Hopkins CountyCooperative Extension Service75 Cornwall DriveMadisonville, KY 42431-8780 (270) 821-3650Fax: (270) 825-5011hopkins.ca.uky.edu

Hopkins CountyHorticulture Newsletter

Fall 2018

Erika Wood, County Extension Agent for Horticulture

Cooperative Extension ServiceAgriculture and Natural ResourcesFamily and Consumer Sciences4-H Youth DevelopmentCommunity and Economic Development

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LEXINGTON, KY 40546

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Why Do Leaves Change Color? ……………………………. 1Goldenrod vs. Ragweed …………………………………………. 2All About Pansies ……………………………………………………. 3Upcoming Events …………………………………………………... 4

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Have you ever looked at the beautiful, chang-ing leaves of fall and wondered why their col-ors transform from lush green to striking or-ange, yellow, or red? The change of color is due to chemical reactions occurring in the leaves. The chemical process known as photosyn-thesis makes it possible for plants to produce their own food. Photosynthesis occurs within the leaves of a plant where a pigment called chlorophyll is found in the cells. Chlorophyll gives plants their green color.

As fall arrives, the days become shorter and temperatures begin to cool. Plant leaves stop food production and chlorophyll pigments break down. As the chlorophyll deteriorates, new colors like orange and yellow appear. These pigments (carotene and xanthophyll) were actually in the plant leaves all along, but they were masked by the green of the chloro-phyll. Chemical processes are still occurring within the leaves, and these processes may re-sult in different color combinations. Presence of the pigment anthocyanin gives leaves a rich red color.

Weather can impact fall color as well. Warm, sunny days with cool nights promote bright red fall foliage. These bright days encourage the production of sugar, and the cool nights trap the sugar within the leaves. As a result,

anthocyanin pigments are created. On the other hand, early frost can ruin fall color and may cause leaves to turn brown and fall off the tree.

Autumn leaf color can also depend on the type of tree. Trees with gorgeous yellow fall foliage include ash, hickory, and gingko. Red oaks, red maples, and gum trees are great for fall red color. Sugar maple and sassafras create lovely orange hues.

PoinsettiasGoldenrod vs. RagweedFall is the season for allergies, and people

will blame whatever plant is in bloom for their misfortune. But what plant is truly the culprit and what plant is actually innocent?

For years, people have been putting the blame on goldenrod for their allergy woes when the real cause has actually been ragweed. Both plants bloom in the fall and produce yellow flowers, but only ragweed is the main cause for hay fever. Unlike goldenrod pollen which is heavy and sticky, ragweed pollen is light and easily carried by the wind. This type of pollen can aggravate people and result in allergies.

So how do you tell the difference between the two plants if they both bloom around the same time? Here’s how:

• Goldenrod plants are perennials, whereas ragweed plants are considered annuals. Even though ragweed plants are killed by the cold, their seeds are still viable and will sprout in the spring.

• Goldenrods usually are single-stemmed, but may have some branching at the top of the plant. Ragweed plants are multi-branched with purplish, hairy stems and dissected leaves.

• Ragweed produces greenish yellow flowers on spikes that don’t really appeal to insect pollinators. Goldenrod produces bright yellow flowers that are clustered on long stalks. These flowers attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

Goldenrod

Ragweed

Ragweed (left) and Goldenrod (right)

The Cooperative Extension Service prohibits discrimination in its programs and employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. To file a complaint of discrimination, contact Tim West, UK College of Agriculture, 859-257-3879; Terry Allen or Patty Bender, UK Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, 859-257-8927; or the USDA, Director Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg., 14th & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 (202-720-5964).

Are you looking to add some color to your fall landscape or container gar-den? Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) are a lovely choice for splashes of color in an otherwise dying and dreary land-scape.

Pansies are considered an annual, although they are capable of overwintering here in Ken-tucky. Pansies prefer cooler temperatures, so they are going to thrive in the fall and spring as opposed to the hot summer months. They also prefer full sun, so be sure to plant them in a bright location in your garden. If you plan on planting pansies this fall, there is a good possi-bility of seeing these plants survive and bloom in the spring for continued color display.

Pansies are pretty tough plants. Their root systems can survive the winter and typically

Plate it up! Kentucky

Proud Recipe for the Fall

Season!

All About Pansiesflowers are not damaged until temperatures go below 15°F. Leaves will not show damage until temperatures drop below 10°F.

If you are hoping to successfully overwin-ter your pansies, make sure you plant them by mid-October so their root system can become established. If everything goes well and the winter isn’t too harsh, you should see your pan-sies begin flowering again in March and April.

There are many different varieties of pan-sies. The bloom sizes can be small, medium,

and large. Typical-ly pansies with small flowers will produce many blooms whereas the pansies with large flowers produce fewer blooms. Pansy flowers come in a wide range of colors from purples and blues to reds and yellows. Some flowers

are even bi-colored or have a blend of colors.

September 19: Growing Class Series: Growing Kale, 11:00 a.m.October 4: 4-H Banquet, 6:00 p.m.October 17: Lunch Gardening Series: All About Pumpkins, 11:00 a.m.October 22: Fall Gardening Series: Cactus and Succulent Care, 5:30 p.m.October 27: Fall Plant Swap at Hopkins County Farmers Market, 9:00-11:30 a.m.October 31: Closing Day of Hopkins County Farmers MarketNovember 6: Lunch Gardening Series: Herb Gardening 101, 11:00 a.m.November 12: Raised Bed Gardening, 5:30 p.m.December 5: Lunch Gardening Series: Festive Trees and Shrubs, 11:00 a.m.December 10: Plant Identification, 5:30 p.m.

For more information or to RSVP, call the Hopkins CountyCooperative Extension Office at 270-821-3650.

Upcoming Events

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Master Gardeners, Pennyroyal

Interested in becoming a MasterGardener volunteer or Farmers Market

vendor? For more information,contact the Hopkins Co. Extension

Office at 270-821-3650.

Master Gardener 2019 calendars will be ready in December!