Clearly, fall is the very best time to do soil sampling and testing.  By having your soil analyzed now will give you the adequate time to correct for any pH or key nutrient deficiencies before springtime planting.  If you have not had your lawn or garden soil tested within the last 3 years, now would be a great time to do so.  Proper soil nutrients are absolutely key to successful landscaping and garden results.  And, for a mere $10 per soil test, it's a real bargain!  Turnaround time for test results from OSU labs complete with recommendations from our County Extension Agent is generally 2-3 weeks. 

To find out more about proper soil sampling and testing, click on  SOIL TEST.     

Is it pennies, pineys, pea-o'nees, or pea'-o-nees? Depending on what part of the U.S. you are from, the pronunciation may vary.  But, one thing everyone can agree on is that peonies are beautiful, hardy, durable perennial plants with large fragrant flowers.  Peony history goes back over 2,500 years to their cultivation in China.  Peony breeding continues today with over 30 species and hundreds of cultivars and hybrids available.  Peonies are long-lived plants surviving a hundred years or more and can be a welcome addition to flowerbeds even when not in bloom.

If this has peaked your interest in this beautiful, yet hardy, perennial, click on PEONY to learn a lot more about them.

For more information on this process and some key tips on how to do this successfully, click on HOUSEPLANTS to learn about optimizing this transition period.  If you have not yet started this process, NOW is THE time to do so.  

QUESTION:   Why do I see a bunch of twigs/small branches on the ground around trees this time of year that look like they've been carefully pruned off the tree?

ANSWER:   It is a result of a pest called a Twig Girdler.   As the names suggests, these insect pests chew the bark all the way around small branches, girdling and killing them. These beetles don't sting you, nor do they carry infection to your plants.  However, twig girdler damage can be significant, especially in pecan, hickory and oak trees.

• Spotting Damage:  You'll see leaves wither and die prematurely. You'll also notice twigs and branches dropping from your trees and piling up beneath them on the ground.  If you inspect the twigs, you'll see the twig girdler damage.  The twigs are gnawed off cleanly and precisely, almost as if someone had pruned them.  However, look closer and you'll see a faint rounding of the chewed end, the work of the adult female twig girdler.

• Pest Development:  The adult female twig girdler lays her eggs inside a tree's twigs and smaller branches.  She selects a branch about as thick as a pencil.  She gnaws a circular incision all the way around the twig, taking out not just the bark but also digging deep into the wood.  In this girdled area, the female beetle digs out a slightly deeper hole and places an egg inside.  In a few days, the twig falls to the ground. The egg hatches out in the wood of the twig regardless of whether or not it has fallen to the ground. The larva grows and overwinters in the twig.  By the middle of the next summer, the larva has pupated and soon emerges as an adult.

• Treatment:  First, don't start by buying pesticides for treating for twig girdlers. Your first step should be a thorough clean-up of the backyard.  If you pick up and dispose of all of the twigs on the ground beneath trees that have been attacked, you are affecting twig girdler control.  Many of the twigs you destroy will contain eggs or larva.  Treating for twig girdlers by removing the fallen twigs goes a long way toward ridding the area of this pest.

DID YOU KNOW?

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. 

Our Master Gardeners are on hand to assist you with even the toughest gardening questions. Visit us in person, by phone, via email or online! Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

Address: 4116 E. 15th Street, Gate 6 at the Fairgrounds

Phone: (918) 746-3701