LEAF GALLS ON WILLOW OAK

Galls can be unsightly, but rarely harm the plant. There are different types of galls caused by fungus, bacteria or insects. If you don't like the look of the galls, and the plants are small enough, cut out the infected section. If heavily infested, contact the Cooperative Extension office to determine type of gall and how to treat.

OCTOBER GARDENING CALENDER

First week in October:
 Dig dahlias, gladiolus, tubers and other tender bulbs.
 Plant blooming chrysanthemums to add color to fall landscapes.
 Water evergreens if needed.
 Take a soil sample of the gardens, so that the results are available in time to add fertilizer or lime that will improve or adjust soil fertility.
 Consider using shredded white pine needles as mulch around azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and andromedas.

Second Week:
 Rake deciduous tree leaves and add them to the compost pile.
 Pick and destroy bagworms from evergreens and shrubs. This will eliminate the spring hatching of overwintering eggs.
 Plant shrubs and divide crowded perennials.
 Prune leaves and stems of herbaceous perennials as they turn brown.

Third Week:
 Continue to mow the lawn so that it will not be matted down under heavy snow, if we have any.
 Plant spring flowering bulbs.
 Rake and clean up rose gardens to prevent black spot and other diseases.
 Keep an eye open for reduced prices on end-of-the-season gardening tools and equipment to be used next year or given as gifts.

Final Week:
 Transplant small trees after leaves have fallen.
 Secure vines to their support systems.
 Clean up garden debris and add to the compost pile.

Sussex County Fall Workshops

Three more workshops are slated on the Sussex Co. Master Gardener summer/fall schedule. All are free, except where noted, and will be in the Carvel Center building, except where noted. Register by contacting Karen Adams at 302-856-2585 ext. 540/ adams@udel.edu or online at http://ag.udel.edu/rec/Extension/MasterGardeners/ workshopreg.html. On the workshop list are:

Color for All Seasons – Lisa Arni – Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m.

Beauty and the Beets – Tracy Mulveny – Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.

Hands-On Holiday Arrangement – Mary Noel – Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. –

Cost is $8. Class size is limited to 30.

MASTER GARDENER CLASS

Applications are now being accepted−for the next Master Gardener class that will begin in September 2011. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2011. The application form can be downloaded from the website http://ag.udel.edu/rec/Extension/MasterGardeners/MGTraining.html.

KENT COUNTY FALL WORKSHOPS

All workshops in Kent Co. are free, excepted where noted, and are held at the Paradee Center, except where noted. Please call the Paradee Center to register at 302-730-4000.
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Growing Bulbs – Ellen Scheel and Eileen Wells – Friday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Corn Husk Wreaths – Marilyn McFarlin – Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. – Class size limited to 15. Cost: $7.

Feeding the Birds – presenter to be announced – Thursday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.

Making a Christmas Centerpiece – Pat Renfrow – Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $10.

SEPTEMBER GARDENING CALENDER

First week in September:
• Have soil tested to determine the amount of lime and fertilizer required and apply to lawn area.
• Space strawberry runner plants about six inches apart. Pull out extra plants.
• Start tomato plant indoors in a peat pot. Select a short-day variety such as ‘Pixie.’ When large enough, transplant into 3 ½ -inch or larger pot and place in the sunniest window. Water and feed it regularly, and tomatoes will be ready for Christmas dinner.

Second Week:
• Collect and dry herb blossoms, grasses and seed pods to decorate holiday wreaths.
• Start cuttings from geraniums and begonias.
• Start new begonias by digging and dividing roots. Use a sharp knife to slice through the root system. When dividing, each division should have three or four buds (the small pinkish-colored buds at the crown of the roots). When planting new roots and buds, do not place the tops deeper than two inches below the soil surface; otherwise, the plant will produce foliage but may seldom bloom. Provide moisture to promote new root growth.

Third Week:
• Clean up garden debris and add to compost pile, or turn under vegetation. To improve soil structure and decrease erosion during the winter, plant a cover crop. These winter cover crops can be planted from Sept. 1 through Nov. 1.
• Take in Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus and place on a cool porch or cool part of the house. Do not water for four weeks so that buds can set. After that time, fertilize well and resume weekly watering.

Final Week:
• Keep strawberry beds weed free. Every weed pulled now will make weeding much easier next spring.
• When planting spring bulbs, the depth of planting varies with the size of the bulb; for example, tulips are about 5-6 inches; for daffodils, 5-7 inches; 3-4 inches for hyacinths; and 1 ½ -3 inches for small bulbs. A good rule of thumb when planting bulbs is to set them three times as deep as the bulbs’ greatest width.
• Take poinsettia inside. It is best to repot into a similar but slightly larger container, using a regular commercial potting soil. Place in a warm sunny window.
• Don’t wait for frost warnings to take houseplants indoors. For many tropical houseplants, night temperatures of 50 deg. or lower can cause damage. Check all houseplants for pests and diseases and repot if needed.

AUGUST GARDENING

First Week in August:
 Now is the ideal time to take pictures and plan for next year’s vegetable and flower gardens.
 Order your spring flowering bulbs.
 Check your garden plants, shrubs, flowers and trees for diseases and insect pests.
 Begin planning and planting your fall vegetables, such as lettuce, radishes, kale, spinach, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and peas.
 Pinch back to remove dead heads from annuals.
Mid-August:
 Collect materials for dried flower arrangements, including weeds, flowers, marsh grasses and foliage.
 Prepare lawn or lawn areas that are going to be seeded.
 Harvest ripened vegetables. Sweet corn is ready when ears feel full and firm and the silks have turned brown and dry; cantaloupes are ready to eat when stems slip or separate easily from the fruit.
 Feed roses for the last time.
 Check azaleas, if they are beginning to look pale green to yellow. This is called chloritic. Check soil pH. These acid-loving plants may need to be fed.
Late August:
 Grapes that are ripening now perish easily, so keep refrigerated after harvesting.
 Inspect trunks and branches of dogwoods and other trees for injured bark or fine dust pushed from burrows in trunk by borers.
 Plant new lawns or reseed bare spots in old lawns. This can be done until Sept. 30 in Delaware. If it’s dry, be sure to water newly seeded lawns daily.