seasonal Reminders
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CCD/2015_KYFVC_Program_REG.pdf
KEEPING GREENERY FRESH
Use clean, sharp cutters to cut branches and immediately put cut ends into water until ready to use. Crush the ends of woody stems to allow the cutting to take in more water. (Continued on page 11)
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THAT’S AN IDEA
bulbs should
fruit trees to lessen the disease load next season
berries should be
varieties soon since the good ones go fast.
over the graft union
Keep greenery out of sunlight. Immerse greenery in water overnight before arranging. This allows the cuttings to absorb the maximum amount of moisture. • Allow the foliage to dry and then spray it with an anti-transpirant, such as Wilt-pruf, to help seal in moisture. Note: Do not use antitranspirants on juniper berries, cedar or blue spruce. The product can damage the wax coating that gives these plants their distinctive color. Keep completed wreaths, garlands and arrangements in a cool location until use. Display fresh greenery and fruits out of the sun and away from heat.
Locate and mark perennials for spring division.
Hybrid Tea roses should be cut back to 18” this fall and mulched
Begin odering fruit tree
Insulation is your best friend when lowering energy bills
We test your soil and its free.
Final Turf should be done by mid December.
Remove mummified fruit from
Straw-
fertilization
be planted now
covered by now with straw.
New spring
Now is the best time of year to prune trees
Robbie Smith County Extension Agent for Horticulture Phone: 502-348-9204 Fax: 502-348-9270 email: robsmith@uky.edu Website: http://nelson.ca.uky.edu/ @hortagentrob NelsonCounty Extension
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RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
University of Kentucky Nelson County 317 South Third Street Bardstown, KY 40004
Cooperative Extension Service
Bill Ray 1060 Eagle Pass Bardstown, KY 40004-9151
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