UConn Home amp Garden Education Center

Knowledge to Grow On wwwladybuguconnedu

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December is for Drumming Woodpeckers Dyed Orchids and Deciduous Hollies Hello Fellow Gardeners You are receiving this email because you have provided us with your email address either when

subscribing to our quarterly newsletter having your soil analyzed or testing the horticultural prowess and investigative

abilities of our incredibly well-versed staff at the UConn Home amp Garden Education Center Or we just might have thought

you would enjoy this e-newsletter If you do not wish to receive our monthly email updates on gardening tips pest problems

events and other information please email us at ladybuguconnedu and ask to be removed from this list

Pest PatrolCurrent ConcernsTopics of Interest

Downy Woodpecker by Pamm Cooper Blue Orchid by dmp Poinsettias at UConn Greenhouse by dmp

Whorsquos Knocking on My House There have been several complaints by homeowners that various species of woodpeckers have been

making a racket by vigorously and repeatedly pecking on their dwellings or outbuildings Often times it

is the downy woodpecker Whether just doing it for amusement to establish territory find food or as

part of a mating ritual there is not a lot one can do to discourage this activity This behavior is

commonly seen with immature males this time of year Inspect the area for insect holes The birds might

be doing you a favor by alerting you to an infestation If the bird persists perhaps flashing Mylar tape

or other shiny objects could be placed in the area where the bird is pecking A helium balloon strung up

in this area may also work Typically this behavior is not long-lived and in a couple of weeks the

woodpecker should move on

Blue Orchids There are few naturally blue flowers Perhaps the most alluring are lsquoHeavenly Bluersquo and lsquoBlue Starrsquo

morning glories Oxypetalum coeruleum and amsonia species The blue orchids being sold right now do

not really belong in this category as they are dyed and not naturally blue Many people find blue orchids

appealing and our mantra for the most part is lsquoif it makes you happy support the plant industry and buy

itrsquo Do be forewarned that most likely the next time your orchid blooms the flowers will be white

Holiday Plants Holiday Safety Among the many gifts given during the holiday season (sometimes to ourselves) are some lovely

seasonal and even unusual plants They decorate our homes with cheerful colors and attractive blooms

and add just that touch of finesse to dining tables mantle decorations or other seasonal displays Most

houseplants are perfectly safe around pets and children but there are some you might consider staying

away from Do note poinsettias are not poisonous contrary to the false information that has been spread

for years To check on the status of your plants take a look at

httpwwwladybuguconneduFactSheetshouseplants--safe-or-poisonousphp

Gypsy Moths Many are still lamenting the sporadic but often intense damage done to our beloved deciduous trees this

past year by gypsy moths Now that the leaves have fallen the light brown egg masses are readily

apparent and calls continue to come into the Center regarding what to do about them Two options are to

scrape them off into soapy water or to spray them with a soybean oil based pest spray One

recommended by the University of Wisconsin Extension in conjunction with the Wisconsin Department

of Natural Resources is called Golden Spray Pest Oil The active ingredient is soybean oil but it is

combined with a dispersant that keeps oil in a form that will penetrate egg masses Find out more at httpslearningstoreuwexeduAssetspdfsFR-171Apdf

NRCS to Expand Targeted Conservation Effort for Wildlife on Agricultural Lands

Northeast Turtle Project

httpswwwnrcsusdagovwpsportalnrcsdetailnationalplantsanimalsfishwildlifecid=nrcseprd1302230

Our Plant Sample Submission App Now Available for Android Devices

The Plant Sample Submission App developed in cooperation with Purdue and other universities is

supported by the UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab The download is free and is available for iPhones iPads

(at app store) and now Android devices at

httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=comin3samplesubmission If UConn is the selected lab in the app

submissions including information amp images go directly to the UConn diagnosticianrsquos email You will

receive a response within 1-2 business days

Topics that the Center is getting calls or emails on include soil testing woodpeckers root rot on holiday

cactus planting amaryllis bulbs lady beetles staining ceilings keeping bears away from bird feeders and

de-icing salt alternatives If you have specific questions gardening queries or pest problems check out

our website wwwladybuguconnedu or call the UConn Home amp Garden Education Center (877) 486-

6271 (toll-free in CT) Your County Cooperative Extension Centers are also listed on the website

Ten Tips for the December Gardener 1 Continue to harvest Brussels sprouts even if they are buried in a snow drift

2 Avoid using salt or fertilizer to melt snow on driveways or walks Use a non-salt ice melt

product sand or kitty litter which will not harm plant roots or pets

3 Give windowsill houseplants a quarter turn each week to let all branches have equal exposure to

the weak winter sun

4 Holiday poinsettias should be kept away from heat sources and cold drafts Keep the soil of

poinsettias consistently moist but not soggy

5 Consider gardening gifts for the holidays Books gloves hand tools weather instruments and

fancy pots are some fun ideas for fellow gardeners

6 Store opened bags of fertilizer in a sealed plastic bag or waterproof container to avoid caking

from moisture

7 Clean the foliage of large-leaved houseplants such as dracaena philodendron and ficus while

checking for insect pests

8 Clean and sharpen the blades of lawn and garden tools including the lawn mower

9 Amaryllis bulbs may be started now If the bulbs are already potted from last year the top two

inches of soil should be replaced with a good potting soil

10 Recycle live Christmas trees by using the cut branches as insulation over perennials chipping the

branches in the spring to use as mulch or simply set it outside near a birdfeeder to provide

shelter from the winds

Events ProgramsSave the Dates

February 23 ndash 26 2017 ndash CT Flower and Garden Show Woodland Enchantment Bring your garden

questions to be answered by UConn Home amp Garden Education Center horticulturists and Master

Gardener volunteers Bring frac12 cup of soil for a free pH test by UConn Soil Testing Lab staff Collect

your samples now

February 16 amp 23 2017 ndash Fruit Workshop I Pests amp Diseases of Small Fruits February 16th at

Litchfield County Extension Center Torrington and February 23rd at Middlesex County Extension

Center Haddam Review of common and important problems of grape strawberry blueberry

brambles currants amp gooseberries Target audience is farmers all are welcome More info

httpplantlabuconneduworkshops or contact Joan Allen joanallenuconnedu or 860-486-6740

Mary Concklin maryconcklinuconnedu or 860-486-6449

Correction The email that you can contact to purchase a milk bottle is ucdairyclubgmailcom

UConn Blooms ndash Celebrate National Poinsettia Day ndash December 12th

In 2002 the US House of Representatives created National Poinsettia Day in honor of poinsettia

pioneer Paul Ecke who was able to create a plant that could survive in our indoor environments and

provide us with gorgeous color throughout our holiday season The date commemorates the death of Dr

Joel Poinsett the US ambassador to Mexico who is credited with bringing this lovely and festive plant

to our country

UConn Blooms has beautiful poinsettias grown right here on campus at our floriculture greenhouses

Red white pink or marbled these poinsettias come in three sizes A 425 inch pot sells for $495 a 65

inch pot is $1295 and an 8 inch pot costs $2250 What better symbol of the holidays exists than these

beautiful lush poinsettia plants available in a range of colors Decorate your office or home with vibrant

poinsettias which last for months providing you with color and holiday memories

Holiday parties and events are right around the corner so include UConn Blooms in all your decorating

needs Centerpieces boxwood trees mistletoe and fern plants can be ordered up until December 21st for

your table Check out our website for ideas

Our greenhouse also has a nice selection of indoor tropical plants We specialize in cactus and

succulents - easy to care for and tolerant of neglect Our rosemary and scented geranium plants give off

the herbal fragrance of summer even in the dead of winter The UConn Blooms cooler is stocked with

roses sunflowers snapdragons and daisies to brighten any vase We deliver on campus from 1100 am

to 400 pm

UConn Blooms is located in the Floriculture Building at 1395 Storrs Rd (Rt 195) across from the

yellow barn Parking is available alongside our greenhouse in the driveway close to the Towers Staff

and Faculty lot We are open Monday through Friday from 1030 to 500 Check us out at our website

wwwuconnbloomsuconnedu

Poinsettias are perfect this time of year

KNOWLEDGE TO GROW ON

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

A handful of nuts a day cuts the risk of a wide range of diseases

Mostly meat high protein diet linked to heart failure in older women

New research suggest fiber will help you age a little more gracefully

Where Should We Grow Our Food

Making sure the foods we donate are nutrient-dense non-perishable super

foods is key (From T-day but still applicable)

CLIMATE CORNER

How each one of us contribute to Arctic sea ice melt

2016 is set to break even the temperature records of 2015

WHO KNEW

Roads urban features influence their choice of gardens electronic tracking

of song birds shows

Microbes in your gut influence age-related macular degeneration

Potential support for ban on microbeads in cosmetics

Opinion The Last Straw for Wasteful Convenience Products

UConn PLANT DIAGNOSTIC LAB WEBSITE wwwplantlabuconnedu UConn SOIL NUTRIENT ANALYSIS LAB WEBSITE wwwsoiltestuconnedu

UConn EXTENSION WEBSITE wwwextensionuconnedu

UConn FOOD SAFETY WEBSITE wwwfoodsafetyuconnedu

UConn SUSTAINABLE LIVING WEBSITE wwwsustainablelivinguconnedu

CT 10 Campaign Take the pledge

Pledge to spend 10 of your food dollars locally at httpwwwbuyctgrowncomct-10-percent Locally

grown food sustains CTrsquos farming community but more importantly locally grown and raised food will

also increase food security in our Northeast region and support local economies

Pledge to go 10 Local

The Live Local App invites consumers to discover and experience Connecticutrsquos local food and

agriculture Take the pledge to spend ten percent of your food and gardening dollars on locally grown

products With the Live Local App you can

Find out the seasonrsquos top ten

Get the lowdown on food and farm events

Share pictures of in season goodies

Take the 10 pledge

Instantly log your spending

Berry Poppins Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Winterberry is an awesome plant for winter landscapes but many homeowners dont have room

for a traditional variety An excellent heavy fruiting dwarf variety Berry Poppins is ideal for

gardeners who want bright winter color and fruit for cutting but dont have room for a typical I

verticillata It is heavier fruiting than Red Sprite Use Mr Poppins as a pollinator

Photo and text from wwwprovenwinnerscom

We Need Your Support If you do enjoy our efforts to keep you informed about horticultural and College-related items

please consider showing your support by liking us on Facebook httpswwwfacebookcompagesUConn-Home-Garden-Center136211899745967 checking out our

weekly blog wwwuconnladybugwordpresscom or subscribing to our printed 20-page quarterly

newsletter for $12year or sign up for free email version Find the subscription form at

httpwwwladybuguconnedusubscribe-to-hg-newsphp

December 2016 DMP