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.
Pumpkin: An ancient vegetable still in vogue today
COLUMBIA, Mo. – This fall, millions of Americans will purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are very unlikely to eat, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. In the United States, this colorful member of the gourd plant family is used primarily for decoration, but many people throughout the world use pumpkin as a staple in their diets, Trinklein said.
Plant bulbs now for a colorful spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Springtime favorites such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths won’t greet you next year if they’re not planted in the fall. “The bulbs of spring-blooming plants need to be in the ground now so they can go through a chilling process in the winter,” said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
Mums take center stage when summer flowers take a bow
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few flowers signal fall’s arrival more than the cheerful chrysanthemum, or mum, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Mums’ long-lasting blooms put on a colorful display for weeks when other flowers have called it quits for the season.
It's time to protect plants from frost
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide tells us that frost is likely coming within two weeks in the northernmost part of the state. That means that it’s time to think about protecting plants from frost, said MU Extension state horticulture specialist David Trinklein.
Garden 'n Grow grows business for small town
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – More than 20 years ago, 8-year-old Casey Jefferson Coy enrolled in the Garden ’n Grow program in Kirksville at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Adair County. Little did she know that the summer-long program would lead her to decades of employment and enjoyment.
Battling Japanese beetles in your garden and flowers
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Patience and a bucket of soapy water are your best friends when fending off Japanese beetles in the garden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall. Reall recommends tapping beetles off plants by hand and putting them in a bucket of soapy water to kill them. You can also shake them off the plant into the bucket.
Gardens will thank you very 'mulch' during summer heat
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mulches benefit gardens throughout the year, but they are particularly helpful during the heat of summer, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Protect yourself from heat stress in the garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardeners love to garden, but don’t overdo it on hot summer days. During extreme heat, the best time to do garden tasks is early in the morning, said Donna Aufdenberg, University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist. The second-best time is in the late evening.
In thymes of old, Rosemary used lavender to freshen the air
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Long before plug-in air fresheners and scented candles, people used plants to make their homes more livable by masking unpleasant odors.
Care of spring bulbs after flowering
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Right after daffodils, tulips and hyacinths have spent their last flowers, many homeowners mow the plants down. That’s a bad idea if you want them to keep flowering year after year. Spring-flowering bulbs need to photosynthesize and produce food in order for the bulbs to enlarge and set the stage for the following year. For that, leaves are needed.
Missouri Master Gardeners volunteer to teach others their passion
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – During this National Volunteer Week, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall notes that volunteers across the state are the backbone of the Missouri Master Gardener Extension Program. “They are such an important part of our extension mission and are ambassadors for sharing research-based information with our communities,” Reall says.
Sunflower: The story of this summer goddess begins with search for love
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The sunflower’s story begins with a tale of unrequited love.According to Greek mythology, the water nymph Clytie fell in love with the god of the sun, Apollo, who dazzled the earth as he drove his golden chariot across the sky each day. When he rejected Clytie’s affection, it nearly drove her mad. She spent days without food or water as she searched the heavens and waited for Apollo to appear.
Fall flowers usher out summer in a blaze of color
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fall is time for the changing of the guard in flower beds and containers. As some summer flowers shout their last hurrah, others gradually fade into the background.
Lasagna gardening: Layers and layers of goodness
JACKSON, Mo. – As traditional gardening season takes a bow, lasagna gardening makes a grand entrance. Lasagna gardening is no-till, no-dig gardening that uses materials typically thrown away such as kitchen and yard waste, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg.Aufdenberg says lasagna gardening is environmentally friendly and frees the gardener from tilling, weeding and digging. Gardens also retain…
Weekly Garden Hour resumes
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As growing season begins, University of Missouri Extension’s weekly Garden Hour returns to its noon slot on Wednesdays. MU Extension specialists address lawn, garden, disease and insect questions during the free hourlong virtual sessions.Listeners receive a weather report from MU Extension climatologist Pat Guinan and hear brief sessions on timely gardening topics, says MU Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg.
After the bloom fades, Easter lily can see new life
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Easter lily used for spring decorations can provide beauty and fragrance for another season.After blooming ends, plant Easter lilies outside as soon as the ground can be worked, says University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Jennifer Schutter. The following year, they will bloom in June and have a sweet fragrance.
Budding flower business benefits from drip irrigation
HUNTSVILLE, Mo. – When Amanda Quinn quadrupled the growing space at her Randolph County flower farm, she didn’t want to quadruple the time spent watering flowers.Quinn, owner of “bloom: Cut Flower Farm,” contacted University of Missouri Extension specialist Dan Downing for advice about drip irrigation systems. She had attended an MU Extension demonstration of a drip irrigation system last year at a flower farm in La Plata.
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.
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.
Hostas: Emperors of the Shade
COLUMBIA, Mo. —Few plants add more interest to shady areas than hostas.