June 25, 2007
Garden Hot Line Available
Wondering how to conserve water and still care for your garden? Have problems with your tomatoes? Got bugs on your roses?
Master Gardeners are standing by the phones of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Horticulture Information line to answer those and other questions from gardeners and home owners across the state. Master Gardeners will provide answers based on current research and best practices under the supervision of Extension agents.
Alabama Master Gardener coordinator Kerry Smith says the toll-free help line is generally open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be available until early fall. Some of the information lines have slightly different schedules.
I encourage you to advantage of this excellent resource. The dedicated volunteers who answer the phones can give you answers as well as point you to additional materials including Extension publications and other materials available both online and at the county Extension office.
To reach the Horticulture Information line, dial 1-877-252-GROW (4769). Callers will be asked to select from one of four regional help lines.
Citizens in Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties are served by the Southwest Alabama information line.
Serving central and east Alabama, the Central Alabama helpline is assisting gardeners and homeowners in 13 counties. They include Cleburne, Clay, Talladega, Randolph, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Autauga, Elmore, Lee, Russell, Macon and Montgomery counties.
The North Central Alabama help line serves Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton, Bibb, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston, Marion, Fayette, Lamar and Pickens counties.
The Northwest Alabama information line serves the Shoals and Tennessee Valley areas, including Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Lawrence, Franklin and Colbert counties.
The regions were created by grouping counties who have similar soils and climate, making the service more tailored to the caller.
June 07, 2007
They’re Here—Japanese Beetles
If the continuing dry weather hasn’t been bad enough, I discovered in my garden the other day the one insect pest really guaranteed to make my blood pressure go up.
Japanese beetles. Dislike is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings about this iridescent flying pest.
At my house, the first place they take up residence is on my double pink Rose of Sharon bush. Then they move on to my rose bushes. I haven’t found they are interested in much else at my house.
Japanese beetles will skeletonize the leaves of roses, hibiscus, fruit trees, and other landscape plants. They only eat the soft tissue between the leaf veins giving the leaves a lacy look.
Japanese beetles are active during the day so that’s a good time to attack the problem. Some insecticides are effective against them, but I prefer a more hands on approach. I thump them off the plant and into a canning jar about half full of water and a little dish soap.
You can learn more about this common pest in this publication from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.