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Blog Post: http://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org
Video of the Week: Garlic, Easy to Grow
https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/garlic-easy-to-grow-and-store
EVENTS
Kansas Forest Service Tree, shrub Seedling Sale, September 1 – October 15 https://www.kansasforests.org/conservation_trees/
Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference
The 73rd Annual Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 29 and Thursday, November 30 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan. The conference is an excellent way to learn about turf and landscape management, visit with old friends, network with new ones, and see all the latest products and supplies from local and national vendors.
The conference has been approved for commercial pesticide recertification hours:
1 Core hour
3A – 7 hours
3B – 7hours
GCSAA education points and International Society of Arboriculture CEUS will also be available by attending the conference.
For more information, go to https://www.kansasturfgrassfoundation.com/
REMINDERS
• Plant Kentucky bluegrass by October 1. Tall fescue should be seeded no later than October 15.
• Herbs can be dug from garden and transplanted into pots for indoor use during the winter.
VEGETABLES
Garlic Planting Time
Planting garlic (Allium sativum) in the fall allows the cloves to go through a chilling period which is important for bulb and flower growth. October is a good time to plant because the cloves can begin to develop roots and shoots before freezing weather arrives.
Purchase large, mature garlic bulbs from a reputable grower rather than the grocery store. Separate the bulb into individual cloves just before planting. Larger cloves tend to yield larger bulbs at harvest. Mix three pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet into the soil prior to planting. If a soil test is available, fertilize according to those recommendations. Plant each clove one to two-inches deep spaced six-inches apart with the pointed end of the clove up. Water the cloves in well and apply a layer of mulch to insulate the soil.
Bulbs should be ready to harvest next summer when the lower third of the foliage is yellow. Carefully dig one area to check the bulbs for maturity. The bulbs are ready for harvest when the cloves are beginning to separate.
Kansas’ climate is suitable for growing a variety of garlic types. Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) has a milder garlic flavor. Varieties of Allium sativum that are good options include: Inchelium Red, Chesnok Red, Armenian, Music, Purple Glazer, Carpathian Mountain, Metechi, China Strip, Ajo Rojo, Asian Tempest and Silver White. (Cynthia Domenghini)
FRUIT
Fruit Planting Preparation
If you plan to develop or add to your fruit garden next year, now is a good time to take advantage of the weather conditions and prepare the planting site.
If the planting area currently has grass, till so there won’t be competition for water and nutrients. Organic materials such as compost, grass clippings, leaves, hay, straw or dried manure, can be tilled into the soil to help improve its condition. Do not use grass clippings that have been treated with a crabgrass killer as tree growth may be affected.
Contact your local K-State Research and Extension agents to guide you in obtaining soil samples to determine a fertilizer program. Fruit trees can be planted in the fall, but they will need to be monitored through the winter. Warm winter temperatures can promote bud development which can be detrimental to fruiting if followed by a freeze. It is also important to ensure trees are watered, as needed, through the winter.
For a small planting area with only a few trees that won’t be planted until spring, tarping the freshly tilled soil is a good idea to protect it. Getting the trees in the ground by early April is ideal to allow roots more time to develop. (Cynthia Domenghini)
MISCELLANEOUS
Amaryllis, Bringing it Back In
Amaryllises are sensitive to cold temperatures so they should be moved indoors prior to the first fall frost. Allowing the bulbs to go through dormancy or a rest period enables them to store energy which is necessary for blooming.
Keep the amaryllis in a cool, dry, dark area. Do not water and remove leaves as they dry. Allow the bulb to rest for eight to twelve weeks. If new growth develops, move the amaryllis to a sunny window. Otherwise, wait until you are ready to encourage new plant growth. At that time, move the bulb to a warm, sunny spot and water thoroughly. Wait to water again until roots have established to avoid bulb rot. Maintain temperatures between 50- and 60-degrees F. Flowers will last longer, even up to one month, if the plant is kept in a cool location away from intense sunlight. (Cynthia Domenghini)
Yellow Jacket Wasps
Yellow jackets are social insects and by this point in the year their nests may be home to thousands of wasps. Though they do sting, yellow jackets are beneficial insects.
Yellow jackets are about ½ to ¾-inch long with a black and yellow striped abdomen. They are scavengers and will impose on outdoor events where sugary foods and drinks are being served. They are also commonly seen swarming trash cans and are attracted to perfume and flowers as well.
If possible, avoid the nest as yellow jackets are more aggressive in this area. Yellow jackets prey on soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars and sawfly larvae so if they are not causing danger they do not need to be eradicated. Removing food sources, including fruit dropped from trees, can reduce the presence of yellow jackets. (Cynthia Domenghini)
Preventing Sunscald on Thin-Barked Trees
Many young, smooth, thin-barked trees such as honeylocusts, fruit trees, ashes, oaks, maples, lindens, and willows are susceptible to sunscald and bark cracks. Sunscald normally develops on the south or southwest side of the tree during late winter. Sunny, warm winter days may heat the bark to relatively high temperatures. Research done in Georgia has shown that the southwest side of the trunk of a peach tree can be 40 degrees warmer than shaded bark. This warming action can cause a loss of cold hardiness of the bark tissue resulting in cells becoming active. These cells then become susceptible to lethal freezing when the temperature drops at night. The damaged bark tissue becomes sunken and discolored in late spring. Damaged bark will eventually crack and slough off. Trees often recover but need special care — especially watering during dry weather.
If you have seen this type of damage in previous years or fear you have susceptible trees, preventative measures are called for. Applying a light-colored tree wrap from the ground to the first branches can protect young and/or recently planted trees. This should be done in October to November and removed the following March. Failure to remove the tree wrap in the spring can prove detrimental to the tree. (Ward Upham)
Questions on Ornamental Grasses
In general, avoid cutting back ornamental grasses while they are still green because they need to store energy during this time. As the grasses turn brown and dry, they can be cut back if they present a fire hazard. However, many gardeners leave them intact through the winter to provide interest to the landscape. Early Spring is typically the best time to cut back and divide ornamental grasses. (Cynthia Domenghini)
Contributors:
Cynthia Domenghini, Instructor
Ward Upham, Extension Associate
Division of Horticulture
1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6173
For questions or further information, contact: [email protected], [email protected] OR [email protected]
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Ernie Minton, Dean.
