SPRING HAS SPRUNG...FINALLY!
APRIL 2022 / VOLUME 181
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ONLY ONE MORE SESSION LEFT:
SEED SAVING IS ALWAYS A BIG HIT!
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THE TULSA MASTER GARDENERS ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR IS ALWAYS A BIG HIT!
MARK YOUR JUNE CALENDARS NOW - MORE DETAILS COMING NEXT MONTH
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TULSA MASTER GARDENERS CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO HELP MAKE TULSA BEAUTIFUL |
APRIL HORTICULTURAL
AND GARDEN TIPS
A variety of topics (Vegetables, Fruit & Nut, Tree & Shrub, Flowers, Lawn, and General Landscape) are highlighted this month. So, learn about what you should be doing in the month of APRIL by clicking on GARDEN TIPS.
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FROM GREEN COUNTRY MASTER COMPOSTERS |
April is a great month to add more ingredients to your compost pile, especially if it's been awhile since being refreshed. One addition you might not have thought about is a dead or neglected houseplants you may be discarding after a long winter. CAUTION: Never add diseased plants or ingredients to your compost pile. "If in DOUBT, leave it OUT."
Add only the plant material. Dead plants such as leaves and dead blooms are good sources of carbon. However, take care NOT to add to a compost pile if the plant or soil was diseased or had pests. That can be passed onto your healthy compost. If you "deadhead" spent blossoms, certainly add those to your compost. ("Deadhead" refers to cutting or pinching dead or dying blossoms from a still thriving stem to encourage another set of blooming.)
It is a good idea to cut all of the plant into smaller parts for quicker breakdown. DO NOT compost bulbs as they might continue to bloom, no matter how small. You CAN compost houseplant roots by shaking free from excess soil and cutting them into smaller pieces. Again, it's best not to use diseased plants. When adding any ingredients to compost, don't forget to water as you add and turn the new matter several times to mix all of the ingredients well.
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TOOL OF THE MONTH:
GARDEN CART
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This green, portable, and lightweight garden bench doubles as a garden kneeler or as a seat. On the side is a handy tool bag with two large pockets for tools and towels. Quality made with a thick foam pad for comfy sitting and sturdy steel pipe on the sides for support to help get up and down easier. No assembly required and it opens and closes in a quick snap. It's compact enough to squeeze into tight spaces which makes it easy for both carrying and storage.
While we don't specially support any particular tool brand or retail outlet, this handy-dandy garden cart can be found at Gardeners Supply or Amazon for about 45 bucks.
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WATER GARDENING:
OPENING UP FOR THE SEASON
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Maybe you already have a water feature and it has been covered all winter or you're considering starting a water garden. Either way, there are a few things to consider when opening such up for spring including, but not limited to, water temperature. Click on WATER GARDEN for some information to consider as both the water temperature and human inclination increases to get 'er going.
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BERRIES, BERRIES, AND MORE BERRIES:
BLACKBERRY,
RASPBERRY,
BLACKBERRY-RASPBERRY
CULTIVATION IN OKLAHOMA
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Two months ago, it was strawberries. Last month, blueberries. This month, we're on to blackberry, raspberry, and blackberry-raspberry cultivation in Oklahoma.
A tried and true bearer, blackberries are one of the easiest and long-producing berries to grow. Given the proper variety selection, growing conditions and care, blackberries may fruit for up to fifteen years, making them a valuable addition to the home garden. Additionally, these wonderful berries may be eaten fresh, frozen, canned and even dehydrated.
So, for tips on site selection, plant selection, planting & general care, harvesting, disease, and pest control, click on BLACKBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES.
Will there be yet another berry article next month? Come back to see.
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LAWN CRABGRASS:
PRE-EMERGENT MYTH BUSTERS
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#1 No prior crabgrass issues = no need for pre-emergent
Crabgrass seeds can be transported great distances, by the wind or by animals. And, weed seeds are viable for a long time in the soil. Best to treat the yard every year.
#2 Thick lawns don't need to be treated
#3 Soil aeration breaks the pre-emergent control barrier
Because pre-emergent herbicides create a barrier in the soil, it is a commonly-held belief that aeration will disrupt this layer. There have been several published research articles that demonstrate no reduction of weed control with spring aeration.
#4 Spot-treating is more effective
The consensus among scientists is that this method is ineffective. It is better to treat the entire yard with a pre-emergent herbicide to create a complete soil barrier.
#5 Post-emergent herbicides are better
Pre-emergent herbicides have very little chance of affecting the established turf and require far fewer applications. Pre-emergent applications are easier to schedule because the products won't degrade if applied early. For the cheaper and easier option for controlling crabgrass, beating it to the punch by putting down a pre-emergent is the preferred method
#6 Pre-emergent must be applied at an exact time
There are several timing factors that people tend to go by, either waiting for a specific month depending on their region or monitoring soil temperatures. Crabgrass starts to germinate when the soil temperature has been above 50 degrees for several days. The most important thing is to remember that it is better to apply early than too late.
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SPRING DEAD SPOT
IN BERMUDAGRASS
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Spring is officially here and the Bermudagrass is starting to green up. If you are seeing dead, brown patches amongst the lovely spring green of your Bermudagrass lawn, you may have a case of Spring Dead Spot.
Two fungi, Ophiosphaerella herpotricha and Ophiosphaerella korrae, both commonly found in Oklahoma, cause this most unsightly disease called Spring Dead Spot.
For more information on how to specifically identify this problem in your lawn, what causes it and how it can spread, and what you can do to prevent it or, at least, mitigate it, click on SPRING DEAD SPOT and follow a few simple steps to ensure your success.
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2022 OKLAHOMA PROVEN SELECTIONS
HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED
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In 1999, the faculty of Oklahoma State University's Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture began the Oklahoma Proven Program - a program designed to evaluate, recommend and market plants best suited for our challenging Oklahoma climate and soil conditions. And, we've got our challenges, eh?
And every year since then, winning selections are released in the four categories - tree, shrub, perennial, and annual + a collectors choice - just in time for planting.
So, in short for 2022:
TREE: Maidenhair / Ginkgo
SHRUB: Buttonbush
PERENNIAL: Coral Bells
ANNUAL: Coleus
COLLECTORS CHOICE: Mexican Buckeye
Click on 2022 OKLAHOMA PROVEN for descriptions of the this year's winners as well as a link that describes ALL of the Oklahoma Proven selections dating back to 1999.
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TREE PLANTING (PART 3 OF 3-PART SERIES) |
Heretofore we have discussed proper tree planning/selection (February) and proper tree planting (March). Now, onto proper tree pruning. It may surprise you when to prune, why to prune (and not to prune), and when to prune. Enough said . . . click on TREE PRUNING for the low-down.
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VEGETABLE GARDENING 101:
THE PLANTING PHASE
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Several requests have been made recently to run a series of basic vegetable gardening articles. We heard you and so here 'tis. Here's how the 4-part series will go:
- February: Planning a Vegetable Garden
- March: Building a Vegetable Garden
- April: Planting a Vegetable Garden
- May: Maintaining a Vegetable Garden
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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! So proud to be a part of the Tulsa area - such a giving community!
======================================================== 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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TULSA MASTER GARDENERS
4116 East 15th Street Tulsa, OK 74112
918-746-3701
mg@tulsamastergardeners.org
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