​

The Baxter County Master Gardeners are a fun group of folks who enjoy sharing their love of gardening with any visitor.

At our meetings we have speakers, refreshments, & fun.

Come join us!



Next Meeting Date:
October 10, 2019 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Meeting Place: 
The First Presbyterian Church
1106 Spring Street
Mountain Home, AR

October Speakers: 
Guest Speaker: Tina Haun, Grassland Specialist at the Baxter County Conservation District
Topic: Conservation District Services
Horticulture Table: Jason Chamberland
Topic: How to Prune Grape Vines

​Master Gardeners Monthly Radio Program:
Mountain Talk Radio October 16th on 97.1   7:15 a.m. - 8:am.
Master Gardener Hosts this month are Tommy Hagan and Ceil Gasiecki

Directions:
From Mountain Home
Take US Hwy. 62B East through Mountain Home until you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. 

From Gassville:
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home continue on into Mountain Home on US 62B. This will take you through town till you get to Harp's Grocery and you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. here to edit.

Look closely. Look VERY closely. 

See those "ornaments" hanging on this formerly beautiful Japanese maple?

Those ornaments or bags are 1 1/2" to 2" in length. The bags are the living quarters of a female bagworm and eggs. The bags can very well destroy this beautiful young tree and any of the juniper or evergreen bushes around it.

A bagworm, or Thyridopterex ephemeraeformis, is a white moth that lays eggs on any plant with leaves to chew. However,  it prefers to lay its eggs on the needled evergreens: juniper, arborvitae, cedars, cypress, pine, hemlock or spruce. Each bag contains one female moth who dies in the bag as soon as she lays around 500+ eggs in each bag. The eggs overwinter and hatch in May.

Control  bagworms with a one-time spray of BT (Ibacilllus thuringiensis; Dipel, Thuricide, etc.). Spraying starts in northern Arkansas the end of May/early June, and in southern Arkansas early June. The worm larvae are 1/8"-1/4" in length.

By the time the bags have formed, only hand picking the bags off the tree will work; the spray will not permeate the bags. Obviously hand-picking will not work for a larger tree; spray the larvae.

If the tree is totally browned out--all the green is consumed--the plant is doomed. It will never be a beautiful, robust plant again. The plant would need to be removed.


The Japanese maple featured in these pictures dropped every leaf. It managed to recover and grew new leaves with all the egg-filled bags yet hanging from it. 

For more about other tree issues this time of year, play the September Master Gardener Mondays ZOOM recording and hear Berni Kurz discuss bacterial, fungal, and worm diseases of Arkansas trees in "What's Happening in the Garden?". Logon to Buddy Messages for the link, enjoy the talk and help our trees  in the process!
​

Tree August 30, 2019                                                           

Tree September 30, 2019

​Here are a few items to be mindful of regarding gardens and landscape as we head into fall.

• If you didn’t seed your tall fescue lawn in September, do so by the middle of the month. Seed at a rate of 8-10 pounds per 1,000 square feet. For existing tall fescue lawns, overseed now to thicken them up at a rate of 4-5 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Tall fescue makes a wonderful lawn for the shade, but you still need to have 3-4 hours of sunlight. Be sure to water it well until it is established. Fertilize now as well with a complete fertilizer.
• Planting trees and shrubs in the fall is ideal. Our ground temperature is still warm, so roots will begin to be established quickly. Rarely does our soil ever freeze solid, so the plants will continue to produce roots, even though the tops aren’t growing.
• Leaves should be collected as they fall. You don’t want a heavy covering of leaves entering the winter months. A dense layer can actually smother a lawn. People often leave leaves on the lawn until it turns cold and then rake them. If you have a covering of leaves on your lawn prior to the first frost, the leaves may prevent your lawn from going dormant. When you finally do rake up the leaves, you’ll expose actively growing grass to cold weather. Your lawn could suffer winter injury.
• Even though the weather is cooler this month, don’t forget to water an inch of water per week if natural rainfall doesn’t occur. It is especially important around trees and shrubs that were planted this year. Don’t severely prune shrubs now because this will encourage rapid regrowth, and the new growth won’t have time to harden off before cold weather arrives.
• In the garden plant a cover crop, such as wheat, rye, alfalfa or crimson clover and turn it under in the spring.  Don’t let your cover crop go to seed. Cover crops hold the soil in place, provide organic matter, provide insulation and add nutrients to the soil. They also encourage continued activity of beneficial soil microorganisms.
• Do NOT compost or leave any diseased plants or plant parts in the garden.
• For you garlic lovers, it’s that time of the year to plant garlic for next years harvest. Grow garlic in a location that gets at least six hours of full sun each day, and plant in fertile, well-drained soil from mid-October to mid-December. Before planting, separate the bulbs of culinary garlic into individual cloves. Set cloves right side up ½ to 1 inch deep and 3 to 5 inches apart in the row.
• It's time to set out winter pansies, flowering kale, flowering cabbage and fall mums.
• Have your soil tested and follow the test recommendations.
• Plant spring bulbs, including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, Siberian squill, bulbous irises, Anemone and crocus.  Select healthy, disease-free bulbs.   Add bone meal or bulb fertilizer into the planting hole, as you prepare the soil.
• People become worried when their pine trees shed pine needles, but it is a natural process. As long as the needles that are dropping are not at the tip of the branches, everything is fine. Rake up the pine needles and use it as a mulch around your shrubs.
• Clean up around your perennial plants. Any leaves that have fallen can harbor insects and diseases for next year. Scatter dry seed heads or store the seeds for later use. Cut back any plants that have lost most of their leaves or that look bad now.
• Divide and transplant any perennials that typically bloom in the spring or summer. Plant new perennials. They too will be well established during the fall, winter and early spring. Fall planting can also give you blooms the first season after planting.
• Recycle disease-free annual potted plants and potting medium by adding them to the compost pile or directly into the garden.  Remember to break up root balls from the plants.
• Clean up emptied pots with a 10 percent bleach solution to get rid of any plant pathogens.
• Empty excess water out of hoses before storing.  Water expands as it freezes and can burst hoses.
• As you harvest your Halloween pumpkins, or when you purchase yours, pick one with a good solid rind, free of blemishes or wounds. Always make sure that at least an inch or two of stem is left attached. If they have no stem, they are more prone to rotting. Paint a face on your pumpkin as early as you want, but avoid carving your pumpkin until a day or two before Halloween. Once they are carved, they deteriorate rapidly.

 
For more information on any of the above points, contact the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office at 870-425-2335.

​

The Baxter County Master Gardeners are a fun group of folks who enjoy sharing their love of gardening with any visitor.

At our meetings we have speakers, refreshments, & fun.

Come join us!



Next Meeting Date:
September 5, 2019 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Meeting Place: 
The First Presbyterian Church
1106 Spring Street
Mountain Home, AR

September Speakers: 
Guest Speaker: Deb Anderson & Ceil Gasiecki
Topic: US and Canadian Rockies: Garden & Nature Tour

Horticulture Table: Mike Kuenzli
Topic: How to Add Your Pins to Your Name Tag

​Master Gardeners Monthly Radio Program:
Mountain Talk Radio September 18th on 97.1   7:15 a.m. - 8:am.
Master Gardener Hosts this month are Tommy Hagan and Ceil Gasiecki

Directions:
From Mountain Home
Take US Hwy. 62B East through Mountain Home until you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. 

From Gassville:
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home continue on into Mountain Home on US 62B. This will take you through town till you get to Harp's Grocery and you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. here to edit.

Wanna be a Baxter County Master Gardener?

The 2019-2020 training will be done in 2 ways so you can be on  your way to becoming a Baxter County Master Gardener.

1. In-class training will be held at the Baxter County Extension Office located at 3 East 9th Street, Mountain Home.  All 5 ZOOM classes are by teleconference and will be held on Wednesdays from October 9th through November 6th, 2019 from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

The cost of ZOOM training is $100 to cover your book and training supplies.

2.  Online training is an option for those who cannot attend class. These classes are taken at your leisure at home between January and March 2020.

The cost of online training is $125 to cover your book and training supplies.

Click here for the application.

​In addition to the training, you must agree to give at least 40 hours of volunteer service back to the county extension office through the Master Gardener Program during the next  year and comply with the guidelines of the Baxter County program.

Application deadline is September 6, 2019.
​
Contact Brad Runsick at the Extension Office at 425-2335 or brunsick@uaex.edu for further information.

​

• Horticulture entries are sought for the Baxter County Fair (September 11-15). Entries range from all types of vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, and field crops. The Baxter County Fair is held in Mountain Home with entries accepted Tuesday, September 11 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. You can go to www.baxtercountyfair.org for complete details.
• Applications are being taken for the upcoming Master Gardener training to be held on October 9, 16, 23, 30 and November 6 and 14 in Mtn. Home. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Cost of the program is $100. For more information, call 870-425-2335.
• Homeowners should check their lawns for fall armyworms. Heavy populations are capable of causing damage to lawns which resembles scalping with a mower. To check areas for armyworms, use a soap flush (2 tablespoons of lemon-scented dishwashing soap in a gallon of water) to bring larvae to the top of the sod. Insecticides labeled to control armyworms in lawns are Sevin, bifenthrin, trichlorfon, spinosad, cyfluthrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, azadirachtin, chlorantraniliprole, halofenozide, indoxacarb and Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.). Following application, wait 1-3 days before mowing.
• September is the beginning of the cool-season lawn establishment period. Turf type tall fescues are best established from September to mid-October with late February through March as a poor second choice. Late seeded lawns will not be strong enough to survive the first summer. Prepare a good seed bed by tilling and bring a pint of soil to the Extension office to determine nutrient needs. Sow 8 to 10 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet for establishment. If you just need to thicken up your fescue lawn, overseed with 4-5 pounds per 1,000 square feet.
• To get the most out of a pre-emergent herbicide program for winter annual weed control, make the application now or at least by September 15. Applications made in late September or thereafter often miss the beginning of germination of winter annual grasses and broadleaves. Remember after applying the pre-emergent herbicide, it needs to be watered in within a few days to activate it. Don’t apply a pre-emergent to a lawn to be overseeded or a newly seeded lawn.
• Don’t fertilize or severely prune shrubs now because this will encourage rapid regrowth, and the new growth won’t have time to harden off before cold weather arrives.
• Now’s a good time to collect soil samples for your lawn, gardens, and shrubs and have them analyzed by the University of Arkansas. Your soil sample report should be back within two weeks. If the report calls for lime to reduce soil acidity, apply it in the fall. The lime will have several months to work before spring growth begins.
• Dig and divide spring blooming perennials.
• Save seeds from annuals and perennials for next year’s planting.
• Replenish mulch around trees and shrubs.
• Twig girdler insects should be making their appearance this month. Small branches of pecan, hickory, or elm are uniformly girdled from the tree and fall to the ground. The fallen twigs have eggs deposited in them so dispose of them immediately, to control the twig girdler. This will reduce next year’s problem.
• This month bring life back to your landscape by planting pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale, snapdragons, dusty miller and dianthus as the temperatures begin to cool. Pansies planted by mid-October survive winters best and will put on a tremendous show this fall.
• Chrysanthemums are setting flower buds. Fertilize lightly now and water consistently to ensure a good show beginning this month. Garden Centers have mums to add to your collection.
• Prepare your compost unit for the influx of fall cleanup which is just a few short weeks away. Clean out units and store compost in trash cans for fall gardening. If you are just starting to compost, come by the Extension office for information on composting or go to www.uaex.edu.
• Leaves should be collected as they fall. You don’t want a heavy covering of leaves entering the winter months. A dense layer can actually smother a lawn. People often leave leaves on the lawn until it turns cold and then rake them. If you have a covering of leaves on your lawn prior to the first frost, the leaves may prevent your lawn from going dormant. When you finally do rake up the leaves, you’ll expose actively growing grass to cold weather. Your lawn could suffer winter injury.
• Start acclimating your house plants for the trip back inside for the winter. Move plants to a less sunny area and then in a couple of weeks move them again to a location that simulates light conditions indoors. All this moving to lesser light outdoors will reduce plant shock when they are moved indoors next month.
• Christmas cactus initiate flower buds by being exposed to cool night temperatures similar to our outside night temperature beginning in September. Moving your cactus outdoors in an area with plenty of indirect sunlight and giving it one more feeding of houseplant fertilizer later this month will cause your cactus to bloom late fall to early winter. While outdoors, limiting water will encourage flower buds to open at the same time. Naturally, you will bring the cactus indoors when danger of frost is predicted and place in a well-lit area until buds are about to pop.

For more information on any of the above points, contact the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office at870- 425-2335.

​Hatchery Outdoor Adventure
We will need volunteers for the 2019 Hatchery Outdoor Adventure Day which will be held on Saturday, 09/07/19, from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm.  The planned project this year is called Garden in a Glove.  
Please contact Darrell Stewart to sign up for shifts.
 
Baxter County Fair
The Baxter County Fair is right around the corner in September.  Rick Gatewood has graciously again agreed to be our chair.  However, Rick is looking for an assistant to help him getting this organized.  

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Ceil Gasiecki or Rick Gatewood.  Appreciate your help.

Mentors for New MGs
Mentors are needed for the students in the upcoming ZOOM and online MG classes. Contact Audrey Holt if you would like to mentor a new MG.

Horticulture entries are sought for the Baxter County Fair.

Entries range from all types of vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, and field crops.

The Baxter County Fair is held in Mountain Home with entries accepted Tuesday, the week of the
fair,  from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

​Check out the web site (www.baxtercountyfair.org) for more information.

Some upcoming AT classes for 2019 and 2020 and 2021 are:

2019:
October 25 and 26 (choice of one of the 2 days)
Lonoke County
on the method of construction of Salad Tables is at the Lonoke Extension Office. Participants will attend an informative lecture presented by “seasoned” MGs and guest speakers regarding salad table construction. Detailed instructional material will be furnished. A skillful demonstration should firmly “plant the seeds” of knowledge for successfully crafting a table.

2020:
March 10 (on the calendar with Julie),
White County (Searcy),
on the topic of vegetable gardening

2021:
February, late, date to be scheduled,
Garland County (Hot Springs),
Bonsai, Garvan Woodland Gardens. 

​Watch Constant Contacts for information on Master Gardener Appreciation Day at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Bentonville.

This event will take place on Monday, October 14th, from 10 am to 2 pm. 

Schedule

Session Information

Registration Form


PNG Chairs
Debora Carpenter - Chair
Gail McClure - Co chair

Hatchery Outdoor Adventure
We will need volunteers for the 2019 Hatchery Outdoor Adventure Day which will be held on Saturday, 09/07/19, from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm.  The planned project this year is called Garden in a Glove.  
Please contact Darrell Stewart to sign up for shifts.
 
Baxter County Fair
The Baxter County Fair is right around the corner in September.  Rick Gatewood has graciously again agreed to be our chair.  However, Rick is looking for an assistant to help him getting this organized.  

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Ceil Gasiecki or Rick Gatewood.  Appreciate your help.

 

• Toward the end of August is the time to start thinking about your fall vegetable garden. Bush beans, cucumbers, summer squash and other short season vegetables can be planted now. Cool season vegetables such as radishes, beets, carrots, lettuce, and others can also be planted at this time. To ensure a good stand of fall crops from seed it’s best to cover rows with burlap, paper, straw or even boards to aid in keeping the soil moist and cool.
• With proper care, tomato plants can continue growing and set more fruit. Keep them watered and fertilize them towards the end of the month to ensure a good fall crop. Nights above 75 degrees F will slow production.
• To have an herb garden indoors this winter, begin propagating your favorite herbs by taking cuttings or by divisions. Most herbs require more light than most homes can provide during the winter so consider grow lights in combination with natural light.
• Harvest seed heads of sunflowers as the heads begin to droop and leaves turn brown. Prompt harvest is necessary to protect the seeds from birds and from falling to the ground.
• Add water to your compost pile during dry periods so that it remains active.  Turn the pile to generate heat throughout for proper sterilization.
• Bermuda lawns can be fertilized for the last time this season with nitrogen fertilizer. Apply 3 pounds of 34-0-0 fertilizer per 1,000 square feet by mid-August. In addition, you can apply 2 pounds of 0-0-60 per 1,000 square feet for grass to develop a winter hardy root system.
• Sharpen or replace mower blades as needed. Shredded grass leaf blades are an invitation to disease and allow more stress on the grass. For an average lawn, you should sharpen your blades three times a season.
• Fall webworms are showing up in trees. They particularly like pecan, walnut, hickory, and persimmon but can be found in almost any tree and occasionally shrubs. If control is needed, you can use Sevin, permethrin, acephate, bifenthrin, Bacillus thuringiensis, or spinosad. However, they’re typically more of just an aesthetic issue and aren’t causing serious harm to the tree.
• August/September is a good time to get rid of poison ivy and unwanted honeysuckle.  Since they are perennials, applying glyphosate (example: Roundup) or triclopyr now can keep them from storing up nutrients for winter and reduce the chance of their surviving until spring. Don’t spray when plants are drought stressed. Wait until 3-4 days after a good rain. Be sure to follow the label directions.
• Avoid pruning spring flowering trees and shrubs now because they are setting flower buds. Adequate moisture now will give abundant color next spring. Avoid heavy pruning of others also at this time of year since you run the risk that the plant will not have sufficient time to harden off before frost. Light pruning or heading back can be done at any time.
• Strawberry plants are also setting flower buds this month and into September. Fertilize late this month to early September with 4 cups 34-0-0 fertilizer per 1,000 square foot bed. Moisture is also critical for good flower bud set and ultimately a good harvest next spring.
• Make your last fertilizer application in early August on your roses. Continue deadheading and spraying fungicide and insecticide. Propiconazole, myclobutanil, thiophanate-methyl, tebuconazole, or triforine will control most foliage diseases, while acephate is a good choice for insect problems. Rose beds can produce some of the best blooms in the fall. Be sure to keep the soil evenly moist.
• Rejuvenate tired annuals by removing faded flowers and cutting back long, leggy stems. Feed with a fertilizer and the plants will be back in bloom in a few weeks. If they are too far gone, pull them out and replace with new ones for fall. Although marigolds are usually considered a summer annual, they are also an alternative to mums and may actually bloom longer.
• Stop pinching mums now. They will set flower buds as days get shorter. Fertilize mums once again and keep them watered during dry weather.
• Horticulture entries are sought for the Baxter County Fair. Entries range from all types of vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, and field crops. The Baxter County Fair is held in Mountain Home with entries accepted Tuesday, the week of the fair from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Check out the web site (www.baxtercountyfair.org) for more information.

 
For more information on any of the above points, contact the U of A Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office at 870-425-2335.

​PNG (Plant-Nurture-Grow) Leadership Conference is open to all Master Gardeners and County Agents. 
We ask that each county with a MG Program attend.  
Information given at this conference helps strengthen and grow your program.  It is an important event to attend.

Conference Information Online
(schedule and registration form is available on the MG only portion of our website)

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

PNG Chairs
Debora Carpenter
Gail McClure

​

The Baxter County Master Gardeners are a fun group of folks who enjoy sharing their love of gardening with any visitor.

At our meetings we have speakers, refreshments, & fun.

Come join us!


Next Meeting Date:
August 8, 2019 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Meeting Place: 
The First Presbyterian Church
1106 Spring Street
Mountain Home, AR

June Speakers: 
Guest Speaker: Tina Marie Wilcox
Topic:  Mediterreanean Herbs
Tina Marie Wilcox has been the head gardener and herbalist at the Ozark Folk Center State Park’s Heritage Herb Garden in Mountain View, Arkansas since 1984. She coordinates annual herb events and facilitates the production of herb seeds and plants for the park. She writes a weekly herb and garden column entitled “Yarb Tales”, which is published by the Stone County Leader and www.ozarkfolkcenter.com.  She co-authored the reference book, the creative herbal home with Susan Belsinger.
 
Professional Memberships include the Herb Society of America and the International Herb Association. She is known, nationwide, as an entertaining and enlightening herbal educator. In 2017 she was honored with the Nancy Putnam Howard Award for Excellence in Horticulture by the Herb Society of America.
 
Tina's philosophy is based upon experiencing the joy of the process, perpetrating no harm and understanding life through play with plants and people.
  
Horticulture Table: Diana Wiegand
Topic: Flowers that Bloom from August - October
​
​Master Gardeners Monthly Radio Program:
Mountain Talk Radio July 17th on 97.1   7:15 a.m. - 8:am.
Master Gardener Hosts this month are Tommy Hagan and Ceil Gasiecki

Directions:
From Mountain Home
Take US Hwy. 62B East through Mountain Home until you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. 

From Gassville:
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home continue on into Mountain Home on US 62B. This will take you through town till you get to Harp's Grocery and you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. here to edit.

 "On behalf of the 2019 IMGC Planning Committee and Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, thank you so much for joining us!  We sincerely hope that you had the opportunity to learn from so many knowledgeable industry experts, visited some of our fabulous public gardens, met and networked with other Master Gardeners from the US, Canada, and South Korea, shared some knowledge with our guests from Great Britain, took home a little something from our Marketplace and/or Silent Auction, and had fun with activities, evening events and each other!

We are humbled and filled with gratitude that you chose to spend time with us as we dug into our roots.  Particular thanks to Dr. David Gibby for his insight and perseverance; it was an honor to have him address all of us and participate in presenting the David Gibby Search for Excellence Awards to the winners.

In the near future we will be sending out an evaluation of all facets of this conference and sharing results with our 2021 hosts, Virginia.
​
A slide show of your photos is in the works!  If you have not added them to our collection yet, do not hesitate!  Add to the app (see below), send to deb@internationalmastergardener.com or upload to Internationalmastergardener.com/upload."

​The 2021 International Master Gardeners Conference will be held in Norfolk, Virginia on September 12-18, 2021.

SOURCE:  https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/ (7/3/19).

​The 2020 Master Gardener Conference will be here before we know it.  Take a moment to review the first newsletter for the upcoming conference.

We look forward to seeing you in Jonesboro next year. 

June 2019 Newsletter

- Craighead County MG Conference Planning Committee

Here’s the checklist for things to be on the lookout for as we get deeper into summer.

• It’s time to check for bagworms on all junipers and conifers. As most of you will agree bagworms can be found on any living plant, so check all surrounding plants if you notice some on their favorite host plant, junipers. Some of the recommended insecticides are Sevin, Malathion, Bt, bifenthrin and permethrin. Always read and follow label directions.
• Pumpkins are planted this time of year for harvest this fall just in time for the holiday season. Keep plants well watered and free of insect pests. Spray every 7 days, or as needed, with bifenthrin.
• Start planning for a fall garden. Make plantings of squash, tomato, beans, cucumbers, southern peas, and any other vegetables that will mature before late October.
• If your tomato leaves are turning yellow with dark spots from the bottom up and defoliating, this is early blight. This disease needs to be prevented before it starts. This fungus can survive in the soil for several years. If you have early blight on your tomato plants, spray with chlorothalonil (Daconil) every 7-10 days.
• Tomato blossom drop is a problem as daytime temperature hits the upper 90s and night temperature does not fall below 75. As we get cooler temperatures, tomato plants will set again. If blossom end rot is a problem, remember it is a calcium deficiency and can be minimized by keeping the moisture level constant and applying a soluble calcium called Stop Rot, Blossom End Rot Control or Blossom End Rot Preventer. Soil test to make sure your pH is in the proper range.
• Keep pinching back your flowering herbs like basil, oregano and mint to prevent them from flowering and going to seed. You can use or store your trimmings.
• As you wrap-up the harvest on your tame blackberries, cut out the old canes (this year’s producing cane) to allow space for all the new canes that will produce fruit next year. As the new canes reach shoulder height, tip prune to encourage side branching, which also prevents new canes from arching over and reaching for the ground.
• Monitor water needs. We’ve had an abundance of rainfall, but summer dry spells are right around the corner. Keep in mind that plants, trees in particular, exhibit a delayed visual stress symptom.  These delayed symptoms could be wilt, leaf scorch, or loss of green coloration.   Drought stress to many plants, trees especially, could be the beginning of a slow decline and eventual death that cannot be corrected once it occurs.  To avoid these problems, don’t wait to water until you see these visual symptoms.  For mature trees, water an inch or more once a week.  Newly planted trees require watering twice a week during dry weather.
• Avoid heavy summer pruning. Light pruning is fine. Even small limbs in the way of the lawn mower are fine to remove during a hot summer.
• Raise your mower blades to cut your fescue lawn to 3 inches or more. Doing this will help protect grass roots from the summer heat and encourages a more extensive root system. Deeper roots will be beneficial during a drought. Water the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches every 3-4 days if possible. Don’t fertilize your fescue lawn during the summer.
• Spider mites can be a severe problem at this time of year. They become very active during hot weather. Most ornamentals and vegetable crops are subject to attack. Bifenthrin, Malathion or insecticidal soap are good choices to use on ornamentals and Malathion or insecticidal soap on vegetable crops. Read label directions before use and most important follow directions on days to harvest vegetables after use.
• Summer is the time to dig and divide irises. Irises do best in full sun, but they will tolerate some shade. High fertility encourages rhizomes to rot and fewer blooms. Fertilize lightly this fall for beds that you dig and divide this summer.
• If grass is invading flowerbeds, use a grass-specific herbicide such as Fusilade/Ornamec (fluazifop-P), Segment (sethoxydim) or Envoy (clethodim).  In our trials, fluazifop-P has been the most effective on bermudagrass. Alternatively, just get in there and remove it the old-fashioned way…by hand. Always read and follow label directions.
• If your summer annuals look like they are tired, fertilize them with a half-pound, (one cup) of 34-0-0 per 100 sq. ft. Also, keep them well watered.
• You can expect fall webworms soon if not already. We can expect two to three generations of this tree defoliator each year, depending on the weather. Female moths lay eggs on the underside of host trees in April. Eggs begin to hatch in June and sometimes as late as August (depending on weather conditions). Control is not necessary. It is more of an aesthetic problem. Sevin, bifenthrin, acephate, permethrin, Dipel, or Thuricide will control these caterpillars.
• If you haven’t already done so, put your leftover garden seeds in a ziplock bag and drop them in the freezer. You can keep many garden seeds this way for several years including seeds you collect from flowers or vegetables.

 
For more information on any of the above topics, please feel free to contact the University of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service at 870-425-2335.
 

Berni Kurz, Extension Educator/Consumer Horticulturist
​will speak at each A to P event.
"Gardening with Bees in Mind"
​

Karen Seale
"Plant This, Not That - Give Natives a Chance"
Monday, June 24 - Hope
UACCH - Hempstead Hall
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
​

Lissa Morrison
"Changing Habits for Healthier Habitats"
Friday, June 28 -  Fayetteville 
Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences
1:00 - 4:00 p.m

​

Leslie Patrick
"Gardening for Pollinators"
Saturday, July 13 - Batesville 
UACCB Campus
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ​

Michelle Wisdom
"Pollinator Plants in Lawns"
Sunday, July 14 - Little Rock 
Little Rock State Extension Office
2 - 5 p.m. ​

To Our New Master Gardeners, Their Mentors and County Agents: 

Please join us at one of the Annuals to Perennials programs being offered around the state for first-year Master Gardeners (MGs), their Mentors and County Agents. These programs are designed to encourage our new MGs to become more involved in their county programs, assist new MGs to grow from an Annual to a Perennial Master Gardener, and show appreciation to our Mentors and County Agents for their vital roles during this process.

The Annuals to Perennials program is open to first-year Master Gardeners who completed basic training from June 1, 2018 through, June 1, 2019, their Mentors and County Agents only. The deadline for on-line or mail-in registration is listed on the registration form. While we encourage first-year Master Gardeners and Mentors to attend together, we realize this may not be possible. To register and participate, it is not necessary for both the MG and Mentor to attend; each will register separately and may attend even if the other cannot. Register for as many of the "Annuals to Perennials" programs you wish to attend.  

Registration information is on the MG Only site.  
​
Each event has a separate registration link for registering. 
(The username and password for the MG ONLY portion of our website is NOT the same as your personal username and password used for reporting volunteer hours. MG ONLY site username and password is one used for all MGs statewide to access the site.)

​Some issues to consider for June gardening:
​

• Avoid heavy summer pruning. Light pruning is fine. Even small limbs in the way of the lawn mower are fine to remove during a hot summer.
• Raise your mower blades to cut your fescue lawn to 3 inches or more. Doing this will help protect grass roots from the summer heat and encourages a more extensive root system. Deeper roots will be beneficial during a drought. Water the soil to a depth of 4-6 inches every 3-4 days if possible. Don’t fertilize your fescue lawn during the summer.
• Spider mites can be a severe problem at this time of year. They become very active during hot weather. Most ornamentals and vegetable crops are subject to attack. Bifenthrin, malathion or insecticidal soap are good choices to use on ornamentals and malathion or insecticidal soap on vegetable crops. Read label directions before use and most important follow directions on days to harvest vegetables after use.
• Summer is the time to dig and divide irises. Irises do best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. High fertility encourages rhizomes to rot and fewer blooms. Fertilize lightly this fall for beds that you dig and divide this summer.
• If your summer annuals look like they are tired, fertilize them with half a pound (one cup) of34-0-0 per 100 sq. ft. Watering is also important.
• You can expect fall webworms soon if not already. We can expect two to three generations of this tree defoliator each year, depending on the weather. Female moths lay eggs on the underside of host trees in April. Eggs begin to hatch in June and sometimes as late as August (depending on weather conditions). Control is not absolutely necessary. It is more of an aesthetic problem. Sevin, bifenthrin, acephate, permethrin, Dipel, or Thuricide will control these caterpillars.
• If you haven’t already done so, put your leftover garden seeds in a ziplock bag and drop them in the freezer. You can keep many garden seeds this way for several years including seeds you collect from flowers or vegetables.

 
For more information on any of the above topics, please feel free to contact the University of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service at 425-2335.

As part of our 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Baxter County Master Gardeners, we are hosting garden tours of our eight project garden sites on Saturday, June 29th, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Please join us and enjoy these beautiful gardens.

Click on the titles to the garden project for additional information about the project. The location and directions for each site are given below and on the garden project web page.

Bull Shoals-White River State Park
From Mountain Home
Take Hwy. 5 North headed to Midway -  5 miles from Mountain Home to Hwy. 178.  Turn on Hwy. 178 towards Lakeview and Bull Shoals-White River State Park - 9 Miles on State Hwy 178 from Hwy. 5 and you will be in the State park. Do not cross the dam.
From Gassville
Take Hwy. 126 North out of Gassville.  About 3 miles in, Hwy 178 and 126 merge (do not turn right on 178).  Continue north headed to Midway.  At the stop sign, turn left on Hwy 5, then immediately turn left on Hwy 178 towards Lakeview and Bull Shoals-White River State Park.  Proceed about 9 Miles on State Hwy 178 from Hwy. 5, and you will be in the State park. Do not cross the dam.
​
Cooper Park Rapps Barren Cabins
Cooper Park, 1106 Spring Street, Mountain Home, AR
From Mountain Home
Take US Hwy. 62B East through Mountain Home until you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and Cooper Park  will be on your left.. 

From Gassville
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home continue on into Mountain Home on US 62B. This will take you through town till you get to Harp's Grocery and you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and Cooper Park will be on your left.

Clysta-Willett Nature Trail
From Mountain Home
Take Hwy. 5 South from in front of the Baxter County Sheriff's Office. Headed south pass the bypass and Rossi Road will be on your right side before you get to Good Samaritan. Turn right onto Rossi and the park will be on your left side. Take the second right (Main park entrance). Once in the park turn left just past the soccer fields and drive to the wood line and entrance to the Clysta Willett Trail. 

From Gassville
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home stay on 62/412 until you reach the 62 Bypass. Turn right onto the bypass and follow it till the Rossi Road exit. Exit to the right and turn left onto Rossi Road. The park will be on your right. Take the first right (Main park entrance). Once in the park turn left just past the soccer fields and drive to the wood line and entrance to the Clysta Willett Trail. 

Extension Office
From Mountain Home
This project is located at Hwy. 5 South and US 62B in front of the Baxter County Sheriff's Office. It's best to park in the Old Police Department parking lot and walk down to the corner where the project is located. 

From Gassville
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home stay on 62B until you reach Hwy. 5 South across from Baxter County Sheriff's Office. Turn right onto Hwy. 5 South and park in the first parking lot on your immediate left. 

Fairgrounds Education Building
Baxter County Fairgrounds, 1507 Fairgrounds Dr, Mountain Home, AR 
From Gassville
Take US 62/412 to West Wade Avenue. Turn right onto West Wade Avenue. Turn right onto Fairgrounds Drive.
From Mountain Home
Take US 62-BR west to West Wade Avenue. Turn right onto West Wade Avenue. Turn right onto Fairgrounds Drive.

Fish Hatchery
​From Mountain Home
Take Hwy. 5 South from in front of the Baxter County Sheriff's Office. Headed south pass the bypass and continue on till you get to Salesville. At the "Y store" in Salesville, turn left onto Hwy. 177. Continue on Hwy. 177 until you reach the Dam. Just before the base of the Dam on the left side of the road is the Norfork National Fish Hatchery.  

From Gassville
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home stay on 62/412 until you reach the 62 Bypass. Turn right onto the bypass and follow it till the Hwy. 5 South Exit. Take Hwy. 5 South and continue on till you get to Salesville. At the "Y store" in Salesville, turn left onto Hwy. 177. Continue on Hwy. 177 until you reach the Dam. Just before the base of the Dam on the left side of the road is the Norfork National Fish Hatchery.  

Library Pollinator Garden
​300 Library Hill Ln, Mountain Home, AR 72653
From Gassville
Take Sheid-Hopper Bypass/Hwy 62. Turn left at the light, College Avenue. Library is on the corner of 62 and College Avenue. Turn right to Library parking lot.
From Mountain Home
Take South College Street to Library on your left. If you get to Sheid-Hopper Bypass/Hwy 62, you missed it. Turn left to Library parking lot.

Memorial Garden
​From Mountain Home
Take US Hwy. 62B East through Mountain Home until you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. 

From Gassville
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home continue on into Mountain Home on US 62B. This will take you through town till you get to Harp's Grocery and you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side.

The Baxter County Master Gardeners are a fun group of folks who enjoy sharing their love of gardening with any visitor.

At our meetings we have speakers, refreshments, & fun.

Come join us!


Next Meeting Date:
June 13, 2019 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Meeting Place: 
The First Presbyterian Church
1106 Spring Street
Mountain Home, AR

June Speakers: 
Guest Speaker: Debbie Blakeslee, Master Gardemer
Topic:  Water Management Systems -- Rain Barrels

Horticulture Table: Janice Rose
Topic: Plants to Bring to the Fair
​
​Master Gardeners Monthly Radio Program:
Mountain Talk Radio June  19th on 97.1   7:15 a.m. - 8:am.
Master Gardener Hosts this month are Tommy Hagan and Ceil Gasiecki

Directions:
From Mountain Home
Take US Hwy. 62B East through Mountain Home until you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. 

From Gassville:
Take Hwy. 62/412 towards Mountain Home. Once you get to Mountain Home continue on into Mountain Home on US 62B. This will take you through town till you get to Harp's Grocery and you come to Cardinal Street. Cardinal Street is the intersection just past Harp's Grocery.  Turn right onto Cardinal Street and travel South until you come to the first stop sign which should be Spring Street. Turn left onto Spring Street and go down the hill past the bridge and the First Presbyterian Church will be on your right hand side. here to edit.