How Soil Testing Can Help You

Chlorosis can be caused by a soil pH or nutrient problem.

Heavy rains this summer have removed many nutrients from soils in southeastern NC. Symptoms of nutrient deficiency include stunted growth, yellow or purple leaves, excessive shedding of older leaves, reduced flowering, and poor flavor in vegetables. If you have observed any of these symptoms on plants in your yard soil testing can help you get to the root of the problem and tell you how to fix it.

Soil samples can be submitted for testing any time of the year. Collecting soil samples only takes a few minutes, can help you save money in your lawn, garden and landscape, and can result in healthier plants by telling you which nutrients are already in your soil and which ones you need to add. If nutrients are needed, they can be supplied with either natural or synthetic fertilizers.

Boxes and forms for sampling are available from any Cooperative Extension office. Completed samples should be dropped off at your local Extension office to be sent to the N.C. Department of Agriculture’s soil testing lab in Raleigh, at no expense to you. 

Learn more about what soil testing can tell you about your soil and how to take soil samples - Read the whole article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/10/how-soil-testing-can-help-you/

What Can Be Done for Nematodes?

Tomato Roots infected with RKN

If you garden in sandy soil, there is a good chance nematodes are plaguing your plants, draining them of the energy they need to grow and thrive. Nematodes are tiny, microscopic worms that feed within plant roots. You can think of them as the leeches of the plant world. Several types of nematodes are common in the south, and frequently cause problems in vegetable gardens, lawns and landscapes.

Two of the most troublesome nematodes in the southeast are the root knot nematode (RKN) and sting nematode. In vegetable gardens, there are several practices gardens can use to manage levels of these pests, including planting nematode suppressive crops. In landscapes and lawns, keeping levels down is more difficult.

Learn more! Read the whole article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/09/what-can-i-do-about-nematodes/ 

Plant Sale Nurtures Spring Fever!

Double Knock Out Rose

Spring is here and what better way to explore its possibilities than by attending the Pender Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale, coming up Thursday, April 19, 2pm-6pm, Friday, April 20, 8:30am-6pm and Saturday, April 21, 8:30am-noon. The sale will be held at the Pender County Cooperative Extension office, 801 S. Walker Street in Burgaw.

For flower lovers, the sale will offer a full palate of annuals and perennials to purchase, with special focus given this year to flowering plants that attract beneficial insects and pollinators. Those with culinary tastes will savor a variety of herbs, vegetables, and fruit plants including figs and blueberries. While at the sale, be sure to check out the 'Master Gardener Grown' tent where you will find different and unusual varieties of plants propagated and grown by Pender County Master Gardeners.

All gardeners should plan to attend the free gardening class that begins at 10am on Saturday, titled ‘Growing Great Soils’.  This 2 hour class, taught by Extension horticulture agent Charlotte Glen, will discuss common soil problems in coastal and SE NC and how to fix them without spending a fortune. If you would like to attend the class, call 259-1235 to register.

Master gardeners will be on hand throughout the sale to answer questions and offer advice. Proceeds from the sale benefit Pender County Cooperative Extension’s educational programs and teaching gardens. For more information, including a list of the plants that will be offered, visit http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/content/2012PlantSale or call 910-259-1235.

Planting for Pollinators

Honeybee visiting broccoli flowers

Honey bees and other pollinators are essential for the production of many of the foods we grow and eat every day. These include fruits like blueberries, apples, and peaches, as well as many vegetables, including cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, beans, melons, and peppers. Throughout the year, these industrious insects rely on a wide variety of flowers, including weeds, to provide the nectar and pollen that are their food.  As gardeners we can promote pollinator health by planting a diversity of flowers to serve as nectar sources, as well as by simply allowing vegetables, herbs, and weeds to bloom in our yards. 

What you do in your own backyard can greatly affect pollinator activity and health in your garden, as well as the larger region. Including plants in your yard that attract and sustain honey bees and other pollinators can increase pollinator populations in your area and lead to higher vegetable and fruit yields in your yard and community.  

You may choose to include flowers throughout your yard as a way of supporting pollinators. Annuals flowers like cleome, cosmos, zinnias, and sunflowers are excellent bee attractors. So are many herbs. Allow basil, fennel, oregano, chives, mint, and dill to bloom in the garden to bring in pollinators and beneficial insects. Cover crops like buckwheat and clover also do a great job, as do perennials like purple coneflower, agastache, joe pye weed, goldenrod, asters, and black eyed susans. 

Henbit, a common weed and nectar source!

Allowing winter vegetables like broccoli, kale, and mustard to bloom out provides a source of nectar early in season, a critical time for pollinators since few other plants are in bloom and changing weather conditions make them particularly vulnerable to food shortages. Many common lawn weeds also serve as often overlooked sources of early season nectar. Allowing winter weeds such as henbit, field pansy, and chickweed to mature in some areas of your yard will support pollinators in your community. 

If you have questions about protecting pollinators and beneficial insects contact your local Cooperative Extension office. In Pender County call 259-1235, Mon – Fri, 8am and 5pm, or visit us online anytime at http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=askanexpert, where you can post your questions to be answered by email using the ‘Ask an Expert’ widget!

Learn more! Read the whole article on the Pender Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+174
  

Compost Happens!

Black gold!

There is a completely natural and readily available substance that is guaranteed to help your plants grow better. This is no scam; it’s compost! And the best thing is you can make it yourself for free! In fact, you may be throwing away materials you could be using to make this valuable garden resource. 

Composting is simply the act of helping natural materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable scraps to break down. The finished product of composting is compost - a dark brown, crumbly, earthy smelling, soil like substance some gardeners refer to as black gold because of the many ways it benefits the soil and plant growth. Homemade compost is just as good as that bought at the garden center – and a lot cheaper!

Learn more about composting - read the whole article on the Pender Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+173

Find out more about composting from these great online resources:

• Florida's Online Composting Center -- Everything you need to know about composting! http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/compost-info/
• Composting – Publication from NC Cooperative Extension, http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/pdf/ag-467.pdf
• Vermicomposting - Composting with worms! Learn how from this Pender Gardener article: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+113
• Grow your own compost in place by sowing and turning in cover crops and green manures - Learn more from this Pender Gardener article: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+147

If you have questions about composting, contact your local Cooperative Extension office. In Pender County call 259-1235, Mon – Fri, 8am and 5pm, or visit us online anytime or visit us online anytime at http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=askanexpert, where you can post your questions to be answered by email using the ‘Ask an Expert’ widget!

Improving Sandy Soil

Yellowing of lower leaves on this broccoli plant is a classic symptom of nitrogen deficiency, a common problem problem in sandy soils.

Southeastern North Carolina is not a place known for wonderful soils. One of the most common problems gardeners face in our area is dry, poor sand. Fortunately sandy soils are easy to work, so if sand is your problem getting your soil into good shape should not wear you out. And, once you have improved a sandy site you will find these soils can be very productive, producing prolific vegetables and robust trees, shrubs and flowers. 

Find out more about improving sandy soils - read the entire article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+169


To learn more about the common soil challenges in our area, and how to fix them without spending a fortune attend the free class ‘Growing Healthy Soil’ offered by Pender Cooperative Extension, Thursday Feb. 16, 10:30 – noon, at the Hampstead Library, and again Saturday Feb. 18, 10:30 – noon, at the Burgaw Library. Registration is required by Feb. 14. To register, or if you have questions, call the Pender Extension Center at 910-259-1235 or email charlotte_glen@ncsu.edu.

A complete listing of spring gardening classes offered by Pender Cooperative Extension is available here: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/content/spring2012

Free Trees!

Live Oak

Trees are an essential part of our community, providing clean air, cooling shade, habitat for wildlife, beauty and much more. Unfortunately, many trees are lost each year due to development, hurricanes, pests, and drought. To help replant trees, a group of local and state organizations has been giving away free tree seedlings to area residents since 1997 at an annual event known as TreeFest. 

TreeFest 2012 will be held Friday, Jan. 20 from 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, Jan. 21 from 10am to 5pm, in the JC Penney wing of Independence Mall in Wilmington. Residents are invited to come by and pick up five free tree seedlings during TreeFest. 

Seedling trees start out small but grow quickly. This 15’ live oak growing in my yard was planted as a 1’ tall TreeFest seedling in 2003. To learn more about the types of trees available at TreeFest and how to establish young tree seedlings, read the rest of the article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+166


If you can’t make TreeFest, or need more trees, seedlings can be purchased from the NC Forest Service through their website, http://nc-forestry.stores.yahoo.net/. Most varieties are available in bundles of 10.

Helping You Grow in 2012!

Do your New Year’s resolutions include growing your own food, doing a better job of caring for your yard, or gardening more sustainably? Do weeds and insects have you perplexed? Need soil testing supplies or gardening advice? If so, Pender Cooperative Extension can help you! 

Sign Up For Email News!
One way Pender Cooperative Extension can help you stay up to date on all that needs to be done in your lawn, garden, and landscape is through our two email news services, Pender Gardener and Food Gardener. Both bring timely, accurate information for local growing conditions directly to your email inbox, including pest alerts, planting times, and announcements of upcoming classes and events. 

Pender Gardener News focuses on what you need to know to sustainably care for your lawn and landscape. News posts in 2012 will include exciting new plants and proven performers you could grow in your landscape, information about controlling lawn and ornamental insect and disease problems using less pesticides, and ways your yard can help the environment. To sign up for Pender Gardener News, send an email to mj2@lists.ncsu.edu. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message put: subscribe pendergardener 

Pender Extension’s newest news service, Food Gardener, was launched in August of 2011 to provide fresh and local information on growing fruits, vegetables and herbs in southeastern North Carolina. Food Gardener posts in 2012 will focus on varieties of edible plants you can grow here and when to plant, how to care for them, as well as insects and disease alerts and how to manage them using organic or sustainable methods. To sign up for Food Gardener News, send an email to mj2@lists.ncsu.edu. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message put: subscribe foodgardener  

Most of the news postings sent to Food Gardener and Pender Gardener subscribers are also posted on the Pender Gardener Blog, http://pendergardener.blogspot.com, providing another way you can to stay up to date on the latest gardening news for Pender County.

Ask a Master Gardener!
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers willing to share their time and expertise to help you garden more successfully. In Pender County, over 60 active Master Gardener         Volunteers work with the Pender Extension office to answer gardening questions during the growing season (April - October) at the Poplar Grove Farmer’s Market and Hampstead Library, as well as at local events including the Poplar Grove Herb and Garden Fair, Burgaw SpringFest and the Blueberry Festival.

To find out how you can ‘Ask a Master Gardener’, or if you would like to become a Master Gardener in Pender County, contact Charlotte Glen, Pender County Horticulture Agent,  by calling 259-1235, or email cdglen@ncsu.edu. The next Master Gardener training course in Pender County will begin in August.

Ask Online!
Another way to get quick, reliable answers for your gardening questions is to use the ‘Ask an Expert’ widget on the Pender Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu. Look in the upper left hand corner, just under the black bar, for the ‘Ask an Expert’ link. You can even upload pictures of weeds, plants, or pests for identification. The ‘Ask an Expert’ widget is not limited just to gardening questions; this is also the place you can get answers to questions related to farming, livestock, 4-H, nutrition, and food preservation.

You may also ‘Ask an Expert’ in person at the Pender Cooperative Extension office, by calling 259-1235 or visiting us at 801 South Walker Street in Burgaw. The Pender Extension office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, though it’s best to call first to make sure the person you need to speak to will be in the office.

Learn More!
To keep up to date with everything that is happening at Pender County Cooperative Extension like us on Facebook (search for Pender Cooperative Extension) or visit us online at http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu where you can find out about upcoming classes and local events.

Cooperative Extension is part of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Offices are located in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties. To learn more about Cooperative Extension or locate offices in other counties visit http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/.

Winter Extension Gardener Now Available!

Fill the cold dark evenings of winter with dreams of spring! The Winter 2012 issue of the Extension Gardener Newsletter is now available online! 

Extension Gardener newsletter is written by horticultural experts with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. Each issue includes statewide features plus a special regional section written specifically for your area of the state.
 
In the Winter 2012 Coastal Plain issue, you can learn about: 

• Pruning Trees
• Growing Garden Peas
  
• Winter Garden Chores
  
• Trees and Hurricanes
  
• Eco Friendly Landscaping
  
• Growing Microgreens
  
• Building Healthy Soils
  
• and lots more!
  

Download your copy here http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/successg/latest%20issue_eg.htm today!

Welcome Winter with These Great Plants!

Weeping Yaupon

While few plants actually bloom in winter, there are many other characteristics that add interest at this time of year. Bark, berries, foliage, and plant form contribute color and texture to the landscape at a time of year when they can best be appreciated, without the competition of flowers that may have overshadowed these more delicate features during the growing season. Through careful planning, you can have a landscape full of beauty and interest all year around. 

Start your all-season landscape this year by adding plant such as weeping yaupon to your yard. With its glowing red berries lining gracefully arching stems, weeping yaupon is a plant made for the winter landscape! For more suggestions of great plants for winter interest, read the whole article on the Pender Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+162.

Fall - A Great Time to Soil Test!

Chlorosis on pepper leaves caused by Magnesium deficiency

If your lawn or garden did not do as well this year as you would have liked, part of the problem may be in the soil. Chlorosis, or yellowing between the veins is a common sign of soil problems. This symptom can indicate a deficiency of iron or magnesium. In many cases the actual cause of the deficiency is high soil pH, rather than low nutrient levels in the soil. The only way to get to the root of the problem and know for sure is to soil test.

Soil testing is free in North Carolina, provided by the NC Department of Agriculture, and testing supplies can be picked up from any Cooperative Extension office. Fall is the perfect time to submit soil samples for testing. Results for samples submitted now should be ready in four to five weeks, much quicker than the nine to ten weeks it often takes in the busy spring season. 

Learn more about soil testing - read the whole article here on the Pender Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+157

Sign up for the Pender Gardener or Food Gardener listservs to receive weekly updates of what to do in your yard and garden!

Pender Gardener
Weekly updates on what to do and plant in your landscape and lawn!

• To subscribe to the Pender Gardener email listserve, send an email to mj2@lists.ncsu.edu. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message put: subscribe pendergardener

Food Gardener
Weekly updates on what to do and plant in your vegetable and herb garden!

• To subscribe to the Food Gardener email listserve, send an email to mj2@lists.ncsu.edu. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message put: subscribe foodgardener

Sasanqua: The Other Camellia

Camellia 'ShiShiGashira'

Though not as well known as their spring flowering cousins, fall blooming camellias are wonderful landscape plants for the southeast and one of my favorite shrubs. 

Sometimes referred to simply as sasanquas from their scientific name, Camellia sasanqua, fall blooming camellias are a group of hardy, durable, evergreen shrubs native to Asia. They make spectacular additions to partially shaded landscapes, offering evergreen foliage and showy flowers at a time of the year when most plants are going to bed for the winter. 

Many varieties are available, with habits ranging from low growing spreading shrubs to upright vigorous bushes that can be trained to grow as small trees. To learn more about how to grow fall blooming camellias and varieties recommended for southeastern North Carolina read the rest of the article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+156.

Fall is for Planting!

November is prime time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials! If you still have not set out pansies for winter color, get them in the ground before Thanksgiving. Wait until after Thanksgiving to plant bulbs like daffodils and Spanish bluebells.

For more planting tips read the rest of the article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+154.

Great Evergreens for Screens and Hedges

Nellie Stevens Holly

Need some privacy? Want to screen the view into your neighbor’s yard? Consider planting a living fence of evergreen shrubs, but look beyond the common disease plagued Leyland Cypress! Local garden centers carry many different evergreens suitable for screening --- and fall is the perfect time to plant! 

Find out which variety would be the best for your yard - read the rest of the article here on the Pender Extension website,  http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+151.

For recommendations of trees and shrubs that thrive in our area see the recommended plants fact sheets available on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=lawngarden (scroll down to the section titled ‘Recommended Plants’).

For more plant advice, try these Extension resources:

• The NCSU Urban Horticulture website has fact sheets for 100’s of plants! Find them here: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/
• Clemson Extension has many fact sheets on great plants for our area, as well as how to plant and care them! Find them here: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/ .

A Fungus Among Us!

Recent rainfall has led to explosion of mushrooms in lawns and mulched areas throughout our area. Most of these fungi are completely harmless, though some consider them slightly annoying. Mushrooms growing in lawns are not a sign of plant disease. Mushrooms such as those pictured to the left are more likely to grow in yards where trees have been cleared.

While mushrooms are easily recognized by most people, some of their relatives that can be found growing on hardwood mulch may not be as familiar. From time to time, some of the more noticeable of these organisms may catch a gardener’s attention and cause them to wonder about their identity. 


Two of the most eye catching fungi found in mulch are slime mold (aka Dog Vomit) and stinkhorns. Both are harmless and will go away naturally within a few days. 

Slime Mold growing on mulch

Octopus stinkhorn - you often smell this one before seeing it!

Learn more about managing mushrooms and other fungi in your yard or mulch - Read the entire article, available here on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+148

After the Storm: Pruning damaged trees

Branch Collar

Tropical storms, hurricanes, and strong thunderstorms can leave your yard in a mess. When storms occur, broken limbs and branches are the most common type of damage sustained by trees and shrubs. While a few broken branches will not cause serious harm to a tree for the present time, how you care for a tree with a broken branch will have a huge impact on its long term health and ability to withstand future storms. 

When removing a damaged branch from a tree or shrub, cut just beyond the swollen area known as the branch collar and never flush against the trunk. When branches are properly removed, the tree will be able to see over the wound to keep out decay and insects. The sealing process is starting in this picture and can be seen as the doughnut shaped ring outlining the pruning cut.  


Learn more! Read the entire article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+144.

To find out how you can prevent future damage through proper tree selection and maintenance, read this Pender Gardener article from Sept. 2010: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+94.


Questions? Get answers by posting them online using our 'Ask an Expert' widget: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=askanexpert.

Fall Best Time to Knock Out Fire Ants

Recent rainfall has increased the number of fire ant mounds.

A recent encounter with a particularly aggressive mound of fire ants has left me wondering if my right ankle will ever be the same. It also served as a reminder that we are entering the most effective time of the year to control these pesky invaders. Treating mounds in late summer and fall weakens the colony, leaving the ants more vulnerable to the ravages of winter. So, if fire ant mounds are popping up in your yard the way they are in mine, treat now to get the most bang for your buck. 

Find out more! Read the rest of the story on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+143.

Spiders - A Gardener's Best Friend!

Black and Yellow Argiope, aka Garden Spider

Maybe it is because my name is Charlotte and I grew up on a farm, but I have always had an affinity for spiders. I realize not everyone shares this attraction, but here is some news that may help you tolerate them. Research has confirmed that spiders are the most important and abundant predator of insect pests in most yards. This means they are not hanging around just to frighten you. In fact, they are actively defending your yard and garden against a multitude of insect pests.

Spiders eat many types of nuisance and plant damaging insects, including mosquitoes, stink bugs, caterpillars, aphids, and beetles. Actually they will eat just about any insect they can get their fangs on, including other beneficials, though on the whole they eat a lot more bad bugs than good ones. In turn, spiders are an important food source for many species of birds, serving as both predator and prey in the food web.  

Spiders are common in gardens and landscapes in our area throughout the year, though their numbers are generally highest in late summer and fall. An over abundance of spiders in your yard or home is an indication that there are plenty of insects around for them to eat. If you have a lot of spiders around and you can tolerate them, the best thing you can do is leave them alone to allow them to naturally reduce the insect population.

Learn more about spiders by reading the rest of the article on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+141. See images of many common garden spiders on this NC Extension webpage: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Other/note137/note137.html.

Harvesting the Rain

Rain Barrel

Even during drought rain showers occasionally bestow life sustaining water to parched landscapes and gardens. But not all the rain that falls from these fleeting showers soaks into the soil. For example, most of the water that falls upon our roofs is diverted to stormwater drains or ditches and carried away before it can permeate the ground. Instead of letting it float away, why not capture this precious resource and store it to water plants during drier times? Rain water harvesting systems, which include simple rain barrels as well as more complex cisterns, allow gardeners to do just that.   

Rainwater harvesting has been practiced for hundreds of years and still serves as a primary source of water for homes in some parts of the world. In the United States rainwater is primarily harvested for non drinking water use, such as irrigation. Large systems can capture and store thousands of gallons of rainwater and pump it back out to water lawns and garden beds. Even a single rain barrel can store 65 gallons or more. Using harvested rainwater to water your yard will save money on your water bill, conserve municipal water sources for more vital purposes, and reduce the damaging effects of stormwater runoff in your community. 

Learn more! Read the rest of the story on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+140.


To find out more about cisterns and rainwater harvesting, visit the NC Extension Rainwater Harvesting website, http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/waterharvesting/, or download a copy of the publication “Rainwater Harvesting: Guidance for homeowners” here: http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/stormwater/PublicationFiles/WaterHarvestHome2008.pdf.

Receive weekly updates and gardening news -  subscribe to the Pender Gardener email listserve! To subscribe, send an email to mj2@lists.ncsu.edu. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message put: subscribe pendergardener 

 

Watering for Survival

Tree Gator

Water is the life blood of plants. When they cannot get enough they suffer. Signs of this suffering include wilting, brown leaves, and dead stems and branches. Drought stricken plants may eventually die from lack of water or pest problems that infect them as a result of being under drought stress. Watering plants can help them survive, but during extreme drought no one can afford to water everything in their yard. Setting priorities and watering for survival will help you keep the most important plants in your landscape healthy. 

It is not realistic to try to keep everything in your yard alive through extreme drought. Instead gardeners should set priorities and focus their watering efforts on those plants that are most valuable and likely to perform well in the future. Survival watering involves targeting water applications to only high priority plants and applying water so it soaks deeply into the soil. Treegators are special bags for watering newly planted trees and shrubs that are designed to slowly release water into the soil. Slow, deep watering is especially important during drought. You can achieve similar results using soaker hoses or buckets with holes in the bottoms. 

Learn more! Read the rest of the story on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+139.  

For more suggestions on how you can conserve water at home and in your yard, take the 40 Gallon Challenge. On the program’s website, www.40gallonchallenge.org, you can pledge to adopt water-saving practices and see how many gallons of water you can expect to save.

Learn more about indoor and outdoor water conservation from these great resources:

• Save Water NC: http://www.savewaternc.org/
• Water Use It Wisely: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/
• Water Wise Works!: http://www.tarheelgardening.com/waterwise.html