Seed Packet Contradictions

Photo courtesy © Derya https://www.flickr.com/photos/lyre/

Seed packets can be so contradictory!  The glorious photo on the front grabs your attention as you're passing by. Suddenly you're fantasizing about filling a vase with gorgeous neon zinnias, or slicing up a zebra-striped heirloom tomato for a juicy sandwich. Ohhhh, summer! We can hardly wait!  Your reverie abruptly ends when you flip the pack over and you're confronted with codes, numbers, graphs and charts that can intimidate any gardener. Talk about a buzz kill! 

If you take a little time to understand "the back of the pack," your dream of harvesting that 1,000 pound pumpkin can come true.  This one-page Penn State publication will get you on your way!
 

http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fact-sheets/general-gardening/information-on-seed-packets/extension_publication_file

- Kathleen Connally

Timely Tips for Winter 2016

Photo courtesy Kristy https://www.flickr.com/photos/28914176@N08/

• Seed catalog time! Be sure to look for disease and pest resistance when purchasing vegetable and flower seeds.
  
• Know your plant hardiness zone.  Planting dates depend on the first and last average frost dates of your hardiness zone.  Bucks County is split into two zones. Search by zip code: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
  
• Plan your vegetable garden, rotating crops to discourage pests.
  
• Start seeds of slow growers, such as parsley, thyme and rosemary.
• When sowing seeds indoors, be sure to use sterile soil mediums to prevent diseases. As soon as seeds sprout, provide ample light to encourage stocky growth.
• Make an inventory of the plants in your home landscape. Note their location and past performance. Plan changes on paper now.
• Observe your garden’s "skeleton" and decide where to put new paths and structures like arbors.
• Check for frost heaving on perennials and cover with extra mulch as necessary.
• Now is the time to learn to identify trees by their winter twigs and buds!
  
• Monitor trees & shrubs for winter damage.  Limbs damaged by ice or snow should be pruned off promptly to prevent bark from tearing.
  
• Clean the dust from large and smooth-leaved houseplants like dracaena, philodendron and ficus on a regular basis. This allows the leaves to gather more light and results in better growth.
  
• Monitor indoor plants for winter pests.  Fluffy, white mealy bugs are easily killed by touching them with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol.  Insecticidal soap sprays can be safely applied to most houseplants for the control of many insect pests.
  
• Check stored summer bulbs and remove moldy, rotten, dried or shriveled bulbs.
• Swap seeds and plant information with your gardening friends.
• In February, if soil conditions allow, take a chance sowing peas, spinach and radish. If the weather obliges you’ll be rewarded with extra early harvests.
• Prune forsythia, pussy willow, quince, etc. for forcing indoors.
• On mild days, remove winter weeds like wild garlic and chickweed.

Kathleen Connally
Master Gardener Coordinator, Bucks County

 

 

Christmas Tree-Cycling!

Photo © Ann Oro

Your Christmas tree is biodegradable and recyclable, so don't put it out with the trash ... reuse it in your garden!  Here are ten ideas after you've removed all the baubles, tinsel and hooks:

1) Place your Christmas tree, in its stand, near an existing bird feeder to provide protective cover for our feathered friends. Or make the tree into a naturalistic feeding station, hanging feeders, suet, fresh orange slices, peanut butter pine cones or strung popcorn from the branches. The birds will come for the food and stay for the shelter. 

2) Use evergreen boughs to insulate planting beds where perennial flowers, strawberries, parsley, carrots, pansies, etc., are trying to survive the winter.  The limbs can also act as a sunscreen and windscreen for broadleaf evergreens like boxwood, hollies, and rhododendrons. Be sure to remove limbs in the spring after the danger of severe weather has passed.

3) In spring when the Christmas tree limbs have lost their needles, use the bare stems to stake peas and vining vegetables, or perennials like delphiniums and peonies that need a little extra support.

4) Use the Christmas tree trunk (stripped of its limbs) as edging in a garden bed.

5) Use a chipper to shred the branches into mulch or a natural path material.  If you don't have a chipper, ask a local garden center or municipality to shred it for you and take the mulch home.

6) Start a new compost pile with a layer of thin Christmas tree branches. The branches allow airflow at the bottom and will break down over time as you continue adding kitchen scraps and other compostables.

7) Saw the trunk into small logs to burn in your outdoor fire pit. (Don't burn them in the fireplace because evergreens cause creosote buildup.)

8) Strip the branches of their needles and store them in a brown paper bag, which helps keep their aroma, and use the needles to make aromatic sachets or potpourri to enjoy the rest of the year.

9) Transition into spring by creating window boxes using Christmas tree branches cut to size. Add birch twigs, boxwood, preserved moss and sugar pine cones to fill in and add texture.

10) Create an eco-friendly alternative to rock salt by using Christmas tree boughs on your walkway. During a January thaw, let the boughs freeze into the ice for good traction and a pleasant scent... but leave your boots at the door so you don't bring sap into the house.

For more ideas, visit the National Christmas Tree Association at http://goo.gl/sUpI50

Kathleen Connally
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Extension
Bucks County, PA

Happy Holidays with the Bucks County Master Gardeners at Venice Ashby

On December 9, 2015, children in the Venice Ashby After School program learned about evergreen trees and shrubs and their history as winter holiday decorations from the Bucks County Master Gardeners. Each child created and took home an evergreen centerpiece made from greenery and materials donated by the Master Gardeners.

Iris in November

Looking for a little November beauty?  This iris is now blooming in our Bucks County Extension Office Demonstration Gardens! 

Master Gardener "Fall into Spring" Workshop

THURSDAY NIGHT!  10/22/15, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

© Herry Lawford

In this workshop, the Penn State Master Gardeners of Bucks County will teach you what to do this autumn for a more successful spring garden!

Thursday, October 22, 2015, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM



© Matt Patterson

Neshaminy Manor Center – Health Building Auditorium

1282 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901

During this evening of hands-on demonstrations and activities, learn about fall gardening topics such lawn care, seed saving, planting bulbs, perennial care, containers, putting your “beds to bed” for the winter, deer deterrents, pruning, growing Dahlias and growing fall/winter veggies.
Bring your favorite garden tool and the Master Gardeners will show you how to maintain it!

Light refreshments, too.

Cost is $5.00, cash or check payable at the door.
Questions? Call us at 215-345-3283.

 

Timely Tips for Your Autumn Garden



Photo Courtesy ©Dr. DeNo
 

·        After the first frost, pull up annuals and vegetables and add to the compost pile.  You can continue to add to the pile all winter.  Reserve leaves to add as browns.

·        Resist cleaning up your perennials for awhile and leave the dried seed heads for the birds.  Mulch around them after the ground has cooled. 

·        Dig and store summer bulbs such as dahlias, cannas, gladiolas and tuberous begonias.  Spring blooming bulbs can still be planted until the ground freezes.

·        Fertilize lawns by the end of November with a 10-6-4 or its equivalent at 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet.  Rake leaves off the lawn to prevent matting and killing the grass.

·        Remove and discard debris from under rose bushes.  Trim the canes back by no more than one-third if they are tall.  Major pruning is done in the spring.

·        Continue to water (if it doesn't rain) newly planted trees, shrubs and evergreens.

·        Check houseplants for insects before bringing them indoors.  Avoid overwatering and reduce the fertilizing schedule.

·        Winterize the lawn mower after the last mowing.  Clean the garden tools and rub a light coating of oil on them before storing for the winter.  Drain and store the hoses.

·        Keep firewood outside until ready to use.  The warmth of the home might "wake up" sleeping insects!

Winterizing Your Garden Tools

Photo Courtesy ©Thomas Hawk

Fall is here – time for winterizing! As you’re giving that last bit of TLC to your plants this season, remember your tools, too. They’re the key to success in every garden bed so spend a little extra time winterizing them as well.

First, be sure you have a dry location to store your tools this winter. File the edges of spades, shovels, axes, hoes and digging forks. Sharpen and oil your pruning tools, especially the pivot points. And let’s not forget the wooden handles - they also benefit from some attention. Run sandpaper over them to remove splinters and then rub with a soft rag dipped in a bit of linseed oil. How about hand trowels and smaller tools? Store them in a bucket of sand soaked in oil to deter rust.

A little winter prep can really pay off. Your tools will be just as ready as you are when spring arrives!

Bucks County Master Gardener Elena Parsons

Leaf Mold is Garden Gold!

Photo Courtesy © David Goehring

Fall is my favorite season and with it comes one of my favorite activities: raking leaves. I love the fresh air, a bit of exercise and best of all, I end up with leaf mold for my garden. 

Leaf mold is a type of compost created from the fungal breakdown of leaves and it makes a superior soil amendment. It's used to lighten soil, hold moisture and improve soil structure over time. It can also be used as mulch in garden beds and in containers to help with water retention.

Making leaf mold is an extremely simple procedure: just rake, mow or blow the leaves into a pile and let them sit for two to three years. The pile should be at least three feet wide by three feet deep. For a neater appearance the pile can be surrounded by a bin made of chicken wire or turkey fencing, which offers maximum air circulation. To cut down the "processing" time to a year, the leaves can be shredded, moistened and then covered, and they'll need to be turned once in awhile.

For an even simpler method, large black plastic trash bags can be used.  Just fill the trash bags with  shredded leaves, moisten, close and poke some holes in the bags. Every so often turn or shake the bags.

Leaf mold is easy, eliminates hauling or bagging and it's great for your garden!

- Bucks County Master Gardener Karen Murphy

Autumn Succulent Pumpkin Workshop, Saturday, 09/19/15, 11:00am

Let the Master Gardener experts at Penn State Extension help you design and create a living succulent centerpiece for your autumn table! 

Succulent plants are hot!  Floral and landscape designers love them for their variety of colors, shapes and textures like rose, yellow, wine, chartreuse, aqua, variegated, ruffled, spiked, needled, rounded and berry-like.  Thanks to their juicy stems and leaves they’re easy to grow and care for, too. 

Succulents have adapted to arid areas so they don’t require frequent watering or fussing.  They like the dry and warm conditions in most homes and they adapt to low light as well.  They’re stunning planted in groupings and do very well in containers.

Join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Bucks County to create a decorative, unique 6-8 inch centerpiece for your autumn table made with these wondrous plants.   The Master Gardeners will also teach you to care for your succulent arrangement so the plants stay healthy. 

A workshop fee of $25 includes all materials, expert instruction and light refreshments. 

Class size is limited and spaces fill quickly. Your payment reserves your space in class -- first come, first served basis. 

Registration by phone only:  215-345-3283.  Visa/MC,  checks and cash accepted.

Saturday, September 19, 2015
11:00am – 1:00pm

Workshop location: 
Neshaminy Manor Center - Health Building Auditorium
1282 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901

Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Penn State Extension Bucks County at 215-345-3283 in advance of your participation or visit.

Horticulture Hotline to the Rescue!

Here's a story from our Horticulture Hotline desk. Today we received a call from a gentleman who was quite concerned he had seen an Asian Longhorn beetle in his yard. He offered to bring it to the office for identification by our Master Gardeners.

The Asian Longhorn beetle is a highly destructive invasive pest that kills deciduous trees. You can read more about it here: http://asianlonghornedbeetle.com/

What the gentleman delivered to the office is this green creature in the Mason jar: a True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifoli).  Katydids are the insects heard singing in the trees of Bucks County on a summer night. They eat the leaves of deciduous trees but they're not destructive, and they serve as a good food source for a lot of other critters like birds, frogs, etc.

We were so glad to put this gentleman's mind at ease! 

The Katydid was released unharmed into our Demonstration Gardens here in Doylestown.

Our Horticulture Hotline is open during gardening season (roughly April 1-Oct 1) Monday-Friday, 9am-12noon, with extra hours on Wednesday from 1pm-4pm.  Call the Penn State Master Gardeners of Bucks County with your home gardening questions and concerns!  215-345-3283.

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillars on Passion Flower

Photograph © 2015 Susan Schneck

Master Gardener Sue Schneck wows us again from her garden with this shot of Gulf fritillary butterfly caterpillars (Agraulis vanilla) on a passion flower (Passiflora).  

Container Gardening Fun

Celebrity Container Gardening Crew

Do we have fun or what?  Last month our Bucks County Master Gardener Container Garden Committee created three beautiful container gardens in front of our building at Neshaminy Manor Center. They even made their own hypertufa container for the succulent display! 

Container gardening is a superb option for those with limited space, time and/or mobility. You can grow just about anything in a container, from decorative plants like those in the photo, to veggies like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash!  Check out this link from Penn State Extension about growing veggies in containers:

http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fact-sheets/vegetable-gardening/growing-great-container-vegetables

If you'd like to know more about container gardening, get in touch with one of our Bucks County Master Gardeners at 215-345-3283 or BucksHotline@ag.psu.edu and we'll get you started with instructions and information from Penn State Extension.

Insects, Diseases & Weeds ... Oh My!

Photo courtesy https://www.flickr.com/photos/nature80020

It's that time of year.  If you're noticing insect problems, diseases or weeds in your garden, Penn State Extensions Home & Garden website is here to help identify and control the issue before it gets out of hand!

Here's where to get started:  http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/pests

It's Veggie Gardening Time!

This full-color publication from Penn State University is $10.00 - but it's available FREE on line!

The book provides information about growing vegetables, from selecting the best site for your garden to harvesting your vegetables. Vegetables discussed include asparagus, beans, brassicas, bulb vegetables, cucurbits, leafy vegetables, peas, peppers, root peppers, sweet corn, baby corn, and pickling corn, eggplants, and tomatoes.

Check it out here!
http://extension.psu.edu/publications/agrs-115

Cedar Apple Rust

Photo © 2015 Sue Schneck

Photo © 2015 Sue Schneck

Thanks to Master Gardener Sue Schneck for these wonderful photos of Cedar Apple Rust taken with her Galaxy S5 phone camera!  This disease requires two separate living host plants. In Sue's garden the host and alternate host were juniper and crabapple trees.  When Sue removed the juniper from her garden, the cedar apple rust disease disappeared.

Read more about this fascinating disease here:

http://extension.psu.edu/pests/plant-diseases/all-fact-sheets/cedar-apple-and-related-rusts

Free Bucks County Pest Walk

Photo courtesy Mario Quevedo

BUCKS COUNTY PEST WALK

An afternoon of insect pest and disease identification and discussion of controls with Penn State Entomologist Greg Hoover and Temple Plant Pathology Instructor Allison Brown.

Tuesday, June 9th, 1pm-3pm
Delaware Valley University
700 East Butler Ave.
Doylestown PA 18901
Meet at the Welcome Center

FREE! Pre-registration required: 215-345-3283 

Questions: Kathy Salisbury, Horticulture Educator, Penn State Extension, Bucks County 
Email: kvs14@psu.edu

Sour Mulch?

Over the past few days we have received a number of phone calls from landscapers and homeowners with the same problem: within 24 hours of applying mulch plants in the area all have dead leaves and appear burned:.

Read more about what we learned in this blog post by Bucks County Horticulture Educator Kathy Salisbury:

https://buckshorticulture.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/sour-mulch/

Timely Garden Tips for Spring 2015



Photo © Jenny Pansing

• Now is the time to test garden soil for plant nutrient needs. Call Penn State Extension’s Horticulture Hotline for information about how to soil-test:  215-345-3283.

• Mulch garden beds before most weeds start growing.  Apply 1-3 inches of mulch after watering and weeding anything that’s already there, being sure to keep mulch away from plant stems and woody tissue.

• In May, remove the dead flowers from spring bulb plants.  Leave the foliage in place while it’s green so the bulb can store energy for next spring. When the foliage turns yellow, it can be removed.

• Even though many “big box” stores are selling summer vegetable plants such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplants, it’s not safe to plant them outside until May 15 in Bucks County.  Watch the weather reports for late frost and adjust your planting schedule accordingly.

• Remember to “harden off” any flower or vegetable seedlings that were started indoors in March or April before they’re planted outdoors.  Plants need a slow transition time from a controlled indoor climate to the great outdoors; this helps them develop strong cell structure to survive the elements. Gradually introduce them to the outdoors in a sheltered area away from direct sun and wind, being careful they don’t dry out:  one hour the first day, then add one hour each day for the next seven days.   At this time they should be ready for planting. 

• Continue spraying fruit trees according to spray schedule.  Do not spray when they are blooming.

• For lawns, apply pre-emergent crabgrass control through the end of April.  Fertilize now through the end of May.

• Spring-blooming (June or before) shrubs may be pruned - if needed - after the blooms fade.

• Chrysanthemums can be “pinched” for fullness until the end of June.
• After blooming, peonies should be deadheaded.

• Plant summer-flowering bulbs late April through mid-May.

• Remove the protective winter mulch around roses carefully, pruning away dead or diseased canes. 

Tomorrow Night! Master Gardener Composting Presentation

Wednesday, April 15, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Creating Compost - Garden Gold!
Turn your yard waste and kitchen scraps into valuable organic matter that will help your garden flourish! Master Gardener Donna DiMella teaches you the fine art of home composting.

 $5 includes handouts and light refreshments. Pay at the door. Space is limited; first-come, first-served.

Class is held at:
Penn State Extension Bucks County
Neshaminy Manor Center - Health Building Auditorium
1282 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901

Questions? Email: BucksExt@psu.edu or call 215-345-3283