GARDENING SYMPOSIUM
PIEDMONT FARM TOUR
WARREN FARMERS MARKET VENDOR APPLICATIONS
http://www.warrengrowers.com/farmers-market.html
Most farms, large and small, include some amount of forest land. If your farm includes a minimum of about 10 acres, then you may want to learn more about forest management. If so, shoot me an e-mail and I will add you to my forestry news list.
GREAT GARDENING…GET IN GEAR
Come to our first ever gardening symposium on Saturday, May 18th, 9 am to noon at First Presbyterian Church in Henderson! Advance registration is $5 (through May 1), or $7 at the door. The church is located at 222 Young St.
Presentation topics include:
**Great Gardens start with Great Soil** – Learn about soil preparation, fertility, soil testing, and building raised beds.
**Beautiful Bloomers** – Everything you need to know to grow daylilies, a wonderful perennial – colors, heights, plant division, how and when to plant, where to purchase.
**Vegetable Gardening Forever** – Get the dirt on traditional vegetable gardening – selecting and preparing the site, choosing viable plants, starting and transplanting plants, care and maintenance of the garden and timely harvesting.
There will be time for questions after each presentation. To register, mail check payable to Gardeners of Kerr Lake to: Kerr Lake Master Gardener Symposium, 305 Young St., Henderson, NC 27536. For more information, e-mail klemgsymposium@gmail.com or call 252-438-8188.
THIS WEEK IN THE LAWN AND GARDEN:
1. Apply crabgrass preventer as needed in lawns. Apply before dogwoods bloom, and check label to see if product needs to be watered in.
2. Avoid fertilizing tall fescue. This should have been done by mid-March at the latest.
3. Avoid sowing tall fescue seed, except small areas needing repair.
4. If your lawn is full of flowering weeds, then you have missed the preferred time to apply a broadleaf herbicide. But don’t worry, they will set plenty of seed, so you’ll have a nice crop of the same weeds to treat at the right time next year (Dec to Feb).
5. Resist the temptation to plant tender annuals (e.g. tomatoes, marigolds, etc.) as late spring frosts are common in Piedmont NC. Best to wait until late-April. Otherwise, be prepared with frost protection measures (e.g. lightweight row covers).
6. Check the mowing height on your lawn mower. Many people mow their tall fescue lawns too low, which will thin out the turf and invite weeds!
7. Many perennials can be divided now, but don’t forget to water them periodically in the new location until they become established.
8. Check the date on the seed pack to make sure you are getting fresh seed.
9. Do you see bees hovering over the lawn? Most likely they are one of several species of solitary ground-nesting bees. They are non-aggressive, stay for only a short time, and serve as vital pollinators. Yellow jackets, of course, are a different story and should be dealt with decisively. Call or e-mail for more information.