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2025 Alexander Extension Small Fruit Plant Sale
It is time again to start ordering your fruit plants and trees! The N.C. Cooperative Extension - Alexander County Center is now taking orders and will until sold out. There are some new items this year as well as some we have offered previous years.
Please know that the earlier you place your order the better chance we will be able to complete your request. Plants will be available for pickup on March 13, 2025.
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Become a Master Gardener Volunteer!
Are you passionate about gardening and sharing your knowledge with others? The Caldwell County Cooperative Extension invites you to join a vibrant network of gardeners who are enhancing their communities through horticulture education and outreach.
Our 14-week Extension Master Gardener Volunteer (EMGV) Course begins on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, and runs weekly on Tuesdays from 1–4 p.m. at the Alexander and Caldwell County Extension Centers. Topics include botany, pest management, soil testing, native plants, vegetable gardening, and much more!
What You’ll Learn:
This program offers a deep dive into gardening topics such as:
•Botany and plant identification
•Pesticide safety and integrated pest management (IPM)
•Gardening with natives and creating wildlife habitats
•Soil testing, composting, and sustainable practices
•Propagation, small fruits, raised beds, and more!
Cost: $125 (includes materials, supplies, and field trips).
To register and for more info, please call the Alexander office at 828-632-4451 or contact Cari Rosenbalm by email at cari_rosenbalm@ncsu.edu.
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Spring Pesticide Recertification Courses
Please call to register - 828-632-4451
February 24th @ 2-4pm - Commercial Pesticide Recertification
Credits Offered
- D, K, L, N, O, X : 2.0
- A, B, G, H, I, M, T, K(SA), K(PU): 1.0
February 27th @ 6-8pm - Private V Training
Credits Offered
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Respirator Fit Testing Event!
If you are a pesticide applicator in need of a Respirator Fit Test & Medical Clearance Examfor 2025, please call our office (828-632-4451) to register for a time on Feb. 28th to have yours done here at the Extension Office! If you are using ANY product in 2025 that requires the use of a respirator, these tests are REQUIRED.*Applicators MUST be clean shaven, bring their own respirator, and have completed their paperwork prior to their appointment time.
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Click on the following links to see the Garden Calendars for each month:
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BOLOs (Be On The Lookout)....
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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!
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Do’s, Don’ts , and the 5 D’s of Pruning
Do’s:
- Use sharp clean tools
- prune with cradle/hook facing away from main branch
- Prune before flushing with all plants! (Flushing is a term for when plants start to put on new growth)
- have multiple tools with you for use on various size branches (if you have to use much force or two hands, use a different tool: loppers or pruning saw)
Don’ts:
- use anvil blade shears (they will crush plant tissue)
- prune roots and shoots with the same set of shears (can spread disease)
- rush through pruning (each pruning cut elicits a growth response from lower buds, meaning each cut matters!)
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5 D’s of Pruning (Technique)
1. Dead - these branches/limbs aren’t helping anyone
2. Damaged - any that have been broken by the weather or those that have been rubbing together, creating sores
3. Diseased - remember to clean your tools during this one so any disease doesn’t spread further into the tree
4. Dangerous - any low branches that you may run into with your lawn mower or limbs that are too close to gutters, etc.
5. Deranged - any crossing branches, watersprouts, or wild branches that take away from the natural structure of the plant
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2025 Brushy Mountain Tree Fruit Meeting
Welcome to our Regional Tree Fruit Meeting! This event is tailored for commercial tree fruit producers across the mountains, foothills, Brushy Mountain region, and Piedmont of North Carolina, as well as neighboring areas and states. Join us for an engaging day with specialists from NC State University, as we explore the latest research and management practices to enhance the success and sustainability of your orchards. Let's work together to tackle challenges, embrace innovations, and strengthen our tree fruit industry!
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Blueberry Pruning Field Day 2025
NC Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center is excited to announce the return of our annual Blueberry Pruning Field Day! This year, the event will be held on Saturday, March 1st, at Campbell's Berry Farm in Hickory, NC. We invite all blueberry enthusiasts to join us for this hands-on learning experience led by Dr. Bill Cline, NC State Blueberry Specialist. To participate, please call us at 828-632-4451 to register. Participants are encouraged to bring their own pruning shears, lopping shears, gloves, and water. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and the occasion.
Pruning is an essential practice for maintaining healthy, productive blueberry bushes. Regular pruning improves fruit size and taste, makes the plants easier to manage, and promotes new growth by replacing old, less productive canes. During the field day, you’ll learn expert techniques to optimize your harvest and ensure the long-term health of your blueberry plants.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and practical skills—come ready to learn and prune!
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Community Garden Bed Rentals!!
Spring is almost here! If you don’t have a place to garden, we’ve got you covered. The Taylorsville Community Garden has over 20 spaces for gardeners in the community to utilize. If you are interested in renting a bed for the season, please call our office ASAP! Bed rentals are $25 for the YEAR for your first bed and $10 for any additional bed!!! We have 3 different options for raised beds :
- Regular Wood- 4ft wide x 16ft long
- Elderly and disability Accessible - 3.5ft wide x 6.5ft long x 32in tall
- Wheelchair Accessible - 3ft x 6ft x 2ft tall
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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.
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