Conserving Wild Bees

The New Year has begun and the gardening catalogs are arriving. Please consider wild bees as you plan your 2010 gardening. Penn State has a new free pamphlet titled Conserving Wild Bees in Pennsylvania. This pamphlet discusses 5 ways you can enhance wild bee populations. The 5 ways are conserving natural bee habitats, planting flowers, providing access to water, preserving or building nesting sites, and reducing bee exposure to pesticides. Landscaping with perennial native flowering plants is discussed and a chart of their bloom periods is included. Beautiful color pictures of each plant are shown. Finally, there are color pictures of some of the common wild bees in Pennsylvania. You may be surprised to find that some of those insects you thought were pests are actually wild bees providing pollination.

Get your own copy of Conserving Wild Bees in Pennsylvania and think about what you can do to conserve and enhance wild bees and other pollinators. I plan to plant some perennial flowers along one border of my vegetable garden and include some herbs like dill within my vegetable rows. What will you plan to do? Tell us about it... we'd like to hear from you!

For more information contact your local extension office. In Lackawanna County call 963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu


John Esslinger, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

New Year Resolutions for the Garden

Looking for a different New Year's resolution this year? How about choosing from some that will help your garden and landscape grow better and healthier? Pick one or more from the list below, courtesy of Jeff Rugg, University of Illinois Extension unit horticulture educator. Here goes ...

I resolve to:
• Add more mulch to my flower beds where it will decrease weeds, saving me money on weed killers and protecting the environment from useless applications.
• Remove the mulch from around the trunks of my trees. Mulch piled on a tree trunk doesn't help the tree, but kills it.
• Save time and money by pruning my trees and shrubs in their natural shapes, and NOT topping them.
• Find out what disease or insect is affecting my plant before I treat my yard with incorrect and ineffective poisons. Saying 'It can't hurt' isn't really true.
• Mow my grass at a higher height. The longer leaves support a better root system, so the grass needs less water and fights weeds better.
• Start a compost pile and add to it regularly so that I don't waste money buying compost to add to my garden.
• Take my power tools and lawnmower to the appropriate outlet for servicing and sharpening. Properly adjusted tools pollute less and sharp tools work better, making them safer.
• Order more catalogs from www.mailordergardening.com, as it is the most comprehensive list of gardening catalogs.
• And most importantly, enjoy my garden by eating outside more often, strolling through the yard to smell the flowers without pulling any weeds, and having at least one party with family and friends so they can enjoy the garden too.

If you have any gardening questions please call your county extension office. In Lackawanna County call our garden help line at 963-6842 ext. 1377 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu.


Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

Winter Resolutions

Did you make a New Year’s resolution yet, maybe taking better care of yourself, spending less, eating better, healthier lifestyle, or doing a family project? Consider rolling all this into one activity, growing herbs indoors.

This is a great hobby for the winter months. It serves as a reminder that better and warmer days are ahead. Growing your own herbs may give you incentive to cook at home more, saving money. Plus you control how your plants are grown, so no chemicals or pesticides are used by your own choice. Starting from seed is an economical alternative to potted mature plants, as most herbs can be moved from the windowsill to the garden or outdoor container when the growing season begins.

The availability of seeds is increasing. Mail order catalogs are arriving daily in the mail. Plus the packets are beginning to be displayed at your local garden center. These herbs can be grown indoors: parsley, rosemary, mint, chives, dill, basil, and thyme.

Generally, most herbs need six hours of direct sunlight. Either place herbs in a sunny location, for example, near a window with a southern exposure; or place herbs 6 to 12 inches from two 40 watt, cool white fluorescent bulbs for 14 to 16 hours daily. If plants are grown on windowsills, it will be necessary to rotate pots often so that each side gets enough light for uniform growth. Keep herbs in rooms that have at least a 65 to 70°F day and 55 to 60°F night temperature regimes. Water when the potting mix dries out, but do not let them dry out completely. Occasional misting sprays of water is beneficial as indoors air is less humid than outdoors.

As the plants grow, they will serve as an incentive to cook at home, eat better, spend less, and from their spot on the windowsill, remind you there are warmer days ahead.

For more information on this topic, the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County have two publications: “Growing Herbs Indoors” and “Sowing Annual Seeds” which will help with the process. Please call 570-963-6842 or email: LackawannaMG@psu.edu and request a copy.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

Amaryllis

Consider adding a splash of the tropics among your usual and seasonal decorations this year by purchasing an amaryllis. They come in shades of red, pink, white, and stripes. They can found in bloom this time of year or as a bulb ready to start. They make a great gift or a project for kids. If you receive one of these as gifts, you can complement the giver for years to come as the amaryllis will re-bloom for years with the proper care.

• During Bloom
It is important to keep the soil moist but not soggy, otherwise the bulb will rot. Place in a warm area but not direct afternoon sun. Remember to rotate the plant regularly so it will grow straight. Depending on the variety, they can grow up to three feet tall and may need staking. Avoid contact with pollen as it may stain clothing.

• After Bloom
Remove the flowers after they have withered where it exits the stalk. Do not remove the foliage as this feeds the bulb for the next year’s growth. New leaves will continue to appear and you can care for this as any other house plant. In June the amaryllis can be moved outdoors in its container. Continue watering, and twice a month use houseplant fertilizer.

• Repeating Bloom
As with most bulbs, the amaryllis needs to go dormant before it can bloom again. Usually in September the leaves start to yellow and fade. Bring the plant inside before frost. Place the bulb in a dim cool setting. Do not water and remove the leaves as they die back. 6-8 weeks before the desired boom time it’s time for the cycle to begin again. Remove any brown leaves and layers, and about a half inch of the potting soil. Replenish with fresh sterile suitable potting mix. Water well initially and find a bright but indirect light location with day time temperatures of around seventy degrees.

Other than these few steps amaryllis need little fussing. For more information on holiday plant care or other timely topics, visit the Penn State Master Gardeners in Lackawanna County website http://lackawannagardener.blogspot.com or call 570-963-6842.


Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce

Mice Control

The weather outside is getting colder, and pests like house mice are looking for a warm place with food and water to hole up for the winter. Guess what? Your house may be looking like a five-star resort to these unwanted house guests. They may look cute on TV or the comic strip but mice can carry Salmonella, a bacteria that causes food poisoning. Mice can also transmit other nasty parasites such as ringworm, mites, tapeworms, and ticks. In addition, they urinate over several thousand times a day.

You are likely to spot them in the fall when they are looking for the things mice need to survive, such as food, water and shelter. They can wiggle their way into the tiniest of openings around windows, doors, roofs, piping, and air ducts. Any hole you can stick a pencil in is an entry way for a mouse.

So to deter these unwanted guests here are some tips:

• Make sure they are mice and from where they are entering. Look for holes in walls that are ringed with a dirty, oily rubbing both inside and outside your home.
• Make sure they don’t have what they need. Mice are looking for shelter but also food and water. Inside, clean up food scraps and store foods appropriately to prevent easy access to food. All pet foods should be stored off the floor and in sealed hard containers with tight-fitting lids. Outside, dead plantings and grass offer protection as mice try to find a way inside. Seal up small holes and cracks. Keep in mind mice can jump up twelve inches and can run along wires.
• Make sure they are trapped. It is not recommended to use baits as the rodents consume this poison and can die inside a wall or other hidden areas. Wooden traps, although unsightly are highly effective. Set a group of them, and if nothing is found, move to another location.
• Make sure they are removed quickly and the area is sanitized. Always wear rubber gloves, and spray the area, the droppings, and even the rodent with a bleach/water solution. Dispose of everything in a sealed plastic bag.

For more information on mice control or any other home pest, please contact the Penn State Master Gardener Helpline at (570)963-6842.

Steve Ward
Master Gardener Coordinator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County