Master Gardener Plant Sale!

Spring is finally here! And what better way to explore its possibilities than by attending the annual Pender County Master Gardener Plant Sale, Friday, April 16, from 9am-5pm and Saturday, April 17, from 9am-4pm at the Pender County Cooperative Extension, 801 S. Walker Street in Burgaw.

For the flower lover, in addition to having an ample color palate of annuals and perennials to purchase, special focus will be 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 as well as free gardening classes on Saturday:

• Summer Vegetable Gardening at 10am
  
• Home Fruit Production at 1:30pm

Both classes are free, but registration is required by April 15. Call 259-1235 to register.
More about classes: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/content/0417classes

Master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice. Proceeds from the sale benefit Pender County Cooperative Extension Educational Programs and Teaching Gardens. For more information on the Plant Sale, please call 259-1235.

Find out more about the plant sale: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/.

Centipede Lawn Problems

Centipede grass is often promoted as a low maintenance, easy care grass and in many locations it thrives on neglect, requiring little to no fertilizer and infrequent mowing. Where centipede is happy, it grows very well, producing a dense, healthy, carpet of grass that is able to smother out weeds. In other locations though, centipede grass is plagued with problems. Some of these problems can be caused by insects or diseases, like large patch disease (seen here), while others are due to over fertilization, herbicide use, or incorrect care. Figuring out which problem is the cause of your lawn’s decline relies on careful consideration of the symptoms and how the lawn has been treated.

Find out more! Click here to read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website.

Grow Your Own Herbs!

Rosemary is one of many different types of herbs can be grown in southeastern North Carolina. A great opportunity to learn more about herbs and to purchase many different varieties is coming up this weekend, March 27 and 28, at the Herb and Garden Fair at Poplar Grove Plantation, on Hwy 117 between Hampstead and Wilmington. Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand both days to answer questions and provide gardening advice.

Other flavorful herbs that thrive in our area include perennials like oregano, chives, and sage and annuals such as basil and parsley. If you have never tried to grow herbs or are looking to expand your herb garden, spring is a great time to plant.

Learn More! Click here to read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+66 Website

Pender County Cooperative Extension: Helping You Grow!

Spring is almost here, bringing with it gardening season! As you start working in your yard or garden this spring, you may find you have questions or problems and Pender County Cooperative Extension can help you find answers and solutions! As part of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Pender County Cooperative Extension provides Pender residents easy access to the resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension agents deliver unbiased, research-based information to Pender County citizens in many areas including horticulture. Our programs are designed to enrich the lives, land, and economies of all North Carolinians. Take advantage of the many resources Extension has available to help you garden and landscape successfully, such as the Pender Teaching Gardens located at the Hampstead Library (picture left) and Pender Extension Office in Burgaw!

Read the whole article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website, http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+65

Florida Betony - One Tough Weed!

Florida betony is a tough, problematic perennial weed found throughout the southeast. Also known as wild artichoke or rattlesnake weed, Florida betony is especially noticeable from fall through spring when it is actively growing. Florida betony usually goes dormant (stops growing) in summer, but its roots continue to live in the soil, sending up new shoots in fall as temperatures cool. One of the easiest ways to identify Florida betony is by the tubers (shown left) that are produced underground. These tubers are long, white and segmented, and resemble a rattlesnake’s rattle or a large grub, and are actually edible. They may be several inches long and are able to store tremendous amounts of energy for the plant, which is why Florida betony is so tough to get rid of once it is established. Effectively controlling Florida betony requires persistence, and a different strategy is needed to control this difficult weed in lawns and landscape beds.

Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+63

Extension Gardener Spring 2010 Available Online!

The Spring 2010 regional editions of Extension Gardener™ newsletter are now available online. To view the latest edition of Extension Gardener for the Coastal Plains, visit:
http://extensiongardener.ncsu.edu



In this season's issue you can learn about:

• Fragrant shrubs for all seasons
• How to Reduce Pesticide use with Integrated Pest Management
• Spring and Summer Vegetables to plant
• Spring Tips and Tasks
• Tryon Palace Gardens
• Organic Fertilizers
• 'Crown Jewel' Gardenia
• Incredible Edibles: Asparagus
• Attracting Pollinators
• and more!!!
  

More information about Extension Gardener is available on our home page: http://extensiongardener.ncsu.edu.

Control Burrweed and Other Winter Lawn Weeds Now!

If you have ever walked through your lawn barefoot in spring and thought you were stepping on sandspurs, chances are lawn burrweed has infested your yard. Lawn burrweed, also known as spurweed (Soliva sessilis), has become a common turf weed in our area that is easily identified by its low ferny foliage and sharp, spiny seed pods, which ripen in late spring. As a cool season annual weed, lawn burrweed comes up in the fall, grows slowly through winter, flowers and sets seed in spring, and then dies as temperatures warm up in late spring.

Currently burrweed is still relatively small and has not started to produce its sharp, prickly seed pods. Even though it is not very noticeable at the present time, now is the time to treat lawns infested with this and other winter weeds. Once spring arrives it will be too late to control burrweed because by then its seeds will already have ripened, ensuring a new crop of weeds next winter, and the plants themselves will naturally die as warmer weather sets in.

Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+64