Horticulture Spring 2024
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Horticulture Newsletter Spring 2024
Tips from Annette
Enjoy the gardening season! Be careful and remember the sunscreen!
• Watch for periodical cicada to emerge in late April and early May. Protect young trees and shrubs with netting. More information provided in this newsletter.
• Late fall fertilization, after Thanksgiving, of trees and shrubs allows for the roots to grow and support the new growth that emerges in the spring. Spring fertilization promotes shoot growth but will lack the roots to support new growth.
• The 5th season of the Horticulture Webinar Wednesday is in progress. Many horticulture topics have been covered and recorded. Watch live on Wednesdays starting at 11:30 a.m. at https://kentuckyhortnews.com/horticulture-webinar-wednesdays/
• If cultural practices are not managing an insect pest, disease, or weed and you choose to use a pesticide, read the label carefully. Find the active ingredient and read what plant the product is labeled for. Familiar brand names have switched active ingredients. The label is the law.
• Why not enter the Daviess County Fair with your entries of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and houseplants that you have grown? Information on accepted display entries is available at the Extension Office.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Spring Floral Arrangement at Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Office at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., or 6:00 p.m. RSVP required.
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Extension Open House at Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Office from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Rain Garden Design Workshop at Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Office at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. RSVP required.
Thursday, May 23– Saturday May 25, 2024
Free Tire Disposal at State Maintenance Garage located at 2973 Fairview Dr. Owensboro, KY
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market starts opening Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and Thursday evenings from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Currently, the market is open 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
“What’s eating my plants before I do?” at Daviess County Public Library at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
4-H Plant Camp Day Camp at Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Office from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. For ages 9 to 18.
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Fair entry drop-off at Daviess County Lions Club Fairgrounds from 4:00- 7:00 p.m.
First Thursday of Every Month
4-H Horticulture Club at Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service Office at 6:00 p.m.
PESTICIDE SAFETY IN AND AROUND YOUR HOME
By: Ric Bessin, UK Extension Entomologist
Our homes are our private sanctuaries, where we can escape and unwind. We want to protect and preserve our homes and our privacy at all costs. When insect pests begin to appear in and around our home, they can breach or invade that privacy. Depending on the severity of the pest problem, some of us may have to use pesticides to regain control of our gardens, landscapes and homes. It is important that we practice wise, safe pesticide applications to protect ourselves and our families.
Here are some tips to minimize risks from improper pesticide use:
• Match the pesticide to the pest. Know what insect pest is causing the damage, health and safety risks or irritation. Only use pesticides labeled to control that insect. If you use the incorrect pesticide, not only will the problem pests not go away, but you have wasted money using the wrong pesticide and put you and your family at unnecessary risk to pesticide exposure. At the extension office, we can help you correctly identify insects and choose the right pesticide to treat your problem.
• Read pesticide labels and follow them. Pesticide labels are law, and you must follow them. The label directions are for your safety. If its intended placement is not on the label, it may not be safe or legal to apply an insecticide in a certain location. Also, some pesticides are not approved to be use in or around homes. By reading and following the pesticide labels, you can have the confidence that the product was safely applied and will effectively manage problem pests.
• Do not mix pesticides and household items. Make sure the containers, spouts, funnels, wands and other items you plan to use to apply the pesticide are only used for that purpose. Do not reuse these items for other household reasons once you have applied pesticides in them. Only mix the exact amount of pesticide needed to control your problem. Do not pour unused pesticides down sinks or toilets.
• Dress for the job. By wearing the proper attire, you can reduce your pesticide exposure. Some pesticide labels will clearly state the personal protective equipment that you should wear to apply the product, but some won’t. At a minimum, you should wear plastic gloves, shoes, socks and long pants and long-sleeve T-shirts when applying a pesticide.
• Remove children and pets from the area before applying pesticides and during application. Many labels will specify when it is safe for people and animals to return to the application area, but if not, at least keep them out of the space until the pesticide has had time to thoroughly dry.
• Clean up. Wash and rinse reusable PPE like gloves and goggles. Wash the clothes you were wearing separately from the rest of your family’s clothes. Wash your face and hands, especially before eating, drinking or using tobacco products.
• Properly store pesticides. Most labels will say how to store the pesticide. At a minimum, make sure it is in a location that is out of reach from children or pets and stored at the correct temperature. Most pesticides should be stored in an area that is above 40 degrees F and out of extreme hot or cold temperatures.
For more information on managing insect pests and correct pesticide use, contact the Daviess County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO PREVENT PLANT DISEASES IN YOUR GARDEN
By: Rick Durham, Extension Professor, Department of Horticulture
In the unseen sphere of our vegetable gardens, plant pathogens including fungi, bacteria, nematodes and viruses are ever-present threats. However, with proactive measures, gardeners can successfully manage these threats and maintain healthy vegetable gardens.
Selecting the right location for your garden is the first step in prevention. Opt for a sunny area with well-drained soil to discourage the growth of pathogens. Raised beds can be an effective solution for improving drainage and air circulation around plants. It's also crucial to clear out old plant debris, which can harbor diseases from the previous season.
When choosing plants, prioritize disease-resistant varieties and inspect any transplants for signs of disease before introducing them to your garden. For seeds, consider those that have been treated with fungicide to give them a better chance of thriving. Planting in warm soil and ensuring proper spacing between plants are additional measures that can minimize stress and disease susceptibility.
Crop rotation is an invaluable strategy, especially in smaller gardens. Changing what's planted in a specific area every few years can prevent the buildup of soil-borne diseases. For crops that are particularly disease-prone, consider skipping their cultivation for a few years or growing them in containers separate from the garden.
Maintaining a weed-free garden throughout the growing season is essential. Weeds can serve as hosts for pests and diseases, transferring them to your vegetable plants. Proper watering techniques can also make a significant difference; water at the base of plants to avoid wetting foliage, and if overhead watering is necessary, do so early in the day to allow leaves to dry.
Avoiding mechanical injury to plants, such as from gardening tools or rough handling, can prevent openings for pathogens. Furthermore, refraining from working in the garden when plants are wet can reduce the spread of diseases.
By taking these steps gardeners can effectively manage plant diseases. This approach not only protects the garden from the myriad of pathogens waiting to attack but also leads to a bountiful and healthy harvest.
For more information on keeping a health garden, contact the Daviess County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
SPRING WEATHER CAN BRING HEAVY RAIN AND THE RISK OF FLOODING
By: Derrick Snyder – National Weather Service Paducah, KY
As we head deeper into spring, we want to talk to you about something that's on our minds this time of year: flash flooding. Now, we know Kentuckians are no strangers to heavy rain and overflowing creeks, but it's important to be prepared for the worst.
What can you do to be prepared before, during, and after a flash flood? Here are tips to keep in mind:
1. Keep your eyes and ears open: Listen for weather reports and stay alert for any signs of flooding in your area. If you see water starting to rise, don't wait until it's too late to take action.
2. Have a plan in place: Talk to your family about what you would do in case of a flood. Make sure everyone knows how to get to high ground and where to meet up if you get separated.
3. Don't take any chances: Never try to drive or walk through flooded areas. The water might look shallow, but it could be a lot deeper and faster than you realize. It only takes 12 inches of water to cause your vehicle to lose traction, and only 6 inches of water to sweep you off your feet.
4. Get your homestead ready: If you live in a flood-prone area, make sure you have sandbags or other barriers on hand to protect your home. Keep your gutters clean and your downspouts pointed away from your house.
5. Stay safe during the flood: If a flash flood does happen, get to higher ground as quickly as possible. And if you have to wade through water, be sure to wear rubber boots and stay away from downed power lines to avoid a shock hazard.
BILLIONS OF TEENAGE BUGS
By: Jonathan L. Larson, Entomology Extension Specialist
Periodical cicadas have been in the news in 2024 as there will be a pair of broods emerging at the same time this year. This pairing is of Brood 13 and Brood 19, the combination of which will result in cicadas showing up across much of the central and southeastern U.S. (from southern Wisconsin all the way down to Georgia), and it hasn’t happened since Thomas Jefferson was president. So, why all the hoopla and what will be seen in Kentucky?
What is a periodical cicada? These unique insects are seven different species of cicadas. There are three species that live for 17 years below ground and four that do so for 13 years. They usually begin to emerge in early May (or right around the time that your irises are in bloom) and are black with bright red eyes and orange-tinged wings. They are distinct from the annual cicadas heard sing-ing every summer and autumn. Those species are larger, emerge later in the year, are usually a mixture of green, black, and brown, and take 2 to 3 years to develop belowground.
Once they are above ground, periodical cicadas fly to trees where males begin to sing. First, they recruit other males to join their band and then they start to jam together, singing at levels that can rival the deci-bels of a jet plane. Females then fly to the trees where they pair with males that sing a courtship song to them. After mating, males usually perish while females begin laying their eggs in the twigs of trees.
Some answers to other commonly asked questions about periodical cicadas:
• They emerge in large numbers as a strategy of predator satiation. They come out in waves from May into June/early July; many of the insects in the first wave will be eaten by birds, snakes, dogs, and numerous other animals. Eventually, everyone gets tired of cicada lunches and the remaining insects have a greater chance to survive.
• Cicada nymphs can detect the ebb and flow of tree sap in tree roots as they feed belowground. This cue tells them when 13 or 17 years have passed. As for why 13 or 17 years: developing on these prime number lines has helped to prevent predators or parasitoids from specializing on periodical cicadas.
• Yes, you can eat them. Though we stress caution for those with shellfish allergies and highlight that you should cook them and consume them in moderation.
Buckets of Bugs
There has been immense media coverage of this emergence as people are interested and horrified, and it promises to be quite the parade of nature. Brood 13 is located mainly in Illinois but can also be found in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa. This is one of the 17-year broods, meaning that these insects were last above ground in 2007. The other brood is Brood 19, which is a 13-year brood known as the “Great Southern Brood,” and they were last aboveground in 2011. It may be the largest brood of cicadas in the country; its only rival being Brood 10, which some folks may remember emerging back in 2021. As a result of the combined emergence, there could be billions of cicadas singing, mating, and dying in the months of May and June.
What will you see in Kentucky? Historically, Kentucky has been home to part of Brood 19, mainly in the Purchase and Pennyrile Regions of the state. According to Cicada Mania in the last emergence of Brood 19, the only confirmed reports of periodical cicadas in Kentucky were in Allen, Caldwell, Christian, and Trigg Counties. That doesn’t mean that they are gone from all the other counties they were previously known in; it just means there needs to be more reporting. If you would like to participate in a periodical cicada citizen science project, you can download the app “Cicada Safari” to submit photos of cicadas you find to help update maps with new and better information!
There is also a complicating factor for Kentucky during the “year of the dueling broods.” Kentucky is on the calendar to have a massive emergence of its own in 2025. This is Brood 14, which covers most of Kentucky east of the Purchase Region. The complication is that sometimes cicadas miscount and emerge a year early or a year or more later. So, in theory, areas of Kentucky that aren’t truly a part of the double brood emergence may still see cicadas this year.
Cicada-human Interactions
This is truly one of most amazing natural phenomena you can experience – a huge macabre Mardi Gras of insect song, mating, and death. These are some of the longest-lived insects in the world, and they can only be seen in the United States. It is understandable that some people don’t like the idea of being around so many insects or like to listen to the cacophony they produce, but luckily, these insects are transient; they will be gone before you know it. Cicadas do not sting or bite and can be avoided by not going to wooded areas.
Cicadas are not broadly considered pests; they won’t attack our most common crops or most ornamental plants. The exception is that periodical cicadas can cause damage to newly transplanted ornamental trees in the landscape and to fruit trees. This is a result of egg laying by the female who cuts slits into thin twigs to insert her eggs. Their preferred hosts include oak and hickory, as well as fruit trees like apple and pear. Large mature trees can handle egg laying, but young small trees may suffer.
Protecting these smaller trees can be done with “cicada netting,” which is netting that has smaller gauge than bird netting. This can be placed on the tree when the males start to sing and removed by mid-June. Some people report success with wrapping tin foil around the trunks of small trees or using sticky tape to catch cicadas as they crawl up.
SPRING FLORAL ARRANGEMENT
Classes available at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
15 participant limit per class
$10 class fee
Join us to create a spring inspired arrangement in a watering can
RSVP by calling the Daviess County Extension Office at 270-685-8480
OPEN HOUSE
Join the Daviess County Cooperative Extension for our Open House event!
Meet the staff, learn about our programs, register for door prizes, enjoy food, and have fun with hands-on activities! Bonus: WBKR will be live on location.
May 21 5-7 pm
Free food, free tshirt, giveaways, recipe samples, WBKR live, hands-on activities
RESIDENTIAL RAIN GARDEN DESIGN FOR HOMEOWNERS WORKSHOP
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 9am to 4pm
Registration fee is $10 (includes lunch)
To register, or for more information, call 270-685-8480.
