​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.

 







August 2021 
BCMG
Ozark Green Thumb
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• 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 seedheads 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.

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

Master Gardener 2021 Award Winners (awarded in 2021 for program year 2020)

Challenge Award (51 or more) - Washington County, Susan Gardner
Master Gardener Newsletter of the Year (50 or less) Greene Garden News, Angela Loveless, Editor, Greene County.  
Master Gardener Newsletter of the Year (51 or more) Weeder's Digest, Donna Tolewitzke, Editor,  Craighead County
Friend of Master Gardener (Individual) Jim Howard, Greene County
Friend of Master Gardener (Individual) Christy Gerard, Craighead County
Friend of Master Gardener (Business) Cleveland County Herald, Cleveland County
Friend of Master Gardener (Business) Harps Food Store #391,Garland County
Master Gardener Rookie of the Year (50 or less) Mark Skalka, Lonoke County
Master Gardener Rookie of the Year (51 or more) Joan Lambert, Garland County
Master Gardener of the Year (50 or less) Marty Bowlin, Cleveland County
Master Gardener of the Year (51 or more) Stephanie Neely,  Craighead County
Master Gardener Project of the Year (50 or less) Cabot Library Project, Lonoke County
Master Gardener Project of the Year (51 or more) Helping Hands Food Pantry Garden, Benton County
Excellence In Education Award (50 or less) Green County Youth Teaching Garden, Greene County

MG Program Agent of the Year (50 or less) Randy Black, Montgomery County

MG Program Agent of the Year (51 or more) Randy Forst, Pulaski County


Master Gardener Years of Service 
Click the link below to view the list
Years of Service List (pdf)


2021 Janet B. Carson County Scholarship Recipient
Pope County's Garden of Hope
The garden is a cooperation between Pope County Master Gardeners and the Pope County Probation Department.  Children are assigned to do their community service hours at the garden.  The goal of the project is to provide a positive life experience to young people by teaching gardening principles.  These will include preparing the soil, caring for plants from seed through harvesting, composting and the importance of pollinators.  The objective is that through this process the children will learn important life lessons.  



2021 Janet B. Carson High School Scholarship Recipients

Matthew Exum, Green County Technical High School, Greene County  
Matthew has always been interested in all aspects of agriculture.  After working as an assistant for a crop consulting firm, he was drawn toward learning more about making the best possible crop and yield and the science behind the development of the various products used.  He states, “Agriculture is changing daily, and I want to be part of that change.”  His career goal is to become an agronomist.  Matthew is known as an exceptional student, having a tremendous work ethic, and being very dependable.  Matthew has been accepted at Black River Technical College where he will pursue a degree in Crop Science.


Clay Farmer, Marmaduke High School, Greene County
His experience of working with various farms inspired Clay to realize the importance of maintaining crops, which allows farmers to make timely, informed, and economical decisions. His ultimate goal is to become a crop consultant where he hopes to enable farmers to confidently make impactful decisions.  Clay is known as an organized and proactive leader with an outstanding work ethic, and as a model citizen to his community.  Clay has been accepted at Arkansas State University where he will pursue a degree in Plant & Soil Science.


Sunny Jones, Conway High School, Faulkner County
Sunny believes that plant science serves as the foundation for civilization’s future.  His plans include owning a business with regenerative agriculture and environmentally friendly spaces to support healthy biodiversity.  His ideas include an ecological haven with a native plant garden, a community garden as well as a commercial vertical garden for organic produce.  Sunny is known as being intelligent, intuitive, and self-reflective and as having a giving nature.  Sunny has been accepted at the University of Arkansas Honors College where he will major in Horticulture, Landscape, and Turf Sciences/Environmental Science.