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! February: https://pdic.ces.ncsu.edu/bolo-february/
Soil Testing
Remember to get your soil tested (if you haven’t done so already) for your spring garden, landscape, and turf! Soil tests are now $4 per sample. If you need to borrow a soil probe or need soil boxes and a form, pick one up today at our office (151 W Main Ave. Taylorsville).
Managing Winter Weeds This time of year a lot of calls come in about how to manage winter weeds, especially in the lawn. Weeds like henbit, dead nettle, hairy bittercress, chickweed, and Persian speedwell are called winter annuals because they germinate in the fall and grow in the warm
patches of winter and into spring where they will then produce seed (to repeat the cycle in the fall) and die once warmer, summer weather approaches. Winter perennials like wild onion and wild garlic are called winter perennials. These weeds emerge in late fall from underground bulbs and grow through those same warm periods throughout winter and spring. These weeds, however, will not produce seed like the winter annual weeds, but they will form aerial bulblets (smaller bulbs from their main bulb) and die back in the summer. To read more on managing your winter weeds please go to the following link for the whole article: https://alexander.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/01/managing-winter-weeds/
To place your order today or to get more information on available plant varieties, cost, planting guides, or care tips, please call Cari Mitchell at 828-632-4451 or email at cari_mitchell@ncsu.edu!
Beekeeping Schools - Every year, the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association (NCSBA) chapters conduct bee schools to help new beekeepers get on the right foot. The schools are varied, with prices ranging between free and $150, one day to four months, and vary in their approach. Check around your location for the best fit!
Alexander County Beekeepers Meetings The Alexander County Beekeepers will meet again on Monday, January 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Alexander County Services Building (151 W Main Ave, Taylorsville). They meet the 2nd Monday of each month. If you have an interest in beekeeping, have just started in the beekeeping journey or are a seasoned beekeeper these meetings will be perfect for you. An educational topic is covered each meeting. The topic for January is Winter Hive Management, speaker David Tarpy, NCSU Bee Specialist.
Alexander County Garden Club
Our Garden Club is full of AWESOME people who are super nice and LOVE plants! With most meetings there is an educational program that is offered and we work on beautification projects throughout the community! If you have any questions or are interested in joining, please call our office: 828-632-4451. The Alexander County Garden Club meet the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Location: Alexander County Service Center.
The educational program to be provided on January 13th will be on Pasture Management, speaker Allison Brown, Alexander County Extension Director, Livestock and Field Crops Extension Agent. Alexander 4-H Garden Club
The next 4-H Garden Club meeting will be Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 5:30p.m. at the Alexander County Service Center. Join them in January to learn about Weather & Climate: weather stations.
If you have questions regarding the any of the clubs listed above please call Cari Mitchell, N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center, Horticulture Agent, at 828-632-4451.
Alexander County Offices will be closed Monday, January 17, 2022 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
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.
