Fayette County Cooperative Extension Horticulture

Excited for the Pollinator Week Kick-Off event at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary next week! Join us at 6pm on Monday, June 17 for a pollinator presentation and nature walk. We'll be giving away these Jeana Garden Phlox seedlings until they're gone!! Thanks to Lexington, KY Parks & Recreation and NABA-Central Kentucky for including us!

Tomorrow is the first day of these new Woodland Owner Short Courses by UK Forestry Extension! Learn about woodland management, tree id, wildlife, woodland health and more throughout June. Sign up here wosc.ca.uky.edu/2024WOSC!

Jorō spiders have been in the news this week. These impressively sized spiders have never been found in Kentucky (as of mid-2024) but there are some look-a-like species you might find. Specifically, the black and yellow garden spider as well as the banded garden spider. While all three species are large and in charge, they pose little to no hazard to people. Click on the infographic below to learn more!

The Flower & Vegetable Show is at the Bluegrass Fair this weekend!! Enter a single cut flower, a plate of green beans, or show your creative talents with a floral design.

No entry fee!
Cash prizes and ribbons!
Open to all and youth Division!

Bring your entries out on Saturday, June 8 from 9:00 am - 11:30 am. Visit www.bluegrassflowershow.com for more information.

We are accepting applications for the next round of Master Gardener Classes! Please read through all information before applying.

Tomorrow is already Wednesday! Don't forget to tune into Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays for an update on the most successful varieties of flowering shrubs!

Why have evergreen shrubs when you can have FLOWERING SHRUBS?!? Discover which shrubs are a perfect addition to your garden.

Join us by registering here: http://www/tinyurl.com/24MayHww
After clicking on the link, and filling out the form, You will get an email with the Zoom link! The Zoom Room opens about 12:20 pm ET on the day of class!

Since we have a brief break in the rain, let's share how far our beautiful spring gardens have come! Post your garden photos in the comments. We would love to see the growing bounty in our county!

A massive thank you to our local Kentucky Extension Master Gardeners for maintaining the demonstration gardens at our office. We greatly appreciate your dedication and hard work!

Today (Tuesday, May 14) and next week are the last two webinars of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Veteran Farmers Series. Hope you can tune in!

Only pollinator packs left! Reserve yours before they're gone!

We're here at the Woodhill Community Center until 1pm with plants, seeds, activities and snacks!! Come join the gardening fun!

Reminder! This weekend we will be at the Woodhill Community Center for our Growing Community event. Learn all about growing vegetable and take a few home to try out yourself!

The May edition of our By the Yard newsletter is now posted on our website: https://fayette.ca.uky.edu/horticulture

The Greenway Plan wants your thoughts!

LFUCG Environmental Services is updating their Greenway Plan and would love your input! Take a quick survey on the plan's priorities, greenspace opportunities and what you want to see in Lexington’s Greenspaces. The survey closes on May 15th.

www.lexgreenways.com

Brown marmorated stink bugs are not just stinky—they can seriously harm crops. You must take action to keep this pest away, regardless of the size of your field or garden. Check out these ways to properly manage the damage caused by brown marmorated stink bugs!

For more information, contact your local county extension office.

We are looking forward to our annual Growing Community event on May 4th! This year we are excited to be hosted by the wonderful Woodhill Community Center. This event would not be possible without the help of our friends at Urban Impact Lexington, Woodhill International Market, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Gamma Omega Chapter (Lexington, KY) and FoodChain!

Now is a good time to start your melons and squash indoors! Corn and beets are ready to be planted directly in the garden. Learn all you need to know about vegetable gardening in Kentucky here:https://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/ID/ID128/ID128.pdf

Just a reminder that our cool-season lawns perform much better with fall fertilization. Fertilizing now may promote insect, disease and w**d pressure throughout the summer.

Spend some of your lunch break learning something new during Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays! Mark your calendars and don't forget to register ahead of time.

We have been getting a lot of calls and questions about boxwoods. They have had a hard time in Central Kentucky the past couple of years. If you are thinking about planting something else, consider these!

Think outside the boxwoods with these alternative plants!

Due to the forecast of storms our office is closed. We will re-open at 8:00AM tomorrow.

The April edition of our By the Yard newsletter is now posted on our website: https://fayette.ca.uky.edu/horticulture

PO-TAY-TOES!

Had the joy of talking all things spuds during our most recent Gardener's Toolbox class. Want to be part of the fun?! We have 13 more classes scheduled throughout the year that we would love for you to be a part of.

You can view topics and sign up here: fayette.ca.uky.edu/classregistration

🌟 NEW RESOURCE 🌟

SOW - A Planting Companion app found in the Apple and Google Play store has everything you need for a successful garden this year!!

You can...
🌱 Customize by your growing zone
🌱 View information sheets for nearly 40 common vegetables
🌱 Know what to plant and when
🌱 Arrange vegetables by planting date, vegetable name or harvest date
🌱 Customize "your garden" with only vegetables you grow
🌱 Learn about the best cultivars for your area
🌱 Maintain a journal of how your garden performs throughout the year
🌱 Plan ahead to next season's garden
🌱 Record yield, pests, and other notes
🌱 Access contact information for your local extension office

(This app currently only provides information for Kentucky, Alabama and North Carolina.)

Spent some time talking about non-native invasive plants during an Invasive Plant Education Workshop yesterday. Pictured here are the ever-present Bradford Pear Tree and Bush Honeysuckle. Why are these plants and other invasives bad?

They can harm:

🛑 Nutrient cycles
🛑 Ecosystem development
🛑 Water cycles & quality
🛑 Wildfire risks
🛑 Native plant growth
🛑 Soil health
🛑 Food webs
🛑 Wildlife habitat
🛑 Gardens & landscapes
🛑 Crop yields
🛑 Livestock production
🛑 Natural outdoor beauty
🛑 Recreational green spaces
🛑 Waterway accessibility
🛑 Local economies
🛑 Property values
🛑 Human health

In partnership with UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, UK Forestry Extension, Kentucky State University and U.S. Forest Service, we hope to provide the knowledge and tools to help prevent the spread and encourage the removal of these and other harmful species.

Forsythia is in bloom! That means now is the perfect time to apply those crabgrass prevention products to your lawn. As always please keep safety in mind and follow the label’s instructions carefully and closely!!

The March edition of the By the Yard Newsletter is now posted on our website: https://fayette.ca.uky.edu/horticulture

Injury Prevention in the Garden provides participants with information about common garden injuries and steps that can be taken to prevent them. This Zoom webinar will be held on March 21, just in time to get YOU garden-ready for the spring! Join us from 11 am - 12:30 EDT.
Register at: ukfcs.net/RegistrationGardening

The February edition of our By the Yard Newsletter is now posted on our website: https://fayette.ca.uky.edu/horticulture