SPRING ARRIVES THIS MONTH...YAY!
MARCH 2022 / VOLUME 180
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IT'S BACK, BUT IT ENDS SOON! |
The highly anticipated Tulsa Master Gardener (TMG) Annual Spring Plant Sale is back again. The online shopping cart is now open, but will close at midnight on Saturday, March 12th. Drive-through plant pick-up is from 7am to 7pm on Thursday, April 14th at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds Exchange Center. All you need to do is navigate yourself to the fairgrounds, stay in your car and get in line. Master Gardeners will greet you and direct you to where you can pick up your plants. You don’t even need to get out of your car. Just pop your trunk and we will place your order in your car for you. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
As for the plants, there are 256 varieties to choose from this year, the highest number ever. You will find not only flats of annuals but also individual pots of annuals, perennials, herbs, milkweed, ornamental grasses, tomatoes and other assorted vegetables. We also have various groupings of the plants so you can view them by category such as sun, part sun, or shade. And, this year's event features many native varieties, not to mention we have some plants that cannot be found anywhere else in Tulsa. However, for some items, such as milkweeds, supplies may be limited. To show our appreciation for early shoppers, plant orders will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. So, be sure to order as soon as you can.
Your Tulsa Master Gardeners are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and, as such, receive no city, state, or federal funding. Public and private donations, contributions, and Spring plant sales help fund the many TMG horticultural outreach programs in our area. Last year, thanks to you, we hit an all-time high plant sales record, and we feel like similar results may occur again this year. We are so proud and thankful for our patrons.
Click on 2022 PLANT SALE to go directly to the plant list, pictures, and shopping cart. Happy shopping!
To learn more about your Tulsa Master Gardeners and the organization as a whole, click on TULSA MASTER GARDENERS.
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COMING BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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MARCH HORTICULTURAL
AND GARDEN TIPS
A variety of topics (lawn & turf, flowers & vegetables, trees & shrubs, fruits) are highlighted this month. So, learn about what you should be doing in the month of MARCH by clicking on GARDEN TIPS.
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TOOL OF THE MONTH:
CORONA LR 3460 LONG REACH
BYPASS TRIMMER
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Since pruning will be on the TO-DO list soon, thought it would be good timing to feature a handy-dandy pole trimmer that many MGs like to use. The Corona Tools LR3460 Long Reach Cut-and-Hold Manual Pole Tree Pruner is 46" long which makes it good for holding and cutting those higher-than-average tree limbs with less fatigue. Can also be used for cutting rose bushes and thorny plants without having to touch the branches. It's touted to cut branches up to 1/2" in diameter.
While we don't specially support any particular tool brand or retail outlet, this tool can be found at some Walmart's and online from Amazon for about 45 bucks.
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What is tilth?
What is pH?
What do those numbers on the fertilizer package mean?
Want the scoop on dirt, or the dirt on soil? (Sorry!) A successful lawn and garden starts with proper soil conditions. Click on SOIL 101 for a brief primer on soil basics and facts which will help you help your soil.
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BERRIES, BERRIES, AND MORE BERRIES |
Last month, it was strawberries. This month, it's blueberries. Next month.....will the madness ever end?
Although the health benefits and culinary usefulness of blueberries justifies their growing popularity, the value of cultivating blueberries goes well beyond that. Given the proper growing requirements and care, this perennial shrub offers attractive flowers with fall foliage color, varied plant structures to add interest to the landscape, and a source of food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. A win-win-win trifecta!
Will there be yet another berry article next month? Come back to see.
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TOXIC & POISONOUS LANDSCAPE PLANTS |
Plants are pretty, but not always safe. While it's not the natural inclination to chew or eat a plant, accidents can happen, particularly with children and pets. Toxic and poisonous plants can cause minor to severe reactions (or worse) depending on the person or animal. And, sometimes, plants or berries or seeds that we see birds eating without issue are not for human consumption. Toxic and poisonous terms are widely used interchangeably but they do have different meanings.
For a definition of toxic vs poisonous, a listing of the more common toxic and poisonous plants that we may encounter, and what to do as precautions before exposure as well as during and after exposure, click on TOXIC & POISONOUS LANDSCAPE PLANTS for more information.
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Planting in containers has transcended years of used metal coffee pots, old tires and wheel barrels. In fact, container planting provides garden enthusiasts an opportunity to take advantage of mirroring largescale landscapes using scaled down replicas.
Aside from increased watering requirements over typical flower beds and large-scale maintenance hassles, container gardening presents a more shape, size, color and mobile-friendly environment. Click on CONTAINER GARDENING and follow a few simple steps to ensure your success.
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THERAPEUTIC ADVANTAGES TO GARDENING |
Tough day at work? Afterwards, consider getting out in the garden and taking out your frustrations on the weeds. A little sun, a soft breeze and a feeling of accomplishment can allow the tensions of the day to just melt away.
There is increasing evidence that gardening is beneficial to both physical and mental health. It combines physical activity with exposure to nature and is conducive to social interaction . . . just ask a Tulsa Master Gardener.
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TREE PLANTING (PART 2 OF 3-PART SERIES) |
B&B (Balled & Burlapped) Planting |
Last month in Part 1 of 3 of this series, we discussed how to properly select trees and plan the proper plant location. This month, we will discuss proper planting techniques.
This will be a 3-part series:
- February: Tree Planning & Selection
- March: Proper Tree Planting
- April: Proper Tree Pruning
So, click on TREE PLANTING to learn about properly planting trees, then watch for the pruning phase next month.
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VEGETABLE GARDENING 101:
THE BUILDING 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.
Last month we touched on how to plan a vegetable garden. This month we move onto the building phase. There are many ways to build a vegetable garden.
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!
MG AGENCY FUND (GENERAL)
Judy Feuquay
MG ENDOWMENT FUND
Lee M. Kutner
Scott Draughon Trust
======================================================== 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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