1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton Plant Science Center
Manhattan, KS 66506 (785) 532-6173
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HNR Website access: https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/horticulture-newsletter/
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
K-State Garden Hour
Wednesday, September 4th 12:00 -1:00 PM (CST)
Growing a vegetable garden is an easy way to have fresh and nutritious produce right at your fingertips through the growing season, but did you know there are ways you can extend this production even longer? Join Dr. Cary Rivard, K-State Research and Extension Fruit & Vegetable Production Specialist, as he lays out how these practices work.
Register for this free webinar at: K-State Garden Hour Registration
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: K-State Garden Hour Webinar Series. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
ksu.zoom.us
VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
Overseeding Your Lawn
Many homeowners are preparing to overseed their lawn. Seed-to-soil contact is important for the best germination. This tutorial will show some methods for improving seed-to-soil contact.
GARDEN TO-DO
Avoid fertilizing ornamentals now so they harden off before winter
Take cuttings from annuals for wintering indoors. See: Cuttings to Grow Inside for Winter
Turn compost pile and add water when dry
Harvest winter squash when skin is hard enough that it isn’t easily punctured with your thumbnail
Plant garden chrysanthemums for fall color
VEGETABLES
Asparagus and Rhubarb in the Fall
Asparagus and rhubarb need to be maintained even though harvesting is finished. Add water as needed to prevent plants from drying out. Weeds pose problems for these plants and should be minimized. Use mulch and cultivation for weed control. Wait to fertilize until early spring. Asparagus foliage can be left intact or removed when it turns brown.
FLOWERS
Drought Tolerant Plants
Fall is a great time to plant perennials but while many parts of the state are experiencing drought conditions, you may be re-considering your gardening practices. Selecting the right plants is always important. If you’re planting this fall here are some great options that can tolerate drought once established.
Perennials
Herbs
Ornamental Grasses
Shrubs
Aster
Artemisia
Big Blue Stem
Lilac
Monarda
Basil
Blue Fescue
Forsythia
Butterfly Weed
Lavender
Fountain Grass
Rose of Sharon
Coreopsis
Lemon Balm
Switchgrass
Cotoneaster
Dianthus
Marjoram
Porcupine Grass
Viburnum
Gaillardia
Oregano
Ninebark
Garden Phlox
Sage
Mockorange
Black-eyed Susan
Thyme
Juniper
Gaillardia Coreopsis
Japanese Flowering Quince
If you’re one of the many gardeners who has been disappointed with their squash harvest, your plants may be suffering from poor pollination. Many of the plants listed above will encourage pollinators to visit your garden and hopefully improve pollination next year.
For fall planting, it is best to wait until the weather is cool but still enough time for roots to establish before the ground freezes. Though the above plants will be tolerant of drought once established, they will need supplemental water initially, especially during hot periods.
Dividing Daylilies
September is an ideal time to divide daylilies, a task that should be completed every three to five years to promote flowering.
Because of the extensive root system, a sharp knife may be required. However, cutting the roots with a knife can cause more stress to the plant and should only be done if necessary.
Alternatively, use a shovel to dig up the entire daylily clump. Remove the soil from the roots by shaking it or spraying the roots with water. Separate the plants into clumps of two or three. Cut the leaves to about half their height. This will enable the roots to better support the plant without falling over and reduce the water lost through transpiration.
Replant the divided clumps at the same depth 24 to 36 inches apart. Flowering will be limited next year but will become more vigorous until it is time for dividing again.
PESTS
Mimosa Webworm
Are your trees suffering from Mimosa Webworm? Symptoms of this pest include leaves matted together with webs. The larvae typically make these web nests on the tips of branches. From a distance infested trees look brown. Larvae can cause severe tree defoliation.
The second-generation larvae are active now and though treatments can be applied, for best control, efforts should begin in late May to early June. Repeated treatments are often necessary due to overlapping generations. If you’re seeing webs now, mark your calendars to scout for larvae next year. You may also be able to selectively prune out webs if they are minimal and not too high in the tree.
When selecting plants for your landscape recognize the susceptibility of certain varieties to pests. Sunburst is a variety of honeylocust that tends to be most attractive to Mimosa webworm. Avoid large groupings of thornless honeylocust varieties unless you plan to use appropriate control measures.
To read more and learn about control options check out: Mimosa Webworm (KSRE Publication).
MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY
Garden 4 Good
Garden 4 Good began as an opportunity to teach about growing vegetables. It turned into a lesson on growing yourself. Though topics covered may be somewhat traditional, the setting is certainly unique.
Read more about: Garden 4 Good
QUESTION of the WEEK
What should I do about bagworms right now?
My junipers are covered in bagworms. What do I need to do?
Right now, make a reminder in your calendar for May. This is when bagworms begin to emerge. If you have adult bagworms now, you will likely have a new round of larvae next year as well. Scouting for bagworms needs to be done from mid-May through early June to time treatment for best control. Unfortunately, the only thing you can do to prevent damage from the bagworms now is manually remove them from your plants and destroy the bags. The worms are mature by now and most have stopped feeding. Males will be emerging soon (if not already) as moths for mating. Treating with insecticides at this point in the season is not recommended nor is it effective.
If you’d like to learn more about bagworm control you can find information here:
Bagworms (KSRE Publication)
Contributors:
Cynthia Domenghini, Instructor and Horticulture Extension Specialist
Judy O’Mara, Plant Pathology Diagnostics Lab
K-State Turfgrass Blog
K-State Entomology
Division of Horticulture
1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6173
For questions or further information, contact your local extension agency.
This newsletter is also available on the World Wide Web at:
http://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html
The web version includes color images that illustrate subjects discussed. To subscribe to this newsletter electronically, send an e-mail message to [email protected] or [email protected] listing your e-mail address in the message.
Brand names appearing in this newsletter are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.
K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or hearing disability, or a dietary restriction please contact Extension Horticulture at (785) 532-6173.
Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.
Instructor; Horticulture Extension Specialist
Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources
Kansas State University
1712 Claflin Rd.
Manhattan, KS 66503
785-340-3013
[email protected]
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