MARCH ISSUE | 2021
WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?
Gardening in the Mountains ONLINE program
March Garden Chores
Garden Helpline is OPEN
Vegetable Varieties to Grow
Videos to Learn By: Starting Seeds &Transplants Indoors
Great Roses for WNC
Beekeeper Education Resources
Get a Jump on Flea Beetles
Pruning Hydrangeas
Go-To Publications on Pruning
Spring Flowering Trees & Shrubs for Bees
Call 811 Before Digging
Helpful NCSU Resources, Master Gardener Blog & more!
JOIN US ONLINE!
GARDENING IN THE MOUNTAINS
Feed the Soil:
Using Soil Amendments and Conditioners
Thursday, March 18, 2021
10 to 11 a.m.
FREE Virtual Event

Presenter: Phil Roudebush, Extension Master Gardener SM Volunteer

Soil is complex and presents gardeners with challenges, especially our heavy clay soils. What should we do to amend our heavy clay soils and what are soil amendments? Soil amendments include any material added and mixed into the soil to improve its fertility, physical characteristics, or beneficial microbial activity. Join Phil as he discusses how soil amendments and soil conditioners can be used to improve our heavy clay soils, overall soil quality, and plant health.

Registration: The talk is free, but registration is required. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
MARCH GARDEN CHORES
 LAWNS
* If you have not yet gotten around to the spring fertilizer application, you're almost out of time. Mid March is the recommended deadline.
* There is still time to seed bare spots.
* Consider making changes to your lawn to reduce maintenance costs and time. 
*Reduce lawn area and cut out problem areas:
- Wet and/or shady 
- Constant, heavy traffic areas 
- Difficult to maintain areas: narrow strips, tight angles, under trees
*Expand mulched area around trees and beds.
*Tolerate diversity. Many weeds provide important resources for pollinators - especially early spring bloomers.
*Plant "Turf Type" white clover that are lower growing, less vigorous, smaller leaves and less flowers.
* Start a BEE FRIENDLY LAWN. Go HERE to get your ToolKit Now!

ORNAMENTALS
* Summer-blooming shrubs and trees such as butterfly bush, rose-of-Sharon and crepe myrtle can be pruned now.
* Do not prune spring-blooming plants until after the flowers fade.
* March is a good time to do severe or rejuvenation pruning when overgrown shrubs need to be renovated.
* When the weather breaks, plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
* Repot and trim up houseplants. Rejuvenate hanging baskets and use cuttings to start new baskets.
* Check houseplants for insect infestations. Plants can be taken outside on a warm day for spraying, but bring them in before dark.
* Sow seeds for larkspur, poppies and snapdragons.
* Still time to cut back perennials and ornamental grasses as well as liriope and mondo grass. 
* Check for winter weeds. Pull bittercress and chickweed before they flower. 

FRUIT 
* Remove straw or row covers from strawberry plants as soon as flowers appear.
* Plant fruit trees, grapes and brambles
* Prune fruit trees, grapes and brambles. Remove last year's fruiting canes and thin new canes to 3-4 per square foot.
* Apply fresh mulch on blueberries to keep shallow roots cool and weed free. 
*Again spray dormant oil, especially if you have had a mite or scale problem.  
 Fertilize all fruit crops.

VEGETABLES
* Mulch garlic and asparagus well to prevent early competing weeds from invading the beds.
* Early- to mid-March plant English and edible-pod peas, onions, and kale.
* Mid-March plant spinach, turnips, radishes and onions.
* Wait until late March to set out potatoes and plants of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
* Start transplants indoors for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants mid-month. They will need 6 to 8 weeks to be ready for the garden.
* Mow or cut back cover crops and turn whenever the soil isn't too wet to work. 

ARE YOU STARTING A VEGETABLE GARDEN?
THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER?
If the answer is YES
Click HERE to view a 3 part series on Vegetable Gardening 101.

OTHER
* Prepare for scouting bluebirds, clean out old bluebird boxes & mount new ones.
* Check your garden tools--make repairs, clean up and sharpen blades of saws and shovels alike.


SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER TO
FIND RESOURCES FROM NCSU
GARDEN HELPLINE IS NOW OPEN!
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY: 
10am-2pm

FRIDAY: 
10am-12pm

March - October
Two Ways to Reach The Helpline:

Call 828-250-4878
OR
with your questions and photos.
 for the
Western North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs
GET AN EARLY START IN
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
Getting a jump on the season can bring in earlier harvests and can help plants avoid pest problems. 
Here are a few ideas:

Grow in raised beds
Slope beds to the sun
Run rows east and west
Choose early varieties
Use transplants rather than seed
Use larger transplants
Use hot caps or row covers and tunnels for frost protection

to learn more
VEGETABLE VARIETIES TO GROW
Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners citizen science project with Cornell University lists over 7,000 variety profiles, seed sources and allows you to rate your favorites!

Vegetable Growing Guides lists 58 garden vegetables with detailed descriptions and growing instructions, site and soil requirements, varieties and pest and disease solutions.
VIDEOS TO LEARN BY...
Starting Seeds and Growing Transplants Indoors
Interested in starting plants from seed indoors now to plant outside later?

Click on the image below to view this three-part video series presented by John Bowen Buncombe EMG, to learn how!
Not able to attend last months Gardening in the Mountain?
GREAT ROSES FOR WNC
The Video is now available!
Thank you to the Buncombe EMGs who make these programs and videos available to our gardening community!
BUYING YOUR FIRST BEE HIVE?
If you are thinking about buying your first bee hive and launching into the world of bee keeping, take time to learn about the many options available for bee education!

This article How to Become a Beekeeper in North Carolina goes into the options from self-study to formal training, how to connect with your local beekeepers club, equipment, starting up tips and other resources.
CHECK OUT THIS
ONLINE TRAINING RESOURCE
from NCSU
The BEES network is a new online resource for beekeepers at all levels. The system is entirely internet-based and aims to foster an online learning community among beekeepers. 
  • No specialized equipment or prior experience necessary
  • Topic selection is a la carte
  • You can go at your own pace
  • All proceeds support the NC State Apiculture Program 
GET A JUMP ON PESTS IN THE GARDEN?
Flea Beetles: Tiny Menace in the Vegetable Garden

Flea beetles are a voracious group of early-season pest we battle in vegetable gardens. There are several species of these shiny, oval-shaped 1/10" long beetles, each enjoying their preferred vegetable in the garden. Flea beetle populations are...

Read more
extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu
 to see how Buncombe Master Gardeners managed flea beetles in
The Learning Garden!
CAN I ... Prune Hydrangeas Now?
The answer depends on the type of hydrangea you are wanting to prune. Below are the 4 types we can grow in our area and the best times to prune.

HOWEVER... Sometimes shrubs only need a little cleaning up and timing isn’t critical. Doing any of the following wont damage the plant and will improve overall plant health and appearance.

  • Winter damage – remove dead or damaged stems in the spring.
  • Old or weak stems – remove anytime, before spring growth is easiest.
  • Dead Flowers – remove anytime to improve appearance.
PRUNE LATE WINTER OR SPRING....
Hydrangea paniculata
Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Smooth Hydrangea
PRUNE AFTER FLOWERING....
Hydrangea macrophylla
Bigleaf, mophead, French, Lacecap Hortensia Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia 
Oakleaf Hydrangea
CHECK OUT THESE AND OTHER HYDRANGEAS
on the EXTENSION GARDENER PLANT TOOL BOX
I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT... PRUNING!
GO-TO PUBLICATIONS ON PRUNING
CHECK OUT this series of publications on pruning to find information on basic pruning concepts, key terms, woody plant biology, necessary tools and pruning guidelines for general purposes and specific species.

Click on each title below to access the publication! OR HERE for the entire series!

This first of four publications in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series introduces basic pruning concepts and key terms.

This second in a series offers tips on selecting the right tool for the job and for evaluating a tool’s quality.

This third in a series offers general tips on pruning most landscape plants.

This final publication in the Pruning Trees & Shrubs series gives tips for pruning specific plants.
Go slow and stop often.
Step back to review and gauge your progress.
It's important to know when to stop.
You can cut off a branch but you can't stick it back on.

Sometimes removing deadwood and branches that are
crossing or growing inwards is all that is needed!
SMALL GARDEN - BIG RESULTS
Garden Planning: Think Small!

Looking forward to a new gardening year, we often think big: We'll have the biggest vegetable garden ever-grow all the flowers we've been meaning to try-or how about starting an herb garden-replacing foundation plantings? While it's cold and...

Read more
www.buncombemastergardener.org
Growing a Pollinator Garden
View this Video and Comprehensive List of Pollinator Plants

Pollinators are essential to the survival of many flowering plants, promoting the production of over 85% of our food and fiber producing crops. A pollinator is any animal, most often insects like bees or butterflies, that carries pollen from the...

Read more
homegrown.extension.ncsu.edu
RED MAPLES PROVIDE EARLY SPRING FOOD FOR BEES!
Bees, other pollinators and many beneficial insects need access to pollen and nectar from various sources throughout the year for survival.
As gardeners we can help augment what might be naturally occurring with our cultivated gardens and landscapes, especially during times when food availability is limited and bees are active.
Something as common as a Red Maple can be important in early spring when days are warm and bees begin to emerge and search for food. Below is a list of spring flowering trees and shrubs to plant this year.
This information was adapted from the following publication https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1222/
USE THE PLANT TOOL BOX
to learn more about these plants and more
THE NC EXTENSION GARDENER PLANT TOOLBOX is a new plant database to help with plant selection for gardeners throughout North Carolina. Detailed descriptions and photographs of over 4000 plants are included.
Search for plants based on cultural condition, landscape function,
whole plants traits, flower and foliage color.
Use the Plant Toolbox to search for all the plants listed above!
CHECK OUT THE NC EXTENSION GARDENER PLANT TOOLBOX HERE

LEARN HOW TO SELECT A PLANT USING THE PLANT TOOLBOX HERE
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!
Online requests are possible.. 

Service to underground utilities can easily be cut when digging at any depth for any of the following projects; building a terrace or retaining wall, installing irrigation or drainage lines or even planting a shrub or tree.

Having the utilities located within the project area can save yourself and the utility company time and money.
 
Allow 48 hours for the utilities to be marked. Note that only the public utilities up to your meter will be marked. Your private septic lines or the water lines past the meter will not be located. Also be aware that the marking is not exact and will not tell you the depth of the lines. 

Once lines are marked, take a picture or make a map for your future reference!
 
Find more information on the North Carolina 811: visit www.nc811.org

CHECK OUT THE
BUNCOMBE MASTER GARDENER BLOG!
The Buncombe County Extension Master GardenerSM
volunteers have a blog on a variety of topics including current insect and disease issues and gardening tips and activities for all ages and abilities. 

Posts are short, fun to read, and offer good information compiled by your Buncombe County Extension Master Gardeners. 
CLICK HERE to sign up!
VIDEOS FOR ALL GARDENERS!
Extension Master Gardener volunteers have created several gardening videos to help gardeners learn about vegetable gardening in
raised bed and straw bales.

CHECK THEM OUT ON THEIR WEBSITE
A GARDENING GUIDE TO OUR MOUNTAINS
Created by the Extension Master Gardener (BCEMG) volunteers in Buncombe County, this guide provides a complete month-by-month description of what to do (and not to do), along with tips on invasive species, mulching, composting and creating bird- and pollinator-friendly habitats.

. Funds raised through this publication go to support the many educational and outreach programs provided by BCEMG volunteers.

How to order: Send $12 (checks payable to Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener) to the Cooperative Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, N.C. ATTN: Buncombe County Master Gardener. Include mailing address for shipping.

Copies are available at the office for pick up for $10. Please note that due to Covid-19 office hours are limited and so please call in advance. 828-255-5522.
RESOURCES FROM NCSU
for market and home gardening!
Vegetables

North Carolina is a strong national producer of fresh and processed vegetable commodities, serving local and international market demands. The U.S. Agriculture 2012 report ranked the state a top ten vegetable producer in sweet potatoes,...

Read more
horticulture.ces.ncsu.edu
Small Fruits

The Horticultural Science Small Fruit Programs are focused on optimizing production of bunch grapes, muscadines, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Breeding programs are active in developing varieties of strawberry,...

Read more
horticulture.ces.ncsu.edu
Tree Fruits & Nuts

Success in horticulture necessitates a multi-disciplinary approach; NC State's tree fruit research is based on this foundation. Tree fruit information is specific to North Carolina production with valuable support and information shared from...

Read more
horticulture.ces.ncsu.edu

Soil Testing Information for Gardeners

If you are curious to learn more about why and how to soil test your lawn and garden, check out the links listed in the link below.

Read more
gardening.ces.ncsu.edu
COVID - 19 RESOURCES - NC STATE EXTENSION
The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone! NC State Extension COVID-19 RESOURCES & INFORMATION website has information and resources helpful for home gardeners, agriculture, families and youth.

STAY SAFE * STAY CONNECTED * STAY HEALTHY
THE OFFICE IS OPEN...
CALL FIRST BEFORE COMING!
The Extension office is open but with limited staffing.
SOIL BOXES & FORMS ARE OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR
AND CAN BE PICKED UP 24/7
Please make appointments for dropping off samples and seeking information. 
Call the office or contact the agent directly using this link.