News for Delaware County Master Gardeners

Vol. 11 No. 2, February 2006

Included with your February newsletter is the 2006 Master Gardener Membership List which includes your volunteer activities choices and updated personal contact information. Hopefully, I have correctly entered the information from your volunteer opportunities check list and updated contact information.

Those of you who did not send your 2006 choices should contact me if you wish to change your volunteer activities or have new contact information. I will include the corrections in the next newsletter.

Please check the scheduled Speakers' Bureau activities in this issue. It's hard to believe that we started this committee only a few years ago. Thanks to Joe Daniels and his tireless efforts in promoting the Master Gardener organization. We have thirty volunteers signed up for this committee this year, and it appears that we will have plenty of opportunities for all of you to be involved. We're constantly receiving new requests for speakers, and will try to update the speaking schedule each month. The speakers' Bureau has become one of our most successful community outreach activities.

Check out the Home Gardeners' School web page. This promises to be a great day, and the committee is very excited about this tenth annual HGS. Early registration is recommended!

It was great to see so many of you at the January meeting. The food was wonderful. We hope to see you at the February 21st meeting.

Even though the weather has been quite mild and has allowed us to get outside and accomplish some projects, there is still downtime to get on the Internet and do some investigating. I apologize to those who do not use it since this month's column is devoted to one of my favorite sources of information.

When you are in need of inspiration, information of a type of plant and it requirements or where to find it to buy, the internet is a great source of information. Yes, I keep acquiring books, which are great for traveling or reading in bed, but when I needed a source for passiflora incarnata, I found an online source and ordered it. It is now a beast and grows more than 20 feet in one season.

If you ever want a good general source then davesgarden.com is a compilation of lots of information. The section called Gardenwatchdog lists gardener's comments about 100s of companies selling plants, bulbs etc. Both negative and positive comments are listed and will give a ratio of each. I have researched companies if the offer seems too good or if they are fairly new. Also included there is the gardenbookworm where gardeners have reviewed garden books (1,948) and you can search for recommendations according to subject. There is also a plant database for information 121,612 entries, 94,540 images. It does not cost anything to join and then you can write your own reviews on books and plant sources.

Speaking of books; hopefully no one pays full price for books anymore. overstock.com in their book category has 45 pages of gardening books that usually list for less than Amazon.

WARNING, SHAMELESS SOLICITATION COMING - - - any books that you really don't' like or read anymore could be donated to the Home Gardeners School or Fall Fest so someone else might enjoy them! (then you can go buy more at Overstock or wherever) A highly specialized web site that I found this spring deals with the exceedingly mind boggling selection of coleus that keep appearing each year. There is now a website dedicated specifically to this started by a gentleman from the Netherlands. Coleusfinder.org provides pictures, info on cultivars, sowing, cuttings, sources to buy them and of course the latest, newest coleus for 2006.

findnurseries.com lists all Pennsylvania nurseries, although they really need to update it as it still lists Franks Nursery and Craft locations! Oh well.

www.pa-dir.com/nurseries is a little more detailed with listings by town/city.

perennialresource.com lists information on 1000 perennials with great photos, cultural requirements, companion planting and garden articles. They market it as the site for keen gardeners. Whatever on that means.

But my all time favorite is gardenweb.com. I have spent more time at this site in the forums that I will readily admit to. There is a forum for pretty much everything. You do not have to be a member to read the listings there. You do have to join if you wish to comment or ask questions about a posting. I often go to the garden junk or leaf casting forum to read about current projects people are working on. (photos are often included) I read about their mistakes so when I get around to this it will make it easier for me. They discuss what worked or didn't with various crafty things they are making. A Master Gardener forum was started last year and usually has some interesting comments. Some MG programs call new members sprouts or seedlings. That might solve the "mentoree" debate. If you have an interest in it and it is somehow related to gardening, I bet there is a forum for it.

And one last site I am including because I love the name: lazyssfarm.com This a nursery in Charlottesville, Virginia that raises 500 varieties of shrubs and 2200 kinds of perennials but the best part is they grow their own. Their prices for shrubs are reasonable and for that reason I feel the need to try some different things. Little shrubs are great for putting in planters for a year or two (protect the planters from freezing) and then planting out when larger so the slugs and other undesirables will leave them alone. Here's hoping the weather gets cold again so I can do more research.

Pictured below are some results from the January Second Saturday class on Painting Pots.

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PERK UP PEAKED PLANTS AFFECTED BY POOR INDOOR CARE
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.

Do those robust, leafy plants you brought in last fall now look as drained and droopy as an accountant after tax season? Chances are you need to adjust your indoor plant care, says a gardening specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Many people keep up the same plant care schedule and methods when they bring their plants into the house from outside," says Robert Nuss, professor of ornamental horticulture. "Inside the house, a wholly different environment can take a heavy toll on house plant quality."

Nuss says indoor plant problems often have recognizable symptoms that can be alleviated easily and inexpensively.

• Root rot. Nuss rates root rot as the most common problem for indoor plants. "Over watering is the main cause," Nuss says. "Avoid using heavy soils that drain slowly and use containers with a drain hole in the bottom." Nuss suggests using light potting soils or vermiculite to allow for proper drainage.
• Nutrient deficiencies. If indoor plant foliage appears to be pale green or light green, the plant has not received enough nitrogen. "Applying fertilizer every month to two months should make up for any nutrient deficiency," Nuss says. Spotting a potash (or phosphorus) deficiency is more difficult, Nuss says. Occasionally, leaf edges may turn brown and die.
• Wilted or drying leaves. In winter, humidity levels drop, a condition that turns indoor environments hot and dry as homeowners seal windows and crank up heating systems. Dried stems and leaves are a sure sign of too-dry air. "Group plants together or place them in trays filled with pebbles and water," Nuss recommends. "Keep the water level just below the surface of the pebbles, preventing root saturation."
• Spindly growth or off-color foliage. Light yellow foliage or thin winter growth may be caused by a lack of light. The solution is simple -- place plants near a bright window. "Adding additional light near the plant will help as well," Nuss says.
• White, or yellowish crust on soil surface. Unabsorbed mineral salts from fertilizer or hard water can accumulate on the soil surface or plant stems. These salts, toxic to roots and plant stems, can be eliminated by leaching. Nuss says soil is leached when about 10 percent of the applied water passes through the drain holes in a plant container. Excess water that drains through the container should be thrown out. "Plant soil should be leached once a month throughout the year," Nuss explains.
• Pot-bound plants. Stunted or low-quality foliage can be caused by too many roots. Nuss recommends removing the plant from the pot to inspect root growth. If there is a large number of roots circling the potting soil, the plant must be repotted. Tightly matted roots can be loosened by cutting the circling pattern that has formed in the old pot. "Make four to six vertical cuts into the roots from the top to the bottom of the root mass," Nuss says. "The new pot should be several inches wider and deeper than the old one," Nuss says.

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New Volunteer Opportunity: Penn State BugMobile

On Saturday, April 29, the Healthy Yards Program will be held at J. Franklin Styer Nurseries from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association, Chester Creek Partnership municipalities, and Penn State Master Gardeners. Suppliers of environmentally friendly yard care products will have demonstrations, exhibits, and short presentations for visitors.

If you have not been trained for the BugMobile presentation, you may attend a training session from 8:30- 9:30 on April 29th. We will need volunteers for 2 or 3 shifts. Please contact Linda if you are interested in participating in this important educational opportunity

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To all Delco Master Gardeners:

We are soliciting door prizes for the April 1st Home Gardeners' School - if you have unused items you would like to "re-gift" to us, or can solicit a favorite garden center or other vendor for a donation, we would greatly appreciate it.

Please arrange to bring items to the March general meeting, or call me to arrange a pick-up from your house or a dropoff at my house in Media.
Thanks,
Nancy Novak

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ONSET OF WINTER OFTEN CAN BRING SQUIRRELY VISITORS TO THE HOUSE
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.

If you hear strange noises emanating from the ceiling and walls, or other parts of your house, a wildlife expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says it may not be the clatter of burglars, but rather some bushy-tailed visitors seeking a winter home.

"Squirrels can find their way into your house through holes, loose siding or damaged ventilation screens," says Margaret Brittingham, associate professor of wildlife resources in the School of Forest Resources.

"Winter also is the prime time for squirrels to wage war with birds over your bird feeders." There are four species of tree squirrels frequently seen in Pennsylvania:

• Eastern gray squirrels. Their color varies from black to silver gray, and they generally weigh between 15 and 24 ounces. They are 16 to 24 inches long when full-grown. Their habitat is any area that supplies enough food to sustain a population. "Urban backyards are prime habitat for gray squirrels," Brittingham says.
• Red squirrels. Their reddish upper body and white underparts make this species easily recognizable. They are small, weighing 4 to 8 ounces and reaching 9 to 13 inches in length. "They prefer coniferous forests," Brittingham explains.
• Flying Squirrels. The northern flying squirrel is found in the northern and central counties of Pennsylvania. The southern flying squirrel is found throughout the state. They are the smallest squirrels, weighing between 1.5 and 4 ounces and reaching 8 to 10 inches long. Both species have distinctive webs of skin attached to the fore and hind legs. These webs act as a parachute when the animals are gliding from tree to tree. "Flying squirrels are the only species active at night," Brittingham says.

Damage

Squirrels can cause damage to homes because they gnaw on wood to make openings for nests. "Because they are small, flying squirrels often make nests in attics or between walls," Brittingham says. "They also chew on building insulation and wire insulation. Bare wires can cause a fire or short circuit." Squirrels also will eat at feeders intended for birds. "Squirrels can climb nearly everywhere and they learn easily," Brittingham says. "To keep them out of bird feeders, use a feeder that closes the feed dispenser if too much weight is placed on the feeding platform."

Food

Gray squirrels eat wild tree fruit and nuts in fall and winter and switch to tree buds in early spring. In warm months, they eat fruit, berries and succulent plant materials. If food is scarce, squirrels will eat bark and insects. Red squirrels have similar diets. Flying squirrels are more carnivorous, eating bird eggs, nestlings, insects and other animal matter. Flying squirrels also often occupy birdhouses, particularly bluebird houses.

Damage Control

If squirrels inhabit a home, the homeowner must find where they are getting in, and close or place heavy wire mesh over the opening. If squirrels remain inside the home, they will have to be removed by trapping.

Brittingham recommends trimming trees and limbs 6 to 8 feet away from buildings to prevent the animals from leaping onto roofs. At bird feeder poles and on utility poles, place a 2- foot-wide metal collar about 6 feet off the ground.

Fox and gray squirrels are classified as game animals by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, but property owners do not need a hunting license to control home damage. Brittingham suggests using wire-cage or box traps to capture the squirrels alive. Some preferred baits are apple or orange slices, shelled walnuts or pecans, and peanut butter. Corn and sunflower seeds also may work. The traps should be checked twice daily. Animals should be released at least five miles away from where they were trapped. To make sure you have a squirrel infestation, check the feces near the trap. Mice feces are small, about the size of an ice-cream sprinkle. Squirrel feces are much bigger.

"For the first few days, tie the doors of the trap open to get squirrels accustomed to feeding in the traps," she says. "Squirrels are very aggressive and have sharp teeth, so always wear heavy gloves when releasing animals and never touch them with your bare hands."

SPRING BULB FORCING UPDATE:
	The bulbs planted in early December have begun to pop their heads up, thanks to the springlike weather we've had in January. I check regularly to insure they do not dry out and water (sparingly). I am getting very concerned that they will not hold out until April 30th and have begun to make plans for a back-up plan. Any thoughts? Barbara Smith

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