March 31, 2009
Home Grown Workshops
Some of you may remember a month or so ago, I told you about an effort by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to teach people how to start their own vegetable gardens. So far, ACES horticulture professionals have conducted more than 15 Home Grown workshops around the state. Attendance at most of these has been a full house. People have learned about a wide range of topics such as the ins and outs of fertilizers as well as how to construct their own raised beds and plant a container garden. I attended three held on the Auburn University campus. I learned new things, had my memory refreshed on methods and had a great time visiting with other gardeners who want to produce good tasting vegetables in their own backyards.
More workshops are planned through the spring and early summer. You can find the schedule here or check with your county Extension office to find workshops near you.
If you can’t attend a workshop in person, some of them were captured using digital technology and can be viewed online here.
March 25, 2009
Dancing with Fire Ants
Fire ants mounds seem to be popping up all over my yard. Some folks might think these are new mounds, but after years of working with entomologists, I know the truth. The truth is that these mounds have been around for a while—at least several months. But recent rains and warmer weather have spurred the ants into action. Fire ants can move their nests both horizontally and vertically to manage both temperature and humidity. During extreme heat and drought, the ants go deeper into the ground. This means mounds may lose their domed appearance. This explains why mounds seem less numerous during the hotter, dryer months. On the other hand, mounds are built up after rains and are more obvious during rainy seasons.
You might think the best way to handle this ant problem is to treat every mound. But there’s a much more effective way. Some folks call it the Texas Two Step because entomologists in the Lone Star State were among the first to advocate this method. The "Two-Step Method" is proven to reduce fire ant populations in heavily infested home lawns. First, homeowners broadcast an application of a bait product once or twice a year. The second part is to separately treat selected nuisance mounds using an individual mound treatment, such as a dust, granule, bait or drench insecticide. The bait treatment provides the overall fire ant control, and the individual mound treatment quickly removes the most annoying colonies. This method reduces overreliance on use of individual mound treatments and is suitable for treating larger areas. For more information and details on treating fire ants, visit the Imported Fire Ants Resource Area at eXtension and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Fire Ant Web site.
March 24, 2009
Keep an Eye Out for Termites
Warmer weather is beginning to settle in around here, and that means it’s time to keep a watchful eye out for several insect pests. Fire ants are a challenge for most folks in Alabama, but we will talk more about them a little later. Today, I want to remind you that spring is the peak swarming time for termites. Several types of termites can be found in Alabama. 
Check out this recent article from an entomologist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Also, ACES has a number of good publications and articles about termites, including this one on termites in general and this one on Formosan subterranean termites. LSU AgCenter also has a wealth of information on termites here.
March 04, 2009
Research Confirms Gut Feelings
I’ve been listening to my friends and colleagues who work in horticulture tell me that interest in vegetable gardening is higher than many have ever seen before. My gut told me that these folks were on target, but the National Gardening Association has done some research that confirms our gut feelings.
The NGA’s recent survey, The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America, indicates that the number of households planning vegetable gardens in 2009 is up nearly 20 percent over 2008. The NGA presented some highlights of their research at the recent 5th Annual Garden Writers Webinar in Ohio.
Joe Lamp’l, a gardening writer and television host, has more highlights of the research at his Web site.
As an aside, Lamp’l is one of the featured speakers at this year’s Alabama Master Gardeners Annual Conference set for April 2 through 4 in Huntsville.
Just a reminder. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is working to meet the needs of these gardening newcomers with a series of Home Grown workshops. Find out more about this effort here.