Annual 4-H Plant Sale

Flyers for the 2014 4-H plant sale are here! This annual fundraiser includes plants for nearly every landscape, offering hardy and productive varieties of berries, muscadines, and figs, and flowering shrubs and perennials for sun and for shade, including a shrub for semi-shade, the fragrant Daphne relative Edgeworthia chrysantha that flowers on bare stems in winter.

New for this year are two ferns, Autumn fern and Tassel fern, the shrub Flowering Quince, variety Cameo, and an ornamental grass, Miscanthus 'Purperescens', that has reddish tinged green blades in summer turning orange-red in fall and burgundy in winter.

As in the past, plants are ordered through the Cobb County Cooperative Extension office, and the prepaid orders are picked up at Jim Miller Park on one day only; this year that day is Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The deadline for the prepaid order  is Friday, March 7.

For those whose gardens are full but who would like to support 4-H, donations are also very much appreciated.

For more information about the plants, including pricing and specific varieties available, pick up a copy of the 4-H Plant Sale flyer-and-order-form at the Cobb County Cooperative Extension office or download one from our website. To download, go to the homepage, then click on the button below the words


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that are below the program area links.

Anyone interested in learning more about growing the offered fruits at home is invited to attend a presentation by Agriculture Agent Neil Tarver on Wednesday, March 5, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Cobb Water System Training lab. He will present information about the ornamental plants on Monday, March 3, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the same location.

To register for either seminar, call 770-528-4070, or check the appropriate box on the 4-H Plant Sale flyer-and-order-form.

Seed Saving Class Rescheduled on Account of Snow and Ice

In what is probably no surprise, we are rescheduling tonight's seed saving class, since the roads are so snowy and unsafe.

Reschedule dates:

Monday, February 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Extension office 2nd floor classroom.
Thursday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Extension office 2nd floor classroom.

These classes are free and open to the public, but preregistration is helpful -- please call 770-528-4070 to let us know which class you will attend.

Hope to see you all in clearer, safer weather!

 -Amy

Upcoming Events

Camellias – Queens of the Southern Winter Garden

Tuesday, January 21, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Jim Pruckler of the American Camellia Society, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at East Cobb Regional Library (old Parkaire Mall site), 4880 Lower Roswell Rd. Marietta.

Tomatoes 101

Thursday, January 23, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension in Cobb County, at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle SE, Smyrna. 

Tomatoes 101
Saturday, January 25, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension in Cobb County, at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle SE, Smyrna. 

Green Industry Update

Tuesday, January 28,  8:30 a.m. to noon. Two sessions of pruning for pest and disease control with Rick Smith, owner of The Pruning Guru, and one session of mosquito biology and control with UGA entomologist Elmer Gray. Re-certification credits as follows: 21, 23, 24, 27, 41 - 3 hours, Private - 2 hours, ISA - 2 hours. To register, email emily.harper@cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-4070. Cost $10 per person at the door. Location at Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 30060.

Seed Saving for the Vegetable Garden
Tuesday, January 28, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. The class will be presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension at Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

Dahlias

Tuesday, February 11, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Free and open to the public. Free Seminar covers the basics of growing beautiful Dahlias all summer and preserving the tubers for sharing and for spring planting. Presented by Renae Lemon of UGA Extension at Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070.

Weed ID for Weed Control

Friday, February 14, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by County Agent Neil Tarver as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.). Neil will help us identify weeds in order to select the most effective method of controlling them.  

Creativity in Growing and Using herbs

Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Free and open to the public. Presented by Tracy Minjauw of the Chattahoochee Herb Society, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane

Seed Starting for the Vegetable Garden

Thursday, February 20, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension at Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. $5 charge for supplies. Preregistration is required: Call 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.  Space will be limited.

Green Industry Update - Tuesday, Jan. 28

A Green Industry Update, offered through UGA/Cobb County Cooperative Extension, is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2014. Recertification credits are offered in the following categories:

21, 23, 24, 27, 41 - 3 hours
Private - 2 hours
ISA - 2 hours

8:30-9:00           Registration

9:00-9:50           1) Proper Pruning of Trees and Shrubs for Plant Health and Pest Reduction

                          Rick Smith – Owner of The Pruning Guru

9:50-10:00         Break with Q and A

10:00-10:50       2) Proper Pruning of Trees and Shrubs for Plant Health and Pest Reduction

                          Rick Smith – Owner of The Pruning Guru

10:50-11:00       Break with Q and A

11:00-11:50       Mosquito Biology and Control in North Georgia

  Elmer Gray – Medical and Veterinary Entomologist UGA Dept of Entomology

11:50-12:00       Evaluation and Recertification Forms

Moderator will be Neil Tarver, UGA/Cobb County ANR Agent.

To preregister: email emily.harper@cobbcounty.org, or call 770-528-4070.
Cost: $10 per person at the door
Location: Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA 30060

Plan Carefully to Avoid Mistakes with Expensive Sod

Beautiful lawns in Georgia often begin with high quality sod.  The turfgrass type, whether it is fescue, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, or other, is selected to match the needs and characteristics of the site. High quality sod, however,  can be pricey, and this year the per-square-foot price of sod is forecast to be higher than it was last year.

The Georgia FACES article Georgia Sod Inventories Low, Prices High , by UGA's Sharon Dowdy, tells about the forecast higher prices for sod this year, as discovered in a recent UGA survey of sod producers.  She writes:

"The delivered price is expected to increase for all grasses in the survey. A truckload of bermudagrass delivered to the Atlanta area, or within 100 miles of the farm, is expected to rise 14 percent.

The delivered price of zoysiagrass is expected to rise 1.4 percent to 35.8 cents per square foot...

The price of delivered centipedegrass is also expected to rise to an average of 23.5 cents...

Tall fescue’s delivered price is expected to rise 1.7 percent to an average of 24 cents per square foot. The average price should fall between 20 and 30 cents.

Clint Waltz, turfgrass specialist with UGA Extension, interviewed for the article, explained that the price hikes resulted from unfavorable growing conditions -- particularly the lack of direct sunlight -- during the 2013 growing season. Producers just could not grow enough good sod in the cloudy weather.

For homeowners and professionals who are planning to invest in some new sod this coming year, higher prices are not good news, but there are steps they can take to avoid wasting the investment in high quality sod.

The first is careful selection of an appropriate turfgrass for the site, and second is proper site preparation, so that the newly laid sod has the best chance for success. UGA's publication "Lawns in Georgia" provides information regarding both of these steps, and also includes sections on weed control, pests, diseases, and lawn care.  

Community Garden Resources

Seed catalogs have begun to appear in mailboxes all over the county, and gardeners' thoughts already are turning toward spring. Some of those gardeners, however, don't have their own sunny spot of ground in which to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers, so they are working in Community Gardens.

There are waiting lists for a lot of those community gardens, indicating a demand for the development of more such gardens. UGA has created several publications to help new community gardens get started.

How to start a community garden: Getting people involved emphasizes the importance of having a group of people involved from the outset, of making a solid plan, of site selection, and agreement on the garden's rules.

Siting a garden explains the importance of adequate light, access to water, and other aspects of selecting an appropriate garden spot.

Raised bed vs. in-ground gardens presents the pros and cons of two primary garden styles.

Raised garden bed dimensions provides information about lumber, depth, overall length and width, and other choices that will need to be made for those who choose to garden in raised beds.

 Garden sheds tells about why a community garden might want to provide a shed and about useful features for such a shed.

Stocking the toolshed: Handtools lists and describes useful tools that a garden might want to keep on site.

Garden fencing lays out the different problems that might be resolved through fencing (e.g.: deer) and the type of fencing needed to resolve the problems.

Sources of water for the garden explains alternate sources of water along with pros and cons of each.

Irrigation tells about the different types of irrigation systems, including hand-watering, drip irrigation, and the multiple kinds of overhead irrigation.

Growing fruits includes a plant selection chart that lists some of the easier-to-care-for fruits that would appropriate for a community garden.

Weed control focuses on mulch as a deterrent for weeds.

A new Community Garden Advisory Council has formed here in Cobb County with the goal of helping new and existing community gardens meet their individual goals --  from expansion, to finding funding, to maintaining enthusiasm, and more. The first meeting was held this past October, and the next meeting likely will be in early February of 2014. Anyone interested can call this office, UGA Extension Cobb County, 770-528-4070, for additional information.

Upcoming Events

Making the Right Cut – Proper Pruning

Friday, January 10, noon to 1:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Master Gardener Pam Bohlander as part of the ongoing Lunch & Learn series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).  Pam will explain the basics of selecting and using the right tools and techniques for properly pruning shrubs and small trees, with special attention to Crape Myrtles.

Camellias – Queens of the Southern Winter Garden

Tuesday, January 21, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Jim Pruckler of the American Camellia Society, as part of the ongoing Gardeners Night Out presentation series of the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County, at East Cobb Regional Library (old Parkaire Mall site), 4880 Lower Roswell Rd. Marietta.

Tomatoes 101

Thursday, January 23, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Presented by Renae Lemon, of UGA Extension in Cobb County, at the Smyrna Community Center, 200 Village Green Circle SE, Smyrna. 

Seed Saving for the Vegetable Garden

Tuesday, January 28, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. The class will be presented by Amy Whitney, of UGA Extension at Cobb County, in the second floor classroom at 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060. Please preregister by calling 770-528-4070. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

How to Plant a Tree (or Shrub)

How a tree or shrub is planted plays a big role in the future health and growth of the plant.

The GA FACES article "How trees, shrubs are planted determines their success", by William Tyson, UGA Extension Coordinator for Effington County, explains the steps, and reasons behind the steps, for planting these woody plants correctly.

Tyson explains the process:

1.  Before even bringing a plant home, check its roots to assess the root system. The plant will be less successful if the roots are compromised in any way. He says, "If roots are circling inside the pot and/or crossing over one another (girdling), prune at the crossover so the roots will grow outward."

2. Dig the hole:"When digging the hole that will become the plant’s new home, make sure it is two to three times wider than the size of the root diameter." The hole should be wide and shallow, so that the top of root mass will sit slightly above the level of the surrounding soil.

3. Do not overwater: "Plants need both water and air around their roots, so the soil should not be too wet. Too much water will cause the plant to lose new roots. Since there is a relation between roots and the amount of top canopy growth, the plant ceases to grow."

4. Wait to apply fertilizer: "It is best not to fertilize until the plant begins to grow. When the top of the plant starts growing, this indicates the roots have grown."

For Tyson's complete article, select (by clicking on) the linked article title above.

For additional information and details of planting large trees or on slopes, go to the UGA publication "Tree Planting Details" that contains a table of links to drawings and specific guidelines for these situations.