Gardening Projects for the Holidays
23/12/21
If you already have a compost pile, this is the perfect opportunity to turn it and boost it with food preparation scraps. While it is theoretically possible to compost almost all kitchen waste, adding meat and dairy to the compost pile is generally discouraged as these foods tend to attract rodents and other animals. Also, it takes a little more dedication to maintaining a temperature in the pile high enough to properly break down these materials.
If you don’t already have a compost pile, now is a great time to start one, especially with all the leaves laying around waiting to make a contribution. Don’t overlook those that have built up in your gutters as they are usually nice and wet and will help provide moisture critical to the composting process.
Have you considered adding a new or expanding a flower bed? Now would be a fairly good time to dig out bermuda grass rhizomes. I say fairly because it is virtually impossible to get all the bermudagrass out on the first attempt. Removing the majority of it now will give you a realistic chance of staying ahead of it when greenup begins this spring.
Now is also a good time to get your vegetable garden cleaned up if you have failed to do so. Squash bugs were public enemy number one for our area this year. Removing the remaining plant litter will reduce the opportunity for some of these pesky insects to overwinter. While it would be a mistake to assume this will eliminate squash bug issues, it will help give your garden a fighting chance.
This would also be a good time to transplant any woody deciduous trees. While this can be difficult for a homeowner and success is not guaranteed, winter is the best time of the year to attempt it. If you do move a tree, make sure you mulch and water it in thoroughly after transplanting. Continue to water it as needed, especially towards the end of the winter as the tree begins to take up additional water to support the new leaves.
For more information on this or any other horticultural topic, you can contact Keith Reed, the Horticulturist in the Payne County Extension office. Keith can be reached via email at keith.reed@okstate.edu, phone at 405-747-8320, or in person at the Payne County Extension office, located at 315 W. 6th in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies.
Reclaiming Woodlands from Redcedar Invasion
16/12/21
Every situation is different, but let’s assume that the property in question is typical. In other words, it has a large number of redcedar trees of different sizes growing throughout a mixed stand of other species. In Payne County, the most dominant species will likely be oaks.
This is an important point because oak trees do not do well when their root system is compromised, either by direct damage or indirect damage brought on by compaction or changing the existing surface grade. Oak decline can be a slow process, typically taking 4-5 years before the trees die completely. This means redcedar removal either by bulldozer or backhoe is not the best option since below ground damage will be unavoidable.
A better option is to cut the redcedars off at or near ground level and either leave it to decay or have it ground out. Redcedars will not resprout from the base so simply leaving the stump is not a bad option if it does not detract from other uses for the land.
Another important point is to consider the microclimate created by the redcedars. Are the desirable trees completely shaded or protected from the wind? If so, removing all the redcedars at once might be too much change for the remaining trees to deal with. In some cases, it’s better to remove the redcedars a few at a time (over several years) so the forest can slowly adjust to the change.
Since threat of fire is often one of the primary reasons for redcedar removal, you might also consider limbing up and/or selectively removing some branches on the redcedars that are left in place. This can help to slow the spread should a fire get started while still helping the other plants adjust to the changing conditions.
Be prepared for some unexpected changes as the landscape adjusts to the redcedar removal. There can easily be a short-term increase in erosion as open ground is suddenly exposed to direct rainfall. Also, expect a surprising surge in growth in some vegetation once more sunlight is available. This might or might not be a good thing depending on your goals, just be ready for it and plan accordingly.
For more information on this or any other horticultural topic, you can contact Keith Reed, the Horticulturist in the Payne County Extension office. Keith can be reached via email at keith.reed@okstate.edu, phone at 405-747-8320, or in person at the Payne County Extension office, located at 315 W. 6th in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies.
Spring Vegetable Garden Planning
09/12/21
The arrival of the 2022 seed catalogs serve to remind us it’s time to get serious about planning for next year’s vegetable garden. If you’re a gardener that knows exactly what you want, it is fair to say that planning (and ordering seed) sooner than later would be a good idea. All indicators suggest we are setting up for a repeat of the last two years with a booming interest in home gardening. Read More...
Horticulture Tips for December
02/12/21
It’s been a very mild start to winter with most of the area with temperatures running much above average. This makes it easy to forget that it can get very cold on short notice this time of year. Taking care of the following landscape tasks can help protect your landscape from severe temperature fluctuations like that could happen just about any day now. Read More...
Insuring New Tree Success
18/11/21
Deciding on what species to plant, making the purchase and planting is only a partial list of tasks involved in planting a new tree. Once the tree is in the ground, it is critical to follow a few more steps to help insure its long term success. Read More...