Now Is The Time...

• Prune apple and pear trees in late winter, but wait until April to prune peach, plum and cherry trees.
• Prolong Poinsettia beauty into March; keep plants evenly moist, out of drafts and in bright, indirect sunlight.
• Study landscapes to determine ideal locations for new tree, shrub and herbaceous plantings.
• Construct raised beds, cold frames and other garden structures.
• Assemble pots, media and seeds for growing transplants.
• Take winter walks and enjoy the beauty of dormant trees and shrubs.
• Consider "frost seeding" bare patches in lawns. See below for details.
• Remove dead asparagus tops and burn; or shred and compost.
• Do a seed inventory. Many seeds remain viable for more than one year, others have a short shelf life. See this site: http://www.aginfo.psu.edu/news/1997/6/seeds.html for details.
• Spread wood ashes on lawns and gardens, avoiding acid loving plant areas.
• Mark your calendar for May 2 . . . the Master Gardener Plant Sale.

Grow Your Own
Scott Guiser, Extension Educator/Horticulture

It seems that several powerful forces are converging to induce people to grow more of their own food. The pinch of tough economic times makes everyone think about being more thrifty. Growing your own food is one way to reduce the grocery bill. A movement to eat locally produced food is gaining momentum - It doesn't get more "local" than your own back yard. Interest in gourmet and specialty fruits and vegetables entices some folks to get their hands dirty.

Finally, many people are concerned about pesticides, genetically modified foods and other modem food production inputs. Grow your own and you are in control of these variables.

Penn State Extension is ready to help both novice and seasoned gardeners who want to grow more of their own food.. .whatever your motivation. Check out the descriptions of the seminar series and short course described on the back of this newsletter. Our Spring Gardening Series is for beginning gardens who want to get the basics of seed starting, vegetable growing and fruit production. The Living on A Few Acres short course is designed for those who are seriously interested in moderate scale food production, including meat.

Helping people grow more of their own food isn't a new idea to us. More than 600 people have gone through this short course since 1984. If you are interested, sign up soon because we can only accommodate 35 people and it often sells out early.

If you are a learn-at-home type, Perm State has both old fashion paper and web based publications. We have a complete series of fact sheets on vegetable crops, seed starting, nutritional value of vegetable crops . . . heck, there is even a fact sheet on edible flowers. Check it out by going to www.cas.psu.edu and searching horticulture publications. Our 187 page Fruit Production for the Home Gardener is available on line at http://ssfruit.cas.psu.edu/. Of course, we have hard copies available. Order directly from PSU by going to http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/ or give our office a call.

All gardeners know that success starts with soil. While soil health has many aspects, soil fertility is basic and easy to manipulate. Penn State's soil testing service is legendary for its analysis of soil nutrition and easy to understand recommendations. If you plan to grow more of your own food, a nine dollar investment in a Penn State soil test is a great idea. We sell soil test kits in our office or download the necessary forms at http://www.aasl.psu.edu/HOWTO.HTM

Ok, let's say "growing you own" doesn't work out. You can still get good locally produced fruits and vegetables by visiting neighboring farms. Don't think you have one? You may be pleasantly surprised. Check out our guide to local farms at http://bucks.extension.psu.edu/Agriculture/freshfrmfarm.html or give us a call for a printed directory.

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Horticultural Happenings

March 1 to 8, 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia Convention Center (visit
http://www.theflowershow.com for more information.)

March 20, 21 & 22 Bucks Beautiful Home & Garden Show, Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, PA (visit www.bucksbeautiful.com for more information)

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Winter Series, Saturdays in January
215-862-2924 www.bhwp.org

Dormant Seeding for Bare Patches in Lawns
Nancy Bosold, Regional Turf Extension Educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension

Does your lawn have some bare patches that you didn't get around to fixing in the fall? If so, don't despair, you can make a dormant seeding in February or March that is almost as effective as that fall seeding. Dormant seeding is practiced by professional grounds managers (like athletic field managers) who have no other choice but to sow grass seed when the soil temperatures are too cold for germination to occur. A number of university studies have shown that this dormant seeding can be very effective, and provide better results than trying to seed later in the spring (like late April or May). During late winter, the freezing and thawing creates cracks and crevices in the soil surface for the seed to fall into. The seed germinates as soon as temperatures warm up in spring, and gets a head start on those pesky weeds that are lying in wait for warmer soil.

Cool season grasses such as perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass are good candidates for dormant seeding, also called "seeding on the honeycomb" or "frost seeding". It's named after the honeycomb-like appearance of the soil surface during the periods of freezing and thawing that occur in late winter when daytime sun and temperatures thaw the soil surface and night-time temperatures re-freeze the soil.

Dormant seeding can be done anytime the ground is too cold to germinate seed - usually between early December and early March. By spreading seed when the ground is frozen, you can avoid the wet soil conditions that often delay spring planting. You can also take advantage of the soil's heaving action to provide good seed-to-soil contact without using tillage equipment. Seed can be applied to bare areas, even if they later become covered with snow.

In fact, the snow can help work seed into the soil as it melts.

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Spring Gardening Series - Grow your Own...Producing Food in Your Backyard

All classes in meeting room of Health Building , Neshaminy Manor Center 1282 Almshouse Rd., Doylestown, PA at 7 PM.
Registration required, no fee.

• March 31st: Starting Seeds Indoors & In-ground
• April 7th: Tips for Successful Vegetable Gardening
• April 22nd: Growing Fruit

Master Gardener Corner

Bring your gardening questions to the Master Gardener booth at the 2009 Bucks Beautiful Home & Garden Show at Delaware Valley College March 20, 21 & 22.

The Master Gardener Studio will be presenting free 1/2 hour gardening workshops on Saturday and Sunday. Bring your children to the Studio tent on Friday evening between 5 & 7 pm and learn what 4-H has to offer. Kids can meet local 4-H clubs and do a "make & take" gardening activity. The Master Gardeners will also be offering a free kids program for ages 4 to 10 on Sunday between 11 am and 1 pm while supplies last. No registration required.

Proper tree planting and pruning will be demonstrated on Saturday March 14,10 a.m.-noon at the Almshouse Arboretum, Neshaminy Manor Center, Doylestown.

Scott Guiser, Extension Educator/Horticulture
and
Sue Schneck, Master Gardener Coordinator

E-mail: bucksext@psu.edu
Phone: 215-345-3283
Fax: 215-343-1653

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