Grow contorted filbert trees/twisted hazelnut trees in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant

hardiness zones 3 through 9 in well-drained, fertile soil. The tree accepts acidic or alkaline soil

and can be planted in full sun or partial shade. The contorted hazelnut tree requires moist

soil. You need to irrigate it frequently after planting and, even after it is established, continue

providing water on a regular basis if the weather is dry.

We tend to not give much thought to a plant’s form when considering a new shrub or tree to invite into our landscapes. Some plants just scream form -- like, conical-shaped plants, weepers, or columnar forms -- and they have their merits. Then, there are the contortionists.

European filbert (Corylus avellana) is a deciduous, multi-trunked suckering shrub. If you’re a hazelnut fan, this is the plant that produces those. However, in American gardens, cultivars are most often planted. The most popular is ‘Contorta’ or Harry Lauder’s walkingstick.

This contorted form was discovered in the 1800s in an English hedgerow. Its common name was given in honor of the Scottish entertainer Harry Lauder.

The European filbert, needless to say, is not native to the US. American filbert (Corylus americana) is our native, but, so far, doesn’t have the star power that Harry Lauder does.

The form of contorted filbert is a beautiful sight. It grows in full to part sun; mature height is usually about 8-10 feet high and wide. Some specimens have grown to 15 feet.

It probably shines its brightest in the winter and early spring. In the winter, the twisted and

spiraling branches can be clearly seen. In winter and early spring, male flower (catkins) are also very distinctive and add to the shrub’s

SpectacularContorted Filbert

By Beth WilsonAgent for Horticulture,

Pulaski Co. Cooperative Extension

www.uky.edu/hort

Continued on Page 2

March - April

2019

You will need to keep any suckers in check as they are coming from a rootstock that is different

than the ‘Contorta’ variety and will not have the characteristic corkscrew branches. There will

not be much pruning required otherwise unless it’s maintenance like clearing parts away from

a sidewalk or removing branches that are dead, diseased or damaged.

appeal. Female flowers are fairly inconspicuous. Even the leaves are somewhat contorted.

This contorted cultivar is often grafted. The understock (not contorted) will sucker and these should be removed. If possible, buy plants that are grown on their own roots.

Japanese beetles do enjoy skeletonizing the leaves. No other pests have been noted.

This cultivar will not produce nuts as a rule, but it’s not unheard of. Properly sited where the stems and catkins can be appreciated, contorted filbert is a winner.

2TreesCont.

SpectacularContorted Filbert

By Beth WilsonAgent for Horticulture,

Pulaski Co. Cooperative Extension Continued

Yellow nutsedge is very difficult to control and sticks out like a sore thumb in well maintained turf areas. It is not a broadleaf weed or a grassy weed, but a sedge, and requires specific control measures.

Yellow nutsedge grows in full sun and prefers moist areas of lawns.

The leaves are light green to yellowish in color, wide (up to 1/2”) with a thick mid-vein and a very waxy covering. I find the easiest way to distinguish yellow nutsedge from grasses is the triangular shape of the stem. Roll the stem of the plant in your fingers; you should be able to feel the three sides of the triangle. Flowers of yellow nutsedge are a yellowish-brown color and look like a series of spikes.

Yellow nutsedge has a shallow root system that produces rhizomes and tubers. Rhizomes (underground stems) allow the plant to spread over an area producing “daughter plants” and forming a mass of nutsedge. The nut-like tubers that also develop serve as underground storage organs (think bulb). Each tuber can produce a new plant. During a good growing season each plant can produce up to 7,000 tubers. Also, the flowers of yellow nutsedge can produce seed. When you introduce soil into your landscape either as topsoil or from containers of trees or perennials the tubers and seed are in the soil.

In a lawn situation, a healthy, dense, vigorous stand of turf can compete with yellow nutsedge. This is achieved by mowing at the proper height, providing fertilizer in the right season and adjusting the pH as indicated by a soil test. When this is done correctly only a few weeds may be present, in which case, hand pulling will be the best way to eradicate this pest.

When large patches of nutsedge are present, treatment with a post-emergence herbicide may be the only option. Homeowners have three products available that will

YellowNutsedgeis a Troublesome

Weed By Kelly Jackson

Agent for Horticulture, Christian Co. Cooperative Extension

Lawncare 3

Be patient. Two to three years of control using herbicides will be needed to reduce viable tubers in the soil. Herbicide applications will injure growing yellow nutsedge plants and help prevent more tubers from forming, but herbicide applications will not control tubers that are viable in the soil but have not yet produced plants.

control yellow nutsedge in lawns. Look for new sedges in late spring/early summer and spray when they are discovered. Herbicides are most effective on young, actively growing plants. Products available for control include:

1. MSMA (methane arsonate)

2. Basagran T/O; Sedge Hammer (bentazon)

3. Manage (halosulfuon)

Pests 4

Found only in North America, the luna moth starts out as

a very hungry caterpillar. Newly hatched, this caterpillar

constantly munches on the leaves of trees such as walnut,

hickory, sweet gum, and paper birch. After about a

month of filling up on these plants, the caterpillar builds

a cocoon. The insect lives inside for about three weeks,

then emerges as a moth.

One of my favorite insects is the Luna Moth. One day last year I had the joy of seeing one on the brick of my home right beside my front door. It actually stayed there resting for a day or two, and then it was gone. Luna moths are usually a rare sight to see. They spend the majority of their time in forests, and are active at night adding to their elusiveness. Another aspect that adds to their elusiveness is their life cycle. The adult stage of a Luna Moth lasts for about a week. During this time they do not eat, because they do not have a proboscis (mouthpart). Luna moths lay their eggs on broadleaf host plants such as walnuts, hickories, sumacs, sweet gum, and persimmons. They can be found within a large range in the United States. They are located as far north as Maine and North Dakota, and as far south as Florida and Texas. They have differing numbers of generations within this range. Here in Kentucky we usually have about two generations each year. The larva will feed for about a month, then create a cocoon while wrapping itself in leaves. When adults emerge from their pupa, they are strongly attracted to light sources. This may result in low populations in urban areas, due to the moths going to the lights instead of mating. If the female has mated, she will begin to lay eggs the next evening after, and continue for several nights. Luna moths have a lot of predators to watch out for. They are a host for parasitoids, and are a food source for bats, owls, etc. As caterpillars, they do have a defense. When threatened they will make a clicking sound to warn predators before they regurgitate distasteful fluids, which may cause predators to think twice. As adults their twisted tails may interfere with echolocation of bats.

Without a doubt, the Luna Moth is one of the most beautiful members of the family Saturniidae. The next time you see one take a moment to admire it, because sadly you will not have much time to view its beauty.

The LunaMoth

By Kara BackAgent for Horticulture, Taylor Co. Cooperative Extension

A garden plan helps you grow the greatest amount of produce with the least amount of effort. Grow only those vegetables that your family will eat. A well planned and properly kept garden should produce 600 to 700 pounds of produce per 1000 square feet and may include many different crops. Your garden site should provide a sunny exposure, adequate moisture and fertile soil.

5What is theDifference between

Cool Season and Warm Season Vegetables

By Amanda SearsHorticulture Agent for

Madison Co. Cooperative Extension

Cool season plants grow best with a relatively cool air temperature (50 to 60F). These plants are the first ones to be planted in the garden year and then again in the fall. They grow well during the short and cool days of spring and fall. They can be planted several weeks up to a couple of months before the last frost date (around May 10th). Plant cool season crops as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. If planted too late in spring, the heat of summer will reduce their quality. They may become bitter, have lower yields or bolt (form flowers and go to seed). Light frost will not injure them.

Many cool season crops can be sown in early spring and again in fall. For fall planting, they must be planted early enough to reach maturity before winter weather, although there are a few winter hardy vegetables. Some of the best quality vegetables are produced during fall’s warm days and cool nights. Plants grown in the fall have a higher sugar content and better flavor.

Examples of cool season vegetables include asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chives, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Swiss chard, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips.

Warm season vegetables should be planted after the threat of frost of has passed. These plants require warm soils and air temperature for growth and fruiting. They grow best with long warm days and mild nights.

The growing season in our area is too short to allow for some warm season crops to be directly seeded

in the garden. For example, if you plant a tomato seed, it will take 60-80 days to reach maturity depending on the variety. To be able to get tomatoes earlier in the season they are started indoors and then transplanted to the garden once the danger of frost has passed.

Examples of warm season vegetables include beans, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, zucchini and summer squash, pumpkin and winter squash, sweet potato and watermelon.

Fruits &Veggies

As far as gardens are concerned, these are the two basic kinds of flowering plants. Annuals go through their whole life cycle in one growing season: sprouting from a seed, growing leaves and roots, producing flowers, creating seeds and then dying. Perennials are plants whose root systems stay alive underground for several years or even decades. The part above the soil may go dormant and die back in winter, but the plant is still alive and will sprout again in spring.

6FlowersWhat McCrackenCounty Extension

Learned fromBedding Plant Trials in 2018

By Kathryn Wimberley Horticulture Agent for

McCracken Co. Cooperative Extension

In 2018, 20 varieties from several genera of bedding plants were grown as trial gardens in fifteen counties across the Commonwealth. In McCracken County, these were planted in raised-beds and rated all through the growing season. These plants were purchased in April and planted after the last danger of frost had passed, in early May of 2018.

The planting method used pro-mix potting soil and 20-20-20 pelletized-slow-release fertilizer. Granules were placed in the planting hole to be just below the root zone of the 6-pack flowers. When watered and fertilized properly and planted in mass in a 3 by 3 foot block on wooden pallets the plants mentioned here were beautiful all growing season. No deadheading or cutting back of plants were necessary.

A favorite all season was the Petchoa hybrid Supercal® ‘Crimson Red’. This x Petchoa from the Supercal® series displayed outstanding growth habit and abundant blooms from May to October. Flowers were crimson red and did not require dead-heading to repeat bloom. Plants flourished and were a true bargain for the cost of the materials used.

Solenostemon scutellarioides Wildfire™ ‘Smokey Rose’ coleus was an excellent performer. We rated this each month and it was a superior performer from May to October’s killing frost. Coleus is mostly grown for its foliage. Flowers on most all coleus are insignificant and may be removed or kept for pollinators. We did the latter. Bees frequented the flower spikes on sunny days. ‘Smokey Rose’ appealing color came from deeply-lobed leaves sporting maroon margins

and a hot-pink center. From our experience this is a dependable plant: free of disease and pest pressure.

Other top performers in 2018 State-wide Trial Gardens were as listed:

Verbena x hybrida Superbena ® ‘Stormburst’ Verbena

Lantana camara Havana ® ‘Red Sky’ Lantana

Scaevola aemula Scalora® ‘Pink Pearl’ Fan Flower

Cuphea hybrid Floriglory® ‘Diana’ Mexican Heather

Impatiens x hybrid SunPatiens® ‘Compact Purple’ Impatiens

Calibrachoa hybrid Bloomtastic ‘Serenity’ Million Bells

Coleus WILDFIRE™ ‘Smoky Rose’

Upcoming Events 7 Upcoming

Horticulture Events

APRILApril 1Carnivorous Plants270-821-3650Hopkins County Extension Office (Madisonville) April 1Tree Selection and Care Part 1859-356-3155Kenton County Extension Office (Covington) April 4Totally Tomatoes606-679-6361Pulaski Co Extension Office (Somerset) April 6Bee School502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville) April 8Tree Selection and Care Part 2859-356-3155Kenton County Extension Office (Covington) April 8Beekeeping D to Z, Session 4 of 4606-679-6361Pulaski Co Extension Office (Somerset)

April 9Raised Bed Gardening at Bon Air Library502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville) April 12-13Earth Day Garden Seed Give-a-way859-356-3155Kenton County Extension Office (Covington) April 12-13Garden and Outdoor Living EXPO270-886-6328Christian County Extension Office (Hopkinsville)

April 16Succulent SurvivalMarshall Master GardenerLibrary Series270-527-3285Marshall County Extension Office (MCPL at Hardin) April 17Growing Class Series: Peppers270-821-3650Hopkins County Extension Office (Madisonville)

April 18Succulent SurvivalMarshall Master GardenerLibrary Series270-527-3285Marshall County Extension Office (MCPL at Calvert City)

April 18Raptors Alive!859-356-3155Kenton County Extension Office (Covington) April 18Luffa Gourds: Expensive to Buy, Easy to Grow606-679-6361Pulaski Co Extension Office (Somerset) April 23Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs at Middletown Library502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville) April 24Beginning with Native Plants at Louisville Nature Center502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville) April 27Pennyroyal Master Gardeners 7th Annual Lawn and Garden Fair270-821-3650Hopkins County Extension Office (Madisonville)

MAYMay 2Pawpaw Trees859-356-3155Kenton County Extension Office (Covington)

Upcoming Events Cont. 8 Upcoming

Horticulture Events

May 11Seed Swap at the How-To Festival502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville) May 13Community Garden Council Meeting502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville) May 14Garden Disease Control at Bon Air Library502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville)

May 15Growing Class Series: Cucumbers270-821-3650Hopkins County Extension Office (Madisonville) May 18How to Build an Off-Grid Drip Irrigation System502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville) May 20Container Gardening Workshop270-821-3650Hopkins County Extension Office (Madisonville)

May 21Key to Growing Big Beautiful RosesMarshall Master GardenerLibrary Series270-527-3285Marshall County Extension Office (MCPL at Hardin)

May 23Key to Growing Big Beautiful RosesMarshall Master GardenerLibrary Series270-527-3285Marshall County Extension Office (MCPL at Calvert City)

May 26Container and Small Space Gardening at Middletown Library502-569-2344Jefferson County Extension Office (Louisville)

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