This Valentine's Day, be a love bug
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Valentine’s Day isn’t just for humans, says University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff. Missouri insects need and deserve love, too. Insects affect the environment with major roles in pollination, pest control, decomposition and the food web, Althoff says. “Ensuring insects are happy and healthy is important to sustaining our environment as well as agriculture.”
Mow or compost leaves for best results
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some gardeners take a hands-off approach to leaves in the fall. But leaves allowed to remain on lawns can pack down to form a tight mat that prevents sunlight from reaching the grass, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Leaves also trap and hold moisture, which increases the potential for disease.
Gardeners can save money, trouble with fall soil test
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If a little is good, a lot must be better. That’s often the approach home gardeners take when plants and flowers don’t do well, says University of Missouri Extension soil scientist Manjula Nathan. But adding more fertilizer and topsoil without testing the soil may be a waste of money. It also can be bad for the environment because excess nutrients often leach into water supplies.