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The Paulding Vine A Publication of the Paulding County Master

Gardener Association

24th Annual Paulding County Master Gardener Plant Sale

April 23rd

The theme for the Plant Sale is “Help Replenish Monarch Butterfly Habitat – Plant A Wildflower”. This is a print article used to condition our customer. Hopefully the reader will feel an itch and conclude that attending our plant sale is the only way to scratch it. The Monarch Butterfly and Milkweed are like peas in a pod. Where you find one you likely find the other. First, the Asclepias tuberosa, is a Georgia native perennial wildflower commonly referred to as milkweed. Their name is derived from its milky alkaline sap. It grows 1-3 feet tall with a showy display of orange flowers lasting from early summer to late fall. It is the only plant a Monarch will lay its eggs and the only source of food for their caterpillars. Monarchs lay their nearly microscopic eggs and the caterpillars munch the leaves growing to full size within 10-14 days. At full size they stop eating to find a safe place to shelter from wind, rain and predators. In another 10-14 days they emerge from their chrysalis transformed into beautiful creature with gossamer wings of yellow and orange, outline in black strips and white dots. The Monarch’s round trip from winter to summer home is as much as a staggering 2,500 miles, which is the longest migration for any insect. In March they flutter out of the Mountains northwest of the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. Riding favorable winds over the Gulf of Mexico and across the Gulf states they head for points south of the Canadian border, to reproduce.

Spring 2016 Volume 10, Issue 2

Inside this Issue: Temporary Move for Our Blueberries 2 Vegetable Garden Contest 2 2015 Annual Report 3,4 24th Annual PCMG Plant Sale 5 Aphids and Cows 6 2016 Master Gardeners of the Month 6 Master Gardener Appreciation Day 7,8 Stop Crepe Murder in our Neighborhoods 8,9 Spring Forward Ask a MG 9 To Prune or Not to Prune 10 2016 MG Ext Volunteer Class 11 Calendar of Events 12 Spring Flowers 12

Alas, they have been in for a rude awaking. Over the last 20 years their population has dropped by more than 90% primarily due to habitat loss. The loss of habitat does not have to hit a crisis point. The Paulding County Master Gardeners have joined with other likeminded conservationist and urge the planting of native milkweed and wildflowers in and around our homes to help replenish their lost habitat. Native milkweed and other perennial native wildflowers, as well as, heirloom tomatoes, trees, shrubs, garden art and recycled windows will be sold at the Paulding County Master Gardener Plant Sale. This rain or shine happening is held on, Saturday April 23rd, 8am-1pm, at 530 West Memorial Drive, Dallas, GA 30132. For more information, contact the UGA Cooperative Extension Office at 770-443-7616, uge2223@uga.edu or visit www.ugaextension.com/paulding. Submitted by Robbie Cheathman, Plant Sale Chairman

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Temporary Move for Our Blueberries

Anticipating the new road that will be coming through the Extension Office property and displacing our current vegetable garden, the decision was made to move the blueberry bushes. True to form, the Master Gardeners built an informational class around this activity. Resident “Move that Bush” expert, Mickey Gazaway, led the event on Friday, February 19th.

Phil Williams, Robbie Cheatham, Marcia Riley, Marsha Rauscher, Sybil Voss, Donna Phillips, Betty & Earl Cosgrove, John & Nanci Shipley, and Lisa Mason (new intern) were ready with large barrels, shovels, and branch loppers. First step was to cut the holes deep and wide to remove the bush with little damage. Mickey explained the need to cut back both the branches and the roots. Loppers were used to cut the branches back by about ½ of the growth. With less plant to support, the bush will refocus on root growth. The roots were also trimmed to allow new growth. Several plants were placed in large garden tubs and two others were placed in a sheet root bundle. All were “planted” with added compost, and rooting medium. Plant identifiers were placed with the correct bush to aid in identification when the decision to re-plant them is made.

Some of the cut branches have been set aside to see if we can root some bushes to add to the garden later. We learned that willow water, a solution made from willow branches is a good medium to encourage healthy roots. The “recipe” can be found on line- Home Made Plant Rooting Hormone – Willow Water | …www.deepgreenpermaculture.com/diy-instructions/home-made-plant-rooting. The blueberry shrubs will be kept watered, and those in the sheets will be heavily mulched to help retain moisture. Submitted, Nanci Shipley

VEGGIE GARDEN CONTEST Paulding County's 3rd Annual Best Home Vegetable Garden Contest is shaping up nicely. The Committee has made significant changes in the way we do business for the Contest and added much needed educationally component as guidelines for the Contestants. The cost to enter is still free. Now for the advertisement phase to take effect. We are asking our members to publicize the Contest with friends and neighbors. MGEVs, UGA Extension staff, and their families are not eligible to enter. We look forward to a very successful contest. Submitted by Earl Cosgrove

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2015 ANNUAL REPORT Bringing the research-based information, education, and resources from the UGA College of Agriculture &

Environmental Sciences to the citizens of Paulding County

530 West Memorial Drive, Dallas, GA 30132 – 770-443-7616 - msheff@uga.edu http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/paulding/

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2015 ANNUAL REPORT Agriculture & Natural Resources

Conducted 65 Programs/Events/Exhibits relating to Horticulture, Farming, Gardening and Water Conservation: 3,500 Contacts. Conducted training and outreach providing Continuing Education Units to Pesticide Applicators in coordination with the Georgia

Department of Agriculture. Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers donated 2609 hours of volunteer service, conducting classes targeted at

improving soil and water quality in home landscapes. This volunteer time is valued at more than $60,000. In cooperation with Parks and Recreation, Master Gardeners installed a Native Tree Trail at White Oak Park. Received ANREP National Team Award for the Video production of “The Blair Twig Project” in coordination with County Media

Coordinator. Conducted “40 Gallon Challenge” promotion, resulting in Paulding citizens pledging to conserve more than 79,000 gallons of

water daily. Conducted Rivers Alive Cleanup in cooperation with 4-H, Master Gardeners, Paulding County Water, City of Dallas and Keep

Paulding Beautiful-Awarded Georgia EPD’s 4-H Rivers Alive Award. Coordinated “Spring Forward Paulding” in collaboration with the Paulding County Water System to help residents learn water

conservation practices-279 attendees. Conducted Cleanscapes Septic Tank Maintenance outreach at Community events, reaching more than 400 people.

4-H Youth Development Program Four 4-H’ers represented Paulding County 4-H at State 4-H Congress. Established Paulding County 4-H First Lego League Competition Team -STEM State winners of the Georgia 4-H LifeSmarts competition. Paulding County 4-H represented Georgia in the National LifeSmarts

competition in Seattle, WA. 1stt place Senior Consumer Judging team at District Competition. Competed at the state competition. 1stt place Junior and Senior Poultry Judging teams at the District competition. Seniors competed at the state competition in Athens,

Georgia. 1st place Senior and 3rd place Junior Forestry Judging Teams in District. Seniors went on to state competition to place 3rd in all of

Georgia. Outstanding participation at Cloverleaf District Project Achievement Public Speaking Competition with 53 5th and 6th grade

competitors. Paulding County 4-H Air Pistol team represented Georgia at the Junior National Olympics in Colorado. Team member earned the gold

medal.

Family & Consumer Sciences Conducted 3 programs in the area of Food Preservation and Food Safety. Assisted Paulding County clients with technical advice on household testing questions related to mold, radon and food safety and

preservation practices.

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24nd Annual Paulding Master Gardener Plant Sale

Mark your calendar for Sat. April 23, from 8 am to 1 pm, 530 West Memorial Drive, Dallas, Georgia 30132

It will be fun and you will have an opportunity to ask questions about soil testing, the plants you are purchasing, reading your soil test results and anything thing else garden related. We are passionate about planting plants and encouraging practices that improve our soil and conserve our water.

We provide good quality plants at a good value and educate the community about the care of the vegetables, annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that are offered for sale. Our plants include vegetables, herbs, annual, perennials, vines-ground covers, daylilies, iris, shrubs, trees, hosta, hellebores, ferns and houseplants.

Second Hand Rose, a perennial favorite, will have gently used plant-related items at yard sale prices, some potted plants and gardening magazines and books.

Pepper Plants Tomato Plants Petunias Hellebores

Each year the Paulding County Master Gardeners have a spring plant sale to give the public an opportunity to collect plants at excellent prices, receive education about those plants and help us fund the many projects in which our Master Gardeners are involved. This is our only fundraiser of the year so we try to serve and share value, education and opportunity with the residents of Paulding County.

Submitted by Master Gardener of Paulding County

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Aphids and Cows

Believe it or not, ants and humans are very much alike. They are both social creature, living in colonies that can exceed a million members and have a divided specialized workforce. Humans are at the top of the food chain, masters of the planet and ants are way down the chain but both can claim a common enterprise. They have each domesticated another species. Humans are unique among other mammals – well after weaning, we continue to drink milk. It is an important food source from herd animals. On the Mongolian plains horses are milked, sheep provide feta cheese and we Americans’ love our dairy cows. Zoologists refer to this as a symbiotic relationship where two organisms use each other’s abilities to thrive. Ants are aphid herders. Aphids are sucking insects that are common on both indoor and outdoor plants. They feed on the sap of plants and secrete a substance called honeydew. This sticky resin is a favorite food of ants, which actually “milk’ the aphids by stroking their stomach. Aphids overwinter below ground on ant provided fodder provided. In the spring, the ants herd them above ground to sometime pasture on our plants. The enterprise of herding cows and aphids are strikingly similar. Submitted by Robbie Cheatham

Spring Wildflowers Red Poppies

Submitted by Rachel Dutton

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March 19 Master Gardener Appreciation Day

Pictured from left to right are Rachel Dutton, Donna Phillips, Robby Cheatham, Bob Banks, Nanci Shipley, Betty Cosgrove, Earl Cosgrove, Marcia Riley, Judy Howd, John Shipley, Mary Carol Sheffield. Front seated- David Austin.

These Master Gardener Extension Volunteers celebrated “Master Gardener Appreciation Day” in Paulding County by participating in the 5th Annual Spring Forward Events from March 9-19. Commission Chairman David Austin issued a proclamation officially recognizing these volunteers for their work in Paulding County.

WHEREAS, The Master Gardener Program is a national volunteer horticultural educational training program sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, and the counties of the cooperating states; and

WHEREAS, The Master Gardener Program provides avid gardeners with intensive education in research-based horticultural principles and pest control practices; and

WHEREAS, New Master Gardeners must provide at least 50 hours of community volunteer service through their County Extension Offices, working on community and school gardening

education projects, conducting garden clinics and answering questions; and

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WHEREAS, Paulding County Master Gardeners in 2015 volunteered 2666 hours representing

$61,526 in labor, traveled 14,994 miles, answered 744 telephone calls and emails, provided technical information/service to 5368 citizens; and

WHEREAS, On Saturday, March 19, 2016, Paulding County Master Gardeners will celebrate Master Gardener Day by providing horticultural education, plant and soil testing clinics, and lectures at the local Garden Centers

and public libraries and

WHEREAS, In the spirit of volunteerism, Master Gardeners have provided and continue to provide valuable services to Georgia communities through education and training programs.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of Paulding County that Saturday,

March 19, 2016 is hereby proclaimed as “MASTER GARDENER APPRECIATION DAY”

“Help Stop Crepe Murder in our Neighborhoods”

As you drive around town these days, all you see are spindly branches sticking up out of the ground about six feet high. What are these eyesores and what did they do to deserve such harsh punishment? They are beautiful

pink, white or purple flowered lovely trees called Crepe Myrtles. And what was their crime? They grew too healthy and tall. So people decided to top them off at this level and let them start over every spring.

The term for this process is “Crepe Murder” and was coined by a Byer’s Nursery in Huntsville, Alabama. It is just easier to go in there with loppers, tree saws, or even chain saws and cut them off. And what happens next? Thin whip-like shoots are produced at these knobs and flowers form on their ends. But the branches are thin and weak and the bountiful flowers bend over sometimes almost touching the ground. It will look awkward and ugly. What should be done is treat this tree like other deciduous trees in your landscape. Each late winter, instead of chopping the tree off, it should be pruned properly. That means training it when it is young by choosing four or five trunks and letting them grow normal and healthy. Each February or March, the dead, diseased or crossing branches should be properly pruned. Larger branches can be removed to produce the desired shape and the top should be left to reach for the sky. This way every year flowers will be produced on the upper thicker branches and reach out in a stable healthy array. With this method, the bark of the tree will stay healthy and a lovely mottled pattern will appear. If your crepe myrtle is too high for the spot in your yard, perhaps you chose the wrong tree to begin with. There are some types that only grow to eight or ten feet at maturity like Delta Jazz, Hopi and Red Rooster. Some even

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lower in height like Early Bird and the Magic Series. Replacing the larger trees that your developer place in your yard may be a better option than committing the crime of “Crepe Murder”. Submitted by Bob Banks

Spring Forward ask a Master Gardener Events John and Nanci Shipley at Home Depot

John Shipley Nanci Shipley

Master Gardeners at Seven Hills

Judy Howd, Rachel Dutton and Laurie Barton

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“To Prune or Not to Prune”

Trees were meant to grow in the forest. Surrounded by their friends, they are protected from the sun and wind. Today, many trees are planted in yards and fields open to the harshness of nature. That is why it is so important to prune young trees to be able to withstand stress and grow strong and healthy. This is especially true for deciduous trees, which lose their leaves annually. Evergreens should be pruned during the growing season to avoid cold damage. These months of late winter are the best time to shape and prepare trees for a healthy growing season. Now they are dormant and pruning will not place additional stress as the sap loss will be minimized and there is less chance for insect and disease infestation. Also, without the leaves it is easier to identify the dead or diseased branches. You need to look for branches that are crossing or kissing each other as this will open up a place for diseases. Next, find branches that are facing inward or downward as this will affect the shape of future growth. Branches that form a v shaped may be codominant stems and have included wood. The main branch should be left and the other cut off as soon as possible. For trees under three years old, some of the lower branches need to be left in place to increase the taper of the trunk and to shade the young tree from the burning sun. These lateral branches can be easily removed in later years when the tree trunk is fully developed. Young tree branches should be cut along the trunk in a scaffold like a spiral staircase every twelve to eighteen inches. Some upper branches in the canopy of the tree should be removed if the tree is densely formed. This will allow light and air to filter down to the lower branches for photosynthesis or food production. The tree should not be lowered by topping or cutting all the upper branches to make a smaller tree. This will remove many of the leaves that the tree will need for food and healthy growth. No more than twenty-five percent of the branches should be pruned at any one time. This may be unhealthy for the tree and may prove fatal. For larger branches of more than two or three inches, a three cut method is most effective. If you cut a heavy branch with one cut, it may strip down the bark of the tree below the cut and open it up to insects and diseases. Make the first cut up the branch on the bottom about one quarter of the way through. Next cut the top of the branch above the first cut all the way through. The final cut should be made just outside the branch collar which is the ridge next to the trunk. This is very important as the tree will compartmentalize the wound more effectively at this point. A flush cut on the trunk will not allow this closing and may kill the tree eventually. Dressing the cut with paint has not proven effective and is only cosmetic.

Follow these simple easy steps and your trees will grow healthy and look the best in your landscape. There are other concerns which should be addressed but these will start you in the right direction. Also, if the tree is too large and the pruning must be done higher up, you should consult a professional. Look for a company with a certified arborist on staff for the best possible outcome. Submitted by Bob Banks

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Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Class of 2016

Recently, the Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Class of 2016 completed their 6-week training course. Paulding County trained several new interns who are already out making their mark in our community through their volunteer service. New Master Gardener Trainees include Kristine Huffman, Lisa Mason, Barbara Quinones, and Christen Thomas. The Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program is a volunteer training program offered through county offices of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Through this program, individuals are trained and certified in horticulture and related areas through forty hours of gardening education curriculum. These individuals return 50 hours of volunteer service through their expertise and services, under the direction of their Cooperative Extension Agent, to help educate others through horticultural projects that benefit the community. Master Gardeners bring the latest horticultural information and practices from the world of research to their communities’ landscapes and gardens.

In 2015, Paulding County had 29 certified Master Gardeners who contributed a total of 2609 volunteer hours. Several of these Master Gardeners donated more than 100 hours of their time in 2015 to Paulding County

Extension programming!

2016 Master Gardeners of the Month January - Laurie Bartron February - Mickey Gazaway March - Donna Phillips

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Spring Flowers and Butterfly

Submitted by Carolyn Bruce

2016 Paulding County Master Gardener Officers

President – John Shipley Vice-Presidents– Robert Cheatham and Carolyn Bruce Secretary – Jan Moore Treasurers – Stan Gazaway The Paulding Vine is a publication of the Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers and is edited by Rachel Dutton. Paulding County Cooperative Extension 530 West Memorial Drive Dallas, Georgia 30132 770-443-7616 http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/paulding/anr/mastergardener.html The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and counties of the state cooperating. An Equal opportunity/affirmative action organization committed to a diverse work force. Cooperative Extension offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability.

Calendar of Events

April 23 – 8:00 am to 1:00pm MG Plant Sale, Extension office

April 28th- 10:00 am Business meeting, Extension Office

May 10th 6:00 pm Spring Vegetable Gardening with Robbie

Cheatham, Extension Office-Registration Required-$10 fee

includes a soil test

May 24th – 10:00 am Field Trip Green Meadows Preserve

May 26th- 10:00 am “How to start a successful Community

Garden”, Becky Griffin, Extension Office

June 7th – 10:00am Field Trip Daylily Tour, Bill Waldrop’s

Kennesaw Mountain Day Lilies

June 23 – 10:00 am Field Trip to Jeff Partin Dahlia Garden,

Meeting to follow at Extension Office