Ways to prevent diseases and insects
The growing season is here and the soil temperature should be warm enough to plant most of the warm season vegetables and landscaping plants. May is a lively month in the Arkansas garden. There are a number of things the gardener should do to prevent disease and insect problems and here is a garden checklist for May:
• Keep a clean garden. Mulch around plants with 3-4 inches of mulch to help maintain moisture and discourage weeds. Organic mulches break down slowly, releasing nutrients into the soil. Mulch cuts down on soil-borne diseases such as tomato blight.
• Spring blooming shrubs should be pruned as needed after blooming. If hydrangeas are growing only from the base, not from the dormant old growth, then freeze damage has occurred and you will not have any blooms this summer.
• Watch for caterpillars on cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and ornamentals, and take control measures early by using Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel, Javelin, Biobit, Condor and other trade names). For larger caterpillars, use Sevin.
• Warm season vegetables — tomatoes, pepper, squash and corn — can still be planted. As you plant, broadcast a complete fertilizer in the soil, then repeat in about six weeks. Mulch and water as needed. Watch for insects, diseases and weeds.
• To prevent early blight on tomatoes, start spraying with chlorothalonil or mancozeb when first bloom clusters are noticed. This disease-causing fungus can stay in the soil for several years. Mulching will help. Planting tomatoes in a new spot will also help. This disease is transferred to a new garden by wind-blown spores, contaminated tools and shoes, buying diseased plants, or chewing insects.
• Fertilize warm-season lawns – zoysia and Bermuda – as soon as they are totally greenedup. Use a slow release, high nitrogen fertilizer. Most of the weeds that have been blooming are winter weeds and should be on their way out. Start watching for summer weeds — crabgrass and nutgrass — and catch them as they emerge and try to stop their spread.
• Check azaleas for lacebugs. This small sucking insect prefers to feed on azaleas or pyracantha but can spill over onto any kind of adjacent plants. The leaves of infested plants are yellowed and
8:45 a.m. today and Thursday at New Salem United Methodist Church, 1798 Mountain Pine Road. Improve balance and strength, prevent osteoporosis, strengthen joints, increase metabolism. Call Billie Sue, 2826261, for information. Extension Get Fit meet at
9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Piney Grove United Methodist Church, 2963 Airport Road. Some new, some old exercises. Join in for an all body workout. Everyone welcome. Call Virginia Gunderson, 767-3831, and Mary Scudder, 767-5040, for information.
The Salvation Army Senior Fellowship group meets at 9 a.m. Tuesdays at The Salvation Army, 115 Crescent, for free coffee, cake, devotions, singing, bingo and fellowship. If you are
55 or older, come on over. StrongWomen exercise program meets from 9-10:30 a.m. Mondays and Fridays in the multipurpose building at Center Fork Baptist Church, 1101 S. Moore Road. If you’ve always stippled on top. Black deposits from the lacebug are left on the underside of the leaves. To control, apply acephate, or Malathion, imidacloprid or permethrin according to label directions.
• Spring flowering bulb foliage needs to remain as long as possible. Foliage can be removed at first signs of yellowing. As foliage begins to yellow, it’s a good time to dig and divide clumps of overcrowded or unwanted bulbs. Spring flowering bulbs can be left in the ground year-round or you can lift and store them and then replant in the fall.
• Watch for new hatches of bagworms on junipers. This time of year they are no larger than a quarter-inch in length and very easy to control with Bt. As the season progresses, they will become an inch and a half in length and will only respond to insecticides such as acephate, Malathion, Sevin or permethrin.
• All houseplants and tropical flowering plants can be safely moved outdoors this month. If tropical plants have small containers or have been in the pot for more than one year, you may need to repot. They thrive in humid, warm environment outdoors and can quickly get root-bound. If their roots are constricted, they won’t put on much new growth. Hibiscus, mandevilla and most other summer tropical bloomers, bloom on new growth. You want to encourage as much new growth as possible to have the best potential for blooms. Fertilize monthly and water as needed.
For any questions, call our office at 501-6236841 or come by the office at 236 Woodbine.
4-H
There are 4-H clubs for Garland County youths who are 5 to 19 years old. For information, call the Extension Office or email Linda Bates at lbates@uaex.edu.
EHC
Interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information, call Alison Crane at 623-6841 or email acrane@uaex.edu.
Master Gardeners
If interested in becoming a Master Gardener and would like information, the public is welcome to attend their meetings at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Lake Valley Community Church; call the Extension office or email abates@uaex.edu.
wanted to start a strength training program but just did not know how to start, come on by.
Water workout and aerobics, Aqua Arthritis classes and swim lessons for all ages are held at Quapaw Community Center, 500 Quapaw Ave. Water aerobics is at 9 a.m. Monday-Friday and water workout at 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Aqua Arthritis classes follow the guidelines of the Arthritis Foundation’s water exercise program and are held at 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Water exercise is a low-impact way to work out. Call 623-9922 for information.
Extension Get Fit meets from 9-10 a.m. Monday-Thursday at Hot Springs Baptist Church. Strength and core training is offered Tuesday and Thursday, and circuit and
aerobic training Monday and Wednesday. Prevent bone loss, increase balance and strength. Cost is $12 per year. Call Melba Haynes, 501-538-4124, or Julia Lamb, 501-276-2983.
Tri-Lakes Coin Club will meet a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Garland County Library. New members are welcome.
Garland County Historical Society will meet at noon Tuesday in Garland County Library. A program of historical significance will be presented. The public is welcome.
Hot Springs Landlord Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Smokin’ in Style,
2278 Albert Pike Road. All landlords and potential landlords are welcome. Attendees may eat before or during the meeting. Call Hilarie Dzianott, 501-6209093, for information.