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Master Gardeners of
Greene County Newsletter
March 2024
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TABLE OF CONTENTS - March 2024
All of Your Gardening Questions
Internet Plant Sites
Planning Your 2024 Vegetable Garden: Part 3
MDC: Mushroom Hunting 101 Class
SAVE THE DATE: Plant Sale - April 27th
The Ozark Regional Lily Society Spring Bulb Sale
Ask a Master Gardener Q&A
Apple Grafting Workshops - Different Cities
Buy Native Trees and Shrubs (MDC)
Organic Gardening Online Course
Veterans Can Learn Beekeeping Classes
Bee Waterer
Conventional Vegetable Production Series - Zoom Classes
Food Preservation Ongoing Online Classes
Weekly Lawn and Garden Hour with MU Extension
Home Gardeners: Webinar Series Classes
Native Landscaping Series Continues
Researched Based Articles
Flowers and More
Other Articles
Birds
Garden Pests (Animals and Insects)
Feeding the Bees
Other Newsletters of Interest for Spring Reading
2024 Series of Online Plant Classes
Garden Links
Get Your Soil Tested in March
One Last Thought
Previous Month's Newsletter Link
Need a Speaker for One of Your Meetings or Groups?
Gardening Questions Hotline - Phone, Email and Web Questionnaire
Subscribe to the Newsletter
(Forward this Newsletter on to a friend)
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Spring Gardening Questions?
Readers statewide can pose questions by calling 417-874-2963 and one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline answer your call or leave a message after hours. The hours we are available are 10am - 4pm. Please call 417-874-2963 or fill out an 'Ask A Master Gardener' form or email us at hotline@mggreene.org with your question and information to contact you. Learn more here. There will be someone in the office on Thursdays to collect soil samples for testing. Please call before coming in.
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Revised January 2024
Editor's Note: This comprehensive pdf list has been compiled and updated by longtime volunteer Barbara Clark. This is an online list of websites dedicated to plant identification and information including: resources; native flowers and domestic plants; wildflowers and plants to attract birds and pollinators; weeds and invasive pests. After review, you are welcome to share this list with your friends! Suggestions welcome for review. This list's pdf is based on the Greater Ozarks Hosta Society website here.
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Planning Your 2024 Vegetable Garden Continued | |
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It's that that time of the year! 'Planning Your 2024 Vegetable Garden' was first featured in our MGGC January 2024 Newsletter. If you are a new or seasoned gardener, MU Extension Master Gardeners of Greene County has information and guides to assist you with 'Planning Your 2024 Vegetable Garden.' In January's issue for review are the New USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Raised-Bed Gardening, Your Gardening Journal, Vegetable Planting Guide plus many more topics are included here.
Prairie on the Patio by Larry Archer for Missouri Conservationist: February 2024: Led by natives’ positive effects on pollinators and nature in general, their benefits have convinced many property owners to rethink their gardening. Containers offer native plant options for limited landscapes... container gardening rests on three elements: the right place, the right pot, and the right plant. continue reading here.
Growing Home Garden Tomatoes This is a very popular Missouri gardening topic, and we have a large readership. Some of our Missouri readers may want to review this MU Extension guide, 'Growing Home Garden Tomatoes' Reviewed by David H. Trinklein, Division of Plant Sciences here..
Planting a Tree? How to Plant a Tree MU Extension Guide by Christopher J. Starbuck, MU Dept. of Hort. may help with some of the problems when planting trees in many Missouri locations. Information here.
Get Stuck on Succulents by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Technology Feb. 7, 2024: From a botanical standpoint, a succulent is defined as any plant that possesses morphological and/or physiological adaptations that allows it to survive severe drought conditions. There are about 55 plant families that contain succulents of one form or another, with the Cactaceae plant family being the most familiar. Learn more here.
Vegetable Planting Calendar
Both first time gardeners and seasoned professionals can benefit from the 'Vegetable Planting Calendar' available from MU Extension. The guide provides a complete list of planting dates and varieties that do well in Missouri." If you live within the Ozarks plateau, you may want to follow the north Missouri planting dates due to the possibility of late spring frosts,” said Patrick Byers, MU Extension. “If you follow the south Missouri planting dates for spring plantings, be prepared to cover plants for frost protection.” The guide also provides information on the following: how much to plant per person; how much seed to purchase for a 100-foot row; row spacing; inches between plants in the row; depth of planting; days from planting to eating; and vitamin content of the vegetable. You may read and obtain a copy of the Vegetable Planting Calendar guide sheet online here.
TWO LINKS: Are These Seeds Any Good? Answer, MU Extension Hort. Jan. 30, 2024 Video: Free seeds, sale seeds, or didn't get around to planting those seeds last year? Your stash is building. What to do? Is it worth risking valuable gardening time to see if your stash of old seeds will still grow? Today’s Tuesday Tip will show you an easy way test and demystify germination rate. And best of all, you only need about a week! View here.
PLUS: Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination Post by Ken Johnson for Univ. Ill. Extension Jan. 20, 2023: Unfortunately, as seeds get older, their germination rate decreases. Fortunately, there is an easy way to test your seeds to see if planting them will be worthwhile. Learn how here.
Garden Journal and Calendar
This is a must have for every gardener. You can tell from year to year what is going on with your garden. You can record what you planted and how well it did or not, and whether or not there was a drought or too much rain.
'From Seed to Harvest and Beyond: Garden Journal and Calendar' by MU Extension is a garden journal for Missouri gardeners, as well as a how-to guide and information resource. It provides a place to keep all gardening information, plans and notes together. Learn more details and order your copy online today here.
More will follow monthly, or you may do an online search by topic at this MU Extension website here.
The Master Gardener Public Newsletter February 2024 here. Which has a link to January's issue.
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MDC: Mushroom Hunting 101
Free Class
Saturday, March 16th
From 1pm - 2pm
MDC offers free virtual mushroom hunting class: Get ready to hunt for tasty fungi as spring arrives. Spring warmth stimulates natural life, including fungi such as morels and other edible mushrooms.
The Missouri Dept of Conservation's free online Mushroom Hunting 101 class is from 1pm - 2 pm. Learn details and register here.
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Cash, Check or Credit Card
Come early for best selection
Join the Master Gardeners of Greene County, for their annual Plant Sale: Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 27, 2024, starts 8 a.m. until sold out.
Located at the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden Pavilion within the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave.
Sale includes house plants, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, bulbs, grasses, vines, ground covers, shrubs and trees. FREE admission, prices vary per plant.
Other plant and garden groups also sell items near the Gray/Campbell Farmstead (some groups may not accept credit cards).
Call 417-874-2963 for more information or visit MGgreene.org/plantsale
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The Ozark Regional Lily Society
Spring Bulb Sale
March 9th from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon or until all bulbs are sold
In the Meeting Room at the Springfield Botanical Center, Springfield Botanical Gardens, 2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield.
Spring is a great time to plant lilies as they will bloom this spring and summer.
There will be a variety of bulbs and colors available, priced from $2.50 - $5.00 per bulb depending on the variety.
Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted.
Save the date, hope to see everyone March 9th!
For questions contact Susan Sims-Giddens by email at ssg062f@mchsi.com
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ASK THE MASTER GARDENER Q & A Published February 2024
Four Questions Answered by Master Gardeners of Greene County, Springfield
Question #1: How did we end up developing and growing tulips?
Answer: Tulips came from Central Asia. The name tulip is thought to come from the Persian word for turban, as the bud resembles the traditional cloth headwear from the Middle East.
Tulips were the first plant cultivated for their flowers in the 1600’s. They caused a high demand in the Netherlands, where individual tulip bulbs were known to go for up to 10 times the annual income of the average worker. Interestingly, most of those early, expensive tulip bulbs were for variegated flowers caused by the Tulip Breaking Virus, also known as Tulip Mosaic Virus. These plants and blooms were usually smaller than those not affected by the virus and had poorer survival and reproduction rates, dying out in just a few years.
The Netherlands still grow more than 25,000 acres of tulips and exports 60% of the world’s cut flowers and billions of bulbs every year.
Question #2: How did the hellebore get its name?
Answer: The scientific name Helleborus derived from the Greek words elein (to injure) and bora (food) because the plant is poisonous, as it contains several different toxins. Since it is poisonous, deer and rabbits do not bother it. It is a great plan to have during the winter as it is one of the first to bloom.
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Question #3: How do I tell if the weed I’m seeing is nutsedge? And how can I get rid of it? My regular herbicide is not controlling it.
Answer: Nutsedge is a lime green color, and it grows taller than the rest of the lawn or jumps up very upright from your garden beds. Although it looks like grass, it is really a sedge. A way to test is to snap a blade at the ground level and try to roll it between your fingers. The stem is triangular or ‘V’ shaped and does not roll.
Found in just about any type of soil, sedges do especially well in low-lying areas high in moisture. Check these areas for poor drainage or a leaky sprinkler pipe or hose and fix these areas to improve control. Nutsedge usually does not form tight clumps, but rather is found in patches spaced apart by the rhizomes that connect each plant. They are also spread by tubers, and of course they do go to seed late in the summer heat.
With over 200 different species of sedge found in Missouri, purple sedge or yellow sedge appears in many yards, each distinguished by the color of the seed. Once established, control can be obtained by digging each plant out of the ground (making sure you get all the little tubers or each one will grow a new sedge).
You can also use herbicides specific to the sedges. Always read and follow the label before applying chemicals to the landscape. The herbicide good on either type of sedge is halosulfuron, sold under a few different product names. Bentazon is good against yellow nutsedge, but the purple variety. Imazaquin, on the other hand, it’s good on the purple but not the yellow.
Question #4: How do I create interest in my garden even during the winter?
Answer: You will have to start the process this spring and summer. Take note of the various plants you have, their heights, and locations.
A winter garden does not have to be drab, empty and lacking interest. Choose the right plants, hardscape, and make an intentional garden design, so your garden can still be interesting in the winter months.
Rely on some plants with winter flowers such as Hellebores, Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), and Witch hazels (a large shrub that covers itself with fragrant, golden spider-like blooms in late winter and early spring).
Winter berries grow on deciduous holly (a native, non-evergreen that can grow into a large shrub to small tree), Japanese laurels (Aucuba japonica), Viburnum and Winterberries (Ilex verticillata)
Interesting winter leaves grow on arum, skimmias, sweet boxes (Sarcococca). And you have the usual evergreens such as pine, juniper, holly, etc. which provide some green when most other colors are pretty blah in the winter.
Some shrubs or trees have interesting bark such as the Crape myrtle, Oakleaf hydrangea, Paperbark maple, and river birch. Others have a great structure or color to their limbs, like Harry Lauder’s walking stick (also known as Contorted Filbert - Corylus avellana), Japanese maple, red or yellow twig dogwood.
You can attract birds by leaving seed heads of perennials such as Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), Coneflowers (Echinacea), Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, ornamental grasses (which also add interest as they sway in the breeze. Bird feeders will also attract birds, and if you get different kinds, you will get quite a variety of visitors.
Find some lawn ornaments (hard scape) that can fill in otherwise empty areas: a sculpture, bench, windmill, large rocks/boulders, fences, gateways, trellises, a wall or terrace.
Be sure to put them in places you will see during the winter months, when you probably don’t get out a whole lot.
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807. Learn more here.
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Please note that each class is in a different city.
2024 Apple Grafting Workshops Presented by MU Extension & MSU during March. Have you considered mastering the skill of grafting fruit trees? Now is your opportunity to join fruit grafting experts from MU Extension and MSU for a hands-on opportunity to do just that!
We are offering five apple grafting workshops where you will learn the concepts of grafting, and then practice these concepts with a trained grafter. We provide the rootstocks, the scions, the supplies, and the tools, and you will take away two semi-dwarf apple trees.
Fee is $10.
There may be one of five workshops near you, each workshop has more details from MU Extension here.
Questions contact: Patrick Byers, MU Extension Field Specialist, email: byerspl@missouri.edu or by phone: 417-859-2044.
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Buy Native Trees and Shrubs
Still time to order and plant your trees.
From Missouri Dept of Conservation (MDC) State Forest Nursery. Place orders now here.
PLUS: Need trees and shrubs for your landscape? Go native with tree and shrub seedlings from the Missouri Dept of Conservation (MDC). They can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while improving the appearance and value of property. Continue reading here.
Pictured is the American Fringe Tree.
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ORGANIC GARDENING ONLINE COURSE
Access anytime (Still available)
Information shared by David Trinklein, MU Extension, Missouri State Master Gardener Coordinator July 31, 2023: Oregon State University Extension has just announced the availability of a new online course in organic gardening.
The course builds on the basics of gardening and provides students with a better understanding of organic gardening techniques & methods and how to apply them to your own garden.
On demand, access any time, 15-30 hours online, price $250. For additional details, go here.
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Veterans Can Learn Beekeeping Skills for Peace and Income
Heroes to Hives - Veterans find peace, skills and income with MU Extension FREE program.
This program seeks to address financial and personal wellness of military veterans through professional training and community development centered around beekeeping.
Learn more details about MU Extension’s 'Heroes to Hives' program here.
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This ongoing self-paced course provides research based information needed to safely and successfully preserve food at home. Participants of all levels of food preservation experience are welcome, including individuals with little or no previous food preservation experience. This course covers pressure canning, boiling water bath canning, steam canning, dehydration, and freezing. Highlights include preserving salsas, pie fillings, pickling, sweet spreads, and harvesting and storage of produce.
Registration is $30.00
Click here for more information and registration.
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Get your Lawn and Garden Questions Answered
at the Garden Hour with MU Extension
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Virtual Town Hall: Mandy D. Bish - MU Extension Specialists will address lawn, garden, and insect questions during the 'Garden Hour' with MU Extension. NOW EVERY Wednesday of the month from 12-1pm. The virtual event is free. To register for the virtual event and/or ask a gardening question, please visit.
To see recordings from previous events, please check out the YouTube videos on the MU Extension IPM channel here.
For more information visit. Or contact Mandy D. Bish, MU Plant Science & Technology at (573) 882-9878 or email: bishm@missouri.edu
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Native Landscaping Series Continues Through April
MDC helps sponsor this series. The first component will be a series of online webinars from now through March 20 hosted by St. Louis County Library.
The 10 free webinars will cover a wide range of native gardening topics, presented by acknowledged experts in the field. Each session is free; however, preregistration is required. For a complete list of sessions and to register, go here. Participants will receive Zoom information via email immediately after registering.
Programs will be recorded and available on the St. Louis County Library (SLCL) YouTube channel within three business days. Learn more and register here.
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Researched Based Articles | |
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Home Maple Syrup Production Educational Video by Patrick Byers MU Extension Field Specialist Produced March 18, 2021: Join master maple syrup producer Henry Whitener and Patrick Byers for a discussion of home maple syrup production. Learn about the entire process, from selecting trees to tapping to boiling sap to bottling to pouring on your pancakes! Learn more YouTube 1 hr video here.
Prune oak trees this winter to avoid oak wilt by MU Extension Jan. 24, 2024: The leaves are down, winter is upon us, and that means it’s prime time for pruning oak trees, which can be infected by the oak wilt fungus if they’re pruned during the high-risk period mid-March through mid-July. Learn more here.
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Flower Bud Galls on American Elderberry by Michele Warmund MU Plant Science & Tech. Feb. 8, 2023: During the summer of 2023, flower bud galls were abundant across Missouri on American elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) plants. These galls appear as enlarged florets on umbels. The florets never develop into fruit, causing yield loss. Learn more here.
Don't trash the ashes -Recycle today for a better garden tomorrow Writer Linda Geist for MU Extension Feb 14, 2024: The phrase “waste not, want not” goes back to a time when the essentials of life were difficult to obtain, but it continues to be good advice today, says MU Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. It applies even to ashes produced this time of the year by wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. Follow details in this article if you do recycle wood ashes, click here.
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TWO LINKS: What is Slime Mold? A slime mold looks bad but doesn't hurt the soil or plants. Learn more about them here: 'Unsightly slime mold sighting on landscape mulch' by MSU Extension here.
PLUS more on Slime Molds from Missouri Botanical Garden here.
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THREE LINKS: Passionflower: 'The Fast-Growing Perennial That'll Turn Your Yard Into A Pollinator Haven' by Tiffany Selvey, Master Gardener, for House Digest Feb. 12, 2024: You may know this vine by different names: maypop, purple passionflower, purple passion vine, and apricot vine are all common names for (southern Missouri) native passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L.). This perennial plant shows up along roadsides and fields, but it also makes a beautiful addition to the home garden where it is a favorite among pollinators. Read more here.
PLUS: Learn more from Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant Finder about growing Passionflower in Missouri, where it dies to the ground in cold winter climates here.
PLUS: How to Grow Purple Passionflower (Passiflora Incarnata)'by Gemma Johnstone for The Spruce Sept 25, 2023; learn more here.
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Buddleia: A Butterfly Magnet by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Tech Feb 21, 2024: The National Garden Bureau has chosen Buddleia as its flowering shrub to promote in 2024. Its scientific name is (Buddleia davidii) and is a member of the Scrophulariaceae (or figwort) family of flowering plants. Native to central China and Japan. Buddleia's vigor and resilience are not without controversy. After being introduced to the United States in the early 20th century, it gained the reputation of spreading quickly, especially in southern states. Learn more here.
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TWO LINKS: Missouri Lavender Research Recap: What We've Learned - YouTube 7 Min. Video by Kelly McGowan, Field Specialist in Horticulture, MU Extension IPM Feb. 8, 2024 watch here.
PLUS: Learn more about Growing Lavender in Missouri Text by Kelly McGowan July 11, 2023 here.
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Chasing the Buzz by Steve Buback / Alex Morphew for Missouri Conservationist: February 2024: The Missouri Bumble Bee Atlas improves understanding, conservation of threatened species. Atlas volunteers survey bumblebees across the state in a variety of habitats to better understand where they occur, what threats they face, and which species most need assistance to thrive in Missouri. Continue reading here.
Our Everyday Rainbow: The Science Behind Colorful Skies by Flor Mireles for The Current at Nova SE Univ: Pollution causes our sunrises and sunsets to appear redder, but this pollution can either be caused by human activity or just natural aerosols created in nature. The sky’s changing colors occur because these particles either interact or destroy the natural particles in the air. Learn more here.
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Wonderful Unusual & Fascinating Herbs by Annie Ewbank, Sr. Asso. Editor, Gastro Obscura Feb. 10, 2024: Unusual and fascinating herbs to plant this spring. I’m going to buy seeds for some fascinating herb varieties that would be harder to find in my local grocery store... Some of the culinary herbs I’m planning to plant this year and why I think they’re awesome here.
Strawberries A Sweet Springtime Reveal by USDA ARS News Service Feb.14, 2024: Strawberries are usually the main attraction when it comes to springtime produce. Who can resist a strawberry from the fields on a late spring day? Especially when it is bursting with flavor and can be incorporated into smoothies, desserts, syrups, preserves or just a raw, healthy snack. Read on here.
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Recycled Bucket Garden & Greenhouse Part Three Author Jill Henderson, Show Me Oz, Feb 16, 2024: Note: In this final part of her three part series on gardening in a recycled bucket garden, Jill discusses which buckets are safe to use, basic bucket culture, maintaining healthy soil in buckets, encouraging earthworms and microorganisms to generate healthy soil, and the types of crops that do best in bucket gardens. Read on with links to Part One & Two of this series, all three here.
How to Build a Koi Pond by Lee Wallender for The Spruce Nov. 27, 2022: Learn how to build your own koi pond for a yard refresh... Koi will bring a splash of swirling color and a serene presence to your yard. Because koi are so hardy, maintenance is minimal. If you're making a koi pond from scratch, you can save considerable money... (Note, this is a guide, do double check advice.) Learn more here.
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Purple Martins are native songbirds in the swallow family. East of the Rocky Mountains, Purple Martins nest almost exclusively in human-supplied housing. They are dependent on us for their survival. They are one of America’s most well-loved songbirds for many reasons; their chattering song, aerial acrobatics, insect-eating habits and their tolerance of humans. Whether you are a seasoned Purple Martin landlord or just starting out there’s always something new and exciting to learn about martins here.
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How To Get Bluebirds To Stay In Your Yard – The Secrets To Attracting Bluebirds! By Simple Garden Life: If you are looking for the perfect natural way to help control insects and pests in your garden and flowerbeds this year, you need to not only attract bluebirds to your landscape – but get them to stay and live in your yard all season long! Learn more here.
Who Likes What: The Favorite Birdseed of Feeder Regulars and Rarities by Kevin Dupzyk for Audubon Magazine: Here are the top three seed choices for a variety of species, per a scientific observational study of 1.2 million bird feeder visits. continue reading here.
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FOUR LINKS: Deer Problems? Good question, tough problem, these articles may help you and other readers: Controlling Deer Damage in Missouri. by Robert A. Pierce II, MU School of Natural Resources: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are found in a variety of habitats throughout Missouri. Read on here.
ALSO: Deer Gardening | Deer-resistant plants Missouri Department of Conservation reviewed here.
PLUS: White-tailed Deer from Missouri Botanical Garden here.
AND: Deer-Resistant Plants IPM University of Missouri here.
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TWO LINKS: Do you have Voles or Moles? Review these two publications form MoBot: 'Voles - Including Integrated Pest Management Strategies' by Missouri Botanical Garden: Voles, Microtus spp., also commonly called meadow mice, are seldom seen... These are chunky, ground-dwelling rodents about 7 inches long with a tail that is less than 2 inches long. There are several species of voles, including the woodland vole, meadow vole and prairie vole. In Missouri, chances are you will be dealing with the prairie vole. Learn more here.
PLUS: Moles-Integrated Pest Management Strategies by Missouri Botanical Garden: Moles are a long-standing nuisance to the garden, known for unsightly tunneling and uprooting favorite plants. Moles are classified as insectivores but will also eat earthworms and other small animals in the soil. They only rarely consume plant material. Learn more here.
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GROUNDHOG PROBLEMS? The woodchuck, also known as the groundhog or whistle pig (Marmota monax): Learn more from Penn State Extension here.
Plus: The Wildlife Code of Missouri classifies the groundhog as a game mammal that may be taken during the prescribed hunting season (see current regulations for details). Taking groundhogs during the prescribed season can help control their numbers. Cage-type traps are allowed as a hunting method. The Code also specifies that you may shoot or trap damage-causing groundhogs out-of-season without a permit. Refer to 3 CSR 10-4.130 of the Code for details and restrictions. Find your local MDC contact for questions and assistance here.
How to Get Rid of Flies Indoors/Outdoors by Erin Huffstetler for The Spruce Aug. 2, 2023: Planning ahead. Note, there are some flowering plants will actually attract flies, etc. while others will repel them. Here are several effective ways to get rid of house flies indoors and outdoors. Learn more here.
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Squash Bugs - Integrated Pest Management Strategies by Missouri Botanical Garden: Squash bugs (Anasa tristis) are pests on all cucurbits including cucumbers, muskmelons, pumpkins, squash, and watermelon. Squash and pumpkins are the most susceptible to squash bug attack. Learn more here.
Occasional Biting Pests by Richard M. Houseman, Dept of Entomology, MU Extension: There are several species of insects and mites that bite human occasionally. Some are encountered indoors while others are found outdoors... These insects and mites vary in their biology, behavior and methods of control. Learn more here.
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Help Save the Bees! Consider Not
Spraying Herbicides or Pesticides.
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Other Newsletters of Interest for Winter Reading | |
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The Garden Spade Newsletter February 2024 Articles include: Consider a Theme in Gardening + Earth's Warmest Year + Perennial Lily-like Weeds of the Month + Planting Patio Containers + Bananas + Scarification vs. Stratification + Back to the Basics-Flower Parts + Kids Ask Dr. Bug + Feb Gardening Tips + Upcoming Events & Flyers, Details on these and more here.
MO Tree Health News 2023 Summary by MDC Topics include: Invasive forest pest survey results + Oak decline + Laurel wilt on sassafras + Weather updates + Herbicide injury on trees. Before spring arrives, take a few minutes to look back on some of the major issues affecting Missouri’s trees and forests in 2023! The latest and previous editions, along with other important tree pest information, is available here.
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Missouri Produce Growers Video Newsletter by MU Extension Hort. Team Feb. 9, 2024: MO Lavender Research Wrap Up + High Tunnel & Greenhouse Tomato Production + Analyze Profitability of Value-Added Farm Products + Pruning Fruit Crops + Indoor Mushroom Production + Lessons Learned from a MO Beginning Farmer + Upcoming Classes Offered, Publications & More for MO Growers Here.
Natural Resources Newsletter February 2024 by MU Extension Natural Resources Team Feb. 9, 2024 Topics: Forest & Wildlife Ecology & Management + Vernal / Ozark Witch Hazel a MO Native Plant + Tulip Tree / Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) + Missouri Native Grassland Summit + Online Webinars, In-person Workshops, Classes & More with details here.
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Friends of the Garden News - Seasonal Transformations Feb. 24, 2024: Today & Tomorrow Lawn & Garden Show - Garden Giveaway! + Garden Updates Four Seasons Marble Statues & Friendly Pondless Water Features + Events-Spring Lily Bulb Sale Mar 9 & ‘Chick’ This Out! (Chickens 101) Mar 21 + Important Dates-Garden Day & Butterfly Festival + Master Gardeners Feb Newsletter! Details and more here. | |
Home Garden News by Penn State Extension Feb. 1 2024 Topics: Taxonomy for Gardeners + Pruning Needled Evergreens + Evergreen Perennials + Cherries in the Garden and the Kitchen + Top Annual Plant Picks + Yarrow Herb of the Year + Home Gardening Categories + Online Learning Opportunities. Details on all of this and more here. | |
Preserve It Fresh, Preserve It Safe Newsletter March/April 2024 by MU Extension Topics: Why is dry canning not safe? + Why is pressure important in pressure canning? + Interested in learning how to preserve food at home? Or want to brush up on your skills? Try MU Extension's online Food Preservation course! + Contact your local extension office for additional information on food preservation and food safety. Details & More here. | |
Engaged Neighbor Newsletter February 2024 #2 by David Burton MU Extension: News for individuals interested in neighboring; improving their neighborhood and community. Review timely, relevant, useful, research-based articles from MU Extension. Read here. | |
Missouri Prairie Foundation News Feb. 27, 2024: Mar. 13th Webinar How Plants Work Plant Physiology + Soft Landings Shade Garden Plans + MPF Acquires 35th Prairie + National Invasive Species Awareness Week Starts 26th + Cemetery Prairie Protection + Dates Spring Native Plant Sales. Details and More here. | |
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2024 Series of Online Plant Classes
Dr. David Trinklein, MU Extension, Missouri State Master Gardener Coordinator noted in a recent Missouri Master Gardener Association Newsletter: All classes are open to the public. North Carolina State University Extension has announced it is offering a series of online plant classes this year. The lineup includes these and more:
1.- Understanding Plants, March 11 - April 22, 2024, Details here.
2.- Plant Propagation May 13 - June 24, 2024, Details here.
3.- Annuals, Perennials, Vines and Groundcovers: Identification and Use, July 15 - August 25, 2024, Details here.
4.- Trees, Shrubs, and Conifers: Identification and Use, September 23 - November 4, 2024, Details here.
For more detailed information, go to here.
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Get Your Soil Tested This Month
So that it can be ready for planting season. Basic soil testing analysis is done by the MU Soil Lab in partnership with our Master Gardeners of Greene County. Results include fertilizer and lime recommendations. Additional tests are available for nutrient management plans, environmental issues, potting mixes, compost, manure and water usage.
Each sample should contain a total of 2 cups of dry soil and from 6 to 7 inches deep and about 5 or 6 different areas. Results are typically provided within two weeks.
Bring the soil sample(s) to the Greene (or your local county office) County Extension office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Master Gardeners can complete the paperwork and submit your test. One of our extension specialists will review your results. In most cases, gardens, lawns and fields should be tested every two years.
The cost is $30 per sample. Feel free to call if you have any questions:
417-874-2963.
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A LAST THOUGHT Lots of plants are starting to come up and leaf out. Come to the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield, MO and see them. We now have a new fence and water feature in the Hosta Garden. Plan a group or family spring visit today. In addition to the many beautiful floral and demonstration gardens, a number of gardening organizations are headquartered there, including MU Greene County Extension office and the Master Gardeners of Green County Hotline. Questions call 417-891-1515 or tour the gardens and all of the other attractions online. | |
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Need a Speaker for a Meeting or Group?
Master Gardeners of Greene County are available at this time to speak to garden clubs, civic organizations, schools and other groups on a wide variety of topics within the world of gardening, horticulture, landscaping and the environment.
Please keep us in mind for a future date.
For more information.
Email Us
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OUR OFFICES ARE INSIDE
Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center
2400 S. Scenic Ave.
Springfield, MO 65807
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