​​You can pay your dues ($10.00) in two ways. 

1. Drop off a check preferably at the Extension Office; or,

2. Mail a check to the Extension Office at 3 E 9th St, Mountain Home, AR 72653.  

Please be sure to note on the check that this is for the 2021 dues for MG so that the dues can be credited properly.

​It may be cold and wintry, but there’s still plenty to be mindful of around the yard and garden.
 

• Mulch is important in protecting young plants from frost heaving. A 2-3” mulch will reduce heaving problems which occurs with alternate freezing and thawing. Otherwise, newly planted plants (2” potted plants) can be pushed completely out of the ground.
• January through February is a good time of year to move plants from one location in the landscape to another.  Water and mulch transplanted plants well.
• For trees, remove grass and maintain 3’ to 4’ diameter of grass free area around young trees. Eliminating competition from around the immediate area of the tree contributes to a dramatic increase in growth of the tree. Keep a 2-3” layer mulch in this grass-free area.
• Staking newly planted trees is recommended for large trees however, stakes should be removed after the first growing season. Stakes should be loose to allow the tree to sway in the wind. Trees allowed to sway develop a stronger root system and a sturdier trunk.
• When watering trees, keep in mind that water as needed, but let the soil dry down somewhat between irrigation. Waterlogged soils kill many tree species. Remember, plant roots need oxygen.
• Winter is pruning time for most landscape trees. You may need to remove lower limbs of young trees each winter as it matures. Ideally, you would want your lowest limb about six feet from the ground. Do any corrective pruning while trees are young, removing narrow crotch angles, double forks, etc.  Remember to not cut limbs all the way back to the trunk. The obvious branch collar should be left.  Pruning sealants are NOT recommended. You can expect a wound from a 1” limb to heal over by the second year after cutting. Larger wounds will take longer to seal.
• Vegetable gardens need to be cleaned up if you haven’t done so. Winter cleanup reduces insect and disease pressure for the coming growing season. This refuse probably needs to stay out of the compost pile. Most compost piles may not get hot enough to kill harmful pathogens. Use your own judgement. Asparagus stalks can be cut back and beds need a new layer of compost (2 to 3 inches).
• Till garden plots without a cover crop to expose overwintering insects to the winters cold. Do not till when soil moisture is high causing clods to form. Incorporate compost, animal manures, etc. at the same time to garden plots needing organic matter.
• This winter, remove bagworm bags from shrubs which were infested this past summer. Eggs were deposited within the bags by female worms, shortly before they died. Physically removing and destroying the bags will reduce or eliminate problems this summer.
• This is a good time of year to cut poison ivy vines from trees at the ground level and paint the cut end with full strength Brush-B-Gon or glyphosate. Handle vines with plastic gloves and wash up thoroughly to avoid the itchy aftermath.
• Avoid the temptation to fertilize houseplants during the winter months unless they are under grow lights or very high light conditions.
• An herbicide containing glyphosate can be used on dormant bermudagrass lawns in January or February when temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for winter weed control.  Make sure your bermuda lawn is completely dormant or grass injury may occur. Waiting until late Feb.-early March will provide broader control as more winter weeds will have germinated, but you risk injuring bermudagrass if it has been a warm Feb.
• When the temperatures are below freezing, avoid much contact with plant material outside. Frozen plants are brittle, and limbs can be broken easily. If ice or snow are on your plants, use caution around them. Heavy loads of snow can be lightly brushed off but stay away from ice-laden plants.
• Mulch strawberry beds now with straw. Keep the straw off the crowns. The straw will keep fruit from touching the soil and rotting.

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

Floriography is the language of flowers. By assigning symbolic meanings to various flowers, floriography can be thought of as a cryptic way of communication through flowers.
 
Meaning has been attributed to flowers for centuries throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. In Victorian society, gifts of specific flowers were used to send coded messages to express feelings not spoken aloud. Today you can find many websites and books explaining the various meanings associated with flowers and specific months. 

We hope to share information about a flower for each month of the year. If you are interested in writing about a flower, pick your month and flower and email newsletter@baxtercountymg.com.


The flower for December is poinsettia, and the article is written by Audrey Holt. 

​Flower of the Month: Poinsettia

The following BCMG Board positions are open for 2021.
Contact any Board member if you are interested in these positions.

Secretary
The Secretary shall keep a current roster of the membership and attendance at the meetings, shall be responsible for correspondence, records, documents and forms.  The Secretary will maintain the master copies of all forms and documents, and make all approved changes.   The Secretary will also record minutes of BCMG meetings and may appoint an attendance clerk. The Secretary shall be responsible for the Attendance Clerk, the Historian, and the Sunshine Chair.
 
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive all monies of BCMG and keep an accurate record of all transactions, pay out all monies by check only, to cover those expenses of BCMG. The Treasurer shall provide a detailed, month-end Treasurer’s Report of income and expense items at each Board meeting. The Treasurer, along with the Board of Directors, shall prepare an annual operating budget for the approval of the membership at the January meeting. At the close of the year the books shall be audited; the auditing committee shall consist of not less than three (3) members as appointed by the President no later than December 31st. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the Property Clerk.

 

2021 Master Garden Calendars
are available for $1 
at the Baxter County Extension Office
3 East 9th St.
Mountain Home, AR 72653
​(870) 425-2335

Here are few things to be mindful of around the garden and landscape during the month of December:

• After your garden has been put to rest, take advantage of a warm spell and work manure or compost into empty flower beds or into your much-enjoyed vegetable garden. Working organic matter into the soil during the winter will put you ahead when gardening begins in the spring. Turning gardens in the winter will also kill overwintering insects.
• This is the last call to plant spring flowering bulbs. You may find them at bargain prices because garden centers are trying to get rid of their inventory. Bulbs prefer a deep well drained soil with super phosphate or bone meal worked into the soil before planting.
• Between now and spring you need to spray fruit trees on a warm day with a dormant oil to control scale and other insects (eggs) which are overwintering on the tree. If you have scale insect problems on ornamentals, such as on euonymus, spray these also. Be sure to read and follow label directions on the dormant oil.
• Lower limbs of young shade trees can be pruned now. Its best to prune up limbs as years pass to about 10 feet off the ground. Remember to not cut too close to the trunk. Leave the bulge, called ‘stem collar’. This bulge can be very small on young trees to a few inches in size on large trees. This stem tissue is comprised of very active plant cells which seal off open wounds in a few growing seasons. No pruning sealant is recommended.
• Mulch tender perennials since we have had our first hard frost.
• Keep your Christmas tree fresh with plenty of water.
• Gifts for the gardener abound – from plants to books to gardening tools.
• Keep your poinsettia fresh with even moisture and plenty of light.
• During the dormant season, any plants which need to be moved from one location to another should be transplanted from now through February. Be sure to get as much of the root ball as you can, and plant as quickly as possible. Don’t allow the root system to dry out, or to be exposed to cold temperatures for too long. Don’t forget to water them in, and if natural rainfall doesn’t occur, water every two to three weeks.
• You may prune hollies, cedars, magnolias, and other evergreens lightly this month to obtain foliage for holiday decorating. Be sure to prune carefully, and take some from all over the bush to keep as natural a shape as possible.
• Make sure your ornamental plantings are mulched for the winter. Mulching keeps soil temperature more constant, retains moisture and helps prevent weeds. Besides that, it is more attractive than bare soil. Keep the mulch pulled back from the stem of the plant to help keep rodents away and keep air circulating around the plants. Place mulch two to three inches high throughout the beds and around trees to keep away lawnmowers and weed trimmers.
• There is still time to plant pansies for winter color. Choose strong healthy plants which are in bloom or have flower buds. Plant them in a sunny bed, fertilize and water and you can be assured of flowers all winter long. Pansies are unique in that they freeze solid, yet defrost when the sun hits them, and they bloom all winter. If you already have pansies planted, be sure to deadhead them periodically to keep them blooming. Fertilize them during periods of warmer weather throughout the winter. Pansies are heavy feeders and respond well to fertilizer.
• Garden tools should be cleaned this time of year. There should be no soil left on them, and they should be oiled a little and stored in a dry place for winter.
• Don’t forget about the birds. During the winter, be sure to keep fresh water and birdseed outside. There are numerous types of birdfeeders and birdseed.
• If you are purchasing holiday plants or giving houseplants as gifts, be sure to protect the plant during transport home. Be sure that all plants are “sleeved” (wrapped in a paper sleeve or protected inside a paper bag.) Tropical houseplants can suffer permanent damage even exposed to 10 minutes of freezing temperatures.

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

 






​
November 2020
Baxter County Master Gardeners
Ozark Green Thumb
e-Newsletter

​Here are a few things around the lawn and garden to consider for November.
 

• Sometime after a hard freeze, cleanup your perennials by cutting back dead stalks leaving 2 to 3 inch stalks and replenish the beds’ mulch. Remove old mulch in areas where you had a severe disease problem or an insect infestation. Diseases and insects can overwinter in the old mulch.
• The easiest method to create more perennials from a single plant is division. Dividing perennials is not difficult and can be done as the plant begins to decline this fall. A general rule, plants that bloom in the spring should be divided in the fall, with fall bloomers divided in the spring. Summer performers can be done either season, but many choose fall for a stronger plant next season. As the plants enter dormancy, the plant will spend its energy establishing roots, and not foliage, thus giving you a stronger plant next growing season. Lift the plants that need division, and divide them using a sharp knife or spade, being careful to have a crown for each division.
• You can still plant garlic if you haven’t already. Garlic will grow roots through the winter and foliage will appear in February or March. Harvest next summer as tops begin to yellow. You can plant culinary garlic you find in the grocery store.
• Fall is a good time to plant shrubs and trees in the landscape.
• If you have been needing to move some established plants around in the landscape, fall is the time to do so. Transplant deciduous plants after the leaves have dropped and evergreen plants can be transplanted after the first hard freeze.
• It’s time to replenish compost heaps with the ample supply of leaves. Remember to add some nitrogen to your layers of leaves for faster decomposition. You can use animal manure or commercial fertilizer for your nitrogen source. If you don’t have good directions on composting, call or come by the Extension office and we will be glad to give you a composting fact sheet with easy to follow directions.
• When planting pansies, and other winter annuals, be sure to use a fertilizer high in phosphorous. Superphosphate will work. This will stimulate root development which is needed to survive a cold winter. Pansies planted several weeks ago could use one more shot of nitrogen before winter sets in.
• Spring flowering bulbs need to be planted by early December. Later planted bulbs run the risk of not getting enough chilling hours to bloom properly especially if we have a mild winter. As a general rule, bulbs should be planted three times deeper than the diameter of the bulb.
• Don’t prune roses now. Fall pruning will encourage winter die back. Mulch roses up past graft union for winter protection.
• It’s not unusual to start seeing some spring flowering bulbs foliage starting to appear in the fall or early winter. Whatever you do, don’t cut off the foliage or you won’t have a flower next spring. Each bulb only contains one set of leaves, flowers and roots, and damaging these can damage your bulb. Simply ignore them, lightly mulch and wait for a bloom next spring.
• Recycle disease-free annual potted plants and potting medium by adding them to the compost pile or directly into the garden. Be sure 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.
• Winterize your irrigation system by following recommended procedures with your particular system. Remove hoses from outside nozzles to prevent freezing, but keep your hose handy for winter watering in those dry protected spots.  Winterize ornamental ponds if needed and birdbaths if needed. Clay pots need to be put in dry storage, particularly those which are not sealed.
• A soil test of all garden plots is recommended at least every 3 years. This is a great time to get a soil analysis. You can make soil improvements this winter before spring planting begins.
• Some people have noticed fallen twigs from pecan and hickory trees. These twigs are no more than a half inch through and appear to have been cut off. This is damage done by an insect called twig-girdler. This beetle lays its eggs on the twig and cuts it off. This damage is more spectacular than damaging to the tree. The only control recommended is to pick up the twigs and then destroy them, thus destroying their eggs.
• Apply the last nitrogen (N) application to your tall fescue lawn sometime in late November. Apply 1-2 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. of actual N. This would be 3-6 lbs./1,000 sq. ft. of 34-0-0. If you have been fertilizing well, use the lower rate of N.

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

25 years (1995)
Sally Moore
Lucinda Reynolds

20 years (2000)
Jackie Leatherman

15 years (2005) Lifetime
Jane Darr
Jim Whitesell

10 years (2010)
Anita Emerson
Cecilia Gasiecki
Janie Robbins
Marcia Taylor

5 years (2015)
Susan Chamberlain
Tony Chamberlain
Janelle Stookey
​Penny Wells

Get ready to Zoom for an event different from all others.

Join Master Gardeners from across Arkansas in a virtual MG Appreciation Day with Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, starting off the program. He will be speaking on a new approach to conservation that starts in your yard - "Nature's Best Hope". 

A live demonstration of using what's in your yard to make a wreath will be taught by Lee Witty, joining us from the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.

You must preregister in order to attend this virtual event. Log in to Buddy Messages for the link.

​Grow Your Own Groceries: Winter Squash
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Noon - 1 p.m.
In this live Zoom presentation, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Extension Agents will teach you how to grow healthy, nutritious food in your own backyard and give tips for new ways to cook and prepare your harvest. This class will focus on growing and cooking with winter squash. See Buddy Messages for registration link.


Growing Your Own Groceries: Apples
Thursday, October 15, 2020
12 - 1 p.m.
In this live Zoom presentation, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service professionals will teach you how to grow healthy, nutritious food in your own backyard and give tips for new ways to cook and prepare your harvest. This class will focus on growing and cooking with apples. (registration link will be sent out later)

Master Gardener Newsletter of the Year (50 or less) 
Compostings, Grazzie Warbritton, Editor, Montgomery County.  
Master Gardener Newsletter of the Year (51 or more) 
The Grapevine, Joyce Fiddler, Editor, Meredyth Levering, Co-editor - Faulkner County
Friend of Master Gardener (Individual)  
Jim Baker, Faulkner County
Friend of Master Gardener (Individual) 
Sue McGowan, Greene County
Friend of Master Gardener (Business) 
Mid-South Nursery & Greenhouses, The Seibert Family, Craighead County
Friend of Master Gardener (Business) 
Lowe's of Paragould, Rhonda Bottoms, Manager, Greene County
Master Gardener Rookie of the Year (50 or less)
Laura Bell, Crittenden County
Master Gardener Rookie of the Year (51 or more)   
Richard Boss,  Craighead County
Master Gardener of the Year (50 or less)
Mary Howard, Cleburne County
Master Gardener of the Year (51 or more) 
Ann Wood,  White County  
Master Gardener Project of the Year (50 or less)
St. Francis County Museum, Anita Vandiver, Chair - St. Francis County
Master Gardener Project of the Year (51 or more)
Garland County Master Gardener Plant Sale and Garden Show, Claudette Cooper and Paula Jackson, Chairs - Garland County
Excellence In Education Award (51 or more)
Garden Explorers Jr. Master Gardener 4-H, Joyce Mendenhall, Chair - Washington County


2020 Janet B. Carson County Scholarship Recipients
​
Drew County's Attracting Butterflies, Birds, and Bees in Monticello
Drew County Master Gardeners, in collaboration with four other organizations, established two sites as public demonstration projects.  The sites are used by Master Gardeners to share information on native plants with the general public as well as for learning opportunities for students in area schools.  Signage will include plant and insect identification and the pollinators attracted to the sites to create increased awareness of pollinators.  The project includes trees, shrubs, wildflowers, herbs, non-native nectar annuals, hardscapes, and signage.  

Greene County's Teaching Garden
Greene County Master Gardeners, in collaboration with two other organizations, are teaching local youth basic gardening principles about natural resources, plants, insects, pests, and composting with hands-on learning opportunities.    4-H students (ages 5-12) learn by participating in hands-on garden activities.  Students will develop a better understanding of natural resources and plants and animals and how they interact in the garden.  They will also develop a good understanding of the growth stages of plants and animals and learn about plant pollination.  The project includes a compost area, raised garden beds, grow light, garden supplies and materials.

2020 Janet B. Carson High School Scholarship Recipients

Tyler Casper is a Marion resident in Crittenden County and attended West Memphis Christian HIgh School.  Working for an agriculture consultant led him to the plant science industry where he was intrigued by the complexities of the field.  His career plans include working for a seed or chemical company and perhaps ultimately owning his own consulting business.  Tyler is known as a hard worker, a strong academic leader and a role model for his peers.  Tyler has been accepted at Arkansas State University - Jonesboro where he will pursue a degree in Plant and Soil Science with an emphasis in Agronomy.


Isabella Norsworthy is a West Fork resident in Washington County and attended Farmington High School.  Through her involvement with the Junior Master Gardener 4-H program and her work on her family's farm, she developed a love for horticulture.  An incredible work ethic, an exceptional student are all traits attributed to Isabella.  Her desire is to fulfill her passion to work with plants as well as communicate the importance of agriculture worldwide.  Isabella has been accepted at the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville where she will pursue a double major in Horticulture and Agriculture Communications with a concentration in Agriculture Leadership.

​Here’s your October gardening checklist!
 

• 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 get 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/mulched 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 and organic matter in place, 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 get 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, contact the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office at 425-2335.
 

 







September 2020
Baxter County Master Gardeners
Ozark Green Thumb
e-Newsletter

​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.

For more information on soil testing, and to pick up the containers,  contact Brad Runsick at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office at 870- 425-2335; or stop by the Extension Office at 3 East 9th St., Mountain Home.

​Click here to learn more about how to collect your soil sample.

 

"The Obsessed Gardener" by Chris Woods

Are you one?

Take the test. 





Normal Gardener ...... Obsessed Gardener

You won’t leave town when your tulips are in bloom
…or your daffodils, your lilacs, your wisteria, your roses, your clematis, your lilies, your hydrangea, your asters……. 

You invest in fine gardening tools.
You keep spare tools in your car for gardening emergencies. 

You have a compost heap.
You take its temperature every day. 

You can’t believe you ordered so many bulbs last fall.
It wasn’t enough. 

You know the Latin names of your plants.
You use them in conversations…with the plants. 

You have dirt under your fingernails.
What fingernails? 

You can crush a Japanese beetle in your bare fingertips.
You love the sound it makes when you do. 

You had a soil test.
You studied for it. 

You love gardening more than anything.
“And what’s wrong with that?” 

You buy composted cow manure to top dress your garden.
You buy a cow. 

You know the virtues of hand weeding.
…after dark.

You have a charge account at the local garden store.
Your spouse buys all your Christmas presents there.

Source: Chris Woods, "Are You an Obsessed Gardener? Take the Test!" The Weeders' Reader--Greenprint's Greatest Stories (January 2000).

MG Appreciation Day via ZOOM

Date: October 13, 2020
Time: 9:30 am

Speakers:
Doug Tallamy, "Nature's Best Hope"
Lee Witty, Fall Wreaths and Transition to Other Holidays


​Preregistration link forthcoming.

Shirts and facemasks for sale; see Buddy Messages for links.

​Here are a few items to pay attention to around the garden in the coming weeks

• 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 at 870- 425-2335.

Plant-Nurture-Grow Master Gardener Leadership Conference 2020
via Zoom August 24 & 25, 2020
Mark your calendar!
Registration link available
See Buddy Messages
​

​PNG Project

County 76
Chair - Gail McClure
Co Chairs - Debora Carpenter, Donna Peebles, Linda Soffer

Seeds from China

You may have heard about the reports of unsolicited packages of seeds being mailed to people across the U.S. that appear to originate from China.
Extension received a call this morning of someone reporting to have received these seeds in Arkansas.
 
If you get seed that you did not purchase you should contact 

Arkansas Plant Industries Division at 501-225-1598,
or email: Paul.shell@agriculture.arkansas.gov 
or email: Mark.stoll@agriculture.arkansas.gov 
 
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture will advise what to do. Seeds should NOT be removed from their packaging and should NOT be planted. Investigators could be sent to retrieve the seed and will likely want to see the envelope and packing materials the seeds were sent in.
 
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and other state departments of agriculture are working with USDA APHIS to determine what is going on and the risk.  Per Paul Shell with the AR Dept. of Ag, the concern is that there could be an introduction of a potential invasive weed, insect or plant disease associated with these shipments.