1

I N S I D E

T H I S

I S S U E :

Bringing

the out-

door

greenery

indoors

for the

holidays

2

Foods for

better

health are

more

about

choice

4

Poinsettia

Facts

6

KY fruit

and vege-

table

Confer-

ence. A

learning

oppor-

tunity.

6

Emerald

Ash Bor-

er Update

8

Control-

ling Moles

9

Keeping

Greenery

Fresh

10

Gifted Gardener D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4

KENTUCKY HOME MASTER

GARDENERS CONTINUE TO DO

GOOD FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

group helped with downtown

plantings in Bardstown, New Ha-

ven and the Bark Park. They

helped with the Nelson County

Fair, Feeding America Program,

and taught others about their

passions for plants. They con-

ducted large cleanup projects for

those who could not help them-

selves and did it for the smiles.

This is just a few of the projects

that have been sponsored or con-

ducted by your Nelson County

Master Gardeners. With all their

help we have been able to make

little parts of our county even

better.

I just want to thank each

and every one of my Extension

Master Gardeners for their con-

tinued support of the Nelson

County Horticulture Program.

We have done a lot over the past

years but there is much more to

accomplish in the future with

your help.

If you are a person who

wants to get involved in your

community because you desire to

see it grow in a beautiful way

Master Gardeners may be for

you. In the fall of 2015 we will

conduct our thirteenth class and

would love to have you join the

ranks of Master Gardener. Stay

Tuned.

The Extension Master

Gardener program has been a

wonderful venue for like minded

individuals to come together for

common good. I have been con-

ducting the Master Gardener

program now for 12 years and

have trained somewhere north

of 100 individuals in the practice

of horticulture and related fields.

What I find fascinating about the

program is the personalities and

interests that these folks are

willing to share with me.(I

learned to keep bees from a

master gardener). Everyone has

a different set of skills they bring

to the group and for me it is

always exciting when through

conversation I learn something

new about an individual. All

walks of life are represented

with as varied a background as

you could imagine. About fifty

folks continue to volunteer for

extension each year through the

many activities that they pro-

mote.

The group has many

projects in their portfolio that

are worth mentioning. The big-

gest event by far is the Blooming

Bardstown Garden tour. This

event takes a lot of effort to put

on but is well received by the

community. Members of the

2

BRINGING THE OUTDOOR GREENERY

INDOORS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Decorating the house with

fresh greenery is one of

the oldest winter holiday

traditions. Evergreens have

been a part of winter festi-

vals since ancient times.

Evergreens are used to

represent everlasting life

and hope for the return of

spring.

Southerners have been

decorating with greenery

since colonial days, alt-

hough the custom was not

common in the Northern

United States until the

1800s. Churches were

decorated elaborately with

garlands of holly, ivy,

mountain laurel and mistle-

toe hung from the roof,

the walls, the pews, pulpit

and sometimes the altar.

Lavender, rose petals and

herbs such as rosemary

and bay were scattered for

scent. Homes were deco-

rated in a simpler fashion

with greenery and boughs

in the window frames and-

holly sprigs stuck to the

glass with wax.

Today, decorating for the

holidays with fresh green-

ery is more prevalent than

ever. Greenery such as

cedar, ivy, pine and holly

add a fresh look and natural

scent to our homes.

Gathering Greenery

The first and often the best

place to look for holiday

greenery may be in your own

landscape. Greenery gathered

from your own garden will be

far fresher than any that you

can buy. You may also have a

variety of unusual greenery

that would be difficult to find

for purchase.

When gathering live greenery

from your shrubs and trees,

remember that you are actu-

ally pruning the plants. Con-

sider carefully which branches

to cut and which ones to

leave. Distribute the cuts

evenly around the plant in

order to preserve its natural

form.

Types of Greenery

Many different kinds of green-

ery can be used for holiday

decorations. Pines, firs and

cedars are good to use for

indoor decoration since they

dry out slowly and hold their

needles best at warm interior

temperatures. They may last

for several weeks if properly

treated and cared for. Hem-

lock, spruces and most

When gathering

live greenery

from your shrubs

and trees,

remember that

you are actually

pruning the

plants.

WO

OD

Y P

LA

NT

S

3

BRINGING THE OUTDOOR GREENERY

INDOORS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

add a fresh look and natural

scent to our homes.

Gathering Greenery

The first and often the best

place to look for holiday

greenery may be in your own

landscape. Greenery gathered

from your own garden will be

far fresher than any that you

can buy. You may also have a

variety of unusual greenery

that would be difficult to find

for purchase.

When gathering live greenery

from your shrubs and trees,

remember that you are actu-

ally pruning the plants. Con-

sider carefully which branches

to cut and which ones to

leave. Distribute the cuts

evenly around the plant in

order to preserve its natural

form.

Types of Greenery

Many different kinds of green-

ery can be used for holiday

decorations. Pines, firs and

cedars are good to use for

indoor decoration since they

dry out slowly and hold their

needles best at warm interior

temperatures. They may last

for several weeks if properly

treated and cared for. Hem-

lock, spruces and most

broadleaf evergreens will last longer

ifused outdoors.

Below are some suggested varieties to

use in holiday decorating.

White Pine: This soft, bluish-green,

long-needled pine has excellent needle

retention but wilts visibly if dry. It is

readily available as premade garland and

wreaths.

Virginia Pine: This native pine has

shorter, coarser needles, and is long-

lasting, with excellent needle retention.

Virginia pine is readily available.

Junipers: Fragrant, short, green or

silver-blue foliage that may be adorned

with small blue berries. The needles are

often sticky. Red cedar is a native juni-

per and is readily available.

True Cedars: Deodar cedar, blue

atlas cedar, and cedar-of-Lebanon all

have a wonderful fragrance. If small

male cones are present, spray them

with lacquer or acrylic to prevent the

messy release of pollen at room tem-

perature.

Firs: All firs have wonderful scent and

good tolerance of hot, dry indoor con-

ditions. The needles are short and flat

with excellent color and needle reten-

tion. Fraser fir wreaths and swags are

commonly available from commercial

sources.

Spruce: Wreaths are the main use for

spruce greens. The branches are stiff

with short, sharp needles. Blue spruce

is especially attractive because of its

color, and it holds its needles better

than other spruce. Needle retention is

poorer on spruce than on other conifer

greens.

Ivy: This vigorous vine is readily available

in many yards. It makes an excellent green

for holiday arrangements. The cut ends

must be kept in water, or the ivy will

quickly wilt.

Holly: This most traditional holiday green

comes in several forms, both green and

variegated. Female plants display bright red

berries. Make sure that holly does not

freeze after cutting, or the leaves and ber-

ries may blacken.

Mountain Laurel: This is a traditional

evergreen in the South for wreaths and

garlands. As with other broad-leaved ev-

ergreens, however, laurel holds up best

when used outdoors.

Boxwood: This small-leafed shrub is a

longtime favorite for fine-textured

wreaths and garland. It has an aroma that

is either loved or hated. Be sure of your

reaction before using it indoors.

Magnolia: The large leaves are a glossy,

dark green that contrast well with the

velvety, brown undersides. Magnolia leaves

make stunning wreaths and bases for large

decorations. The leaves hold up very well

even without water.

Some other excellent evergreens that can

be used for holiday greenery include:

• Arborvitae

• Ligustrum

• Pittosporum

• Podocarpus

• Viburnum

• Leyland Cypress

• Nandina

• Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)

• Hemlock

4

FR

UIT

S

“Also consider

these foods

when you begin

planning for

your fruit and

veggie plantings

next spring. “

EAT FRESH THROUGHOUT THE

HOLIDAYS FOR BETTER HEALTH IN

THE NEW YEAR

5

The pictographs on these two pages come from a twitter

account I follow called Daily Health Tips : Ask a Doctor. I

find these pictures easy to understand and help me make

better decisions in my food choices. As we go into the holi-

days remember these pictures as you graze the endless

snack assortment at your next party. Also consider these foods when you

begin planning for your fruit and veggie plantings next spring. Now we

know we can’t believe everything on the internet but this source seems to

have accurate and easy to understand information.

6

10 Interesting Facts About

Poinsettias

No flower says Christmas

like the beautiful poinsettia.

Learn a few facts about this

traditional Christmas plant.

Poinsettias are part of

the Euphorbiaceae or

Spurge family. Botanical-

ly, the plant is known

as Euphorbia pulcher-

rima.

Many plants in

the Euphorbiaceae family

ooze a milky sap. Some

people with latex aller-

gies have had a skin reac-

mercial Fruit and Vegeta-ble Production, Green-house and High Tunnel Production, Small Fruit Production, Organic Pro-duction, the Grape and Wine Short Course, Direct Marketing, and Agritour-ism. We have many excel-lent out-of-state speakers this year including: Dr. Brad Bergefurd, Extension Horticulturist, The Ohio State University; Dr. Imed

The 2015 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference and Trade Show will again be at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Lexington, KY, Mon-day and Tuesday, January 5 and 6, 2015. Highlights of this year’s meeting will be preconference Tree Fruit, Small Fruit and Vegetable Round Table Discussions. During the conference there will be sessions on Farmers’ Markets, Com-

tion (most likely to the

sap) after touching the

leaves. For pets, the

poinsettia sap may cause

mild irritation or nausea.

Probably best to keep

pets away from the

plant, especially puppies

and kittens.

Poinsettias are not poi-

sonous. A study at Ohio

State University showed

that a 50-pound child

would have to eat more

than 500 leaves to have

any harmful effect. Plus

poinsettia leaves have an

awful taste. You might

want to keep your pets

Poinsettia Facts F

LO

WE

RS

Poinsettias are

not poisonous.

There are

more than 100

varieties of

poinsettias

available today

KENTUCKY FRUIT & VEGETABLE

CONFERENCE HAS SOMETHING FOR

EVERYONE

7

from snacking on poinsettia leaves.

Eating the leaves can cause vomit-

ing and diarrhea.

The showy colored parts of poin-

settias that most people think of as

the flowers are actually colored

bracts (modified leaves).

Poinsettias have also been called

the lobster flower and the flame-

leaf flower, due to the red color.

Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced

the poinsettia plant to the United

States from Mexico. Poinsett was a

botanist, physician and the first

United States Ambassador to Mex-

ico.

In Mexico the poinsettia is a peren-

nial shrub that will grow 10-15 feet

tall.

Dami, Viticulturist, The Ohio State Uni-versity; Dr. Dan Egel, Extention Plant Pathologist, Southwest Purdue Agri-culture Program; Cane Hickey, Ph.D. Student, Alson H. Smith Jr., Agricul-ture Research and Extension Center; Whitney Horral and Melanie Ellis, Indi-ana Growers, Melon Acres; Nathan Johanning, Extension Educator, Uni-versity of Illinois; Michael Jones, Scott Labs; Dr. David Lockwood, Extension Fruit Specialist, University of Tennes-see; Todd Steiner, Enologist, The Ohio State University, and Dr. Christopher Walsh, Professor of Pomology, Univer-sity of Maryland. There will be an optional Cele-bration of Kentucky Wines Monday evening. This year there will be Exhibi-

There are

more than 100

varieties of

poinsettias

available today.

Poinsettias

come in colors

like the tradi-

tional red,

white, pink, burgundy, marbled and

speckled.

The Paul Ecke Ranch in California grows

over 70% of all Poinsettias purchased in

the United States and does about 50%

of the world-wide sales of Poinsettias.

December 12th is Poinsettia Day, which

marks the death of Joel Roberts Poin-

sett in 1851.

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia/

facts.cfm

tor/Grower and Conference Lunch-eons featuring Kentucky Proud Prod-ucts. We will have a Trading Post bulletin board to sell used equipment. If you are looking for equipment buy-ers, bring along a description contain-ing your name, phone number and the equipment price. PLEASE make your room reservations directly with the hotel. Our block of rooms will be held until December 26th, 2014. After this, room prices will be higher. Be sure to let the hotel know that you will be staying for the Kentucky Fruit and Veg-etable Conference to obtain our spe-cial suite room rate for a single or dou-

(Continued on page 10)

8

LE

AR

NIN

G

Entomology researchers in

the University of Kentucky

College of Agriculture,

Food and Environment

have received encouraging

results in their fight to pro-

tect Kentucky ash trees

from the emerald ash bor-

er. EAB is an exotic wood-

boring invader that kills ash

trees.

During the past two grow-

ing seasons, UK forest en-

tomologist Lynne Rieske-

Kinney, her lab members

and personnel from the

Kentucky Office of the

State Entomologist have

released three species of

parasitoid wasps that may

be capable of helping to

stop the invasive insect.

This summer, Rieske-

Kinney and Bill Davidson,

UK entomology graduate

student, recovered one

species, Tetrastichus

planipennisi, from several

sites and by multiple sam-

pling methods. Tetrastichus

planipennisi lands on the

bark of a tree and detects

the chewing vibrations EAB

larvae make while feeding

within a tree. The parasi-

toid then lays its eggs in

“The emerald

ash borer first

appeared in the

state in 2009 in

Central

Kentucky and

has spread each

year since”

UK RESEARCH SHOWS

PROMISE IN FIGHT AGAINST

EMERALD ASH BORER BY KATIE PRATT

the EAB larvae, eventually

killing it.

“Tree mortality occurs so

rapidly that it is difficult to get

parasitoids established in

time, and ash conservation is

primarily reliant on chemical

protection,” Rieske-Kinney

said. “Our approach uses

lower amounts of chemicals

to slow EAB development

and delay tree mortality, re-

leasing biological control

agents and giving native para-

sites time to discover newly

invading EAB populations.

Our findings suggest that the

parasitoid is becoming estab-

lished in the research area.”

The emerald ash borer first

appeared in the state in 2009

in Central Kentucky and has

spread each year since. It

now appears in 35 counties in

varying intensity. According

to the Kentucky Division of

Forestry, the state has more

than 130 million white ash

trees and 92.5 million green

ash trees, but their distribu-

tion varies across the state.

Counties with the largest

number of ash trees include

Henry, Bath, Spencer, Pulaski

and Hopkins. Rieske-Kinney

conducted research in the

north-central Kentucky coun-

9

ties of Henry, Spencer, Fayette, Ander-

son and Shelby.

“The emerald ash borer is really well

established in Henry, Shelby and Ander-

son counties,” Rieske-Kinney said.

“While the EAB is present in Fayette

and Spencer counties, we have not

seen any tree mortality at our study

sites in those counties yet. We’re hop-

ing to catch the infestation as it ar-

rives.”

In addition to the parasitoid establish-

ment, UK forest entomology research-

ers found two native parasitoid groups

with potential to be natural biological

control agents for the borer.

“One of the groups, Atanycolus, has

been recovered by researchers in

northern states as well,” she said. “The

other genus, Heterospilus, is a parasi-

toid that has never been associated

with the emerald ash borer before.”

Heterospilus species are known to par-

asitize native wood-boring larvae, sev-

eral of which are closely related to the

emerald ash borer. Davidson and

Rieske-Kinney recovered at least two

species of Heterospilus in borer-

infested logs.

“Our findings suggest that this genus

may easily transition to EAB,” she said.

“They also suggest that our native para-

sitoids may

be learning

the emerald

ash borer is

available and

may be using

it as a host, hopefully contributing to

EAB suppression.”

CONTROLLING MOLES

Moles are a perennial problem in the lawns of

central Kentucky homes. In the last 10 years

the products have changed but not the meth-

od. As a beloved and recently passed turf

specialist (Dr. A. J. Powell) used to say “a

dead mole is a gone mole”. Eradication is the

name of the game here and in his day it was

commonly the harpoon trap that would do

the trick but today it’s something else that

ends the moles reign of terror.

Back a few years ago Dr. Tom Barnes con-

ducted a study comparing several techniques

of mole eradication. His findings discovered

that several of the old methods or popular

items for sell on store shelves simply do not

work. Some may drive them away for a

short while but eventually they become use

to it and they return.

The product that turned out to work the

best is a earthworm shaped bait that is placed

in the varmints run (or path). The bait con-

tains the active ingredient called Bromethalin

and is lethal when it is ingested by the ro-

dent. For this product to work effectively

you first have to identify its main feeding run.

To do this you simply roll the lawn down and

watch to see which one pops back up first.

In this first reopened run you will pull back

the sod an reveal the subterranean path. In

this path you will place the bait and trust the

varmint will take it.

Some things to remember:

Devise a way to keep the wanted animals

from unearthing the bait since it is highly

toxic to both cats and dogs.

There will generally be another mole

take over the abandoned runs so you

will have to stay diligent.

Grubs are not a favorite food of the

mole so it is not a grub problem.

10

KEEPING GREENERY FRESH

Use clean, sharp cutters to cut branches and immediately

put cut ends into water until ready to use.

Crush the ends of woody stems to allow the cutting to take

in more water. (Continued on page 11)

Seasonal Reminders

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ble (they are all suites) of $116.95. If you are told that the block of rooms at our conference rate is full on or before Dec. 26, please call Amy Stamper at Embassy Suites (859-455-5109) to increase the number of rooms that we have blocked. The room cost includes an evening managers’ reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with drinks and a full cooked-to-order breakfast daily. We encourage growers to stay at Embassy Suites Hotel to help cover meeting overhead expenses. Note: If the hotel parking lot is full, meeting attendees may park along Aristides Street in front of the hotel. The $40 meeting registration fee includes a year’s membership in the KVGA, KSHS or OAK or entrance into the Grape & Wine Short Course. NOTE: WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PREREGIS-TER. LUNCHEON TICKETS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE REGISTRATION DESK. NAME BADGES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER MEETING ROOMS. PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS NEED TO BE IN OUR HANDS BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 19, 2014. Phone registrations will not be accepted. Partici-pants that do not pre-register may register at the door. If you would like to serve on the KVGA or KSHS boards of directors or would like to nominate another member, please designate this on your registration sheet. If you would like to remain a member of the KVGA, KSHS, or OAK, please complete and return the form with a check to Ms. Mary Ann Kelley, Research & Educa-tion Center, P.O. Box 469, Princeton, KY 42445 to continue your association membership. You can get the registration form by following this link:

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CCD/2015_KYFVC_Program_REG.pdf

11

Keep greenery out of sunlight.

Immerse greenery in water overnight

before arranging. This allows the

cuttings to absorb the maximum

amount of moisture. • Allow the foli-

age to dry and then spray it with an

anti-transpirant, such as Wilt-pruf, to

help seal in moisture. Note: Do not

use antitranspirants on juniper ber-

ries, cedar or blue spruce. The prod-

uct can damage the wax coating that

gives these plants their distinctive

color.

Keep completed wreaths, garlands

and arrangements in a cool location

until use.

Display fresh greenery and fruits out

of the sun and away from heat.

KEEPING GREENERY FRESH

Use clean, sharp cutters to cut branches and immediately

put cut ends into water until ready to use.

Crush the ends of woody stems to allow the cutting to take

in more water. (Continued on page 11)

Straw-

berries

should be

covered by

now with

straw.

Final Turf

fertilization

should be

done by mid

December.

Insulation is

your best

friend when

lowering en-

ergy bills

Hybrid Tea

roses should

be cut back

to 18” this

fall and

mulched

over the

graft union

New spring

bulbs should

be planted

now

Remove

mummified

fruit from

fruit trees to

lessen the

disease load

next season

We test your

soil and its

free.

Begin oder-

ing fruit tree

varieties

soon since

the good

ones go fast.

Locate and

mark peren-

nials for

spring divi-

sion.

Now is the

best time of

year to prune

trees

TH

AT

’S A

N I

DE

A

Phone: 502-348-9204

Fax: 502-348-9270

email: robsmith@uky.edu

Website: http://nelson.ca.uky.edu/

@hortagentrob

NelsonCounty Extension

Robbie Smith

County Extension Agent for Horticulture

ble (they are all suites) of $116.95. If you are told that the block of rooms at our conference rate is full on or before Dec. 26, please call Amy Stamper at Embassy Suites (859-455-5109) to increase the number of rooms that we have blocked. The room cost includes an evening managers’ reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with drinks and a full cooked-to-order breakfast daily. We encourage growers to stay at Embassy Suites Hotel to help cover meeting overhead expenses. Note: If the hotel parking lot is full, meeting attendees may park along Aristides Street in front of the hotel. The $40 meeting registration fee includes a year’s membership in the KVGA, KSHS or OAK or entrance into the Grape & Wine Short Course. NOTE: WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PREREGIS-TER. LUNCHEON TICKETS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE REGISTRATION DESK. NAME BADGES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER MEETING ROOMS. PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS NEED TO BE IN OUR HANDS BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 19, 2014. Phone registrations will not be accepted. Partici-pants that do not pre-register may register at the door. If you would like to serve on the KVGA or KSHS boards of directors or would like to nominate another member, please designate this on your registration sheet. If you would like to remain a member of the KVGA, KSHS, or OAK, please complete and return the form with a check to Ms. Mary Ann Kelley, Research & Educa-tion Center, P.O. Box 469, Princeton, KY 42445 to continue your association membership. You can get the registration form by following this link:

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CCD/2015_KYFVC_Program_REG.pdf

12

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