Composting Fall Leaves

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As the fall season progresses, many folks obtain large amounts of leaves and other yard wastes that need to be removed from their property.

When you compost leaves, other yard debris and kitchen waste, a microbial process converts these items into a more usable organic amendment. You can use finished compost to improve soil structure in gardens and landscape beds. You also can use finished compost as a mulch to help reduce weed problems, moderate soil temperatures and conserve soil moisture.
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Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs

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While monitoring vegetable and soybean fields in the Lexington area, I have noticed that the number of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) adults has dropped off as the numbers of nymphs on these crops has remained constant. Last year, BMSB began to gather on the sides of homes the first week in September. This makes me believe that BMSB is changing its behavior from plant feeding to begin searching for overwintering sites, possibly your home. I did spot 15 BMSB on the side of my house on Saturday. So, over the next several weeks we should expect BMSB to gather on buildings in search of suitable overwintering sites. Once inside buildings they will remain active until mid-spring. Continue reading →

Fall Cleanup is Essential for Spring Success

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Some homeowner’s fall gardens are in full swing now. However, a majority of home gardeners seem to prefer skipping the fall garden ritual as they are ready to forget about dealing with plant disease and insects in the vegetative garden until next spring. Even so, this time of year is actually the perfect time to start controlling next year’s disease and insects. A little work in the fall can prevent a lot of trouble next spring. Continue reading →

Choosing the Right Tree Species

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You have finally decided to plant a tree in the front yard. Congratulations! The big question now: Which tree?

First, there is no perfect tree. All trees have both good and bad characteristics. Most trees are more or less adaptable to your specific site. Some are more susceptible to disease and insect damage than others. The best advice is to plant a diversity of species. Choose trees for shade, some that bloom and a few just to be ornamental.
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Fall Tips for the KY Garden

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Fall is a beautiful time in Kentucky gardens, but it can also be a messy time. Tree leaves turn from green to vibrant fall colors and then drop, creating big piles. Then there are the leaf and spent shoots from our flower beds. The way we address our yard waste can have a significant impact on our gardens and on the environment. Gardeners commonly rake up and bag leaves to haul away to yard waste dumps. Continue reading →

Control Dandelions in the Fall

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Common chickweed, henbit, and purple deadnettle are cool-season weeds we usually see in crop fields during the fall and winter.

However, other weeds, such as dandelions, have become more prevalent in recent years. Dandelions are generally considered a major lawn or pasture weed but are increasingly found in grain crop fields.
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Growing Asters

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If you are craving some color in your fall garden this year, try swapping out those mums for some beautiful Asters! These brilliant little flowers can brighten up your flower beds when little else is blooming. Aster, the Latin word for “star” is the perfect description for this Kentucky native, that blooms starting in late summer and can continue until heavy frost. In the past, asters have not been heavily used due to a weedy appearance, but with new cultivars now available, all gardeners will be happy with the smaller, mounding growth habits of these new varieties. Continue reading →

Squash Pests

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I know some of you out there are having squash and zucchini problems this year and you aren’t alone. A week ago, I noticed my first and most prolific zucchini plant starting to yellow and wilt. I checked the stem to see if there were any squash borers and sure enough there were a couple a cracks in the stem and some saw dust like stem bits hanging out beside the cracks. Hoping to save the plant I stuck a sharp wire into the holes hoping to kill the borers and covered it with soil (like the U.K. entomologists say). Saturday the plant was just about gone, so I pulled it up, dissected the stem and found 7 one-inch long borers about as big around as a pencil munching away! I have to admit I took great pleasure avenging my beloved zucchini plants death. Continue reading →