Extension Gardener Upcoming Events Sustainable Gardening — Turf Management for Home Lawns
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Extension NC STATE UNIVERSITY NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Fall 2009 Empowering Ggardeners. ardenerWhy Do Leaves Change Colors? Providing ociety is profoundly affected by autumn. leaves help to protect the photosynthetic system garden Every year as the days get shorter, nights as plants prepare to go dormant and nutrients grow longer and the temperature outdoors are being transferred to other areas of the plant. solutions. S becomes cooler, the leaves in our abundant The anthocyanin pigments produced in some deciduous forests across the state and country leaves depend largely on the pH level of the cell begin to turn bright hues of gold and crimson. sap (sugar) in the leaf. Leaves with highly acidic Millions of tourists come to visit our national cell sap produce very red hues, while leaves with in this issue and state forests every year to experience fall’s lower pH levels produce purple hues. brilliance. Perhaps the warm coolers are nature’s The changing fall weather causes a corky P I E D M O N T way of warming our spirits in preparation for membrane to develop between the branch and N E W S the cold temperatures that follow. the leaf stem. This membrane reduces the flow Turf Management The changing of color in leaves is largely of nutrients into the leaf and begins the leaf- connected to the change in day length. As days changing process, which is completed when a Fall Vegetable grow shorter, photosynthesis and chlorophyll layer of cells at the base of each leaf is clogged, Harvest production in the leaves slow down until they sealing the foliage from the environment and Tanglewood eventually come to a stop. Chlorophyll is what finally causing the leaf to fall. Reduce Energy Use gives leaves their green color. When chlorophyll Nature creates this magical canvas every fall, is absent, the other pigments present inside the which is an inspiration to gardeners and outdoor leaf begin to appear. These pigments are known enthusiasts. Consider incorporating a few tree S T A T E as carotenoids. They produce colors of yellow, specimens into your landscape that have stun- N E W S orange and brown. ning fall foliage. The United States National Ar- Why Do Leaves In addition to being influenced by the boretum has a wonderful list of plants with fall Change Colors? change in day length, a plant’s fall color is af- foliage colors that range from yellow to brilliant ‘Rose Creek’ Abelia fected by the weather and the intensity of light. red. Visit www.usna.usda.gov/PhotoGallery/ Anthocyanins are red and purple pigments that FallFoliage/FallColorList.html. To find more in- Barnyard Chickens are produced when excessive amounts of sugar in formation on planting trees and shrubs in North Muscadine Grapes the leaves combine with bright light. Scientists Carolina, visit www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ Hemlock Woolly hypothesize that the anthocyanin pigments in hil-601.html. Adelgids —Michelle Wallace C. Scnheider, USDA—NRCS JC Raulston Arboretum C. Scnheider, USDA—NRCS Extension Gardener Upcoming Events Sustainable Gardening — Turf management for home lawns September 12 awns are environmentally beneficial in many type for your area. Your county Extension center Vegetable Gardening Through Lways. They reduce runoff and soil erosion, can advise you as to the best varieties for your the Seasons (9 AM – 2 PM ) protect ground and surface water quality, and particular situation and area as well as the opti- Randolph County Cooperative absorb carbon dioxide. In addition, lawns play mum planting dates. Extension Center, 112 W. Walker an important role in moderating summer tem- Ave., Asheboro Watering Tips. Overwatering is wasteful and peratures while improving the overall quality of • Learn how to clean up this year’s causes lawns to grow faster, which will require our air. We can make our lawns even more of an vegetable garden and prepare more mowing. Overwatering also produces environmental asset by applying sustainable turf for the next. Call 336.318.6000 to conditions favorable to certain disease and pest management principles. pre-register. problems. Water your lawn during the early Sustainable turf management refers to the morning to minimize loss from evaporation. September 14 practice of maintaining turf in an environmen- Avoid watering in the evening because this may Farm Show and Tell (5:30 -7:30 PM ) tally sound and cost-effective manner. By prac- encourage diseases. Check irrigation systems to Lee Calhoun’s Heirloom Southern ticing sustainable turf management, homeown- make sure that the water is falling on the turf. Apple Orchard, Pittsboro ers can effectively reduce a significant amount Also check for leaks and adjust sprinkler heads • The author of the book Old of water, fertilizer and labor while maintaining Southern Apples will provide a to avoid causing dry or wet areas. healthy lawns. Here are some ideas and tips. tour of his orchard with more than 400 varieties of heirloom Begin by setting goals. Evaluate your prop- Mowing Tips. Cut grass when it is dry. Keep southern apples. Contact Debbie erty according to these goals based on the degree mower blades sharp, and mow to recommended Roos , 919.542.8202. of sustainability you wish to achieve. One of the heights. Practice “grasscycling,” the natural prac- first items on your list might be to reduce the tice of leaving grass clippings on the lawn when September 25 – 27, Southern mowing. The clippings will decompose and Ideal Home Show overall size of your lawn based on the amount of foot traffic it receives. Areas of the yard that return valuable nutrients to the soil. Purchasing State Fairgrounds, Raleigh are not visited regularly could be converted to a mulching mower will aid grasscycling by cut- • Stop by the Extension Gardener ting the grass into small pieces and forcing them Learning Center in Dorton Arena ground covers that are more sustainable and cost to get your gardening questions less to maintain. into the turf. answered by Extension agents If planting a new lawn, take a soil test and —Angelo Randaci and Master Gardeners. follow recommendations. Select the best grass October 15 – 25, North Carolina State Fair Food Production — Fall vegetable harvest State Fairgrounds, Raleigh ooler autumn temperatures make it a de- mulch or row covers, and you’ll be rewarded Growing, the Green Way 2009 light to spend time in the garden and also with future harvests just as soon as winter has The following classes will be held C during September through early provide an advantage when it’s time to harvest ended and spring arrives. December in three locations: Guil- your fall crops. Maturing crops, including cab- We all have a few green tomatoes that didn’t ford County Cooperative Extension bages and root crops, will maintain their quality quite ripen. These can be harvested green and Center, Greensboro Arboretum and stand much longer in the garden during the allowed to ripen in storage. Wash the tomatoes Education Building, and Bur-Mil fall season. well in soapy water, rinse, allow drying, then Park Wildlife Education Center. Leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, collards wrap them in newspaper and place them in a Lawn Care, the Easy Way! $5 and lettuce, can be harvested a leaf or two at a cool storage. You’ll have red tomatoes well past Butterfly Gardening $5 time from each plant during the season, leaving the frost date. Spring Bulb Planting $15 the smaller leaves in the center portion of the Don’t panic upon the arrival of frost or Aesthetically Pleasing Rain plant to continue growing and producing new light freezes, as a period of Indian summer Gardens $5 leaves. Or you can harvest all of the leaves at often follows with mild weather conditions that Good Tree, Bad Tree – What Is Best once from the mature plants late in the season. encourage fall crops to continue growing and for the Triad $5 Harvesting cold-hardy vegetables after they producing for the kitchen. Your fall vegetables Christmas Centerpieces $15 have been hit with a touch of frost can enhance should be harvested, however, before severe Each class will be held at the three the flavor and increase the sweetness of greens freezes take hold in the garden to avoid damage locations on different dates. Phone such as kale and collards. After gathering the to the crops and to make harvesting easier for 336.375.5876 for class dates, times, greens, allow the plants to over-winter in the the gardener. and directions. Class size is limited ground. Cover the plants with a light layer of —Carl Matyac to 30 participants, so make reser- vations early. Regional News of the Piedmont Garden Spot — The Arboretum at Tanglewood Tips he beautiful Arboretum at TTanglewood Park in Clem- mons is made up of 15 themed gardens in a 6-acre site. Plants are &Tasks labeled, and brick-paved walks make for an easy stroll. Lawns Once the serene country estate of • September is when tall fescue William and Kate B. Reynolds, and bluegrass lawns should be Tanglewood Park is now a 1,300- seeded. Remember to mulch acre county park overlooking the any newly seeded bare-ground Yadkin River. The Arboretum is areas with wheat or barley straw. Keep watered. a small part of the park located behind the original Manor House, • Fertilize and lime your tall now a bed and breakfast. Plant JC Raulston Arboretum fescue lawns according to soil test results in September, and lovers and photographers can ap- Tanglewood’s Arboretum includes a bog garden with lightly fertilize again in No- pitcher plants (Sarracenia) and other bog species. preciate the tranquil setting and vember.