Shirley D Smith

Somervell County Master Gardener

 

 

Have you ever heard the word “microclimate” and wondered just exactly what is that?  You may have some vague idea but just have not taken the time to do the research to find out exactly what it means.  I accidentally found my microclimate at my house, and it has been a great place to protect some of my plants this winter.

Here is a really simple definition I found:

A microclimate is the local climate difference of a small area within the surrounding area and can offer different growing conditions in the larger USDA Hardiness Zone.  The conditions of microclimates are determined by plant orientation and exposure to heat, light, water, and wind.

Because of lack of space, I could not move all of my potted outdoor plants into my garage for the winter.  There is an area just outside my kitchen dining area that gets the west sun and always seems to be warm or hot, depending on the season.  It is also right next to the outside wall of the house so it is protected from the wind and absorbs lots of winter sun. As an experiment, I tried placing in that area 3 geraniums (that bloomed), a mountain laurel I am growing from seed, a spider plant, a color guard yuccca, and 1 chrysanthemum.  They were doing great.  When the forecast arrived that “snowmeggedon” was headed our way I made room and moved them into my garage.  They are now back into my microclimate and doing well.

Since doing research for this article, I am now looking at my property with an eye to crating spaces that might grow plants I would not have otherwise tried.  I have a large stand of oaks near my home and that would be a great place for hostas and other shade-loving plants.  Do you have an area that is moist a lot of the time?  Think about a water garden or a bog garden there.  The south side of your house gets lots of winter sun so it might be a great place to put more tender seedlings until ready to put in your veggie garden.

I have a desert garden that gets the full hot summer sun.  Because I have put only plants there that are sun and heat-loving, they do well.  Being a successful gardener takes thought and planning  and a lot of just plain old luck sometimes!

Happy gardening.

Allow me to let you in on a little Master Gardener Secret: We like to call “dirt” by a different name.  Master Gardeners say “soil.”  When I was doing my Master Gardener internship, anytime I accidentally spoke the word dirt I would be quickly reminded we don’t grow plants in dirt we grow our gardens in soil.  I would find myself saying things like, “My diiiir… um soil is full of limestone.”  Truly, this wording upgrade was the highest learning curve I faced in becoming a Master Gardener.

By now I hope you have realized I’m exaggerating a bit and speaking a little tongue in cheek.  The Somervell County Master Gardeners do like to have fun with each other, and gentle teasing is often a part of the fun. MG interns are not spared from quickly becoming part of the groups’ playfulness.

Actually, there is a reason behind this unofficial wording.  Soil is comprised of water, air, minerals, and organic matter.  Soil is a living breathing, fascinating thing.  Get your soil right, and everything else will follow.

February is a great month to get out and start checking in with your garden soil.  Take your gloves off and dig in with your fingers.  Crumble and sift it. Really look at it.  Put it up to your nose and take a whiff!  Whatever you chose to call it, close observation of your soil an important part of gardening.

Have I piqued your interest in Master Gardener craziness, fun, and the wonderful world of soil?  Take a look below for information on the upcoming Master Gardener training.  Deciding to join this wacky, wonderful, smart, and good looking group has been one of my better decisions.  We would love to have you join us!

Georgette Recker

Somervell County Master Gardener

 

 

Gardening……..ahhh, to dig in the dirt, watch little seedlings sprout and grow into beautiful flowers, plants, vegetables or trees. Nothing can be more satisfying! Is this something that appeals to you? Have you been bitten by the gardening bug and are just not sure where to start? Or, maybe you already garden quite successfully and want to learn more? Maybe you just love to play in the dirt and want more playmates? Whatever the reason, maybe it is time to start thinking about becoming a Somervell County Master Gardener!

Just what is a Master Gardener? Master Gardeners are a dedicated group of ordinary folks who simply have a passion for gardening, desire to further their own knowledge, and wish to further good horticulture practices within our own community. They are volunteers sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Service.

To become a Certified Texas Master Gardener, one must complete the training classes and perform additional volunteer hours. By taking the training classes, you will learn not only how to plant things, but also how to keep them healthy. You will also learn to identify and prevent diseases, and how to recognize harmful, as well as beneficial insects. By the end of the class, you will have a variety of tools to help problem-solve gardening issues on your own property, as well as to help friends and members of the community. All along the way you will be mentored by seasoned Master Gardeners!

The next tri-county training is scheduled for March 2021. Classes will be either in person or virtual, typically scheduled from 9am-4pm and will be held on most Tuesdays beginning in April, running through early June. In person classes will be either in Hood, Somervell or Johnson counties or online. Cost of training has not yet been set but will include the new full color Master Gardener Handbook, access to all training, online and in person and all field trip fees.

For more information and to register, please contact Janna or Jordan at the Somervell County Extension Office at 254-897-2809. Don’t wait as class size is limited!

The news is Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, saw his shadow, and we will have 6 more weeks of winter.  I’m not sure about you, but I believe in that little rodent!  Although in February we are fortunate enough to have days when the weather allows us to get outside and do a little gardening, our primo gardening days are still in the future.  So, this month seems like an opportune time to do a little planning, and I have a suggestion.

Integrated pest management (IPM), is a method of management (whether those pests are insects, weeds, or fungus), that requires a little planning.  IPM is a cost-effective way to avoid, prevent, and manage pest damage.  The added benefits include minimum harm to human health, the environment, and nontarget organisms.

The basic components of IPM are pretty straight forward:

1. Prevent the development of plant health problems.
2. Regularly check the health status of the plants.
3. Accurately diagnose plant health issues or problems.
4. Collect and use good information to make good treatment decisions.
5. Use only effective pest management tools.

According to Texas A&M University,  The goal of IPM is not to to eradicate pests, but to eliminate pest problems by strengthening and stabilizing the landscape so that conditions are more favorable for plants than for pests. This balance is achieved by employing a combination of practices to prevent or avoid pest problems rather than treating them once they occur. By using scouting and monitoring practices for pests that include insects and other arthropods, actions to suppress population levels can be made in a timely manner, using a combination of the most environmentally-friendly and cost-effective tactics available.

Emphasis is given to cultural (non-chemical tactics) and biological (biological control using predators, parasite and pathogens) methods of control. Properly-applied chemical control methods are used only when justified, and then by choosing the least toxic methods.

Now that you have the basics, let me direct you to further information on how to employ the strategies of IPM in your own gardens:

https://landscapeipm.tamu.edu/

Once at this site, you will find all the information you could want to spend a few hours educating yourself on IPM, but watch out!  Perhaps you will become so interested in learning more about gardening, you just might decide to join us as a Somervell County Master Gardener!  You are always welcome to join us as a guest at meetings.  Contact the Somervell County Extension Office at (254) 897-2809, and they will put you in touch with one of us.

Georgette Recker

Somevell County Master Gardener

 

 

Name:

Cindy O’Quinn

What year did you become a Master Gardener?

2019

Do you hold a position in the group?

Not at this time.

What are your gardening special interests?

I love vegetable gardening, native plants, and planting for the birds and pollinators.

Is there are particular gardening book you enjoy?

The Postage Stamp Vegetable Garden by Karen Newcomb

Have you had a particular gardening success? 

I can’t think of a particular one.  I just try to have more successes than failures.

What do you enjoy about being a Master Gardener?

I enjoy sharing ideas and learning new things.

Do you have a favorite plant?

No way I can pick just one!

 

 

Have you exhausted your Netflix options?

Are you tired of scrolling though social media pages?

Would you like to shake some of the cobwebs out of your brain?

Take some time to check out the Aggie Horticulture Facebook page for tons of good information!

Below are the dates for the Wednesday and Friday live videos.  The videos will air at 1:00pm, but don’t worry if you’re late to the party.  The videos will still be available on the Aggie Horticulture Facebook page.

Planning

___ Plan your perennial beds.

___ Plant small to medium sized shade trees for summer cooling on patios.

___ Consider using ground covers in areas where it is difficult to mow or where grass will not grow.

Planting

___ Plant any Spring bulbs that may still be hiding in your refrigerator.

___ Plant by seed: beets, carrots, collards, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard,

radish, shallots, and turnips.

___ Plant transplants or seed pieces of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Irish potatoes.

___ Sow seeds of corn, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes in hotbeds or greenhouses.

Care

___ Wipe or wash off leaves of dusty houseplants.

___ Stake newly planted trees if they seem unstable.

Watering

___ Keep an eye on perennials in pots.  They may need to be watered.

___ Maintain moisture around newly planted roses.

Problems

___ Collect and dispose of fallen of yellowing leaves caused by blackspot on roses.

Pruning

___ Remove old, dead growth on perennials.

___ Cut back ornamental grasses to within a few inches of the ground.

___ Use hedge shearers, string trimmer, or lawnmower set at highest setting to shear back overgrown ground covers.

Fertilizing

___ Fertilize greens, such as kale, collards, turnips, and spinach with a 15:5:10 or other 3:1:2 ratio fertilizer.

Month-By-Month Gardening in Texas by Dan Gill & Dale Groom

I had unexpected visitors the other day.  On a whim, two of my Master Gardener friends decided to stop and say hello.  Thankfully, I had just woken up from my what has become my almost daily habit of taking a nap.  Thankfully, I had clothes nearby to slide into.  Thankfully, I love company and, had I still been sleeping and had not dressed for the day, I still would have been thrilled with the surprise.

Winter is a time of rest.  Not only for sleepy gardeners, but also for our gardens.  While a few precious plants are still showing off at my place, most are quietly resting.  The yard is brown and prickly looking.  While it might be easy to focus on the barren sight and become disheartened, there is reason for cheer.  My garden  isn’t dead, it’s sleeping!  Sleep restores us, and our gardens, and prepares us for activity to come.  Already I am starting to see small green shoots emerging from the ground, and soon my garden will be keeping me so busy there will be no time for naps.

I apologize for the this newsletter arriving so late in the month and vow to try to do better. And while I could attempt to give reasons and explanations for my tardiness, I think I will leave it at this: I’ve been napping.