Tag Archive for: #cooperativeextension

Home And Garden Show

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Use vermicomposting (earthworms) to compost food scraps into compost for your garden
  • Go ahead and start pruning grapevines whenever we get a few mild days. Don’t worry if they exude sap.
  • Keep a good thermometer in your greenhouse and cold frame when growing plants
  • Get ready to fertilize your tall fescue lawn. Pick up a slow release turf fertilizer for application in mid-Feb. It’s fine to use one combined with crabgrass preventer, but I recommending avoiding other combinations.
  • Prepare your pruning equipment because pruning season is fast approaching.
  • Take stock of stored gasoline. Any stored gas that has an ethanol component can cause starting and running problems for lawn and garden equipment.
  • Check seedlings growing indoors, light and moisture are key.
  • Get ready to do a dormant spray on your fruit trees. Also check your stock of chemicals and spray equipment so you’ll be ready to make the necessary treatments that start soon after flowering.

 

Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Pine Thinning

If you have a stand of pine trees on your property and plan to harvest them you may want to consider thinning out the stand to increase growth and profit.  Wayne Rowland, of the Vance County Extension Service, explained the reasons for this on Monday’s Local Skinny. “Cutting and removal of trees is used to accomplish management objectives,” Rowland said. While thinning obviously reduces the number of trees it does help in the distribution of quality trees. Sometimes, depending on the trees that are thinned, they can be marketable enabling the property owner to sell the trees.

According to Rowland, the number of trees per acre can affect yield and growth. Size and vigor of trees can be increased by thinning your stand. Trees will go poorly if there are too many or too few trees per acre. Rowland says there are a number of benefits to thinning a stand of pine trees. Trees will be able to grow quicker meaning they can be harvested and sent to market in a shorter period of time.  It also allows trees to grow larger and larger trees bring higher prices. Thinning trees also increases health of the forest. For more information on thinning pine tree stands contact Rowland at 252-438-8188. The Vance Co. Extension Report can be heard Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11:50am as part of the Local Skinny on WIZS 1450am, 100.1fm and at wizs.com.

 

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Woodscaping

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

 

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: The Platinum Rule

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

Winter Weather

Broken Tree Limbs from Winter Storms Can Cause Damage

Once again this weekend Old Man Winter is about to pay central North Carolina a visit.  Last weekend the Vance County area experienced snow, sleet and freezing rain along with some breezy conditions. Paul McKenzie of the Vance Co. Extension Service explained on today’s Home and Garden Show during The Local Skinny! that large shade trees can be damaged by winter storms. “After a winter storm of any type, particularly with ice and wind, you should check those large shade trees for broken limbs and branches,” McKenzie said. “Obviously, the ones that are on the ground are easy to spot but, the ones stuck in a tree are much harder,” McKenzie continued.

Eventually, due to more wind or with the passage of time, these limbs and branches will eventually fall. The danger is that they could fall on an out building, your home or vehicle. More importantly, they may fall on a pet or a person causing injury.

“If you see anything you can’t handle with a pole saw, keeping your feet on the ground, you should hire a trained professional to take care of the limbs,” McKenzie said.

The Lawn and Garden Show can be heard on WIZS as part of the Local Skinny! every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on WIZS 1450am, 100.1fm and online at wizs.com.

Home And Garden Show

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.:

  • Use sand instead of salt products on walkways and driveways during winter weather and sand don’t hurt plants like salt can.
  • Cut dead foliage off of ornamental grasses. Take care not to cut into the crown or growing point, which is at the center close to ground level. Also trim last year’s foliage off liriope and mondograss.
  • Check stored bulbs for decay.
  • Inspect large shade trees for damage from the winter storm. Look for broken or hanging branches. If you can’t reach them from the ground with a pole saw, then hire a professional.
  • Check your pruning equipment pruning season is just around the corner.
  • Don’t wait until spring to plant trees and shrubs. Plant them anytime now that the ground is soft enough to dig, so they’ll get a head start.
  • If you have seedlings started indoors check each day for moisture

 

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

 

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Backyard Chickens

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.