October Newsletter - Burke County

Demonstration Garden
Need ideas for your garden? Visit the
demonstration garden at the Burke County Agricultural Building!

The garden consists of native perennials, flowering annuals and perennials, woodland shade plants, succulents, and more. Each plant is labeled with its common name, scientific name, and a QR code that can be scanned using a smartphone. The QR code then leads to the Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox website. This excellent resource catalogs information on thousands of plants, gardening styles, and more.

To visit the Plant Toolbox, go to plants.ces.ncsu.edu

October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Brandi Silver, Extension Agent FCS

October was first declared as National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006 and has since been a time to acknowledge that bullying has devastating ramifications on the victims. Bullying is a prevalent issue that affects individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. It can happen in schools, workplaces, online, and within communities. Bullying occurs when one person or a group of people is perceived as being more powerful than another and takes advantage of that power through repeated physical assaults, threats of harm, intimidation, or by purposefully excluding a person from a valued social group. School avoidance, emotional trauma, decreased self-esteem, increased anxiety, and the onset of depression can be the results of bullying. You have the power to stop this from happening in your environment.
Read more...

Fall Food Plots
Damon Pollard, Extension Agent Livestock

With the coming of fall, many will head outdoors to enjoy hunting, others just love being in touch with nature. One way to attract wildlife is through the use of food plots. These food plots when established properly help to attract different species and also to sustain them throughout the year. With our area steeped in long-term drought, food plots could have a big impact on wildlife populations this year.

Properly establishing a food plot should always start with a soil sample. Don’t guess at soil fertility, soil testing is free to NC residents and you will know exactly what you need. Soil test boxes and forms are available at the Extension Office.

Next, proper seedbed preparation and correct seed placement will insure a successful planting. Be sure seed is not placed to deep, and seed to soil contact is adequate. Large seeds can be disked or drilled in to a 1-inch depth while fine seed should be culti-packed or dragged to lightly cover.

Another key to a successful food plot is location and size. Avoid places that are visible from a public road, and consider size, shape and distribution carefully. Keep in mind that plots should be large enough to provide needed feed, but small enough to be workable. Several small plots have a greater impact than one large one. Most should be less than two acres and try to provide both cool season and warm season food plots for maximum impact.

Firewood Tips
Damon Pollard, Extension Agent Livestock

With energy prices high, many homeowners will turn to wood as an economical heating source this winter. Many will cut their own firewood while others must buy what they need. Look for three main things when buying firewood: whether the wood is dry, species of wood, and the quantity being sold for the price. Green wood makes a poor fuel. Splitting will speed drying time, and some species cure faster than others. Oak, while it makes an excellent fuel, dries slower than others. Look for cracks or checks in log ends, as a sign wood is seasoned.

Any wood species will make an acceptable fire, if it is dry, but some have more fuel value per piece, than others. Oak and hickory will last longer and produce more heat than pine. Pine and other lighter woods can be used for kindling and mixed with heavier wood for acceptable heating capabilities.

Firewood vendors sell wood in many different quantity variations. Ricks, racks, truckloads, face cords, bush cords and others. The only official measure is the cord-which is a stacked pile 4 feet high by 4 feet deep by 8 feet wide. Firewood cut into 16" lengths stacked in 3 rows, is called a bush cord. Each row is called a face cord or rick. Firewood stacked neatly in the bed of a full-sized pickup amounts to approximately half a cord.

Wood makes an excellent, economical and environmentally friendly fuel. As long as the species mix, degree of seasoning, and volume of the load are clearly understood by the buyer and seller, firewood benefits everyone.

October Gardening Tasks
Taylor Campbell, Extension Agent, Horticulture

In October, gardeners have a range of tasks to tend to in order to maintain a thriving garden. It's an opportune time for planting spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths. Additionally, October is a suitable month to set out new landscape plants and transplant peonies. For those without a fall vegetable garden, cover crops such as annual rye, barley, and wheat can be sown, while salad vegetables like lettuce, green onions, carrots, radishes, and various leafy greens can be grown in a cold frame for winter harvest.

Pruning should be done after frost kills the tops of herbaceous perennials, and root pruning is advisable for trees or plants slated for relocation in the coming spring. Woody weeds like trumpet creeper and blackberry can be controlled through herbicide spraying. Proper pesticide storage is crucial in a dry location that won't freeze, with spray tanks requiring triple rinsing.

Lawn care involves diligent watering for newly seeded areas and the removal of tree leaves from the lawn. Seeding fescue and bluegrass can still be done early in October. Plant enthusiasts can propagate plants by checking cuttings in a cold frame twice a month and ensuring they're adequately watered. Rhubarb should be divided, and crowded clumps of spring and summer flowering perennials, such as daffodils, peonies, and Shasta daisies, can be divided and transplanted.

Other tasks include taking soil samples for testing, filling compost bins as leaves fall, and tilling organic material like tree leaves into vegetable garden soil if cover crops weren't planted. Bird feeders should be prepared, and summer bulbs like gladioli, dahlias, and caladiums should be dug and stored before frost. Sweet potatoes should also be harvested this month. Lastly, spring flowering bulbs can be forced to bloom in winter by potting them early in October and then placing them in the refrigerator for twelve weeks before moving them into the warmth of the home. Preparing lawn and garden equipment for winter storage and storing leftover fertilizers for spring use round out the October garden maintenance checklist.

4-H October Calendar
Nicki Carpenter, Extension Agent 4-H Youth Development

Monday, October 2 - Teen Council
5:30 - 6:30 pm
All teens (ages 13-18) please join us for our monthly get together. We engage in planning activities, hands-on learning, building healthy relationships, explore college/career interest, learning about local government/businesses, gain leadership & citizenship experience, provide community service and have FUN

Tuesday, October 10 - Foundations
5:30 - 7:00 pm
The kickoff to our MONTHLY get-together for training on “teaching”youth , answering 4-H questions, staying up-to-date on opportunities and networking with others! Workshop is free, small meal provided. Signup with Dawn 828-764-9480. Registration not required, but for meal and material prep. If you have younger youth that may need childcare during our workshop, please let us know asap and we can provide teen-leader care. 4-H’ers are also welcome to attend.

Monday, October 23 - Science Fair Workshop (or November 7th)
8:00 am - 3:30 pm
ANY Youth in grades 3-12 may register to attend
one of these workshop days. Time: 8am-3:30pm.
$10 Lunch & snack provided
Experiments and displays provided.

Tuesday, October 24 - Discovery Day
9:00 - 10:00 am
Join us for fun fall day exploring LIFE CYCLES! Please sign up with Dawn at 828-764-9480
Workshop is free, spaces are limited.

Tuesday, October 24 - Horsebowl Interest Meeting
5:30 - 6:00 pm
All youth (ages 5-18) and adults interested in possibly being a part of one of Burke County teams, please drop in and let us know. We will give an overview, share timeline and set up a practice. No prior experience needed, no horse required! Burke Agricultural Building, 130 Ammons Drive, Morganton, NC. 828-764-9480.