Month-by-month lists of common plant diseases, pests, and other problems you may encounter in North Carolina yards and gardens. Straight from our PDIC (Plant Disease & Insect Clinic) entomologists and pathologists!
Propagation Techniques Ever wonder how you could make multiples of some
of your favorite landscape plants? Well, during this time of year, you can do this yourself in a few different ways. Division is the first and easiest method, especially for overcrowded perennials. Start by digging up your plants, making sure to get most of the root ball with it. Then take your spade and divide the large plant into smaller pieces with intact roots. Super simple! Dividing plants also helps prevent root rots and allows more air flow through the plant to prevent fungal problems.
Root cuttings are another method of propagation used this time of year. They are fairly simple and can be taken from a wide range of species like azalea, acanthus, asters, holly, hydrangea, blackberry, rose, trumpet vine, fig, and lilac. The main factors that need to be considered are time of year and polarity
(meaning knowing which way your cutting was facing on the parent plant). Root cuttings are usually taken when plants are in their dormant season after they have spent all summer storing energy (or carbohydrates). When taking any cutting, the first thing you need to do is assess that the plant is healthy. You don’t want to take cuttings off a sick plant. Then, gently dig up the plant and brush or wash off roots so that they are easier to see. Take a clean, sharp pair of shears to take a 2-4 inch segment of a healthy root (about the thickness of a pencil). Make sure you leave the parent plant with enough roots as well (only take ⅓ of the roots). Again, be sure you know the correct orientation of your cuttings! You can do this by making a straight cut on the top side and a slant cut on the bottom side. Don’t allow your cuttings to dry out either. Place your cuttings in a plastic bag with moistened vermiculite, sawdust, peat moss, or sand and place in a cool, dark
area until they sprout. If using the plastic bag method, check your cuttings every week or so, so that they do not stay in the bag longer than they need to.
Hardwood cuttings can also be taken now of plants like hydrangea, lantana, abelia, viburnum, osmanthus, gardenia, and buttonbush. Plants need to be dormant for these cuttings as well. Using sharp, clean shears, take 3-6 inch cuttings from last year’s growth. This wood is more stiff and less pliable than this season’s growth towards the ends of branches. If your cuttings have leaves, strip off the leaves from the bottom ⅔ of your cutting. Leaves should not touch your media. If the plant has large leaves, consider cutting its leaves in half across the middle. This allows the plant to focus its energy towards developing roots, rather than
supplying the leaf with that energy. Try not to take cuttings while plants are flowering or have flower buds for this reason as well, or simply remove them. Some species are harder to root than others and may require different conditions or even a rooting hormone. Remember that polarity is still important here! Stick the bottom end of your cutting 1-2 centimeters into moistened media.
Now most folks don’t have a greenhouse with mist systems at their house… so one of the best things you can do to keep your cuttings in a humid environment is to cut the bottom off a milk jug and place it over your pot or put your pot and cuttings into a plastic bag. The plastic will help keep the humidity high and reduce water loss from the cuttings.
Now you are on your way to making more plants! If you have any questions about taking any kinds of cuttings or other propagation methods, please contact Cari Mitchell at 828-632-4451 or cari_mitchell@ncsu.edu.
Last month for our 4-H Garden Club meeting, 4-H'ers put their floral design skills to the test and made their very own pumpkin bouquets! Each was beautiful and unique to the person creating it. A big thank you to Deal Orchards for donating the pumpkins and to Summer Fresh Flower Farms for supplying the pretty flowers! We had buckets of flowers that were left over that were taken to the Taylorsville House for residents to make their own bouquets! Take a look at
some of these gorgeous creations!
If you have any questions about 4H Garden Club, please give Cari Mitchell a call (828-632-4451).
A big shoutout to our 4-H Garden Club members! They planted some winter veggies and fall flowers in September at our Community Garden. Seven bags of arugula and a tray of radishes were taken to 957 Mobile Cafe on October 27th!
We should get another harvest in a few weeks that will also include the Swiss chard and cilantro!
2023 Alexander Extension Small Fruit Plant Sale
Over the next month, we will be putting our orders & forms together for our spring fruit sale! Every spring, our office sells fruiting trees and shrubs, berry plants, and even some unique vegetables. Many of these trees & shrubs are sold fast and we would hate for you to miss out! Keep a check on your inbox for a separate email about ordering fruit plants and act fast.
Reminders and Upcoming Events....
Submit Your Soil Samples by November
30th! Free soil kits are available at our office along with a quick lesson on soil sampling if you haven’t done it before!
November 6th - “Fall Back” with Daylight Savings
November 10th @ 5:30pm - 4H Garden Club → Kale harvesting & Kitchen time!
November 11th - Veterans Day (County Offices will be closed)
November 14th @ 7pm - Alexander County Beekeepers Meeting
November 24th - Thanksgiving (County Offices will be closed November 24 & 25)
NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local
governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
