Grant Money Available for Community Gardens with Pollinator Emphasis

Bees, butterflies and other pollinators need more habitat and you can help by planting blooms to attract and feed these unsung heroes. For generations, we've enjoyed helping gardeners create their own vibrant outdoors spaces and we believe by working together now we can protect pollinators in

need of food and shelter. It's our promise to lend a hand as you plant your own pollinator garden, apply for a community pollinator grant or support a pollinator organization.

The Scotts MiracleGro Company GRO1000 showcase grant awards is providing funding and education resources to help establish and enhance pollinator gardens.  Non-profit, tax-exempt public organizations are encouraged to apply for up to $1500 in funding for community gardens and greenspaces.  The application period is January 1 - February 19, 2016.  Award recipients will be announced in April.

Goals of the program include:
• Creating positive community influence and impact
• Involving area youth
• Promoting health and wellness
• Donating harvest yields
• Committing to sustaining or growing the project

Click here for more information.

Prolong the Life of Your Holiday Poinsettia

The poinsettia, the most popular holiday plant, is best known as the plant with bright red flowers on a green background. But the showiest part of the poinsettia is the group of colorful specialized leaves called floral bracts that surround the small, yellowish-green structures that are the true flowers. Red is still the most popular color, but bracts may also be pink, salmon-colored, yellow, white or multicolor.

The long-lasting nature of today's poinsettias can only be enjoyed if they receive the proper care in your home. The best way to extend their beauty is to match, as closely as possible, the conditions in which they were produced. Poinsettias are raised in greenhouses where temperatures can be maintained between 65 -75 F with high relative humidity and high light intensity.

These conditions will be difficult, if not impossible, to match in the home. Natural light intensity tends to be quite low and of shorter duration in the winter. And as we heat the air indoors, the air becomes drier so that relative humidity often drops below the level of plant and people comfort.
Make the most of the situation by placing your plant near a sunny window, but do not allow the foliage or flowers to contact cold window glass. Artificial light may be needed for extended growing periods. A humidifier will increase both plant and people comfort. Grouping plants together on a pebble tray will help raise humidity around the plants themselves. Both hot and cold drafts can cause leaf drop, so avoid placing plants near doors or heating vents.

Both under- and over-watering can decrease the life of your plant. Plants that are allowed to wilt will begin to brown along the edges of the leaves and floral bracts or may drop leaves entirely. Watering too often will prevent proper aeration of the soil, and roots will begin to decay. Poinsettias should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. If your pot was wrapped in foil, be sure to poke a few holes through the bottom to allow excess water to drain away. And if you're giving a poinsettia as a gift, be sure to protect it from frigid outdoor temperatures during transport. If you make your purchase from a florist or other supplier, be sure they wrap your purchase. Get the plant from the store to your car as quickly as possible. Preheat the car beforehand to prevent further chilling injury. Plants left in an unheated car can be injured or killed quickly, so drop the plants off at home before running other errands.

The poinsettia is sometimes misleadingly listed as a poisonous plant, though it is not particularly toxic. Some people and pets may be sensitive to the plant's milky sap, resulting in skin irritation when skin is in contact with that sap. It is always best to keep plants out of the reach of children and pets.

Click here for more information on Poinsettia Care.

Written by: B. Rosie Lerner - Purdue Extension Specialist, Consumer Horticulture

Not all Firewood Heats Equally

Heating costs seem to rise each year with the ever-increasing demand on our nations' energy sources. Many have found wood is an excellent asset in offsetting yearly heating costs. With wood being a renewable fuel source a glowing fire can be a practical complement to any central heating system and can go a long way toward aiding the pocketbook.   The EPA has found wood burned for home heating is a leading cause of air pollution in many cities. Wood stoves sold after July 1, 1988 must meet certain air quality standards.

Certain species of wood produce more heat than others. The heat a log produces depends on the density, moisture content, resin and ash in the wood.   Below are Indiana trees that have high heat production values.   

      Ash, Apple, Black Locust, American Hornbeam, Dogwood, Hickory, Hophornbeam, Hackberry, Mulberry, Oak, and Osage Orange.   

Indiana woodland owners have an excellent source of firewood on their own properties. Not only is the heat source provided, but also the quality of the woods can be upgraded with the removal of more undesirable trees for firewood. Undesirable trees are those that are poorly formed, diseased, or damaged.  

For those with no access to a woods, there are many other means of obtaining firewood. Most firewood is sold by the cord. A standard cord is a stack of wood 4 x 4 x 8 feet.  Wood is also often available as industrial wood scraps. There are several sawmills in Indiana, and some mills offer slabs, edgings and trimmings for firewood. 

Most wood species will not burn readily if they have been freshly cut, so the wood should be reasonably seasoned. Wood should also be purchased months prior to use. Proper wood size, well-seasoned wood and a mixture of various kinds of wood will enhance the enjoyment of your fireplace or wood stove.

Purdue Extension has several publications on heating with firewood. Check out these publications for more information.  Residential Wood Stove Installation and Wood for Home Heating.  

Winter Protection for Young Thin Barked Landscape Trees

Prevent bark splitting of young and thin-barked trees, such as fruit and maple trees. Wrap trunks with light colored tree wrap, or paint them with white latex (not oil-based) paint, particularly on the south- and southwest-facing sides.

Protect shrubs such as junipers and arborvitae from extensive snow loads by tying their stems together with twine. Carefully remove heavy snow loads with a broom to prevent limb breakage.

Protect broadleaves, evergreens or other tender landscape plants from excessive drying (desiccation) by winter sun and wind. Canvas, burlap or polyethylene plastic screens to the south and west protect the plants. Similarly, shield plants from salt spray on the street side.

Provide winter protection for roses by mounding soil approximately 12 inches high to insulate the graft union after plants are dormant and temperatures are cold. Additional organic mulch such as straw compost or chopped leaves can be placed on top.

By B. Rosie Lerner
Purdue Extension  - Consumer Horticulturist

DNR Urban Wildlife Habitat Cost Share Assistance Available

Calling all property owners and managers— a new DNR program is providing financial assistance for creation of wildlife habitat, specifically pollinator habitat, on urban lands In Hamilton County. Individual properties, HOA common areas, and more are eligible for this funding immediately. These funds can combine with SWCD cost share funds for even more assistance for your project. Whether you’ve received cost share assistance through the SWCD in the past or are starting a new project, contact the SWCD to learn more about the assistance and financial resources available. These DNR funds are time sensitive so do not wait!

Project examples:
 Warm or cool season native grass establishment
 Grain or legume food plots
 Tree/shrub establishment
 Woodland edge feathering, fencerow rehab, etc.
 Interseeding forbs
 Native pollinator habitat and native shrubs

For more information contact Claire Lane, Backyard Conservation Coordinator with Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District.  

All-America Selections Introduces Nine Exciting Winners for the 2016 Garden Season

Did you know that Hamilton County Master Gardeners receive and maintain a display garden of each years winning annual and perennial plants in the All-American Selections (AAS) program. The garden is located at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds, outside the Winks building. Make a note to stop by next summer when these new varieties are at their peak.

This month the All-American Selections announced that nine new plants that have been trialed by horticulture experts throughout North America and deemed worthy of the All-America Selections® brand.

All of the following new varieties were trialed during the 2015 growing season and exhibited outstanding garden performance as noted in each of the following descriptions.

This grouping of AAS Winners for 2016 includes:  Look here for more information.
Geranium Brocade Cherry Night (National)
Geranium Brocade Fire (National)
Pepper Cornito Giallo F1 (National)
Pepper Escamillo F1 (National)
Pumpkin Super Moon F1 (Regional: Southeast and Great Lakes)
Salvia Summer Jewel™ Lavender (Regional: Southeast, Heartland, Great Lakes)
Strawberry Delizz® F1 (National)
Tomato Candyland Red (National)
Tomato Chef’s Choice Green F1 (National)

B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Specialist in Consumer Horticulture recently focused a news article describing the first ever AAS strawberry variety.  This latest annual strawberry variety boasts fruit production for up to 4 weeks on compact plants that do well in planters or small beds.  For additional information see her full article here.  
Photo credit to All-American Selections

State climate office: Mild and dry weather expected initially this winter in Indiana

Indiana likely will be mild and dry early this winter and then return to more normal weather later in the season, the Indiana State Climate Office says.

The outlook will be seen as comforting to those who don't like cold and snow. The two previous winters in Indiana for the most part were cold - at times brutally so - and included heavy snowstorms.

Yet climatologists caution that this does not mean Indiana won't have blustery cold snowstorms that blow through the region during the peak of the winter months.

Winter weather in the Midwest is often driven by combinations of global weather patterns, known as oscillations. One oscillation may have more influence over all others in determining what any winter season turns out to be like in Indiana.

Click here for the full article provided Ag Answers

Fall needle drop... should you be concerned?

Fall is here and Hamilton County landscapes are colorfully painted with a variety of fall colors as the plants naturally begin shedding their leaves as winter rushes in. This time of the year, my phone rings frequently with calls from concerned homeowners worried about evergreens yellowing and dropping an abundance of needles. I always ask one very important question to help the caller determine the cause of the needle drop.

Where are the affected needles located? If normal fall needle drop is the cause for concern, then needles will be turning yellow on the inside of the tree, and the needles farthest out on the branches remain green. Natural needle drop is a normal process and does not harm the health of the tree.

All trees species will drop leaves or needles at one time or another. Evergreen needles have varying life spans, depending on the species. White pine needles live for 2 years while other pines have needles that persist 2-6 years, depending on species. Spruce needles live 3-10 years. Some species of evergreens have a more noticeable leaf drop than others, shedding many needles all at once, while others shed a little at a time such that it is hardly noticed. White pine and arborvitae have very dramatic annual shed which can be quite alarming if you don't realize that it's perfectly normal.

I would like to mention that the last few months have been very dry in our county, drought may increase needle drop but this, in itself, does not harm the tree. On years where we experience high stress and temperature extremes, evergreens can decline and reach an eventual death.  For more information see this publication about drought stressed plants.

Excerpts taken from the following online publication:
Normal Needle Drop: Even Healthy Evergreens are NOT Evergreen
Gail Ruhl, Sr. Plant Disease Diagnostician and Rosie Lerner, Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist

Purdue Univeristy

Start Composting This Fall!

Now that we are winding down the garden season, consider starting a compost bin in a corner of your property and produce your own compost with those trimmings from fall garden clean-up.  Compost is rich soil that you can make from yard and kitchen wastes in a matter of weeks or months. It’s fun and it makes use of wastes that would otherwise go into our landfill needlessly.

Compost bins can be small, you don't need a huge area to produce nice rich soil. The minimum size for a composting unit is 4 feet high, wide and long.  It is easy to make your own unit from inexpensive materials such as wooden pallets, stakes and chicken wire or you can purchase a contained unit from multiple sources locally or online.

Compost is made up of a mixture of ‘green’ or nitrogen containing material and ‘brown’ or carbon containing material. Examples of nitrogen products include kitchen waste, grass clippings, and coffee grounds.  Preferred carbon additions include dried leaves, small twigs, and newspaper.  The key to a healthy compost pile is to keep a balanced mixture of the two; it is best to start with a 30-1 carbon to nitrogen ratio, but watch your pile closely and make any needed adjustments to this ratio.  A carbon ratio that is too high will cause the compost to break down slowly and a high nitrogen ratio can cause odors.

Much of your kitchen waste such as fruit peels, vegetable waste, and egg shells can be composted,. Although all food waste can technically be composted, it is recommended that some kitchen waste not be added to your pile because it breaks down very slowly and attracts unwanted pests. Stay away from adding meat and dairy products as well as foods high in oils like peanut butter.  Pet feces and kitty litter should not be added because it may transmit disease.

Less experienced composters should avoid materials heavily infested with weed seeds, insects, and disease organisms. Although a properly managed compost pile can generate enough heat in the center to kill most of these pests, producing uniform heat may be difficult, particularly in a small compost pile.

Start with a base of brown material, and alternate layers of green and brown as you add to the pile. The smaller the particles in the compost heap, the faster the process will go. Chopping or shredding the wastes you put into the compost heap will also help speed the process. Water is also needed for uniform heating of the compost pile. Apply water as needed if rainfall is lacking. Compost with appropriate moisture content should resemble that of a moistened sponge that has the excess water squeezed out.

When added to the garden, compost conditions existing soils with needed nutrients so that plants grow healthier. Mix finished compost into soil next spring when preparing for planting. For more information on home composting click here.

Water Now to Minimize Winter Injury - Purdue Yard and Garden News

Check out this great article from B. Rosie Lerner, Purdue Extension Specialist, regarding the need to continue to care for landscape and garden plants which will help them better prepare for the oncoming winter.

Purdue Yard and Garden

Spring Flowering Bulbs - Planting Starts Now

Consider planting those spring-flowering bulbs to accent your perennial and shrubs beds sometime in the next two weeks. For Central Indiana, I generally recommend homeowners to have their bulbs planted around early October to ensure they will have enough time for root development before winter. As long as the soil temperatures are above 40 degrees F, the bulbs should continue their root growth.

Flowering bulbs will tolerate may types of soil but they will not survive long in poorly drained soils, therefore be sure to amend clay soils with organic matter to promote good drainage. Soil pH is also critical! The pH of the planting area should be in the 6-7 range. See below for additional tips on planting bulbs this fall.

Flowering Bulbs Publication

Goldenrod - A Native Treasure to any Garden

Be careful to not confuse one of the many native varieties of fall blooming goldenrods as the cause of your hay fever this time of year. Your sneezing is likely caused by giant ragweed, which also blooms around the same time. In Indiana, we predominantly find Canada, Missouri, and Giant goldenrod growing naturally in ditches, along roadsides, and in meadows. As the name suggests, goldenrods are often recognized by the showy yellow inflorescence. Click this link below to read more about the value of goldenrod to insects in this article written by Tom Turpin, Professor of Entomology, Purdue University. On Six Legs - Goldenrod

Farmers' Almanac Reminder: Fall 2015 Arrives Today!

It hard for me to believe that winter is officially around the corner. June's summer solstice was the longest day of the year and today September 23rd is the official start of fall also known as the autumnal equinox, when the sun passes directly over Earth’s equator. Check out this article from the Farmers' Almanac for more information.   Fall 2015 Arrives This Week!

Purdue Yard and Garden - October 2015

Each Month Purdue Consumer Horticulture Specialist Rosie Lerner shares a to-do calendar to remind home gardeners of important tasks to complete for the upcoming month.  This information is focused for both beginning and advanced gardeners.  Check out the new calendar for October by clicking this link below.

Purdue Yard and Garden

Consider Having Your Well Water Tested

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Office of Water Quality (OWQ) is offering eligible residential well owners the opportunity to have their water tested as part of the statewide Ground Water Monitoring Network.  They are seeking eligible well owners in all 92 counties in Indiana to take part in this program. All tests will be conducted free of charge for the chosen well owners across the state. If you are or you know someone that may be are interested, click here for more information.

How to Make Cicadas Shut Up

Check out this entertaining article about those noisy cicadas in Indiana.  I would be surprised if you have not heard them making the shrill mating and congregation calls of the adults the past few months. Two groups of cicadas, (periodical and annual) occur in Indiana and they are primarily nuisance pests, but some real cicada damage occurs as a result of these insects killing small tree branches and twigs when they lay their eggs.

Click here to read the full article by Timothy J. Gibb, Extension Entomology, Purdue University.

News Release: Poultry Movement Ban Lifts September 17

Indiana poultry can resume regular movements to shows and sales beginning September 17.

Beginning on that date, poultry movements that include a change in ownership must be documented to allow easier disease traces. 

Movement of poultry that allowed birds from different locations to commingle was banned earlier this year to protect Indiana’s poultry from potential spread of the H5 avian influenza virus. That meant many county fairs offered alternative activities to poultry shows.

“We appreciate the cooperation from bird owners and exhibitors during the past few months,” said Dr. Bret D. Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian. “The sacrifices made during this unprecedented disease event have not gone unnoticed. The Board of Animal Health continues to be committed to protecting the health of the birds in the state.”

September 17 marks 90 days since the last case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was identified in the United States. The members of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) voted to lift the ban to allow normal movements to resume with the additional recordkeeping to provide a way to trace any disease breaks, should HPAI return to Indiana.

Beginning September 17, bird owners are required to maintain records of sales and purchases (including trades/barters) to their flocks. This requirement brings poultry permanently under Indiana’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule.

The records need to be retained by the flock owner for 3 years and must include: names and addresses of buyer and seller, sale date, breed, sex, number of animals and reason for movement. Poultry species DO NOT have to be individually identified. But, if the birds do have identification such as a band, the identification needs to be noted in the poultry movement records. BOAH veterinarians may request the records in a disease investigation. These records must be kept, not provided to BOAH unless needed.

For more information about the record keeping requirement, including a free printable/downloadable sample record keeping sheet, visit the BOAH website at: www.in.gov/boah/2727. 

Nationally, the 2015 highly pathogenic avian flu event has affected 223 farms in 16 states with a loss of 48 million birds. For more information on HPAI, visit BOAH’s website at: www.in.gov/boah/2390. 

This news release was written by; 

Denise Derrer

Public Information Director

Indiana State Board of Animal Health 

Your Browning Lawn - To Water or Not?

Meander through any Hamilton County neighborhood today to take note of the varying degree of browning of the non-irrigated lawns. We can speculate why some lawns have fared better than others (higher mowing heights, proper seasonal fertilization, better soil conditions, etc.) but exact reasons remain unclear. One major factor affecting that effects lawn survival during extended dry periods is supplemental irrigation or rainfall in your area. Lets look at how a homeowner knows it is time to take the next step and irrigate their lawn to prevent permanent damage from these dog days of summer.

Most lawns in our region primarily contain cool-season grasses that grow best when the air temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees F. Well cared for mature grasses can tolerate extended dry periods. When these dry periods are coupled with higher temperatures, there can be additional physiological stresses which can be irreversible.

Water should be applied only when lawns show signs of moisture stress. During this time, one may notice a bluish gray tint to blades; footprints that remain some time after walking; and wilted or curled leaves are indications that it is time to water. At this point a delay in watering can result in permanent damage unless you have decided to allow the lawn to go dormant.

Established lawns should be irrigated with 1 inch of water every week to ten days to keep it growing actively. I prefer early morning watering because it reduces the risk of disease, water loss through evaporation, and improper water distribution. If you decide to allow your lawn to go dormant, irrigate every two weeks with 1/2 inch of water.  This strategy allows the turf to go dormant but will keep the plant crowns hydrated during drought. If you need some help determining whether your lawn is dead or has transitioned into dormancy, click here for a good article with pictures to help your decision.  

Exerts taken from the following Extension Publications.  Click links below for more information. 

Purdue Turf Program: Summer Drought Info

Home Lawns During Drought

Tar Spot on Maple

This week I have had numerous calls about black tar-like spots on maple trees throughout Hamilton County. The spots are not truly tar, they are in fact fungal leaf spots that are becoming noticeable that likely started forming after the rainy start we had earlier this summer.

Tar spots on maples are caused by fungi in the genus Rhytisma. Although tar spot disease may cause premature defoliation of leaves, seldom are they detrimental to the overall health of infected trees. Tar spot diseases are best managed by raking and destroying fallen leaves since the fungi overwinter on leaves.

There are a few other common foliage leaf infections found on maples, click here to read more about these diseases.

Annual Native Tree Sale

Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District is currently taking orders for their  annual tree sale. The organization is offering over 30 varieties of native trees and shrubs to enhance your landscape. Their website also offers an abundance of resources to help you decide with plant is right for your individual situation. For more information, click here for the 2015 Native Tree Sale website. All orders and payments must be received by Thursday September 3rd.

Weather Extremes Can be Tough on Landscape Plants

If for no other reason than usual weather, 2015 will go down in the history books as a year to remember. We have experienced abnormal rains and extended dry periods within a few months. Over the past few weeks, Hamilton County homeowners have been calling the Purdue Extension office about stress symptoms on oak, maple, and other tree species. Some of the samples received include leaf scorch - the browning of leaves - branch die back and premature defoliation.

Click here to read the full article from Purdue University.