May’s gardening focus if often on pretty plants, pests, and provisioning. It’s time to change out those cool-season annuals with warm-season annuals for those landscape pops of color. The May “Ask a Master Gardener” includes suggestions of popular annuals that perform well in our region. Remember to deadhead perennial flowers to encourage continuous bloom.
Insect pests begin to make an appearance this month so keep a vigilant eye out for the destructive critters. According to Doug Welsh, the top five insect pests to watch for in the garden are aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, thrips, and grasshoppers. Some of our area gardeners would add squash bugs to Dr. Welsh’s list of top offenders. Learn how to identify these pests and how to control them. When you have to resort to using a pesticide, explicitly follow the label application directions and safety precautions.
Provide for your landscape and gardens: mulch, water, fertilizer. Keep your landscape planting and vegetable garden covered with at least a two-inch layer of mulch. Water thoroughly every time you water. Flower beds and vegetable gardens thrive on drip-irrigation. Apply fertilizer at the rate appropriate for your soil type and plantings.
Don’t know how to start an integrated pest management program in your landscape? Don’t know one mulch from another? Don’t know how much to water or when and which watering delivery technique is best in various circumstance? The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners can help. The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners are a rich resource for all the April gardening endeavors. The monthly newsletter includes timely gardening topics and learning opportunities. The Saturday morning KWED 1580 Lawn and Gardening Show shares the practical experience and wisdom of local gardeners who will also answer your specific question on the air. “Ask a Master Gardener” on this webpage answers questions from gardeners like you and this website includes resource links to trusted gardening sites — take time to explore. The Master Gardener Reference Library, 2nd Floor AgriLife Extension Building (210 E. Live Oak, Seguin), is at your disposal on Monday mornings. The Library has a large selection of books, handouts, gardening checklists, recommended plant varieties for our area (including planting dates), integrated pest control management…and more. Visitors are always welcome at our monthly gardening programs, third Thursday of the month at the AgriLife Building.
And, one of the richest and most rewarding ways to learn all about gardening is to enroll the next Master Gardener certification training Program. The 2013 Master Gardener Course is scheduled: August 7 – November 20, Wednesdays from 10 am – 2:30 pm, at the Schertz United Methodist Church. Read more on this website under MG Certification Training 2013.
At the May 16 meeting program, Dr. Gus Gross, will talk about how to treat Poisonous Snake Bites. If you don’t like snakes, that’s even more reason to attend the meeting; snakes often are attracted to gardens. 6:30 pm refreshments, 7 pm program, 8 pm business meeting. Please join us!
Read updates about our initiatives in the May edition of the Guadalupe Gardener. You’ll find a myriad of volunteer and educational opportunities, too. Details are buzzin’ about the June 21 Social in Marion are included, so check it out. There are more May gardening events than you can possibly attend in May but the newsletter promos will help you focus on those that pique your interest. Click on “newsletters” at the top of the page, or just click here for a direct route: http://guadalupecountymastergardeners.org/stay-in-touch/current-newsletter/
Become a Texas Master Gardener
2013 Master Gardener Certification Training Schedule
Application GCMG Class 25 2013
(click on the Application GCMG Class 25 2013 link above to fill out form)
Join the Master Gardeners Every Saturday on the Radio!!!!
Tune in to Compost Bob Grafe and the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners every Saturday morning at 9 am for the Lawn and Garden Show on KWED 1580 AM. Bob and his guests talk about everything from Trees to Compost and take your calls to answer your gardening questions –just call the listener line, 830.372.1580. If you don’t have an AM radio receiver convenient, you can tune in over the internet. Just go to KWED’s website and tune in!!!!!!
Contact Us!
Got a question about the Master Gardener Program or a gardening question? Have a gardening topic that you would like discussed on our weekly 9:05 am Saturday morning KWED 1580 AM radio show, send us a note — just click on “Contact Us” at the top of this page.
The Master Gardener of Guadalupe County is an educational and volunteer program offered by the AgriLife Extension Service of the Texas A&M University System. It is open to people of all ages, regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, handicap or national origin. The program is designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and extend horticultural projects throughout the community. These goals are implemented through the training and employment of local volunteers known as Master Gardeners.
