Garden Scoop - University of FloridaOriental Garden, Southwest Garden, Shade Garden, Rose Garden,...
Transcript of Garden Scoop - University of FloridaOriental Garden, Southwest Garden, Shade Garden, Rose Garden,...
WELCOME
UF/IFAS Extension, Lake County Master Gardeners provide
information for your home lawn and garden needs. We started
this newsletter as one of many ways we extend horticulture
know how to the public. We hope you enjoy the articles!
For more information contact: UF/IFAS Extension Lake County
[email protected] ▪ (352) 343-4101▪ FAX (352) 343-2767, http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lake/
Issue 4 Feb/Mar 2019
Garden Scoop UF/IFAS Extension, Lake County Master Gardeners
Lake County MG Mission Statement
The mission of UF/IFAS Lake County Master Gardeners is to assist extension agents by providing horticultural education programs and current research-based information to the public through plant clinics, community outreach and Discovery Gardens.
Annual Plant Sale
It is springtime in Central Florida &
gardeners are looking forward with
anticipation to the next Lake County
Master Gardener (MG) Plant Sale. Each
year, since the late 1990’s, homeowners
have flocked to the UF/IFAS Lake County
Extension Center in Tavares to purchase
a wide variety of excellent Florida-friendly
plants. This spring, the sale is on Saturday, March 23rd, from
8am-12pm.
We have almost 4,000 plants for this year’s sale; including annuals,
perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs, natives & vegetables. All were
propagated & grown by the MG volunteers in our Greenhouse. Most
plants began as cuttings or seeds taken from the home gardens of the
MG’s or from “mother plants” growing in our own Discovery Gardens -
the site of our sale. The myriad of plants are excellent bargains and
ready to find their new home in landscapes across FL.
Proceeds from the sale are used by the UF/IFAS Ext., Lake County MGs
to improve Discovery Gardens and community horticultural outreach.
The MG volunteers will be available throughout the morning to help
you choose the “Right Plant,
Right Place.” They are happy to answer your questions with re-
search-based gardening ad-
vice about the plants. Our Mo-
bile Plant Clinic will also be on
site to aid you with any garden-
ing & landscape questions.
Don’t miss this exciting horticul-
tural opportunity!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Plant Profile; DG History .............. 2
Featured Garden..................... 3-4
Plant profile;
America in Bloom ....................... 5
Feature Master Gardener;
FL Fables ....................................... 6
Gardening w/a Child ................ 7
Garden Calendar .................... 8-9
Can you Name This?;
Community Outreach .............. 10
Turf FAQs; Events ....................... 11
2
Scarlet Sage: A Nectar Haven
By Karen Kennen, Master Gardener
Hummingbirds & butterflies are two pollinators drawn to red
flowers, especially tubular-shaped red blooms. Not only do
the bright colors attract them, but the tubular shape of the
bloom has more nectar due to its’ shape. Among all the red
bloomers that grow in Central Florida, a popular native is
Salvia coccinea or Scarlet Sage, an herbaceous perennial, &
a member of Lumiaceae (mint family). Interestingly, Scarlet
Sage is the only U.S. native sage with red flowers.
This plant is vase-shaped and can grow from 2 to 4 feet tall
and 2 ½ feet wide. It grows best in full sun and likes well-
drained soil. Scarlet sage can tolerate drought and will
bloom best if dead-headed or have spent flowers pinched
off to encourage new blooms. This plant has medium, green
leaves that are triangle in shape with a hairy surface and
square shaped stems.
Not only is the flower visited by butterflies, bees, and
hummingbirds, but when the plant goes to seed and forms
tiny brown seeds, goldfinches and other birds are attracted
to this Florida native.
For more information, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp519
Photos by Susan Maher (Univ. Wisconsin)
PLANT PROFILES
The concept of Discovery Gardens
began in 1994 from a grassroots effort from
citizens, local nurseries and the UF/IFAS Ex-
tension, Lake County Office in Tavares. The
original design for Discovery Gardens
included a formal Mediterranean Garden
at its center and six courtyard gardens
surrounding it. These six gardens are the:
Oriental Garden, Southwest Garden,
Shade Garden, Rose Garden, American
Kitchen Garden and Cottage Garden.
Residential Horticulture Agent, Charles
Fedunak, expanded the design to include
15 more theme gardens encompassing 3.5
acres.
Initial funding for the construction of the
garden was from the Lake County Board of County
Commissioners and Friends of The Horticultural Center,
a local 501C3, which worked hard to raise funds
needed for construction. The installation efforts were
provided by Charles, garden staff and the
Master Gardeners themselves. The Discovery Gardens
was completed and open to the public in 1999.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
DISCOVERY GARDENS
3
Featured Discovery Garden,
Cottage Garden by Helen Reagin, Master Gardener
How was the garden theme decided & how does it
relate to FFL?
The confines of the Discovery Gardens' cottage garden
were defined by laying a Florida fieldstone wall on the
whole length of the east side with an opening in the
middle for an entryway. Then a concrete wall was built
to the north separating the Cottage Garden (CG) from
the Southwest Garden. To the western boundary, a wire
mesh fence with wood lattice work was installed, and to
the south an open wood fence was built along the walk-
way facing the Shade Garden on the other side. An
arbor was installed at the corner of the west wall and
north wall.
Upon completion, two Foster Hollies were planted in the
west bed which were the backbone of the CG as they
grew to be small-to-medium trees. Under these trees, the
bed was filled with Coral and Yellow Shrimp plants, Mexi-
can Sage, Feathery wormwood, Four O’clock, Blue
Daze, and Hydrangeas. In the middle bed, A Tuskegee
Crape Myrtle served as a focal point amongst perennials
such as African Iris, Society Garlic, a ConfederateJas-
mine bush, Salvias (an essential CG plant), and Amaryllis
& Narcissus bulbs.
How has the garden evolved from its original layout?
The garden is ever-evolving! The beds have been
replaced with FFL plants, trees & shrubs. We’ve added a
groundcover, Yarrow, which spreads quickly by
rhizomes, in the south bed under the Almond Bush. We
also added Blackberry Lily to break up the monotony of
the groundcover. We made the bed outside the stone
wall on the NE side into a perennial garden & installed a
vine on the west fence named Allamanda Cherries Jubi-
lee (Chocolate Allamanda). On the other side of the
arbor by the concrete wall, we created a grouping to
demonstrate the layering effect of colors and texture &
planted a tall yellow cascading Cestrum in the back-
ground which grew to be more than six feet tall, a coral
pink Panama Rose under it and a creamy yellow Mus-
saenda under the Rose. Next to the Rose is a variegat-
ed Snow Queen Hibiscus with red blossoms.
How do you decide on the plants?
Essential elements inherent in the design of a cottage
garden are: enclosures, arches, trellises, & arbors, as well
as walkways & planting beds. In planting the beds, one
should take into consideration the color, texture, height,
and shapes of plants with repetition for emphasis and
groupings for interest. There should be small trees,
shrubs, perennials, vines, bulbs, and annuals for splashes
of color. Cottage gardens are ever changing with the
seasons!
How often do they need replacing?
We replace annuals each season and perennials as
needed. The key is to keep it colorful and neat-looking.
The organization of the plants remains consistent, but the
plant material reflects the seasons or gardener(s).
What kind of maintenance is required?
Weekly (daily during dry months & establishment peri-
ods) watering is essential to keeping the garden in
bloom and maintained. Caterpillars and other chewing
insects are attracted to the garden, but soon move on
or become butterflies.
Easiest part – Hardest part
Hardest – weeding & pruning. Deciding what to plant
can also be a challenge since there are so many
choices. Easiest part since 2012 is irrigation!
(Continued on page 4)
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What special features should be pointed out to visitors?
The structures, bed lay-outs, pathways, and flow.
What can a visitor learn from visiting this garden area?
How to effectively use a small space to create a
beautiful garden and showplace.
What are the benefits to educating a homeowner about
this garden?
Florida-Friendly plants and all the different kinds there
are; What to plant in open spaces vs. shady ones; and
time and patience pays off in gardening!
Best success story
As a result of more than 10 years of vigilance over
weeds, soil amendments, good mulching practices,
and a functional irrigation system, the old existing bulbs
such as; Amaryllis, Caladiums, Narcissus and Daylilies,
are blooming faithfully every season. Even the once-
sickly Crape Myrtle is flowering regularly after a detailed
cleaning and conservative trimming job a few years
back.
Best learning experience
First, learning from our mistakes and observations from
plants themselves whether they are happily situated or
not. In other words, Right Plant, Right Place. Secondly,
knowing when, how to, and how much to prune is
essential in the maintenance and longevity of
perennials, shrubs and small trees. Thirdly, because we
live in a zone where freezing temperatures can occur,
though infrequently, we should try to intermingle cold-
sensitive plants with cold-resistant perennials to avoid
total devastation in the landscape. Also, don’t be in a
hurry to remove cold-damaged plants because many
will recover and resume their growth with warm
weather. Last, but not least, assign space for annuals
for eye-catching colors and use containers with plants
to fill in hard-to-grow areas.
Favorite plant in the garden
Serissa japonica, my all-time favorite
bush, also known as “Tree of a Thousand
Stars.” It is also a favorite for creating
Bonsai.
Snapdragons
Potted Blue
Daze, Dusty
Miller & mini
Impatiens
Group planting
(Continued from page 3)
5
Parsley: Herb & Cool Season Home by Karen Kennan, Master Gardener
The first time I planted parsley (Petroselinum crispum), I
bought a small plant from the local nursery and was
looking forward to snipping the herb to use in savory
dishes. It was growing well, but unfortunately after two
weeks, it had several black and green-striped caterpil-
lars that had eaten the plant to the crown within two
days. I later found out that this was from the Black
Swallow tail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes).
The next planting season, I had more plants (since this is
one of the host plants for the swallowtail) and was
actually able to use some of the parsley. This time I only
had two caterpillars.
In Florida, there are two popular parsley plants that are
grown as annuals; flat leaf (Italian) and curly leaf
(French). Flat leaf is used more since it is easier to
cultivate; more tolerant of rain & sun; and has (in some
opinions) better flavor. Plant it in late fall or early spring.
Herbs, like parsley, have the same general growing
requirements as vegetables in Florida. Be sure to plant in
an area that has at least six hours of sun and a soil that
retains moisture. Adding organic matter is both efficient
& helpful in retaining moisture in sandy soils, but also
adds nutrients for healthy plant growth.
When you cut parsley to cook with, snip near the crown
because new growth comes from the center of the
plant, You can use the cut herb as a garnish, in
meatloaf, lamb, potatoes, rice dishes, etc. It has a mild,
bitter taste and balances flavors of savory dishes. It is
also easy to freeze parsley for later use. One efficient
way to freeze is to take a bunch & place into a freezer
bag. Push to the bottom of the bag; roll up the bag to
create a log; wrap with band. When you want to use
some, just slice off what
you need and replace
the rest in the freezer.
(Andre Jordan, “A Way
to Garden”)
Did you know the City of Tavares won the America in
Bloom (AIB) award for 14,000 - 25,000 population
category in 2018? Even with Irma and
renovations going on, the City of Tavares was still able to
meet the 7 categories of criteria: overall impression,
community vitality, environmental efforts, heritage
celebration, urban forestry, landscaped areas, and flow-
ers. Tavares was the only city to represent Florida in 2018.
To go with the honor, the city received an in-depth
“future projects” survey for free (average cost=$10k).
UF/IFAS Extension, Lake County helped the City earn this
recognition by providing educational programming for its
Arbor Day Celebration. A visit to Discovery Gardens was
included in the judges tour of the City. Congratulations
City of Tavares! We are glad to call you home.
AMERICA IN BLOOM
(James M. Stephens, UF/
IFAS Publication CIR570)
Photo from the AIB Facebook page
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FEATURE MASTER GARDENER:
HELEN REAGIN
Helen Reagin celebrates 18 years with the Lake
County Master Gardener Program!
I was born the oldest of six children in Guilin, China, . I grew up and was
educated in Hong Kong. In 1975, I immigrated to the U.S. and worked as
a legal secretary in Washington, D.C. In 1977-1999, I worked in the U.S.
Senate as a secretary in California Senator Alan Cranston’s Committee
on Veterans Affairs. In 1981, I married my husband Ron and moved to
Los Angeles to be with him and became an instant mother to four
teenage girls. Today, we are the proud grandparents of 6 grandchildren.
While in California, I developed my love for gardening as well as golfing
and traveling.
Ron and I moved to Lake County in 1998 after his retirement. A year or
two after arriving in Leesburg I realized I needed help with gardening in
Central Florida as it was different from Southern California. In 2001, I
decided to enroll in the Master Gardener training program. What I love
about being a Master Gardener, besides the great education and hands
-on training, is the chance to meet people who share my passion in
gardening and the opportunity to pursue continuing education.
The possibilities are endless!
MYTH: Coffee Grounds are great for
mulch, add acidity to my soil & even
repel pests.
FACTS: Coffee grounds are about 2%
nitrogen, so they are good for your
compost. Average pH for coffee is
6.5-6.8, slightly acidic, When first ap-
plied, coffee grounds can raise pH
temporarily for 2-3 weeks.
Coffee grounds create a barrier for
moisture & air movement, so use
sparingly in thin layers.
However, they make a good
substrate if you want to try your luck
growing oyster mushrooms!
Caffeine in
coffee grounds repel
slugs—just sprinkle
them where slugs are
present.
LEARN MORE: Compost: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep323
http://gardeningsolu-tions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/fertilizer/compost.html
Oyster Mushrooms: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss662
Pesticide: http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/files/2018/03/Alternative-pesticides.pdf
Ph.D. & MG, Linda Chalker-Scott’s research was used for this fact-check, https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/
Helen served as lead MG in the
Cottage Garden since 2007 &
was assisted by a number of
dedicated fellow MG’s,
like Wes Ryan, Joan Nelson &
Edna Smith and, recently,
Diana Toth & Ava Barnes.
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By Dianne Venetta, Master Gardener
SHARE THE JOY OF GARDENING WITH A CHILD!
As a Master Gardener (MG), we are in the prime of
our green thumb career. We’ve mastered the
basics, enjoy new challenges, & love to help others.
An MG can be a veritable treasure trove of
information for the community and more valuable
than compost when it comes to the garden,
making spring the perfect time to branch-out and
extend your reach. Translated: Now is a great time
to share that knowledge with the students of Lake
County!
Think of it... surrounded by eager faces peering up
at us in awe, chests filled with breathless
anticipation, bodies ready & willing to jump at your
first command. Shovels in hand, seed packets in fist,
the swirl of energy as you guide these hungry gar-
deners on their path to productive harvest will
sweep you off your feet and make you feel ten
years younger! Your heart sings as you watch the
students pluck their first tomato from the vine, pull
their first carrot from the ground, or clip their first
broccoli head, exclaiming, “I grew this!” Pride will
swiftly overtake them as they realize they gave
“life” to food.
It’s a special day. Important. Especially because
childhood obesity and diabetes are reaching crisis
levels in this country. It’s imperative that we change
hearts and minds in our community. And we will.
MG’s and the community can make a real and last-
ing impact for generations to come, child by child,
garden by garden.
Psyched and ready to don your gloves, it’s time to
share a shovel with a child. But where to begin?
That’s where the UF/IFAS Extension, Lake County Of-
fice and other non-profits can help. With a mission to
expand the network of school gardens in our commu-
nity, in four short months I’ve helped establish/expand
12 school gardens. Multiply that by the hundreds of
students in each school and we’ve reached thou-
sands of youngsters already. Talk about making an
impact, this is it!
Kids WILL eat what they grow (and they might not
want to share!). They only need someone to dedicate
some time and a bit of know-how then they will take it
from there. Because of school gardens, attitudes shift,
behavior improves, and students realize that
education can be fun. Furthermore, students with
special needs have made significant strides in their
emotional development simply by being exposed to
the school garden program. I’d call that a win-win.
Ready to join the fun? Reach out to our office & ask
about becoming a Master Gardener!
Leesburg Elem planting sugar snap peas
Leesburg Elementary
Bug Patrol
Eustis High School Irrigation Team
MG’s are invited to
participate with our
Community
Gardening projects.
Just Email me,
and I’ll get you
started!
8
WHAT TO PLANT
ANNUALS
Plants that perform better in cooler months: petunia, pansy, verbena,
dianthus, strawflower & lobelia.
Protect plants from frost & freezing temps.
BULBS
Many bulbs can be planted now. Provide adequate water for
establishment & protect from cold weather with mulch.
Some examples include Amazon lily, crinum, and agapanthus
AZALEAS In full bloom this month, so now is a great time to select varieties to add
to the landscape. See Azalea
VEGGIES Plant warm- & cool-season veggies this month.
Protect if frost/freeze is predicted.
WHAT TO DO
ROSES
Prune roses this month to remove damaged canes & improve the over-
all form. After pruning, fertilize and apply a fresh layer of mulch.
Blooming will begin 8–9 weeks after pruning. See Roses
TURF
Apply a pre-emergence weed killer (not a "weed and feed") to lawns
this month to prevent germination of warm-season weed seeds. Apply
when temperatures rise to 65°F for 4–5 days
PALMS Give cold-damaged palms proper care to encourage their recovery.
See Cold Protection and Chilling Damage of Landscape Plants
WATER Systems should still be turned off & watering only if needed. Plants need
less supplemental watering in cooler weather.
FRUIT TREES
Fertilize now if not done in January. Check citrus trees for scab disease.
Apply a copper fungicide when new leaves appear and again when
two-thirds of the flower blossoms have fallen See Home Citrus Culture &
Temperate Fruit for the Home Landscape
SHRUBS
Fertilize shrubs by spreading fertilizer evenly over the soil surface and
watering it in. Follow with a fresh layer of mulch to conserve moisture
and reduce weeds. See Landscape Fertilization
February 2019
Central Florida Gardening Calendar
What to Plant Now
9
WHAT TO PLANT
ANNUALS Replace declining winter annuals with varieties such as angelonia, gazania, and salvia for color now & into the
summer months. See Annuals
BULBS Plant caladium for a showy tropical display all
summer. See Bulbs for Florida
HERBS Consider planting herbs for cooking and to attract
butterflies to your garden
VEGGIES Warm-season crops: like beans, peppers, squash, etc.
for a late spring harvest. Melons, corn, cucumbers, okra, onion, radish, etc. from seed!
WHAT TO DO
AZALEAS Prune azaleas just after plants finish blooming to shape
or produce a fuller plant.
IRRIGATION Check sprinkler systems for efficient water use.
SHRUBS & TREES
Prune when new growth begins after the end of the dormant season.
Begin pruning after the last flowers fade, but before the new buds set to guard next season’s blooms.
PALMS & SHRUBS Fertilize palms, azaleas, camellias, and other ornamental
shrubs if needed.
VEGGIES Cool-season vegetables still: arugula, Chinese cabbage,
kohlrabi, pepper, sweet potatoes, swiss chard.
M A R C H 2 0 1 9
Garden Calendar At-A-Glance, Click Here
10
Long feathery, pinnate leaves
Community Outreach
The Community Outreach UF/IFAS Master
Gardener Plant Clinic table was a big
success as a popular stopping area as the
public wandered through the
Mount Dora Plant & Garden Fair
on Nov 10 & 11.
Master Gardeners Nancy, Andrea, Jan,
Lekoma, Crandall, Linda and Bev spoke to
about 120 people giving plant care
information, informing them about
Discovery Gardens, FFL principles to help
our environment, and UF/IFAS websites for
research-based factsheets, etc.
The most popular question that day?
“When is your next plant sale?”
March 23, 2019!
Go to our Events website for more information,
http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/events/?location=lake.
For help with identifying, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
Answer on the last page
Article & Photo courtesy of Nancy LaPointe
Male trees have fragrant flowers
Female trees have fruit
11
Q: What is the best type of St. Augustinegrass for a shaded yard? A: Currently, Bitter Blue, Seville, Delmar, & Captiva perform best in a partial shade environment. All turf- grasses need at least 5 hours of sun exposure. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep072 Q: When is the best time to establish Bahia from seed? A: Plant from late April to early September when adequate moisture is available, at 5-10 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet (https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_pano2.pdf). Seedlings need frequent watering to establish. The Argentine cultivar is best for homes. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh006 Q: How do I control chinch bugs in my St. Augustine lawn? A: First, use the “flotation method” to verify the presence of chinch bugs, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in383. If present, spot-treating with a liquid formulation of insecticides is preferred. Several EDIS publications explain Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for chinch bugs. To decrease the risk of pesticide resistance, the mode of action of the pesticide must be rotated in follow-up applications. Q: How do I control crabgrass in my lawn? A: Crabgrasses are annual weeds (appearing winter &/or summer) best controlled with a pre-emergent herbicide applied on 10/15 for winter species or 2/15 for summer species. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep395, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep141 Q: How do I control Dollarweed in my lawn? A: Dollarweed (or Pennywort) is an aquatic plant and may be an indication of overwatering. You may also get dollarweed in low lying parts of your lawn where water tends to pool. The best approach is to check your watering system to see if this area is getting too much water. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep389, http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/giam/problems/weeds/dollarweed.html REMINDER: Lake County Fertilizer Law: https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/pdfs/public_works/fertilizer-ordinance/Lake-Fertilizer-Flyer.pdf
LEARN MORE: http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/spanish-moss.html
2/18: Flowering Trees and Shrubs: Mon. 2 pm, Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St
3/1: The Art of Pruning Beautiful Roses: Fri. 9-10:30 am, 1951 Woodlea Rd, Tavares
3/2: Succulents: Sat. 2 pm, W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St, Mt. Dora
3/23: Annual Plant Sale: Sat. 9 am-4 pm, 1951 Woodlea Rd, Tavares, Click here for more info
MORE EVENTS: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/events/?location=lake
https://lakegardeningprograms.eventbrite.com/
Subscribe to the Newsletter! Email, [email protected]
Answer to page 12: It’s a Pandanus utilis or Screw Pine! http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st430