By The Yard · It’s best to get the fertilizer down before the soil has frozen so it won’t remain on the soil surface and won’t be subject to runoff with any additional precipitation.

By The Yard

Fayette County Extension

Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Myths 2

Pest Patrol:: Tj- The Samurai Wasp 3

Four Fall Invaders to Prepare For 4

3 Reasons Adult Coloring Can Actually Relax Your Brain 5

Sample Coloring Sheet 6

September Quick Tips 7

Recipe: Apple Spinach Salad 7

Inside this issue:

Cooperative Extension Service

Fayette County Extension

1140 Harry Sykes Way

Lexington, KY 40504

Phone (859) 257-5582

Email: [email protected]

September, 2019

HORTICULTURE NEWSLETTER

Fall Landscape Care

Continued On Page 2

many species. The presence of the terminal bud, even in a seemingly inactive state, suppresses the growth of lower buds through a process called apical dominance, a type of dormancy imposed on the lateral buds. If you remove the apical bud, it may encourage lateral buds to initiate growth in a plant that has not yet fully entered a dormant state. Once lateral bud growth is initiated, dormancy will be hard to achieve, even with the advent of shortening day length and cooler temperatures. So pruning in the fall may trigger new growth that delays dormancy and predisposes the plant to winter injury.

It is better to prune plants in late winter, around mid-February to mid-March. This also allows you to evaluate and remove winter damaged limbs. Pruning in late winter will occur just before one of the most active times of plant growth, bud break, when the plant is redirecting stored nutrients from the root system out to the branches. This would be the most rapid time for the plant to heal wounds (in our case the pruned surface), while fall would be the slowest time for wound healing. An exception is if

So often we hear that fall or winter is a particularly good time to do certain things in the landscape. This is usually due to the fact that plants have entered into winter dormancy.

You can compare dormancy to an extended period of "rest" for plants, when they are relatively inactive in terms of metabolic processes (photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration, for example). I say relatively inactive, because although these processes slow during dormancy, they do not cease altogether. Most temperate perennial plants will enter dormancy in autumn as daylight shortens, temperatures (including soil temperatures) become cooler, terminal buds are set, and perhaps as a result of drier conditions during late summer and fall.

Going dormant is the way these plants survive the cold of winter. It is important that landscape maintenance activities not interfere with the plant's natural process of becoming dormant. Let's use pruning and fertilization practices as examples.

Fall is considered a poor time to prune most woody perennials. Pruning will remove terminal buds that help to maintain dormancy in

FAYETTE COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE

WILL BE CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

By The Yard Page 2

Fall Landscape Care

you are removing dead or severely damaged limbs due to breakage, insects or disease. In that case, it is best for you to remove them as soon as possible at any time of the year. If the plant you are pruning is spring-blooming (generally flowering before early June), it would be better from a flowering display perspective to wait until after flowering to prune since the pruning process will remove preexisting flower buds.

What about fertilization of woody plants? Fall and winter are considered the best times to apply fertilizer, but you should only do this once woody plants are fully dormant. Otherwise, applying fertilizer might trigger new growth and predispose the plant to winter

injury.

How can you tell if plant is dormant? If leaves are falling, the plant has probably entered dormancy sufficiently to allow fertilization. To be doubly safe, wait until temperatures are unlikely to climb into the 70-degree range. In Kentucky this could occur anytime from mid-October to mid-November, so to be absolutely safe this probably means mid-November or later. It’s best to get the fertilizer down before the soil has frozen so it won’t remain on the soil surface and won’t be subject to runoff with any additional precipitation.

If you don't fertilize between Thanksgiving and Christmas, wait

until the ground thaws in late February or early March to apply fertilizer. However, you must realize that February and March are not the best times for applying fertilizer to lawns composed of cool-season grasses (fescues, bluegrass and perennial ryegrass). If you are regularly applying fertilizer to your lawn, woody plants growing nearby are likely getting sufficient nutrients from these applications and probably don’t need additional fertilizer.

For more information on fall landscape care or other gardening topics, contact the Fayette County Extension Office.

Source: Rick Durham, University of Kentucky, Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist

There are many myths and old wives tales concerning fruit and vegetable crops that have become part of Kentucky lore. Several myths that still exist today involve grape coloration and fall frosts.

A number of grape growers believe that it is necessary to pick the leaves off the vine to expose the grape clusters to the sun so the grapes will color. This myth probably originated from growers removing leaves to improve air-circulation and reduce fruit rot. The truth is grapes—with the exception of the seedless Reliance variety do not need sunlight to color. In fact, the fruit will color just fine when covered. Home grape growers can

Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Myths staple a bag over each cluster which keeps off birds, insects and diseases and reduces their spray program.

Frost has a tendency to concern many producers. Some people believe greens become poisonous after a frost. Greens like mustard, kale and collards actually develop a more enhanced flavor after a frost. Cool temperatures slow the internal respiration of the greens, allowing more sugars to accumulate, making them slightly sweeter. One exception, however, is rhubarb, which becomes toxic after exposure to a hard freeze.

Myths involving frosted sweet

potato roots also exist. Many producers believe that sweet potato roots become poisonous after a frost, but they actually just rot. Sweet potatoes are warm season crops and will not tolerate a vine-killing frost. Producers should worry about frost injuring the sweet potatoes where they attach to the vine. This injury prevents healing after the sweet potato is harvested leading to decay in storage.

For more information on fruit and vegetable production, contact the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service.

Source: John Stang, University of Kentucky, Extension Horticulturist

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Pest Patrol - Tj: The Samurai Wasp

Upon its accidental arrival in the U.S., as with most other invasive species, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) numbers expanded quickly in the absence of natural enemies that it left behind in its native Asia. For a number of years, we have studied how our native natural enemies attack BMSB and found that they are not effective in keeping it from damaging crops. But that came to an end in 2014 when Trissolcus japonicas, often referred to by researchers as just Tj, wild populations were found in Maryland. Like BMSB, it had found its way to the U.S. accidentally. Researchers working with Tj have given this wasp the informal common name of ‘samurai wasp’. Despite its small size of 1 to 2 mm, Trissolcus japonicas, or Tj, is an important natural enemy of the BMSB in Asia.

Tj is an egg parasitoid of stink bugs. A female inserts a single egg inside a stink bug egg, then the Tj larvae hatches and kills the stink bug egg. Since BMSB lays eggs in groups of 28 to 35, Tj must place an egg into each of the stink bug eggs to control egg hatch of the entire mass.

A Tj female will typically have 42 eggs at any one time, more than enough for a BMSB egg mass. Since its original detection in 2014, Tj has been found in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, California, Washington, Oregon, Delaware, and Utah. Since 2007, Tj has been studied in quarantine laboratories in several locations in the U.S. to determine if it would be suitable for release and control of BMSB. But before approval was granted for release, Tj was detected in the field. Genetic matching studies have found that these wasps were from a different population than those in quarantine.

In Asia, Tj is able to parasitize up to 60% to 80% of BMSB eggs. If that level is realized in the U.S., Tj will provide significant control of BMSB. However, studies done in quarantine found that besides BMSB, Tj will also lay eggs in the eggs of spined soldier bug, but to a much lesser extent. Spined soldier bug is one of our predatory stink bugs and is considered a beneficial insect.

While we have not been able to detect Tj in Kentucky, a UK graduate student, Lauren Fann, has been trying since 2017. While USDA APHIS regulations prohibit us from bringing Tj across state lines without approval, once it arrives here on its own we will be able to conduct studies and potentially release it within the state. Ms. Fann’s studies with BMSB eggs masses have found that with our existing natural enemies, only 3% to 4% of BMSB eggs are parasitized and about 40% are eaten by predators. Having another enemy of BMSB will help to moderate its populations for years to come.

Source: Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky, Extension Entomologist

Figure 1. Along with being a serious home invader, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a serious pest of fruit, vegetable, and field crops in the U.S.

(Photo: Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky)

Figure 2. This female Trissolcius japonicuswasp is an important egg parasitoid of brown marmorated

stink bug in Asia (Photo: Elijah J. Talamas, ARS USDA)

Figure 3. A native parasitiod attacking eggs of green stink bug.

(Photo: Ric Bessin, University of Kentucky)

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Horticulture

America in Bloom Lawrenceburg is proud to present a screening of the immersive documentary of ‘Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf’ on Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 at Anderson County High School Auditorium. Doors open at 2:00pm. Tickets are $15 and are available at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/five-season-the-gardens-of-piet-oudolf-tickets-68087646985?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or call Carbajal’s Garden Center, at (859) 684-9678 for more information.

We hope to see you there!!!

Four Fall Invaders to Prepare For

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As insects prepare for winter, they must try and survive the changes in temperature that are coming. Some may migrate to warmer places, some can survive being frozen, but a few see your home as a toasty timeshare they can bor-row for the winter!

The Invaders

Box Elder Bugs

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle

Western Conifer Seed Bug

Managing the Invaders

These kinds of pests are hard to deal with because they are not looking for food, mates, or water. They merely want to be somewhere warm. Since you are

unlikely to turn off your heat for the winter, you can’t really remove their temptation. Therefore, the best strategy is a good defense.

Ensure that the perimeter of your home is well secured. Check caulking around doors and windows, make sure that screens fit tightly and there are no large holes in the screening. Pipes and chimneys should also be checked for access points.

Insecticide barrier treatments can stop some invaders, but if you put the product out too early the residues will fade before the invasion; too late and they are already inside. It might be best to hire a professional to try and use a pyrethroid type product on the exterior of your home.

If you find some of these insects inside, the best course of action is to simply vacuum them up and dispose of them outside. Avoid using insecticides indoors, in particular the “bug bombs.” If you find a large group of these insects, you can spray them with soapy water to kill them before removal.

Source: Jonathan L. Larson, University of Kentucky, Extension Entomologist

Boxelder bugs are very common home invaders; if screens are properly secured then they should not be able to gain access to

the house. (Photo: Jim Kalisch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Entomology)

Brown marmorated stink bugs are invasive pests that attack crops in summer and invade homes in fall. Thousands can

descend upon a house, creating a difficult situation. (Photo: Jim Kalisch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Department of Entomology

Adult multicolored Asian lady beetles can be light to dark orange, can have many spots or no spots at all, but usually all have an “M” on the thorax. Photo: Jim Kalisch, University

of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Entomology)

Western conifer seed bugs have impressive looking “calves” on their back legs, which help to separate them from similar

looking pests. (Photo: Jim Kalisch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Entomology)

Page 5 By The Yard

3 Reasons Adult Coloring Can Actually Relax Your Brain - Find out what’s behind the latest craze It’s the latest craze. Where you might expect to see children, you find adults: They sit with colored pencils in their hands, bent over the swirls and intricate patterns of coloring books. Yes, coloring books. They are losing themselves in patterns of mandalas, curved flowers and runaway stems. This is a world they create and escape into, and it’s become a popular form of relaxation.

But how does it work? What does this pastime do to our brains to elicit such pleasure and calm?

According to clinical psychologist Scott M. Bea, Psy.D., it has everything to do with refocusing our attention. “Adult coloring requires modest attention focused outside of self-awareness. It is a simple activity that takes us outside ourselves. In the same way, cutting the lawn, knitting, or taking a Sunday drive can all be relaxing.”

What does adult coloring do to relax people?

Dr. Bea cites three reasons adults coloring can be calming:

1. Attention flows away from ourselves. A simple act, such as coloring, takes your attention away from yourself and onto the present-moment event. “In this way, it is very much like a meditative exercise,” Dr. Bea says.

2. It relaxes the brain. When thoughts are focused on a simple activity, your brain tends to relax. “We are not disturbed by our own thoughts and appraisals,”

he says. “The difficulties of life evaporate from our awareness, and both our bodies and our brains may find this rewarding.”

3. Low stakes make it pleasurable. The fact that the outcome of coloring is predictable also can be relaxing. “It is hard to screw up coloring, and, even if you do, there is no real consequence. As result, adult coloring can be a wonderful lark, rather than an arduous test of our capacities,” he adds.

Why does it help some people but not others?

Adult coloring does not relax everyone. It depends on the individual and their prior experiences. Dr. Bea suspects that the more a person enjoyed coloring as a child, the more likely he or she is to respond to it positively as an adult. “It has been my impression that adults choose variants of activities they loved as children for their adult recreations,” he says.

Is there research to support it as a form of relaxation?

Research on adult coloring specifically is limited, as it has risen in popularity relatively recently. However art therapy has been used for many years with much success.

In a 2006 study, researchers found that mindfulness art therapy for women with cancer helped to significantly decrease the symptoms of physical and

emotional distress during their treatment. Art therapy has also been helpful to people cope with other conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and trauma.

“While adult coloring may differ slightly from this mindfulness art therapy, I suspect the adult coloring would yield similar results. It is likely that its therapeutic benefits would be similar to listening to a person’s favorite music,” Dr. Bea says.

Why has this become popular now?

Having hobbies to help de-stress is nothing new, whether people like to golf, cook, build model airplanes or put together scrap books. People are also open to finding new ways to unwind. “We have a very stress-inducing culture, and I think individuals are always seeking new ways to reduce tension, restore feelings of well-being, and reduce the toll that our stressful lives take on our health,” Dr. Bea says

Source: Cleveland Clinic - healthessentials

See page 5 for a sample coloring sheet to see what you think

about the craze.

By The Yard Page 6

By The Yard Page 7

September Quick Tips

For More Plate It Up

Recipes, Visit:

http://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/content/ plate-it-kentucky-proud

. Add fall blooming perennials to your garden. Good candidates include: Japanese anemone, Hardy ageratum, non-invasive Goldenrods, Hardy begonia, Toad lilies, Asters, Montauk daisy, Perennial mums, Joe Pye Weed, and a wide variety of ornamental grasses. Make sure to keep plants well watered and try to have them planted early enough to allow establishment before freezing weather.

Continue to seed and renovate lawns this month. Good seed to soil contact is critical. Consider renting a power seeder if you are working with a large area.

Order spring flowering bulbs now or shop garden centers for the best selection. Bulbs may be

planted right away or stored in a cool place for later planting.

Plant cover crops in the vegetable garden after plants have been harvested. These can be tilled in next spring to add valuable organic matter. Or consider killing the plants and rolling flat to serve as an effective mulch you can plant through excellent organic weed control. For more information on varieties go to: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id113/id113.pdf

Begin early garden cleanup with the removal of diseased plant materials. This will help prevent problems next year. Healthy plants can be left for late fall or early spring clean up.

Plant fall vegetables. You still have time to direct sow radishes, turnips, spinach and lettuces. You can still succeed with transplants of broccoli, and fast maturing cabbage varieties if planted right away.

Plant trees and shrubs. Fall is a wonderful time to plant woody ornamentals. Try to allow plants time to establish before the onset of severe weather.

Divide peonies, iris, and daylilies through the middle of this month.

Visit a local orchard or farmer’s market for apples, pears, fall raspberries and other seasonal treats.

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“By the Yard”

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The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the bases of race, color, ethnic origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to Equal Opportunity Office, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Room S-105, Agriculture Science Building, North Lexington, Kentucky 40546.

Jamie Dockery

County Extension Agent for Horticulture Cooperative Extension Service

Fayette County Extension Service 1140 Harry Sykes Way

Lexington, KY 40504-1383 (859) 257-5582

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING