TheThe BackyardBackyard GardenerGardener VOLUME 2 ISSUE III MAY - JUNE, 2011 Coordinator’s Corner Spring has accelerated into dents entering 4th or 5th great turnout due to the close summer here in Volusia grade are encouraged to regis- proximity to Volusia County. County. Our 13th Annual ter. The tuition is $100 for a Have a great spring! Master Gardener Plant Faire week-long camp that includes sale was a success. We had a snacks, crafts, and a final INSIDE THIS large turnout and sold most of graduation. It’s a fun week at ISSUE: the plants. The weather coop- camp! erated and blessed us with The Central Florida Master blue skies and a slight tan. Gardener District Conference Laurel Wilt 2 Next year’s faire is already had a huge turnout. Many Disease scheduled for April 21st and attended and enjoyed the 22nd of 2012. Start planning speakers (and free handouts). Aquaponics 2 for the event now! Save the date for the 31st An- Ag in the Classroom Sum- nual 2011 Florida State Mas-

Spring Clean- 3 mer Day Camp also is in the ter Gardener Conference be- ing for Coontie works. The dates of the camp ing held this year at the Royal Karen Stauderman Fern are June 13th - 17th. We are Plaza Hotel at Walt Disney Master Gardener Coordinator accepting applications for all World, October 24th - 26th. Residential/Urban Tomato Varie- 3 9 to 11-year-olds. Any stu- Hopefully, we will have a Extension Agent ties for Florida

Weed Control 3 Royalty Garden in Florida Within the past few days, orange-pink blended flower Royalty rose names are not Grasses England was decorated in color. It has a strong peach gender specific. One rose their most famous plant and and mango scent and pro- introduced in 1983, is named 13th Annual MG 4 national flower, the rose. It ceeds are used to raise funds the ‘Royal William Rose’. It comes in many forms from for the National Osteoporosis is a bright red . Plant Faire shrub to climbing. It cer- Society. This was the disease According to The Ultimate tainly adorned the nuptials of that her mother suffered from. Rose Book, it commemorates Prince William and Kate Princesse de Monaco Rose the birth of Prince William. Middleton. is named for American born The future Queen of Eng- If you have ever thought of Princess Grace of Monaco. It land, Kate Middleton, will be a ‘royalty ’, there is a delicate pink hybrid tea named HRH Princess William are several selections that rose. Princess Alice Rose, of Wales, taking her title from may be fun to try. In the past, Queen Victoria’s third child her husband. As a princess were named after fa- and second daughter, is a by marriage only, she will be mous royalty. Princess Diana bright yellow rose, known as Queen Catherine. has three. They are ‘Diana the Queen Elizabeth rose in- Look for new roses named in Princess of Wales’, ‘Lady troduced in 1954 was named honor of her commemorating Diana’, and ‘Princess of to mark her ascension to the the April 29th wedding. As Wales’ which raise funds for throne. It is a lovely pink the royal family grows so will her memorial foundation. grandiflora rose. And, the your garden. For more infor- Duchess of Cornwall rose is Princess Margaret rose (sister mation on growing roses, named after Camilla, Duchess to Queen Elizabeth) has a contact your local UF/IFAS of Cornwall. This large flow- double bloom medium pink County Extension office. ered spiral bud rose has an hybrid tea rose. PAGE 2 Laurel Wilt Disease Laurel Wilt Disease, at- strings of compacted saw- means that the avocado has tacks and kills plants in the dust protruding from tree no protection at this time. The Foundation for The Gator Nation An Equal Opportunity Institution Lauraceae family. The avo- trunks. Some red bay trees have cado is perhaps the most Laurel wilt can spread in been resistant to the dis- UF IFAS EXTENSION - commercially valuable at least two ways: one is via ease, and future research VOLUSIA COUNTY plant affected by this dis- the beetle's natural repro- will investigate factors as- 3100 E. New York Avenue ease. The vascular disease duction and migration. A sociated with resistance. DeLand, FL 32724-6410 is a fungus originally from second way is through the Recently, it was detected DeLand: (386) 822-5778 Asia. It is spread by an sale and transport of beetle- in Miami/Dade. Of great Daytona Beach: (386) 257-6012 New Smyrna Bch: (386) 423-3368 Asian ambrosia beetle infested wood, a result of concern is the avocado. The Fax: (386) 822-5767 (Xyleborus glaboratus), red bay’s use as firewood avocado crop accounts for first found in the United and for outdoor grilling. more than 60 percent of 2010 Newsletter Staff States in Port Wentworth, The fungicide propicona- Florida’s tropical fruit pro- Karen Stauderman Georgia near Savannah in zole is being tested. When duction. Sixty-thousand MG Coordinator 2002. injected into the red bay, it Florida residents also have UF Residential Ext. Agent The beetle is thought to shows promising results in at least one avocado tree in [email protected] have entered the country in preventing laurel wilt, but their yards. Some estimates http://volusia.org/extension solid wood packing mate- limitations and questions project that the disease Patricia Caradonna rial with cargo. Symptoms remain. This fungicide is could cut avocado crop in Office Assistant III of laurel wilt include wilted not cleared for use on fruit half, at a total economic [email protected] stems and leaves, black trees that are part of com- impact of about $27 mil- streaking in the wood, and mercial production which lion. Contributors: Myrna Moore ('06) Israel Chen ('11) Kathryn Kovach ('08) Myrna Moore ('06) Mac Steen, Volusia County Resident AQUAPONICS: The Dirt On Soilless Gardens cared for fish knows, fish like to think of it as the like to make a mess in their cheapest way to fertilize. In tank after eating their fish these tough economic times food. Well, that fish waste who wants to pay for ex- Horticulture/MG gets converted in something pensive organic fertilizers, Advisory Members called the nitrogen cycle by when fish food is by far bacteria that naturally occur cheaper! But, you don't Chairman in our environment. Many have to be a cheapskate like Robert Perez As the name suggests, people call these "good bac- me to appreciate the minia- (Airport) aquaponics is the combina- teria" as it is beneficial to ture cycle of life aquaponic Secretary tion of hydroponics and our environment. gardens represent. Grace Matthews (MG) aquaculture. If you're not The bacteria converts fish Although it has only Mary Wright (MG) familiar with either of waste into a substance come back into practice in Bill Gilbert these, let me explain. In called nitrate, a source of the last 40 years, you might (Stetson) hydroponic gardens, the nitrogen for plants. The be surprised to know that Mariellen Calabro plants are grown in rocks or plants then absorb the ni- this technology is thousands (City of Deland) just water, but most impor- trate that helps to produce of years old dating back to Margarita Walker (MG) tantly no soil. leafy greens, fruits, or vege- the ancient Babylonians, Patty Williams (MG) Aquaculture is very famil- tables. The end result is Incas, Aztecs, Egyptians, iar to us all, as many of us that the bacteria have food, and, of course, the Romans. have had a pet fish or know the plants have food, and So, why not add a sustain- someone who has. As a the fish have clean water to able, organic, and above all result, aquaponics is the live in. cheap way to grow your THE BACKYARD perfect marriage between Some people consider this plants and veggies? the two. a natural and organic way GARDENER Anyone who has ever to grow plants. However, I Izzy Chen ('11) VOLUME 2 ISSUE III PAGE 3 Spring Cleaning for Coontie Fern As most of watch its rebirth! plant! you who are for- The Coontie has survived in Flor- For the future, you can cut it back tunate enough to ida for the past 63 million years and every two or three years (in May), or own Coontie isn’t about to die now! whenever the leaves start to suffer. Fern (Zamia All you need to do is simply cut It’s hardy, potato-like bulb will sur- Floridana) back the leaves to about four inches vive many winters to come. Other know, the leaves from the ground, between now and than occasional yearly cutting, ig- were especially the first of May. (Use either clippers nore it, keep it dry, and borrow a few hard hit by the or a weed eater), then throw a hand- leaves once in a while to put with cut numerous ful of 4-1-6 palm fertilizer, or even flowers for your own indoor fresh freezes and 6-6-6 lawn fertilizer around what’s flower arrangements. frosts of the past winter. Do not de- left, and stand back. By the 4th of spair; this is a great opportunity to July, you will have a beautiful new Mac Steen, Volusia County Resident Tomato Varieties for Florida - 5th Annual Wildflower Festival Florida “Red Rounds,” Plum,

Cherries, and Grapes Picture For all of you Florida gar- istics of plant and fruit, dis- courtesy deners that love tomatoes, a ease resistance, and other of Kathryn new University of Florida comments, separated by Kovach publication fact sheet pro- regional adaptation. Check ('08) vides a guide to varieties it out! used in Florida, listing the http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ companies selling each, hs1189 growing season, character- EDIS publication HS1189 Weed Control in Florida Grasses This is the time of year weeds be- Acidic soil conditions are ideal with ously wet, drainage will need to be gin to make themselves known in our bahiagrass. Additionally, certain St. installed to prevent wet loving weeds landscape turf. The best way to Augustine varieties will support from establishment. manage them is to prevent the Flor- shade at lower levels. A minimum Pest Control: Grass infested by ida sunlight from reaching the weed of six hours is needed for all turf. insects and disease signals a weak- seeds in the first place. We do this Bermudagrass and bahiagrass will ened condition. Weeds are great by promoting our grass to grow more result in thin growth and will be sus- opportunists that will quickly out- dense and healthy. Practices to maxi- ceptible to weeds. compete grass especially if it is mize this growth include selecting Cultural practices: By applying weakened. Pests like chinch bugs or the proper turf grass, proper cultural proper fertilization, watering, proper the sugarcane grub has thinned open practices, controlling outside pests, mowing height, and pest control the areas which are usually slow to re- and limiting wear and tear of the turf can compete for the resources cover, thus enabling weeds to be- grass. made available to it without becom- come established in St. Augustine. Turfgrass selection: This decision ing weak. It will fill in voids quickly Areas with the fungus take-all root will depend upon the pH of the soil and shade out any potential weeds. rot often become infested with trou- and the amount of shade in the land- Traffic Control: Turf can be easily blesome weeds. Finally, nematode scape. In general, saline soil condi- damaged by vehicle or foot traffic. populations also thin the turf and tions fare better with St. Augustine This results in compact soil that can’t make it less able to recuperate from varieties and Seashore paspallum. extract oxygen. If the soil is continu- Continued on Page 4 Weed Control Continued... environmental stresses. Weeds that calade Low Odor™ are selective mentals. It effectively controls both often become established in nema- broadleaf weed herbicides that con- yellow and purple nutsedge in cool- tode-infested soil include spotted tain 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and dicamba. and warm-season turfgrasses with spurge and Florida pusley. They are safe for use on bahiagrass, demonstrated safety to most turfgrass Environmental conditions such as Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass, but species. record breaking freezes, hurricanes, will cause significant injury to centi- Surge™ provides control of and droughts can impact weed man- pedegrass and St. Augustinegrass, broadleaf weeds including spurge agement. Fortunately, several new especially 'Floratam.' and other warm-season weeds such herbicides have been introduced. ProClipse™ provides pre- as knotweed, plantain, oxalis, clover, These weed management tools will emergence control of crabgrass, and dandelion. Additionally, it sup- help the turf manager battle problem- goosegrass, foxtail, and Poa annua, presses young and actively growing atic weeds. and is effective on other problem yellow nutsedge. Surge™ should not Products: grassy and broadleaf weeds such as be applied when temperatures exceed Certainty™ can be used for the annual bluegrass, henbit, knotweed, 90°F or when the turf is under stress. control of annual and perennial chickweed, and spurge. It does not Surge™ can be used on Bermuda- grass, broadleaf, and sedge species. have postemergence activity and thus grass, zoysiagrass, bahiagrass and It can be safely used on St. Augusti- will not control the hard-to-control buffalograss but not St. Augustine- negrass and centipedegrass. It is ex- grassy weeds such as India crab- grass. cellent against purple and yellow grass, blanket crabgrass, and tropical Although most of these products nutsedge, as well as control of kyl- signalgrass that survive the mild are safe for use on Bermudagrass and linga and other broadleaf and grass winters in Florida. ProClipse™ is zoysiagrass, most will cause injury to species. It is labeled for use on safe for use on all warm-season turf St. Augustinegrass and centipede- lawns, sod farms, cemeteries, golf species grown in Florida. grass, the predominant lawn grasses courses, and any other highly man- SedgeHammer™ controls nutsedge in Florida. aged commercial or residential turf. in turf and landscaped areas and in For additional information, go to Escalade™, Escalade 2™, and Es- areas with established woody orna- http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep296. 13th Annual Master Gardener Plant Faire, April 2, 2011

Porter ('04) and Before the Chamberlin ('07) Sale! await the first purchase.

(L-R) Jeffries ('06) Holcomb ('07), and Turner ('06), Krosnick ('09) Britton ('04), share last and minute Boekhoff ('09) strategies.

Picture on page 1 and above pictures courtesy of Kathryn Kovach ('08)