Garden Wise Gazette - Collin County Master Gardeners

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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Garden Wise Gazette
The Garden Wise Gazette is an outreach
of the Collin County Master Gardeners
Association (CCMGA) and the Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension Service to the citizens of
Collin County for horticultural education,
interest, and information.
Lak e Lavon
May/June 2014
In this Issue . . .
Anticipating the Future of Horticulture . 1
Water Conservation: Memories of
the 1950’s Drought ...................... 3
Collin County Master Gardener
Training Class ............................ 4
Save the Date: A Walk in the Park ... 5
Save the Date: The 11th Annual
Bulb & Perennial Mart ................ 6
New Pest on Crape Myrtle ................ 7
Tycoon Tomato Named
Texas Superstar .......................... 9
Garden Checklist for May.................. 11
Garden Checklist for June.................. 12
The Garden Show 2014
Featured Sponsors ....................... 13
— March 20
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Anticipating the
Future of Horticulture
article by Dr. Greg Church, Ph.D.
County Extension Agent – Horticulture
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
photos of Lake Lavon by Jim Ewoldsen,
Collin County Master Gardener / CCMGA President
What does the future have in store for gardening and
landscaping? No one really knows, but the current methods
used by the typical homeowner or property owner likely won’t
have a place in the future. The decrease in available water for
irrigation, greater restrictions on pesticide use, and growing
environmental harm from the overuse of fertilizers will change
how people in the future manage their plants for food and
beautification purposes.
Help Desk FAQs.............................. 14
A growing percentage of residents of Collin County and other
areas of the country realize the need to conserve water. Their
realization is either through personal revelation or mandatory
Gardening in Collin County ............. 14
— continued on page 2
The Garden Wise Gazette is published six times
a year, providing information applicable to the
upcoming season. The July/August issue will be
released on July 1, 2014.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
photos courtesy of Jim Ewoldsen
Anticipating the Future of Horticulture
(continued from page one)
water restrictions, the latter being
the more likely reason. Collin
County has experienced several
major factors that contribute to
our water shortage: drought,
invasive species such as the zebra
mussel, and rapid population
growth. Even if you take away
the drought and increase the
water supply, it is still predictable
that the future will require water
conservation. The future water
supply will not be able to keep
pace with increase in use by the
growing population.
The Texas State Water Plan
for the future requires water
use to decrease by at least
20% in the future.
To give you an idea of what
20% means — Stage 3 water
restrictions are designed to
achieve a more than 10% reduction
in water use. However, we achieved
a 23% reduction overall in 2013.
Therefore, in the future, we won’t
be able to water more than we
can today under current Stage 3
water restrictions.
The use of harsh pesticides has
dramatically decreased over the
past 50 years due to increased
restrictions by the EPA. As
evidence of the negative impacts of
pesticides on the environment and
human health is discovered, more
products are taken off the market.
There are an increased number of
less toxic or even “environmentally
friendly” pesticides available to
consumers. However, there is still
a monetary cost to the use of these
products.
Pesticides, whether good or
bad, lead to a dependency on
their use, and don’t solve the
real problem that exists.
Knowing why these pests,
diseases, or problems occur will
lead someone, seeking knowledge
and wisdom, to realize the best
course of action is to prevent the
problem before it occurs.
The advent of synthetic
fertilizers are credited (in part)
with the start of the “Green
Revolution” — a time when
agriculture technology was used
to increase crop production
worldwide and saved over a
billion people from starvation.
Synthetic fertilizers may have a
place in agriculture crop production
for many years to come, but their
overuse and abuse in urban areas
(or any area) has a negative
environmental consequence. Soil
fertility is key to achieving proper
growth and development of
plants. However, using fertilizers
properly or preferably using
alternative sources can achieve
protection for the environment.
Through the realization that
these three major issues have a
huge impact on the future of
horticulture, we can start the
change now to prepare ourselves
for the future. Fortunately, a
method already exists that solves
all these key issues. This method
uses a systems approach to
address all the issues facing the
future of horticulture. This
systematic approach works with
natural systems that already
exists in our ecosystem and leads
to an environmental equilibrium
that addresses those problems
that face our gardens and
landscapes. This system is called
Earth-Kind® Environmental
Stewardship.
Earth-Kind®
Environmental Stewardship.
Earth-Kind® landscaping uses
research proven techniques to
provide maximum garden and
landscape enjoyment while
preserving and protecting the
environment. To learn more,
please visit:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Water Conservation —
an ongoing, critical issue
facing all of Collin County
Memories of the 1950’s Drought
sy of DMagaz
photo courte
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by Peggy Gleghorn,
Collin County Master Gardener Intern
Residents of North Texas,
and indeed all of Texas, should
never take water for granted. It
is one of our most precious
resources. Water is probably
never fully appreciated until
there is little or none to drink.
Today, as we labor under
Stage 3 water restrictions, my
thoughts return to my childhood
days in the Oak Cliff section of
Dallas. From 1948 to 1957,
Texas received 30-50 percent
less rain than normal, and
temperatures rose above average.
The 1950’s brought the second-,
third- and eighth-driest years
ever in the state – 1956, 1954
and 1953, respectively, according
to the National Weather
Service. There were periods of
rain during those years, but
nothing to soften the drought.
Dallas used two main water
reservoirs – Lake Dallas and
Garza Little Elm. Those water
systems dried up or at least we
could no longer receive water
through the system in Oak Cliff.
At some point in time late in
the summer or fall of 1956, the
Dallas City Council decided to
run a water pipeline from the
Red River (Lake Texoma) to
Oak Cliff. (Sound familiar?)
They evidently did not evaluate
the Red River’s water quality –
it was saline. The saline water
running through our pipes was
available for washing, bathing,
running the water coolers –
anything but drinking. (Recently,
someone asked me about lawn
watering but lawns were not my
main concern at that time since I
was a child and I don’t remember
anything about them.) East
Dallas received its water from
the White Rock Pump Station.
White Rock Lake became a
muddy hole and large catfish
were caught at the spillway.
Dallas sits on an aquifer that
was rarely opened for public
consumption. Until that time,
few residents knew about its
existence and it became our
lifeline. Above ground faucets
placed on boards connected to
the aquifer were installed. The
water department notified
residents the dates and times to
take water jugs to the site.
My Mother’s family came up
from Bryan/College Station for
the State Fair each year. Her
youngest sister decided to brew
a pot of coffee one morning
before breakfast using the tap
water. The coffee wasn’t exactly
what she expected. Another
pot was promptly brewed using
the artesian water. Much better!
In the 1950’s most homes
were not equipped with central
HVAC systems of any type.
To cool our home, my Dad
installed a large water cooler
with chains holding it to a
bedroom window. Water ran
through the coils and a blower
sent cool air into the home. An
attic fan ran for nighttime
cooling. (Yes, it was safe in those
days to open our windows at
night.) The salty water ruined
the motor in our water cooler
and long salt icicles hung from
its housing.
Large cracks developed in
school playgrounds and yards.
My brother and I took swimming
lessons in a large public pool
in Oak Cliff that became so
— continued on page 4
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Memories of the 1950’s Drought (continued from page 3)
dirty from lack of water that
the City closed the pool never
to open again. (Cigar and cigarette
butts floated on the water at times!)
The large pool at Fair Park also
closed during the drought period
as well as other public pools.
Dallas City Council members
voted to build new water
reservoirs to prevent Dallas
from running low on water when
drought conditions existed.
Lake Grapevine came on board
first, followed by Lake Lavon.
Lake Tawakoni was next and
in the 1960’s Lake Ray
Hubbard was brought on line.
Rain returned to our parched
area in 1957. The artesian well
was capped, Lake Lavon filled
up sooner than expected, and
once again we had city water.
However, the length of dry, arid
weather with high temperatures
made an indelible impression
on all who experienced that
time in Dallas history. I don’t
know of anyone who wishes to
repeat those days.
Today, the population of
this area has expanded and
once again our water reservoirs
are being tested. Many residents
find it difficult to believe that
one day, the water will run
out. We depend on it to run
our power plants, provide for
our comfort, run our irrigation
systems for green lawns, and a
variety of other uses. As in the
1950’s, droughts come on slowly,
downpours go to parched
ground instead of watershed
areas, and summer temperatures
begin to evaporate water in our
reservoirs. The drought
conditions that Dallas and all
of Texas experienced in those
dry years of the 1950’s can and
probably will occur again in
our state’s future. When the
water table in those reservoirs
begins to run low, residents
will once again realize just how
precious a drop of water can be.
Collin County Master Gardener
2014 Training Class
article by Kim Schultz, CCMGA Training Class Committee Co-Chair
The 2014 Collin County Master Gardener Training Class, sponsored by the Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service, will begin Tuesday, September 2, 2014, and run for 12 weeks ending on Tuesday,
November 18, 2014. The class includes instruction by several speakers including, the Collin County
Horticulture Extension Agent Dr. Greg Church, knowledgeable Master Gardeners, and local experts.
The 2014 class will include several hands-on activities and two field trips. Class sizes generally range
from 50 to 55 students.
Master Gardener trainees are required to attend 65 hours of classroom training in exchange for 65
hours of volunteer commitment their first year after training in order to certify as a Collin County
Master Gardener. To apply for the 2014 Class, please go to:
http://ccmgatx.org/about-us/master-gardener-training
Download the Application Packet, Background Check, and Volunteer Agreement forms. Once
completed, mail the forms and the class fee of $200 to the address on the bottom of the Application
Packet by the deadline of August 1, 2014.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Save the Date:
A Walk in the Park
by Kathleen Brooks,
CCMGA Interactive Adult Education Project Leader
photos courtesy of CCMGA
The Collin County Master Gardeners will
be hosting tours of the award-winning research
and demonstration gardens at Myers Park on
Saturday, June 28, from 9 am – Noon. Over the
past five years, we have partnered with the staff
at the park to install gardens that include: perennials,
annuals, crape myrtles, vegetables and herbs, as
well as the demonstration gardens around the
office. Master Gardeners will be on hand to serve
as guides and to answer your questions.
Our butterfly experts will be in the perennial
garden pointing out the various plants used as
host and nectar plants by butterflies and other
pollinators. Our Youth Education Committee
will have fun, educational activities for children
in the Pole Barn. An information booth will also
be available to provide answers to general
gardening questions.
Learn more about Collin County’s rural
heritage at The Collin County Farm Museum.
The museum will be open for tours and is located
in the Wells building next to the perennial
garden. With 8,528 square feet of collections,
restoration exhibits and historic farming
equipment, you’ll learn about Collin County’s
agricultural history from its early settlement up to
the 1960’s.
Rainwater collected from the roof of the Farm
Museum fills tanks located on the north side of
the museum and is used to irrigate the perennial
research garden. The Water Conservation
Committee will have hands on displays where
you can learn more about drip irrigation and
rainwater harvesting. Specialists will be available
to answer your irrigation questions.
Why not make plans to join us at Myers Park
and Event Center in McKinney on Saturday,
June 28, 2014? You won’t want to miss “A Walk
in the Park.” See you there!
Myers Park & Event Center
7117 County Road 166
McKinney, TX 75071
For directions, please go to:
www.collincountytx.gov/myers
Questions? Please call the Help Desk at:
(972) 548-4232
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Save the Date:
The 11th Annual Bulb
& Perennial Mart
Begins August 1st
by Dawn Bluemel Oldfield
Collin County Master Gardener and Public Relations Chairperson
photos courtesy of CCMGA
Mark your calendars! The pre-sale for bulbs for
the 11 th Annual Bulb and Perennial Mart is
right around the corner! The Collin County
Master Gardeners Association will be offering
heirloom and naturalizing bulbs by pre-order
only from August 1-31. These easy-to-grow bulbs
have been researched and are proven to be
suitable for our climate and soil. Many of these
hard to find bulbs will not be available for
purchase at local nurseries. Pre-ordered bulbs will
be available for pick-up at the Bulb and
Perennial Mart on Saturday, October 18th in the
Stall Barn at Myers Park and Event Center in
McKinney, Texas.
The Bulb and Perennial Mart will begin with
an “Early Bird” seminar at 8:30 am, with preorder bulbs available for pick-up at 9:00 am.
CCMGA will be selling a selection of perennials
and more varieties of spring, summer, and fall
blooming bulbs during the event. The perennials
offered at the sale have been proven to be
winners in the International award winning
Research and Demonstration gardens at Myers
Park. These Texas tough plants will add color
and beauty to the garden throughout the year.
This fall fundraiser benefits CCMGA
community outreach programs and horticultural
and water conservation education in Collin County.
Information about the Bulb and Perennial Mart,
a color brochure with descriptions of bulbs
available for the pre-sale and an order form will
be available August 1, 2014 for downloading at
the CCMGA website:
http://ccmgatx.org
The International Award Winning
Research and Demonstration Gardens
Myers Park, McKinney, Texas
Mailed orders must be accompanied by a check
or money order payable to CCMGA and must be
received no later than August 31, 2014. Visa and
MasterCard will be accepted for online orders
only. Please call the Collin County Master Gardeners
Association at (972) 548-4219 or (972) 548-4232
for questions and additional information.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
New Pest on Crape Myrtle
excerpted from “Insects in the City —
New Pest On Crape Myrtle”
by Dr. Mike Merchant, Ph.D.
Professor and Extension Urban Entomologist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texans (and many other
southerners) love their crape
myrtles! And why not? Crape
myrtle (Lagerstroemia species) is
one of the few trees that bear
colorful flower displays through
much of the summer, come in
a variety of stunning colors, is
easy to grow, and until now
has been relatively pest free.
Unfortunately, the pest-free
reputation is changing with the
advent of a new exotic scale pest.
In 2004 I received a call
from a local lawn maintenance
company that was having a
difficult time controlling an
unusual scale on crape myrtle
at a commercial property in
Richardson, Texas.
Crape myrtle branch with a
heavy infestation of scale.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Photo
Crape myrtle trees infested with BMBS in
Richardson, TX. Black sooty mold deposits on
the branches and trunks of infested trees are
often the first sign on an infestation. Note the
white, scale encrusted upper branches.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Photo
After examining it I thought
this scale might be something
new, and sent samples of
the insect off to experts for
identification. Under the
microscope it appeared to be
an Eriococcid scale called
azalea bark scale, Eriococcus
azaleae. Azalea bark scale is a
common pest of azaleas in the
eastern U.S., but had never
been recorded as occurring on
crape myrtle before. A
suggestion by a retired USDA
scale specialist led us to change
our minds and believe that the
scale might actually be a
closely related scale known as
Eriococcus lagerstroemia. This
scale is an important pest of
crape myrtles in China, Japan
and Korea. The difficulty was
that no one knew how to tell
these two scales apart. And
because the only place that the
scale occurred was in the
Dallas and Fort Worth
Metroplex, it was difficult to
interest others in investigating
the problem without some
financial backing. After several
years of slow spread through
several north Texas counties,
last year the scale made its
move. In 2013 the scale
appeared in several locations in
Arkansas, Louisiana and
Tennessee. As a result, this
winter researchers from the
University of Arkansas and the
USDA’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection service agreed
to lend a hand and take a
closer look at these tiny insects.
Molecular and new
microscopic examinations now
appear to confirm that our new
scale is likely to be a recent
import from Asia, probably
Eriococcus lagerstroemia. Last
year Dr. Mengmeng Gu,
Extension Horticulture
specialist with Texas A&M
AgriLife, had a chance to see
these scales in their native
Asian environment in a trip to
China. The messy crape myrtles
she saw there stimulated her
interest in the scale, and led us
to coauthor two new publications
with the University of Arkansas.
Both now Texas and Arkansas
have fact sheets on this pest.
— continued on page 8
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
New Pest on Crape Myrtle (continued from page 7)
Many pest control professionals
provide IPM services for
landscape and turf pests, so it
will be important to be able to
recognize and identify it when
you see it. Crape myrtle bark
scale (CMBS) is a small white
scale that bleeds pink when
crushed.
A scale-encrusted crape myrtle branch.
Note the pink blood from crushed scales
where a finger has been dragged
across the infested stem.
Photo by M. Gu
No other insects found on
crape myrtle share these
characteristics. They can be
found on the trunks branches
and twigs of crape myrtle.
Don't be surprised to find this
scale in Arkansas, Louisiana,
southern Oklahoma,
Germantown, Tennessee, and
possibly South Carolina. In
Texas the Dallas/Fort Worth
area is widely infested and it
may also be found in Tyler,
Longview, and College Station.
Based on the current rapid
spread, within the next ten
years this scale will likely be
common in many communities
throughout the South.
Crape myrtle bark scale fact
sheets may be found at:
www.agrilifebookstore.org
www.uaex.edu/publications
Texas A&M AgriLife Water Education Network
excerpted from http://water.tamu.edu
Water demand in Texas is projected to increase by 22 percent between 2010 and 2060. As a result,
protecting water resources and utilizing water conservation practices will be essential to sustain the
state’s water supply-and-demand balance. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service delivers a wide
range of resources and programs focusing on water conservation, water management and water
quality. With its statewide network of professional educators, trained volunteers, research partners and
community collaborators, AgriLife Extension is ready and able to impact issues that affect the
well being and prosperity of Texas Residents.
Click here to browse resources offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Water Education Network.
To learn more about featured programs, click here.
To sign up for updates by email for all of the most recent Water Education Network
news and resources, please click here.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Tycoon Tomato
Named
Texas Superstar
®
by Robert Burns, Extension Communication Specialist
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service
photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
COLLEGE STATION — Tycoon tomato
has many characteristics that rival or even best
the Celebrity tomato, the long-standing favorite
of many commercial and home growers,
according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service horticulturist.
Tycoon tomato has superior resistance to
diseases and nematodes, and it can produce very
large fruit of superior quality. All these characteristics
and more won it the Texas Superstar® title, said
David Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension agent for
horticulture in Bexar County and member of the
Texas Superstar® selection board.
For example, Tycoon is resistant to tomato
yellow leaf curl virus, a disease that has become a
major problem for many varieties in the past few
years, Rodriguez said. It is also resistant to the fungi
verticillium and fusarium, races one and two, and
tomato spotted wilt virus, as well as nematodes.
Tycoon is an annual and determinant variety,
which means that it is bushy rather than vining,
and produces and ripens all its initial fruit crop at
nearly the same time, most often within about a
two-week period, he said.
Most home gardeners as well as commercial
growers prefer determinant varieties because
they’re easier to manage and usually don’t take
up as much space. Also, the plants continue to
produce fruit well into the summer, another plus
for Texas gardeners.
As if all these favorable characteristics weren’t
enough to qualify Tycoon as a Texas Superstar,
it’s also capable of growing very large tomatoes,
Rodriguez said. A common-size tomato for most
reliable varieties, including Celebrity, is about 6
to 8 ounces.
“But we’ve been seeing and hearing reports
from other growers as well that under optimum
management, Tycoon can produce tomatoes 1
pound and larger and of very high quality,” he said.
As for flavor, that’s a subjective matter,
Rodriguez noted, but Tycoon does have a very
good sugar-to-acid ratio, which should please
most people’s taste.
All Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive
tests throughout the state by Texas A&M AgriLife
Research and AgriLife Extension horticulturists,
said Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research
horticulturist and chair of the Texas Superstar
executive board, Overton.
To be designated a Texas Superstar a plant must
perform well for consumers and commercial growers
throughout Texas, Pemberton said. Superstars
must also be easy to propagate — which ensures
the plants are not only widely available throughout
Texas, but also reasonably priced.
— continued on page 10
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Tycoon Tomato Named Texas Superstar (continued from page 9)
In addition to disease
resistance, summer plants must
tolerate Texas heat well, and
Tycoon has proven itself
exceptional in this regard too,
Rodriguez said.
“Tycoon was released at
the San Antonio Livestock
Exposition in 2011,” Rodriguez
said. “A good chunk of the
tomatoes that are released
locally here in San Antonio
tend to be looked at real closely
in the rest of the state. We
have been testing Tycoon at
the tomato trials we do here in
south Bexar County since
about 2007 or 2008. We’ve
been getting real good results
locally, thanks to help from
cooperators like Verstuyft
Farms and Rodney Peterson of
Peterson Brothers wholesale
nursery, as well as statewide.”
Tycoon’s resistance to
tomato yellow leaf curl virus
was a major factor in its being
chosen as a Superstar, he said.
“In the fall, within about a
150 mile radius of San Antonio,
when they start defoliating
cotton, we get a lot of whiteflies
driven into the urban areas,”
Rodriguez said. “Whiteflies
are a vector of the virus, and
it’s been devastating for growers
in the San Antonio area, as
well as others, such as in the
Rio Grande Valley.
“In a randomized block
planting of different varieties
— AgriLife Extension’s fall
trials test the same varieties as
in the spring — they were all
devastated by the disease, except
for a plant here and a plant
there, which was unaffected.
And guess what that unaffected
plant was: Tycoon.”
Optimum management for
Tycoon is the same as other
determinate tomatoes, he said.
It needs full sun, and should be
planted early spring after the
danger of frost has passed. In
the summer, optimum planting
times are 80 to 90 days prior to
the first freeze in the fall, and
it’s best to use high quality
transplants. If seed is used, it
should be started six to eight
weeks prior to the planting
date. And, as it is a bushy
determinant variety that can
grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3
feet wide, Tycoon will need to
be staked.
Fall-planted tomatoes go in
as early as July 4 to no later than
late August, Rodriguez said.
“Back in the early 80s,
Celebrity tomato, which is
probably still the traditional
standby tomato that everyone
should grow as the backup
tomato, has become an allAmerican selection tomato,”
Rodriguez said. “At this point,
looking at how Tycoon has been
performing and from feedback
from others, in the future we
think it will possibly be as
highly ranked as Celebrity.”
Texas Superstar is a registered
trademark owned by Texas A&M
AgriLife Research, a state agency
that is part of the Texas A&M
University System.
More information about the
Texas Superstar program can
be found at:
http://texassuperstar.com
Along with Pemberton and
Rodriguez, other Texas Superstar
board members include:
Dr. Cynthia McKenney,
Texas Tech University, Lubbock
Dr. Mike Arnold,
AgriLife Research, College Station
Dr. Larry Stein,
AgriLife Extension, Uvalde
Dr. Dan Lineberger,
AgriLife Research, College Station
Dr. Tim Davis,
AgriLife Research, College Station.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Photos courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net
Garden Checklist for May
Plant:
Mulch:
• It is not too late to direct
sow seeds of sunflower, zinnia,
morning glory, portulaca,
marigold, cosmos, periwinkles,
and gourds.
• Replace or replenish mulch
materials in flowerbeds and
shrub borders to conserve
moisture and reduce weed
growth.
• Achimenes, cannas, dahlias,
and other summer-flowering
bulbs can also be planted in
May.
• During the summer, soil
moisture becomes extremely
important and essential for
good plant production and
gardening success. Because
continual watering is costly
and time consuming, it pays to
conserve the moisture around
plants with mulch. Mulches
are usually applied 2 to 6
inches deep, depending on
the material used. In general,
the coarser the material,
the deeper the mulch. *
• May is a good time to plant
caladium tubers, impatiens,
coleus, begonias, and pentas in
shady areas.
Prune/Pinch Back:
• Allow the foliage of springflowering bulbs to mature and
yellow before removing.
• Pinch back the terminal
growth on newly planted
annual and perennial plants.
This will result in shorter,
more compact, well-branched
plants with more flowers.
• Prune climbing roses as they
complete their spring bloom
season. Remove dead or weak
wood as needed.
Other Tasks:
• Make cuttings of your
favorite chrysanthemums and
root them in a mixture of sand
and peat moss. Cover cutting
box with plastic and place in
shaded area for 5 or 6 days to
prevent wilting.
• Take a critical look at your
landscape while at the height
of summer development.
Make notes of how you think
it can be better arranged,
plants that need replacement,
overgrown plants that need to
be removed, and possible
activity areas that can be
enjoyed by family members. *
• Check for insects and
diseases. Destroy badly
infested plants. Spider mites
can be especially troublesome
at this time. Select a chemical
or organic control, or use
insecticidal soap. *
* Repeat these tasks in June.
My neighbour asked if he could use my lawnmower
and I told him of course he could,
so long as he didn't take it out of my garden.
— Eric Morecambe
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Garden Checklist for June
Repeat the starred (*) May tasks in June.
A few additional duties include:
Plant:
• There is still time to plant
some of the colorful, heattolerant summer annuals.
Direct-seed zinnias and
portulaca, and purchase plants
of periwinkle, salvia, marigold,
and purslane. Be sure to water
transplants as needed until
roots become established.
• June is the time to select
daylily varieties as they reach
their peak of bloom.
Prune/Pinch Back:
• Re-blooming salvias, should
be pruned back periodically
during the summer. To make
the job easier, use hedging
shears, and remove only the
spent flowers and a few inches
of stem below.
• Fall-blooming perennials,
such as Mexican mint marigold,
chrysanthemums, physostegia,
and Salvia leucantha, should
be pruned in the same manner
during the summer to keep
them compact, reducing the
need for staking. This type of
pruning should be completed
prior to September 1, since
flower buds begin forming
about that time.
Irrigation:
• Supplemental irrigation is
essential for many ornamental
plants such as coleus, caladium,
geranium, dahlia, azalea, and
camellia during the hot dry
summer days ahead.
• Water lawn and garden
thoroughly, but not too
frequently. As a general rule,
soak to a depth of 8 inches.
Finish watering by 10 am to
lessen the chance of disease,
conserve water, and meet the
watering restrictions for your city.
Roses:
• Fertilize roses every 4 to 6
weeks. Apply a high-nitrogen
fertilizer immediately after a
flush of bloom.
• Continue to spray susceptible
roses with your preferred
synthetic or organic black-spot
control every 7 to 10 days.
Other Tasks:
• Removing faded flowers
from plants before they set
seed will keep them growing
and producing flowers. A light
application of fertilizer every 4
to 6 weeks will also be helpful.
• Houseplants can be moved
out of doors this month. Sink
the pots in a cool, shaded
garden bed to prevent them
from drying out so quickly;
water pots, container plants,
and hanging baskets often.
Monthly feedings with
houseplant fertilizer will
encourage continued growth.
• Now is the time to plan for
next spring. Consider digging
and dividing any crowded
spring bulbs. Once the bulbs
have matured and the foliage
has turned brown, it is time to
spade them up and thin out the
stand. Crowded bulbs produce
fewer and smaller blooms.
They usually need thinning
every 3 to 4 years.
Photos courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
The Garden Show 2014 . . . Success!
Partly sunny skies and moderate temperatures attributed to approximately 8,500 guests attending this year’s
Garden Show. To those of you who were able to attend, we thank you! For those of you who weren’t able to attend,
mark your calendars for The Garden Show 2015, which will be held on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, 2015.
The Garden Show cannot happen without all of us working together! Thank you to our CCMGA volunteers, our
vendors and especially our sponsors for all of your hard work and participation making the 2014 show a success!
Bruce Batman & Linda St. Romain — Co-Chairs, The Garden Show 2014
Each month, we will feature a few of our invaluable Garden Show 2014 sponsors in the Garden Wise Gazette. This month,
we’d like to introduce our title sponsor, Ag Power and silver sponsor, Chambersville Tree Farms.
Ag-Power, Title Sponsor
Chambersville Tree Farms, Silver Sponsor
article by Shirley Brown, Ag-Power
article by Michele Tesdall
Collin County Master Gardener Intern
Since 1972, Ag-Power has
been one of the most progressive
dealers of agricultural and consumer equipment in Texas,
Arkansas and Missouri. Besides carrying a full line of John
Deere equipment for lawn & garden, commercial, and
agricultural needs, Ag-Power also offers a full line of fuelefficient Honda Power Equipment and powerful, environmentally
responsible STIHL power tools. Once primarily selling
large agricultural equipment to the farmers in Collin County,
Ag-Power has adjusted to the changing needs of its customers
by offering smaller agricultural equipment as well as the
full line of lawn and garden, and commercial equipment.
At Ag-Power, not only will you find the equipment you
need, but a well-stocked parts inventory (including John
Deere and competitive parts) and service to take care of
your equipment, along with knowledgeable and caring
staff. Customers can get the parts they need for whatever
equipment they own and, if not in stock most parts can be
obtained overnight. A well-trained service staff can assist
the customer in keeping their equipment running with as
little downtime as possible, while a large fleet of service
field trucks also assists by servicing equipment at the
customer’s location.
Jack Radke, owner, has laid a foundation for Ag-Power’s
commitment to being a leading corporate citizen and
supporting our communities and has ingrained this mission
in all 17 Ag-Power locations.
With 18,000 square feet of inside display space, the
entire family can browse through the large line of equipment,
merchandise, toys, clothing and much more. Ag-Power
looks forward to you visiting them at any of their locations
for any of your sales, parts or service needs. For more
information or to find a location near you, please visit our
website at: www.ag-power.com
Situated about 13 miles north of McKinney
in Celina, Chambersville Tree Farms (CTF) is a North Texas
organic wholesale grower specializing in Japanese maples,
crape myrtles and roses. On their 266 acre farm you can
choose from North Texas’ largest selection of Japanese
maples, over 30 varieties of crape myrtles, and more than
300 varieties of roses. Included in CTF’s rose offerings is
their Heritage Rose Garden featuring the largest collection
of tea and China roses in the Southwest.
CTF has set a high standard in its industry, one of
providing beautiful plants while minimizing human impact
on land and community. Their focus is on native and adapted
plants, and an adherence to an organic growth and maintenance
approach. They back their products with a one-year-fromplanting-date assistance program. For the first year, customers
are but an email or a phone call away from the expert
assistance and advice of CTF’s staff who can help create a
plan, and recommend service providers for the care and
maintenance of a CTF purchase. Among its highly praised
staff are two degreed horticulturalists, two Tree Stewards,
and a combined 125 years of experience in this trade.
In addition to the business of growing and selling high
quality plants, CTF boasts a picturesque event venue perfect
for outdoor weddings. Also, coming up on Saturday, May
3rd is their annual Rosedango: Rose and Wine Celebration.
An all-day event with free admission, Rosedango will have
vendor booths, speakers, and Texas vintner, Mike Wiggins,
owner of Lenoir-Sage vineyards, as well as catered lunch
and dinner available for purchase.
Chambersville Tree Farms is much more than a nursery.
It is your destination for your landscape tree and rose
needs. Check out ChambersvilleTreeFarms.com, as well as
Rosedango.com for complete information.
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Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Collin County
Volume 7, Issue 3
Help Desk FAQs
Collin County
Extension Horticulture
&
Collin County
Master Gardeners
825 N. McDonald Street
Suite 150
McKinney, Texas 75069
Phone: 972-548-4232
Metro: 972-424-1460 x4232
Email: mgcollin@ag.tamu.edu
Dealing with the
Drought
Water Conservation
& Irrigation Resources
Efficient use of water is a big
concern for Collin County
gardeners. First, we recommend
visiting the Texas Urban
Landscape Guide. It is one
of the most comprehensive
sites on the web covering
efficient water usage for Texas
homeowners. Then, follow
these links to learn more about
using water wisely.
•
Drip Irrigation: Salvation for the
Gardener
•
Landscape Water
Conservation...Xeriscape
Irrigation Tips (and more) for
Container Plants
•
MULCHING:
•
•
RAINWATER
HARVESTING:
•
The Texas Manual on Rainwater
Harvesting
•
Rainwater Harvesting: An
Underutilized Conservation
Project
MORE WATER WISE TIPS:
County Extension Agent:
Greg Church, Ph.D.
Email:
gtchurch@ag.tamu.edu
Garden Wise Editor:
Bonnie Landon
Email:
newsletter@ccmgatx.org
Collin County Master
Gardeners Association
http://ccmgatx.org
http://collin-tx.tamu.edu
Extension programs serve people
of all ages regardless of socioeconomic
level, race, color, sex, religion,
disability, or nation origin. The
Texas A&M University System, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, and the
County Commissioners Courts of
Texas Cooperating.
Easy Gardening...Mulching
Mulches for Enhanced, LowCost, Low-Maintenance
Landscapes
GENERAL RAINFALL
INFORMATION:
•
•
Water Wise Council of Texas
Efficient Use of Water in the
Home Landscape and Garden
•
•
Effect of Irrigation Frequency on
Drip-Irrigated Vegetables
•
•
Water Management on
Turfgrass
Monthly and Annual Rainfall
for D/FW
U.S. Soil Moisture Monitoring
Gardening in Collin County
One of the main objectives of the Collin County Master Gardeners is to help
gardeners identify suitable plants for our area. Our website — ccmgatx.org —
features recommendations and information about plants that have proven to
perform well in our part of Texas. Here are some links to helpful information:
Plant Pictures Pages
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu
USDA Plant Hardiness Map http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources
Texas Superstars
http://texassuperstar.com/
Vegetable Picker
http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources
Water Conservation
& Irrigation Tips
http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources
Plant Diseases
http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources
All About Insects and Pests
http://ccmgatx.org/gardening-resources
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