HANG IN THERE . . . FALL IS COMING!
SEPTEMBER 2021 / VOLUME 174
MaGIC
We call our programs designed to enrich elementary-age students MaGIC (which stands for Master Gardeners In the Classroom).

MG School Programs and Oklahoma Academic Standards

The following is a brief description of the Tulsa County Master Gardener classroom programs and an attempt to capture Oklahoma Academic Standards which are met within these programs. Each program is presented in a 45-minute format with no more than 30 students per class. Two trained Master Gardener volunteer presenters bring all supplies and teaching aids to each presentation at no cost to the school. While particular programs are geared to K-2 and others to grades 3-5, all programs make every effort to be informative, interactive and connect students to the world of nature and gardening. Each of these programs have been designed with core curriculum in mind. Students will be observing, testing, questioning the connection of worms, seeds, plants, insects, spiders, butterflies and other pollinators, beneficial insects, trees and soil to our needs as humans. The responsibility we share in protecting and fostering our surroundings is also part of our educational goal. We LOVE working with the students on their educational journey.

Our nine programs:
SEPTEMBER HORTICULTURAL
AND GARDEN TIPS

Learn about what you should be doing in the month of SEPTEMBER. A selection of Garden Tips (Vegetables, Lawn, and General Landscape) can be found by clicking on GARDEN TIPS.
HOT WEATHER WATERING TIPS

Water longer and less often
  • The deeper the water can penetrate into the soil, the deeper the roots will tend to grow, thus helping turf withstand spells of hot, dry conditions better.

Water in the morning
  • The earlier you can water, the better. The relative humidity is highest during early morning hours thus allowing more water to reach and soak into the soil vs evaporating in the air. Plus there will be plenty of time to dry out before nightfall when wet plants/turf are more susceptible to fungal problems.

Bonus Tip: Mulch
  • Mulching greatly helps to control weeds, retain soil moisture, and moderate soil temperature plus it's a great soil amendment by adding organic matter as it degrades. Finally, it just looks better!.
TOOL OF THE MONTH: TRAKE
Starting last month, we began including a "tool of the month". These are some of the Tulsa Master Gardeners' favorite tools that they use in their gardens. They are of high quality and proven to get the job done.

Made of polished cast aluminum the Trake measures 17" in overall length. It's a combination trowel and rake, great for fall weeding, planting, and transplanting. The trowel end measures 3" wide by 7" long, good for turning over dirt effectively; the rake end is used to smooth things over and extract impediments along the way.

DISCLAIMER: While we do NOT intentionally promote any particular retailer/seller, to help you locate this tool, check Amazon. It's one of those rare products that gets almost/all 5 stars. $20-$35.
RED SPIDER MITES:
VERY SMALL AND UBIQUITOUS
On your daily walk around your garden in the summer, you spy some dark brown burnt spots on the underside of leaves, maybe on your pepper or tomato plants. On closer inspection you may see tiny red or green spots and possibly some webbing covering some or all of the leaves. This tiny arachnid is a spider mite and infestations occur when the temperatures are above 80 degrees F. However, they really thrive during hot, dry and dusty conditions . . . like now! When conditions are most ideal, they may produce a new generation every five to six days.

Spider mites feed on plant tissues and sap. They pierce the cell wall of the back of leaves and literally suck the juices out of the leaf, causing it to spot. Click on RED SPIDER MITES for more information on proper identification and proven prevention measures. Also included are several very informative additional resources on the subject.
POTTING SOIL VS POTTING MIX:
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Shopping for a growing medium to use for potted plants can be a confusing experience because the terms “potting soil” and “potting mix” are often used interchangeably. They are, indeed, two different things so be sure to get the right product for your purpose.

Potting Soil
  • For non-container and landscape gardening
  • May or may not contain garden soil and sometimes sand
  • Not sterile - can contain pathogens such as fungi or other diseases
  • May contain weed seeds
  • Contains minerals, organic matter, and compost
  • Heavy

Potting Mix
  • For container gardening, potted plants, seed starting
  • Soilless - does not contain any soil
  • Sterile - does not contain pathogens that cause disease
  • Contains components to improve aeration and drainage (peat moss, sphagnum moss, pine bark, coir, pumice, perlite or vermiculite)
  • May contain slow-release starter fertilizer
  • Lightweight and fluffy
FALL TOMATOES ARE THE BEST
There is no debate . . . we all (well, most of us) love our tomatoes. It is so much fun and rewarding to grow them from seedlings into fruit-bearing machines. And, a great way to get the kids involved in nature. Home-grown tomatoes are less expensive and just taste better than store bought.

But growing tomatoes in our climate can be a challenge. Why is that?

And, growing fall tomatoes can actually be better than growing spring tomatoes. Why is that?

For answers to both of these questions, click on FALL TOMATOES.
POISONOUS LANDSCAPE & HOUSEPLANTS
DIFFENBACHIA
DRACENA
POTHOS
Gardeners select landscape and houseplants for many different reasons. In our choices, we all contemplate interesting texture and color, beautiful blooms and support for wildlife, amongst other important factors. Yet there is one consideration too often overlooked - could the plant be poisonous?

Surprisingly, many of the more popular indoor and outdoor plants are poisonous. And, there's actually a difference between being poisonous and being toxic. To find out more about precautions as well as post-exposure steps to take, click on POISONOUS PLANTS.
The BENEFITS OF CLOVER
(hint: there are many)
Fall is almost here and for many of us it’s time to seed our lawns with cool season grasses. Consider adding white clover to your seed mix as an Earth Kind way to help keep your lawn green this fall and winter. It requires less water than fescue and doesn’t need fertilizing. White clover discourages weeds and attracts pollinators, too.

Some of its benefits include:
  • Converts nitrogen from the air to useable nitrogen in the soil
  • Crowds out weeds so you don’t need to use herbicides
  • Prevents weeds from growing with its dense root structure
  • Helps to stabilize soil (less likely to wash away during heavy rains)

For more information on the benefits of clover as well as a couple of additional resources on Healthy Garden Soils and Oklahoma Nectar & Pollen Plant Sources, click on CLOVER.

RAINWATER COLLECTION:
EASIER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
People have collected rainwater since ancient times. But, it is an old skill that is still relevant today. An average residential roof will produce a large amount of runoff even with very little rainfall. For instance, during a 1" rainfall event you can collect about 1/2 gallon of water for each square foot of roof surface, or about 60 gallons for every 100 square feet. That’s a lot of water!

For more information on how best to collect rainwater (and separate contaminants from the water), click on RAINWATER COLLECTION. Also available are a couple of additional resource materials, one on the details of designing rainwater collection systems and one on Edmond's Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.
USING A PLANNING CALENDAR
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Planning a garden involves multiple steps including a well thought out plan and a delicate balance of style and execution across your landscape to ensure the best laid plans are realized. A garden planning calendar will assist you with laying out your garden at the proper time. Not just for plants though - it should include pathways, beds, containers, water barrels, irrigation lines, etc.

Click on PLANNING CALENDAR to see the various benefits this simple tool can provide both the beginner as well as the seasoned gardener. With this tool in hand, even a beginner will feel like a pro. 

FAIRY RINGS AND MUSHROOMS;
MANAGING THEM IN YOUR TURF
Many of us have seen mushrooms integrated on a variety of lawns throughout the city. These mushrooms live off decaying organic matter in the soil. As they develop, they form a ring, referred to as a fairy ring.

Heavy rains increase the growth of the mushrooms. Aside from the fact that they are unsightly, fairy rings can cause serious damage to turf. To find out the damage they can cause and proven steps to avoid or, at least, minimize damage done, click on FAIRY RINGS.
DID YOU KNOW?

Since 1983, the Tulsa Master Gardeners have been serving the public by offering research-based horticultural information to residents of Tulsa and the surrounding area. The Tulsa Master Gardener Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization. As such, it receives no city, state or federal funding for its Tulsa community outreach programs. In fact, the Tulsa's Master Gardener programs are self-funded by its own fundraisers, from member donations, and from public donations.

The main Tulsa Master Gardener fundraiser is its Annual Spring Plant Sale that is held each April. Other fundraisers include the Garden Tour and Garage Sale in June. And, one of the most important income sources that sometimes gets overlooked are the personal and corporate donations. These are so important in helping us to meet our financial obligations and we want you to know they are very much appreciated. 

MG Endowment Fund
 
The Tulsa Master Gardeners have been around for over three decades and we plan to be around for many more decades. Furthermore, we are considered one of the top five Master Gardener county programs in the entire nation. We are because of the size of our Foundation membership, the number, diversity and activity level of our various community outreach programs, and our overall financial strength! 
 
So, we are pleased to announce, in partnership with the Tulsa Community Foundation, the Master Gardener Foundation has established an Endowment Fund to ensure our long-term financial strength. Our plans are to build this fund for many years before making any withdrawals from it. Please consider us as you make your annual gift giving as well as longer-term estate planning decisions. Remember, all donations are fully tax deductible! 
 
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the long-term success of the Tulsa Master Gardener program, click on  
 
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help fund the Tulsa Master Gardener program's annual expenses, click on
 
We thank all of you for having been such faithful contributors both in the past and in advance for your future consideration and participation! Proud to be a part of the Tulsa area - such a giving community!

Recognizing those folks and companies that have donated so generously over the past month:

MG FOUNDATION GENERAL FUND
Judy Feuquay
Rebecca Whisenhunt

MG SPEAKERS BUREAU
Tulsa Perennial Club

MG EXPLORING INSECTS
Thomas Rains
Zoellner Exterminating
Oklahoma Pest Management Association

========================================================  Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services.
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