EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER

COURSE REGISTRATION

The Putnam County Extension office is now taking applications for the 2015 Master Gardener Course.  This course is thirteen weeks long and offered once per year.  The 12 educational classes offered during the course cover a wide range of topics such as: lawn management, soils, annuals and perennials, garden design, vegetable gardening etc.  The classes will be held each Monday evening beginning January 26^th and ending April 20^th.  Most classes will be held at the Extension office located at 900 S. Walnut Ave. and will begin at 6:00 p.m. and normally last until 9:00 p.m.  The cost of the course is $125 which covers the cost of the book, speaker expenses and partial refreshments.  Our office hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The course has a maximum number of 30 participants and is a first come registration.

The Extension Master Gardener program is an organized educational outreach program of the University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture and is developed and managed by UT Extension.  Volunteers must take approximately 40 hours of educational horticultural classes and then return 40 hours of volunteer work to the community through their local county Extension office to become certified Master Gardeners.  More information on certifying hours and volunteer work will be available to those entering the course or you may call the Extension office at 931-526-4561 or e-mail jkey3@utk.edu

All programs are open to anyone regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, religion or veteran status.  The office will be closed for Christmas holidays from Dec. 22 until Dec. 26.

J. Wayne Key

Putnam County UT Extension

900 S. Walnut Ave.

Room 4

Cookeville, TN 38501

931-526-4561

931-526-7197 (fax)

jkey3@utk.edu

https://extension.tennessee.edu/Putnam

February Gardening Chores

February

            Lawn

-        If soil test has not been completed within the last 4 years, collect soil from 2 or 3 areas of the lawn, about 6 inches deep.  Make sure soil dries out on newspaper, then place in zip-lock sandwich bag and take to UT Extension to be boxed and tested.  Results should be sent to home about 2 – 3 weeks later.

-        Look for water blockage and low wet areas.

-        Remove fallen branches and twigs.

-        Look for vole damage and mole tunnels.  Place bait as needed.

-        Have mowers tuned up and blades sharpened.

Flower Gardens

-        Prune ornamental grasses, liriope, Knockout roses (as needed), old-fashioned butterfly bushes, Russian Sage, and Crape Myrtles (if desired).

-        Add packaged soil to flowerbeds and work around plants.

-        Plan new plants for garden areas.

-        Use a pre-emergent weed killer such as Preen mid-to-late February.

-        Mulch flowerbeds.

Kitchen Gardens

-        Add package soil or compost and 10-10-10 fertilizer as needed.

-        Some cool season crops can be planted in raised beds (lettuce, peas, onions, radishes, spinach – see UT Extension publication SP-291-0)

-        Spray dormant oil on fruit and nut trees if needed.

-        Bare root fruit trees can be planted in the garden. For specific fruit tree information, go online to UT Extension publications and download SP307-D, which will give all aspects of fruit tree management.

Ponds

-        Remove leaf debris from pond surface.

-        Check that surface opening for gases is free of ice.