Over the Garden Gate

Monthly Newsletter Clinton County Master Gardeners

Editors: Carol Machael, cmachael@gmail.com Published on the first Monday of the month.

To submit an article it must be sent by E-mail as a Microsoft Word attachment to the above e-mail address. To be accepted for publication in the next newsletter, articles must be received 10 days be-fore the first Monday of the month. Articles will be accepted or rejected at the discretion of the editor.

Volume 3 Issue 7 August 2012

Notes from Kay, our Chairman

Well, we have finished another successful Master Gardener day at the Clinton County Fair. We had thirty five

creative and beautiful entries in the container contest, and some very nice entries in the vegetable contest.

The presentations were great and we had a good crowd to watch them. The weather was very hot, but then I

am beginning to believe that is all part of the day. Many visitors commented positively on the OLC, even

though with the early warm weather, we didn’t have many plants in bloom. The gardens looked very inviting

and many used them for a cool relief from all the activities. For all of you that volunteered your time, whether

to help with the container contest, help with the demonstrations, or to host the gardens, I send you a very

hardy “Thank You”. The Fair would not have been a success without you!!

The new trees in the OLC are doing very well, and there was a presentation celebrating the ten years since

the idea of the OLC concept during the fair. There is a dedication rock for one hundred years of the Clinton

County Extension Office that has been placed in the gardens.

With the Plant Sale, Garden Walk, and now the Fair completed, we have pretty much exhausted the major

projects for the year. For those of you that still need to get in volunteer hours, I am sure there is still work that

needs to be done at the Arb, OLC, and there are a few requests of Master Gardener help out there. Be sure

to get your hours put into the computer ISU knows how much time we are volunteering.

Be sure to mark your calendar for December 3, 2012 for the annual Master Gardener Christmas Party and

awards ceremony. I know it is still hot outside, but with as fast as the last seven months have gone, it will be

here before you know it. There will be more information available as the time gets closer.

Stay cool in this warm weather and enjoy as much as you can, it will be cold before we know it.

A tidbit from our former editor, Ralph Stanford: “ “I’ve made an odd discovery. Every time I talk

to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my

gardener, I’m convinced of the opposite.” - Bertrand Russell

CLINTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ADVISORY BOARD

July 17, 2012—Extension Office—9 a.m.

Volume 3 Issue 7 Page 2 August 2012

Roll Call-Kay, Brenda, Willard, Carol, Alice, Roger Guests-Mark, Margo, Jan, Linda

Approval of Agenda-couple of items added

Approval of Minutes-Motion to approve by Alice, 2nd

by Willard

Financial Report-$5167.18 Motion to approve by Willard, 2nd

by Roger

Reports: Committees/projects/events

OLC: Roger-Good response from last work day. Watering and caring for new trees going well. Have traps up

for Japanese Beetles, considering using a systemic insecticide next year on certain plants and trees. Plant ID markers

an ongoing project, need to order more markers. Kay made motion to purchase more plant markers from the Arb, Alice

2nd

.

Education: Deb Monroe-leftover recipes booklets given out at Farmer’s Markets last year could be handed out

at MG Day at the Fair to those interested. MG Float used in the July 4th parade was good project, good exposure, will

keep in mind for next year and other parades.

Plant Partners: Having a couple of calls a week at both DeWitt & Arb.

Bickelhaupt: Margo Hansen-Making a Herb Wreath Class on July 28th.

Publicity: All publication in DeWitt Observer, Clinton Herald, and QCTimes have been excellent.

10 Year OLC/100 Year Extension Anniversaries: Cathann Dress will be at the Extension Office & MG Fair to

celebrate the landmark year. Bill Gustafson & Duane Albers will be recognized as founders of the OLC.

Old Business:

MG Day at the Fair: Everything ready to go. Dedication, Container Contest, Speakers timelines set up. Tent &

Sides are up and fans are needed if warm. Free entry tickets available for other days. LuAnn L will give out tickets for

lunches. Alice & Carol have baskets for Silent Auction ready to go, they will send thank-you’s to contributors. Still need

to get a couple of ID tags to MG’s & interns.

Community Garden: Willard- all gardens are looking good and water is available on site for the gardeners.

Update of guidelines: Advisory Board Members will read over before next meeting and make suggestions on

contents before official printing.

Garden Walk-Kathy Sanders-total for walk was $815.00. Will need new chair for next year.

New Business:

Tent use by Arb: Decision make to keep for MG events only.

Other: Margo would like to have the dates of Garden Walk and the Plant Sales as soon as possible (Jan.) so there is no

conflict with programs at the Arb. Suggestion make to give out gift bags at Hort at Heartland again nest year.

For the good of the cause: Notice to be put in newsletter that Buzzy’s is place for Christmas party again this year. Meeting

Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Brenda Council, Secretary

Volume 3 Issue 7 Page 3 August 2012

Some of the

best from the

fair...more on

next page...

All About Milkweed When I was growing up, we loved milkweed—because it pro-

duced milk!!! (Kids!!) Now, milkweed plant (Asclepias) are highly prized by gardeners as

the host plants for Monarch butterflies...but milkweed is also a highly sought nectar source

for many other butterfly species! Aside from attracting Monarch butter-

flies for egg-laying, milkweed entices swallowtails, painted ladies,

American ladies, red admirals, fritillaries, and hairstreaks for nectar-

ing. Milkweed also draws hummingbirds and hummingbird clearwing

moths to the garden for nectar. Over 100 species grow in the U.S and

over 200 worldwide!

Swamp milkweed (pictured above) grows 30-40” high and is often seen in moist areas. It

usually blooms—cluster of small pink or white flowers—June through

July.

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is well known to us, as it grows

along roadsides, in fields and in open meadows. Producing sweet-

smelling mauve/pink flowers, it usually matures at 48” high.

Asclepias curassavica, also known as Tropical milkweed or Mexican

milkweed or Bloodflower, is considered an annual growing 30-36”

high. It must be planted in full sun, and is easy to propagate from its

seeds.

Ascepias tuberosa, also called Butterfly Weed, grows 18-24” high and

is a perennial. It must be planted in soil with excellent drainage. As it

emerges later than many other plants in the spring it can be overlooked

or dug up by accident (your editor did this last year!)

The plants were named for Asklepias, Greek god of medicine, Asclepias

produces star-shaped flowers arranged in round or flat clusters called

umbels. Most, but not all, milkweeds produce a milky sap. In late fall,

the seed pods open to disperse their seeds. Each milkweed seed bears a tuft of long, silky

hairs which readily carry the seed great distances.

Volume 3 Issue 7 Page 6 August 2012

. . . and justice for all

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disabil-

ity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative

format for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Wash-

ington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-702-5964.

The Clinton County Fair in pictures!

MASTER GARDENERS SAY “YES!” VOLUNTEER !!!!

Extension Office Landscaping: Willard Larsen willardllarsen@gmail.com 563-249-2476 Eagle Point Nursing Home and Rehabilitation or Community Garden: Willard Larsen OLC/County Fair: Roger Rittmer rogr@iowatelecom.net Bickelhaupt Arboretum: Margo Hansen dir-programs@bick-arb.org Curtis Mansion: Liz Clements 563-243-3254

Volume 3 Issue 7 August 2012

2012 Bickelhaupt Arboretum Calendar August 7 Arts at the Arb. 7 p.m. Ripplers Band. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the out

door performance. Rain date August 9.

August 25 Butterfly Fest, 10-1. Learn about the Monarch butterfly. Programs and dis-

plays. Join in tagging and releasing Monarch butterflies.

September 8 Bus trip: Chicago Botanical Center and Roadside Flower Sale

September 11 Arts at the Arb. 7 p.m. Danika Holmes—Accoustic Pop. Bring a lawn chair

and enjoy the outdoor performance. Rain date September 13

September 15 Saturday at the Arb. 10-11 a.m. Leaf Cast Bird Bath. Deb Monroe will in

struct the class in making a unique leaf cast bird bath. Pre-registration re

quired.

To register for classes or trips please call the Arboretum at 563-242-4771

Bickelhaupt Arboretum and Trees Forever Bus Trip

To

Chicago Botanical Garden

Saturday, Sep-t. 8, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Payment of the $40 per person charge holds your seat on the bus

Lunch on your own at the café next to the gift shop

Dinner stop on the way home

PLUS a roadside flower sale

Make checks payable to Clinton Trees Forever

And send to Bickelhaupt Arboretum, 340 S. 14th St.

Clinton

Dear Editor:

We bought a head of cabbage, some small potatoes and green onions from Jean Morgan yesterday at the Farmer's Market and looked in the Master Gardener's Vegetable Guide for something other than Cole slaw! Tried the steamed cabbage and potatoes (and onions) and instead of the pepperoni we used sliced deer sticks from Allan's fall hunt. REALLY GOOD! A fine service to have this little booklet for your cooks and older ones, as well!

Francie Hill

PS Do I get Education hours for using the Vegetable Guide -- only kidding!

Volume 3 Issue 7 Page 5 August 2012

Your editor needs your help….

Make this YOUR newsletter!!!

Often there is extra space to fill as I must have an even number of pages...if you have pictures

to share, garden stories, thank you’s or requests, send them to me at cmachael@gmail.com.

If you don’t send me things I have to do research!!!!!! Fantastic, as I can get my hours in that

way...but it would be so nice if you could help—and get YOUR hours in too!!!

False Chinch Bug..from ISU Dept. of Entymology

False chinch bugs are not a common pest in Iowa. Outbreaks have been noticed only 3 times in the last 20 years. When out-

breaks do occur, large numbers or “swarms” of these tiny insects are observed in yards, fields, fencerows and gardens. Out-

breaks are associated with dry weather.

False chinch bug nymphs are quite small, 2-3 mm long, and pointed-oval in shape. They appear orangish or reddish brown,

especially on the abdomen. Toward the sides and front of the abdomen are the wing pads that have black tips. The shiny tho-

racic segments are mottled tan and black on top, but with a noticeable white line down the middle of the segments. The head is

black with reddish-brown, beady eyes bulging to the sides. The head comes to a point in front of the eyes, and the slender beak

extends backward from the point along the insect’s underside. The four-segmented antennae are prominent.

The adults are similar in shape and head characteristics and are 3.5 mm long. The front half of the adult appears plain

black. The wings are white to clear and extend slightly beyond the end of the abdomen. Two or three tiny black spots are pre-

sent on each wing on a diagonal line 2/3rds of the way back.

False chinch bug is a “general feeder” that feeds on sap from a variety of host plants, including vegetables, weeds and other

plants. Samples sent to ISU have been from soybean, alfalfa, set-aside acres, fencerows, gardens and lawns. Sap feeding dam-

age by this pest generally appears as wilting and death of the plant leaves. Symptoms may vary greatly among host plants.

This insect has 4 or 5 generations per summer. Eggs are laid on foliage or soil and hatch in 4 days. Nymphs feed and grow for

about 3 weeks before transforming to adults. Populations build in spring and early summer among “weeds and other unculti-

vated plants.” The bugs migrate into crops when the original host plants become less succulent. Winter is spent in both the

adult and nymph stages.

Thresholds for this insect are not known, but in drought-stressed fields and vegetable crops, presence of large populations and

apparent damage might warrant treatment. Insecticide selection would vary with the crop or treatment site.

...and finally it rained!

When the winds stop howling and you can venture outside, what do you see? Are your trees and plants still be there,

a bit tattered but none the worse for wear, or is there utter chaos and unrecognizable twisted remains? Here are some

thoughts about landscape choices you can make so when you go outside after the storm, most of what you clean up

will be from other people's landscapes, not yours!

From the Arbor Day Association: Major storms can inflict severe damage to a

community's tree canopy in a short period of time. But with every storm,

some trees survive with only minor damage. Home and property owners can

take preventative measures long before a storm hits to help their trees grow

stronger and become more resistant to damage.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, there are five suggestions for prun-

ing a tree that will promote the growth of strong branches:

1. Encourage good branch angles. For most deciduous trees, narrow angles

between two branches signal a point of future weakness. A good rule of

thumb is many deciduous trees is to keep the angles at 10 o'clock or 2 o'clock.

2. Encourage strong branch/trunk size relationship. Ideally, lateral branches should be no more than 1/2 to 1/4 the

diameter of the trunk.

3. Maintain a stable center of gravity. The center of gravity for a tree should be over the trunk. Remove branches on

the leaning side and encourage branch growth on the opposite side.

4. Remove rubbing branches, suckers, watersprouts and temporary branches.

5. Don't cut branches back to stubs. Long, natural limbs on a tree are strong and can withstand storm-like condi-

tions. If a branch needs to be removed, cut it back to the main branch or to the tree's trunk.

This tree (pictured) is a Bradford Pear, which has a tendency to break easily in

high wind situations. Sometime in the past, this tree started to crack. You can

see how the wood decaying fungi have weakened the tree to a point where it

could no longer withstand high winds. This tree can be saved for the time be-

ing, but it will not have a very appealing canopy. The wood decaying fungi

will continue to eat away at the tree and it could lose another major limb in

the future. At that point, the tree will have to be cut down.

Ideas for hardier trees

When choosing trees for your landscape, try to select trees that will withstand

some of our more challenging environmental problems. Choose trees with

dense strong wood—generally slower growing trees. Slow growth results in a higher percentage of large vessels and

thicker cell walls. The wood is denser and consequently stronger than faster growing trees. As a result these trees are

better able to withstand the bending stresses associated with wind/ice storms.

Alma Gaul from the Quad City Times listed some good, lesser-known trees to try—winter-hardy, not messy, and

generally free of known diseases or pests. They include Cornelian cherry dogwood, Japanese tree lilac, American

hornbeam, lace bark elm. concolor fir, Japanese zelkova, swamp white oak, and bald cypress.

Here’s an additional list of trees (from another source) with very dense wood: American beech ,American elm ,

Birch, black maple, black walnut , blackgum, blue ash , hawthorn , hackberry, hickory, honey locust , Kentucky cof-

feetree , Oak,. Ohio buckeye, persimmon , sugar maple, sweetgum , sycamore , white ash, and white fringetree.

Iowa State University

Clinton County Extension

400 East 11th Street

DeWitt, Iowa 52742

From ISU Extension, Horticulture and Home Pest News, July 2012

Dormant Lawns

This summer's hot, dry weather has been stressful for trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, fruits, and vegetables. The

hot, dry conditions have also caused Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season grasses to turn brown and go dor-

mant.

Dormancy is a natural survival mechanism for Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season grasses. During extended

dry periods, turfgrass foliage will cease growth and turn brown. While the foliage is dead, the turfgrass crowns and

roots remain alive. Generally, turfgrass can remain dormant for several weeks without suffering significant dam-

age. However, lawns can die in a prolonged drought. To improve the survival odds for dormant lawns, apply (if possi-

ble) one-quarter-inch of water per week. This will not green up the lawn but should keep the turfgrass crowns hy-

dated (alive) until rains eventually fall.

Fertilizing a dormant lawn will not harm it. However, the turfgrass may not receive the full benefit of the fertilizer appli-

cation. In Iowa, spring, mid-September, and late October/early November are the best times to fertilize lawns.

Broadleaf herbicides are most effective when applied to weeds that are actively growing. Because of the dry condi-

tions, most broadleaf weeds are also exhibiting stress symptoms (curled or wilted leaves). Applications of granular or

liquid broadleaf herbicides are likely to be ineffective as most broadleaf weeds are not active growing. In Iowa, mid-

September to early November is the best time to apply a broadleaf herbicide to lawns.

If possible, avoid moderate to heavy foot or vehicular traffic on dormant lawns. Moderate to heavy traffic will likely

damage the turfgrass crowns. Damaged plants may not fully recover when rain returns.

It'’s advisable not to allow lawns established in 2011 and 2012 (either by seed or sod) to go dormant. The root sys-

tems of recently established lawns are not as extensive as older lawns. Newer lawns may not survive dormancy. If

possible, water recently established lawns on a weekly basis. Apply 1 inch of water per week in single application or

one-half inch every 3 to 4 days.