The Sauk County Horticulture Re-View from the 505! |
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Hello, Horticultural enthusiasts!
Welcome to the official start of Fall, as we observed the Fall Equinox on 9/23. Which also means that it’s Harvest Season! Personally I love this time of year. The transition of weather to cooler temperatures and all the change of seasons brings with it. Perk up Pumpkin Spice lovers, as the trees start to put on their Fall show, Pumpkins are gathered, agriculture fields are being cleared, and the corn mazes abound. It’s hard to beat all of the activities that Fall brings.
Change in the weather also means the winding down of work in your gardens. This Season I’m encouraging you all to get on the “Leave the Leaves” bandwagon. Want to help support Pollinators all year long? Well the “Leave the Leaves” campaign is easily one of the most important things you can do in your own gardens or gardens that you help manage that will definitely have a direct impact on Pollinators and other Invertebrates or “Good Bugs”. Also with all of the Fall activities that I mentioned, and all the activities that I neglected to mention that happen in the Fall, time is always a valuable commodity and “Leaving the Leaves” means less work for you clearing your gardens to the ground this Fall and more time for your favorite activities and that Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Want to learn more? This article from the Xerces Society is a good place to start. https://xerces.org/blog/leave-the-leaves
As I mentioned in our August issue, Fall is also a great time to rehabilitate your lawn, before Winter, to give it the best boost possible for next Spring. Want to fix up those bare spots that were affected by the severe drought we’ve had most of this growing season or just want to get some new lawn areas kick started before winter then “Dormant seeding” is a very effective method to doing just that. Here’s an article from our friends at the University of Minnesota that discusses Dormant seeding in detail.
https://turf.umn.edu/news/consider-dormant-seeding-your-lawn-fall
Now bear with me, I’m going to sound like a broken record but it needs repeating.
While we are appreciative of the recent rains bringing some very needed relief. It’s not enough!
Here in Sauk County in particular, we’ve been in Moderate to Severe Dough status most of the season and these recent rains are really just a drop in the bucket when we’ve been 6” + behind normal all season. To check our most up to date drought status in the state and Sauk county follow this link https://www.weather.gov/mkx/Drought This link is available in every issue of this newsletter.
And again, my repeated mantra “Water, Water, Water”.
80 degree temps are back in the near forecast for the end of Sept. and it’s critical that your newly established plantings, and established Evergreens are well watered prior to the ground freezing. Which is coming maybe sooner than some of us would like. The average “First Frost” for Sauk County is SEPT. 30! So, you really can’t get enough water into the ground this time of year.
Also,as many of you know, Fall is a great time for planting! So don’t put away those garden tools just yet! Deciduous Trees, Shrubs and some Evergreens are fine to plant in the Fall, as are transplanted Perennials.
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Showy Goldenrod (Soldiago speciosa) is aptly named since it is indeed showy with its tall golden plumes! It blooms 3-4 weeks providing nourishment to insects when many plants are dormant and is also the host plant to the Checkerspot Butterfly. Doug Tallamy’s research shows that goldenrods provide food and shelter for 115 butterfly and moth species and more than 11 native bee species feed specifically on these plants. Goldenrods are especially important to migrating butterflies such as the Monarch Butterfly and bees preparing for hibernation. You’ll also find other beneficial insects such as Soldier Beetles on goldenrods. Goldenrods also support bird species such as Goldfinches and other songbirds who eat the seeds. Unlike some other species, Showy Goldenrod will not spread aggressively. It grows 3-5’ but if you want a shorter, bushier plant, you can cut it back by half in late June. Plant Showy Goldenrod, with New England Aster, Ironweed, Blazing Star, or Joe-pye Weed for a lovely late season pollinator garden.
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Education & Educational Opportunities! |
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"Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees" with Heather Holm
October 12th at 6:00 PM (CDT)
Join Wild Ones Honorary Director Heather Holm as she explores the nesting habitats, life cycles, pollen collection, brood rearing, and general characteristics of some of the most common native bees in eastern North America, while highlighting the pollination of native plants and the mutualism between native plants and native bees.
When creating and managing thriving habitats for native bees, many factors such as seasonal phenology, nesting strategies, and flower preferences must be considered—and with approximately 3,600 species in North America (north of Mexico), there are many unique aspects to keep in mind when managing successful landscapes for bees.
https://wildones.org/
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Harvest Festival at Allen Centennial Gardens: “Celebrating the role of food and plants in sustaining vibrant cultures from around the world”
Allen Centennial Gardens, 620 Babcock Drive
September 30, 2023 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
https://allencentennialgarden.wisc.edu/plan-your-visit/harvest-folk-festival/
Our second Harvest Folk Festival is intended to celebrate the harvest of our kitchen garden on September 30, 2023. This event will showcase performances of folk music, folk dance, and storytelling; hands-on learning opportunities in the Garden; and displays of student research. Its goal is to offer members of the University community and beyond the opportunity to experience cultural harvest performances by African American, Hmong, Indigenous, Latinx, and more!
This special event will feature performances by Natalia Armacanqui and Richard Hildner.
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| From the World of Diagnostics! |
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Plant Diagnostics: The Step-by-Step Approach to Identifying Plant Problems |
Learn the process for identifying plant problems in your own trees, landscape and garden and be prepared for the next growing season! This course explains the basics of the plant diagnostic process in an easy-to-understand way.
At the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
Explain the steps of the diagnostic process.
Identify appropriate unbiased, research-based resources to use in the diagnostic process.
After you’ve finished this course, we hope you feel empowered to attempt diagnostics with your own plants using the framework you’ll learn in this course, accessing the resources we’ll share with you, and using UW-Madison Division of Extension diagnostic services and labs for extra help when you need it.
For more information go to https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/plant-diagnostics-course/
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What kind of weed is that? |
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September Weed of the Month: Multiflora RoseJulia Dellick, Minnesota Department of Agriculture |
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In 1866, multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) was brought to the United States from its native range in Japan, Korea, and eastern China to be used as a rootstock for ornamental roses. Starting in the 1930s, multiflora rose was widely planted in the United States for erosion control, wildlife habitat, and ornamental purposes. Because of its ability to establish and thrive in a variety of disturbed and natural habitats, it has become widespread in the northeastern and midwestern United States, with some presence in the southeastern and western parts of the country. In Minnesota, it is found primarily throughout southeastern counties up through the Twin Cities and inhabits forest edges, woodlands, prairies, fields, pastures, and roadsides.
Multiflora rose has flowers with five white to slightly pink petals that are 1-2 inches wide. Each petal has a notch in it, giving it a heart-shaped appearance. The flowers bloom in May and June. The alternate compound leaves of the plant are 4-6 inches long with 5-11 serrated leaflets that come off the leaf stalk. The leaflets are arranged opposite of one another with a final leaflet at the tip of the leaf. There is a "stipule" at the base of each leaf where it meets the stem. It is a small green growth along the base of the leaf stalk. Multiflora rose stipules have fringes extending out along their edges and have visible glands that look like small dots. This can distinguish multiflora roses, as native roses have smooth stipules with no fringe. Multiflora rose also has thick curved thorns along the stems while native roses have thinner, straighter thorns.
Multiflora rose is a perennial shrub that can grow to 13 feet tall and 13 feet wide. It reproduces by seeds which can be spread to new sites. Within a site, an individual plant can also reproduce by “layering.” This is when the plant stems touch the ground and send out new roots, thus starting a new plant. Due to its biology, multiflora rose can form dense thickets and reduce populations of native plants as well as invade pastures and grazing lands. This invasion can significantly decrease forage quality and forage acres and increase the potential for skin and eye irritation in grazing animals.
The plant can be controlled in pastures and open fields using both mechanical and chemical controls. However, it takes a long-term commitment to successfully manage multiflora rose as three to six mowings or grazings per season for two to three seasons can be necessary for high plant reductions. For these reasons and more, multiflora rose is classified in Minnesota as a Restricted Noxious Weed, meaning that it can’t be sold or planted legally.
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Image #1 Multiflora rose has compound leaves that are made up of 5-11 leaflets with serrated edges.
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Image #2 Multiflora rose stems have thick curved thorns and leaves that come off the stem one at a time.
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Image #3 Multiflora rose flowers have white to slightly pink petals. Each flower has five petals that are 1-2 inches wide.
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What, When and How to Prune
by Christopher Brickell & David Joyce
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Featuring more than 800 plants and step-by-step instructions to pruning and training hundreds of trees, shrubs, and climbing plants, this comprehensive guide is freshly redesigned to help cultivate your perfect garden.
With chapters on everything from rosebushes to peach trees, Pruning and Training has advice for every garden and gardener. Using a practical A-Z approach, organized by plant type, information is displayed in an easy-to-follow format and annotated illustrations that carefully guides readers on specialized techniques for each plant type, including coppicing and pollarding for trees and pinch pruning for shrubs.
Learn the basic training techniques for climbers and see how to maintain ornamental shrubs in your garden, including grasses for your topiary or hedges and bamboo. Train jasmine to climb a wall, learn where to prune a rose, and increase your fruit tree's yield.
Pruning and Training is the essential guide to pruning and training your garden plants with confidence.
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The buzzz about Pollinators! |
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Pollinator Protection Pledge
Over ten thousand people have already signed the pledge to protect pollinators. Will you join them? The pollinator protection pledge is part of the Xerces Society’s Bring Back the Pollinators campaign, which is based on four simple principles: Grow pollinator-friendly flowers, provide nest sites, avoid pesticides, and spread the word. With these core values, pollinator conservation can be adapted to any location, whether you tend an urban community garden or a suburban yard, work in a city park or on a farm.
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Want more Garden topics?
Don't forget to check out all the great Horticultural programming on:
Garden Talk:
Hosted by Larry Meiller @WPR
https://www.wpr.org/programs/garden-talk
There's often guests from
UW-Madison Extension Horticulture
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So plant away my friends!
Again, I would remind anyone reading this, if you find anything in this newsletter helpful to share it with a friend and have them subscribe! We do our best to get a newsletter very month with as much helpful and timely Horticulture related information as we can.
If you have questions about an article or event, etc. or ideas for topics you are curious about please send me an email at trripp@wisc.edu and let me know. I would love to hear from you.
Also don’t forget to follow our UW Madison – Extension Horticulture Webinar series.
It’s a great way to spend an hour or so and hopefully learn something new.
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/mini-webinars-for-gardeners/
Until Next Time, Happy Gardening and Bee Well!
Tim R. Ripp
Horticulture Educator
505 Broadyway, Baraboo WI 53913
608-355-3250 (office) 608-206-2810 (cell)
https://sauk.extension.wisc.edu
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The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides affirmative action and equal opportunity in education, programming and employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, gender, creed, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental, arrest or conviction record or veteran status.
Copyright © 2021 EXTENSION - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON-SAUK COUNTY, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: 505 Broadway, Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: 608-355-3250 (office)
https://sauk.extension.wisc.edu
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