Patience is lawn owner's friend in March
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Be mellow until the forsythia turns yellow.That’s the advice from University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Lee Miller for applying crabgrass pre-emergent herbicides to lawns.“The forsythia bloom has been used as a phenological indicator on when to apply pre-emergent herbicides and it’s a fairly easy and obvious sign,” he says.
Pansy: Not just another pretty face
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing says spring like the shining faces of pansies.But pansies aren’t just for spring, says David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
Grant aims to improve lavender growing in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missourians may learn more about lavender thanks to a grant to University of Missouri Extension from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.The $39,274 grant will determine standardized growing practices for lavender in Missouri.It is one of four grants recently awarded by the Missouri Department of Agriculture to MU Extension. Federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant…
Norfolk Island pine: A houseplant for the holidays and beyond
NEVADA, Mo. – If you don’t have time or space for a large Christmas tree, consider a Norfolk Island pine.“Many stores sell these evergreen houseplants during the holidays,” says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Pat Miller. “These easy-to-grow plants often come decorated and are perfect for gift-giving or to keep for yourself.”
Poinsettia: America's most popular flower
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Poinsettia is our nation’s most popular potted flowering plant. What makes this remarkable is that most poinsettias are sold between the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.Despite its short sales period, poinsettia contributed $170 million to the U.S. economy last year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Native to southern Mexico and Central America, poinsettia has become symbolic…
Tropical plants can overwinter indoors
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You may not get to take a tropical vacation this year, but you can bring the tropics inside your home.With the right light and temperature, it is possible to keep tropical patio plants indoors for another summer of enjoyment.“The colorful flowers, ability to tolerate hot temperatures and carefree nature of tropical plants make them a welcome addition to the home landscape,” said University of Missouri Extension…
Missouri’s fall foliage color show begins soon
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fall color is kind of like Christmas morning, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. “You don’t know if you are going to get an orange or a lump of coal in your stocking.” Some years are better than others, he says, and about once a decade, colors really pop. “Unfortunately, because of the recent warm weather that followed a rather dry late summer, it does not appear as if 2021 will…
Flower math: Divide and multiply
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fall is the perfect time to share the love of flower power with neighbors, friends and family, says David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.As spring-flowering bulbs such as tulip and narcissus grow, they produce offshoots adjacent to the original bulb. When these bulb clusters become overgrown, flower numbers usually decline. This is a good indication it is time to rejuvenate the bulb cluster…
Dahlias dazzle in early fall
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Unlike many garden flowers that begin to lose their luster as summer fades into fall, dahlias are at their best in early autumn, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The warm days and cool nights cause dahlias to bloom with intense, dazzling color.
Master Gardener duo donates to local food pantries
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Those who have planted gardens feel that they have “done something for the good of the whole world,” wrote American author Charles Dudley Warner in 1871.
Gardening hotline open for business in Christian county
Can’t identify that pesky insect eating your zucchini plant? How do I start a compost pile? What’s the easiest fruit to grow in the Ozarks? Christian County Master Gardeners have the answers for callers to its gardening hotline at the county Extension office on the Ozark Square.
Tips on watering your garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – How does your garden grow? No grow or slow grow? It could be your H2O.How and when you water your garden often makes the difference between healthy or diseased plants, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tom Fowler.Fowler offers some simple watering tips that can provide a bushel of benefits.
Master Gardeners fight food insecurity
HILLSBORO, Mo. – Master Gardener chapters throughout Missouri are accustomed to donating produce from home and community gardens to those in need. To further assist Missourians fighting food insecurity at this uncertain time, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and Master Gardener state coordinator David Trinklein reached out to chapters across the state to see if members would plant an extra row of produce in their gardens…
Grow your own veggies to ease COVID-19 financial stress
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In response to the tremendous interest in home food production, University of Missouri Extension now offers a free online course in basic vegetable gardening.“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put an added financial strain on many Missouri families,” said MU Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. This has resulted in many people putting out vegetable gardens for the first time in an attempt to lower their food bills.
Safe gardening grows your mindfulness
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Looking for a way to improve your physical and mental well-being during stressful times? A University of Missouri Extension horticulturist recommends gardening as a perfect solution. “Gardening provides many health benefits that are needed during these stressful times,” said Jennifer Schutter. “These benefits include exercise, a boost in mental health from time spent in nature and growing your own healthy food.”
Spinach's popularity grew during Great Depression
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Many unsubstantiated stories exist about why cartoonist E.C. Segar chose spinach to give superhuman powers to his comic strip character Popeye the Sailor during the Great Depression.
Ask a Master Gardener: Options for small trees and shrubs, recommendations on hand tools
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.
Ask a Master Gardener: Difference between coated and plain seed
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.Q. What is the difference if a seed is called “pelleted” or “coated” or just a plain seed? L.M., OzarkAnswer by Master Gardener Mark…
Ask a Master Gardener: Buttonbushes, privacy trees and tomatoes
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Mas¬ter Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.
Try some edgy veggies for a groovy garden this year
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Create some interest in your garden patch by adding unique vegetables this spring”, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.“One of the joys of gardening is trying something new each year,” Trinklein said. Less common vegetables can challenge your gardening skills and tease your taste buds. They also can disappoint, so center your garden on tried-and-true favorites, he says.
Go wild at nature's free salad bar
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Spring greens from the woods can add variety to your diet.Wildcrafting—the gathering of plants from their natural habitats—is a throwback to the days of our distant ancestors, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Our ancestors’ winter diets lacked the variety of fresh produce we enjoy today. Therefore, when spring arrived, they combed the woods for wild edibles to add flavor and…
Ask a Master Gardener: Pruning, mulch, hedges and groundcovers
Q. My various, leafy and grassy groundcovers are starting to sprout out, but they have all the old, nasty-looking growth left over from last year. What’s the easiest way to tidy these up?Answer by Master Gardener Mark Bernskoetter.
Pansy: A flower for all seasons
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If there’s a plant that deserves the title of “flower for all seasons,” it is the pansy, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. At any given time in North America, you will find pansies blooming prolifically somewhere. This cool-loving garden flower flourishes in winter in far southern states and in summer in northern regions. Midwesterners enjoy pansy’s unique palette of colors and…
Dr. Bug answers questions you're itching to ask about mosquitoes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension field horticulture specialist Tamra Reall answers questions that are “bugging” youngsters.Mama mosquitoes
Like a rainbow, iris comes in colors everywhere
COLUMBIA, Mo. – According to Greek mythology, the gods sent the goddess Iris to bring messages to mortals. Dressed in colorful robes, the golden-winged messenger traveled to earth on a rainbow.Fittingly, the flowers that bear her name burst with intricate, delicate beauty in a rainbow of colors, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The National Garden Bureau named iris as its perennial plant of the year.