Frequently Asked Questions in Home Gardening

A good part of my job at the Extension office is answering homeowner questions about their lawn and gardens. I thought it might be helpful to share a few of them and my answers.

When should I prune my Japanese maple?  Never.  This is one plant that I just would not put the pruners to at all.  Japanese maples are beautifully shaped with graceful branches.  I know that I would never be able to do anything with my pruners to improve upon such elegance.  If you have one that is too tall for the space, then you (or the person who owned the house before you) planted the wrong one.  There are dozens of varieties of Japanese maples that have different mature heights.  Choose carefully which one to plant. 

 What grass should I plant for my shady yard?  None.  If you have shade, choose a groundcover, make new beds, or mulch.  Turfgrasses are full sun plants.  If you have moving shade, you could try zoysia.  But even zoysia will not tolerate full shade.  You might get a good stand for a while, but each year the grass will get thinner and thinner.  There simply is no substitute for sunlight.  You could always try a moss garden.  That would be lovely. 

 Should I apply paint or tar to my tree if I have to prune off a limb?  No.  Trees are very good at handling damaged tissues.  They make “calluses” around the wounded area, then seal the damage off and continue to grow around the wound.  Research has shown that painting over the wounds does nothing to help and may actually make things worse. Tar or paint can prevent the area from drying out, prevent the tree’s natural process of compartmentalizing the area, and possibly even act as a food source for pathogens.  If you have a limb that broke off of the tree, perhaps in a storm, and it was not a clean break, then you can help the tree by cleaning up the ragged edges to make it easier for the callus tissue to form. 

 

I figured I needed a photo to give my blog post interest, so here is a random chipmunk.

Master Gardener Recognition Night

On Friday, May 23, University of Tennessee Extension held a recognition night to honor several Fayette County Master Gardeners.  Twelve Master Gardeners graduated from their internship and received a certificate as well as their green Master Gardener name badge.   The badges are earned after an intern attends fourteen weeks of gardening classes and completes forty hours of volunteer service. 

 

Alida Gover, Cindy Matlock, Anne Chase, Martha Shaeffer, Judy Schmunk, Beth Mize, Laura Winfrey, Katherine Robinson, and Robin Comella.  PJ Bartholomew, Susan Hines, and Dan Sutherland not pictured

 

Five year pins were given to five Master Gardeners to acknowledge their continued years of service to their communities through the Master Gardener program. 

 

 

Loretta Taylor and Will Gresham receive their 5 yr. pins.  Elizabeth Baker, Beverly Culver, and Darlene Rike not pictured.

 

 Four Master Gardeners received the gold leaf pin award for completing 100 hours of volunteer service with the Master Gardener program for the 2013 year.  Everyone enjoyed dinner at the Oak Room and the commencement address given by Dr. Christopher Cooper, the State Master Gardener Coordinator. The eighth annual training class for Master Gardener interns will be starting in August.  If you are interested in joining our group, call the Extension office at 901-465-5233 to get more information.  

Alida Gover, Cindy Matlock, and Vivian England receive 100 hr. pins.  Darlene Rike not pictured.

4-H Archers Score Big at State Shoot

On Saturday, May 3, nine 4-Hers from Fayette County traveled to Murfreesboro to compete in the State 4-H Archery Shoot.  There were nearly 400 youth from across Tennessee at the shoot to compete in the recurve, Genesis, and compound bow divisions. Fayette County was well represented in each division. 

Our Senior High Compound Team, Hunter and Rebecca Winstead and Cameron Hart, came in second place.  Cameron Hart won first place individual in the high school compound division, shooting a 299 out of a possible 300. He hit the bullseye 18 times in his 30 shot match.  He also won premiere archer in that category, which takes into consideration the scores on a written skills test. 

 

 In the Genesis bow division, Cameron came in 7^th place. 

 

In the recurve category, we had two youth place in the top ten.  Mitchell McCreless placed 8^th in the Senior High age group and Haddon Carter placed sixth in the Junior High group.  4-Hers Beau Hart and Landon Carter shot in the Genesis division, while Ben Dixon and Corbin Hart shot compound bows. If your child is interested in 4-H Archery, contact Tonya Ashworth at 901-465-5233.  UT Extension offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity employer.

 

Cameron and Corbin Hart

Corbin on the left, Cameron on the right

Landon, Mitchell, Hunter, Cameron, and Rebecca

Haddon and Mitchell

Hunter

Mitchell, Landon, and Beau

Rebecca and Hunter

Ben, Rebecca, and Hunter