January

February 2014 At the Garden Gate

Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin,

religion, sex, age or disability.

Inside this Issue:

Master Gardener Meetings 2

Hours Reminder 2

Growing Heirloom Tomato Speaker 2

Grow Your Own Garden classes 2

Lil & Junior Gardeners 2

Tree Pruning Workshop 3

Bee Keeping classes 3

Garden Calendar available 3

ISU Extension Publications 3

Gardening Guide 4

Speaker Series 5

Upcoming Events 6

It is not too late! Enrollment for Iowa State University

Extension and Outreach’s Master

Gardener training is due Jan 10, 2014.

Participants may enroll

(with a $25 late fee) until

the Orientation class

which is Jan 16.

Mahaska County’s training in winter

2014 will be held Thursday evenings

January 16– April 10.

Also, enrolling in Master Gardener

training is one way to accomplish that

“New Year’s” resolution to have better

landscaping!

Emerald Ash Borer:

It is in Iowa. Now what? The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small beetle

that kills all species of ash trees, including

green, white, black and blue. This federally

regulated insect has been found in four Iowa

counties and has the potential to spread across

the state. There will be two informational meetings concerning the

presence of emerald ash borer (EAB), an exotic, destructive insect of

ash trees, which is spreading in Iowa.

The meetings will be held January 14, 2014 at the Mahaska County

Extension Office. Meetings are FREE and no registration is

required.

A Green Industry Meeting will be held 1-4 pm and is directed towards professionals in the tree service and landscaping industry. A Public Meeting will be held 6:30-8 pm and is directed towards

homeowners and other concerned citizens. If you have questions,

call Mahaska County Extension at 641-673-5841 visit the website

www.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska or email striegel@iastate.edu.

Attendees will learn how to identify EAB, how to identify an ash tree,

signs of EAB infestation, if the tree is safe, if a tree is a candidate for

treatment, EAB treatment options, how the spread of EAB is being

restricted, bark peeling—how to find EAB in Tree (Green Industry)

and Ash Tree replacement options (Public meeting).

EAB was first discovered in Iowa in May 2010 when an infestation

was reported in Allamakee County. The beetle this year was also

positively identified in Des Moines County in July, Jefferson County in

August, Cedar County in October and Union County in December.

Twenty five counties in Iowa are now quarantined. The regional

quarantine is designed to prevent the spread of this insect.

The meetings will be presented by a panel of Experts: Nick Witt

Oskaloosa City Forester; Ben Hoskinson Mahaska County Integrated

Roadside Vegetation Manager; Jeremy Cochran Iowa Department of

Natural Resources District Forester; Mike Kintner EAB Outreach and

Regulatory Coordinator with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land

Stewardship; and Mark Shour Iowa State University Extension and

Outreach Entomologist.

At the Garden Gate Page 2

Grow Your Own Garden Gardening Classes The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardeners

of Mahaska County are offering classes for beginning gardeners to

gain the knowledge and skills to become successful gardeners. The

classes are designed for beginners; however, any interested gardener

is encouraged to attend.

Classes will be held Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm at the Mahaska

County Extension Office. Participants may attend one, two or all

three classes. Cost for each class is $5; or $10 for all three.

Registration is due one week prior to the class.

Dates and topics for the classes are: February 11—Flowers;

February 18—Vegetables; and February 25—Garden Tools

Many ISU Extension horticulture publications will be utilized as

handouts. These publications are

also available at our office or

downloadable from the website

www.extension.iastate.edu/store .

For more information or to

register, please contact Suzette

Striegel Mahaska County

Extension Horticulturist by email

striegel@iastate.edu or phone at

641-673-5841 or visit our website

www.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska.

Lil Gardeners Clover Kids &

Junior Gardeners 4-H Club Lil’ Gardeners Clover Kids and Junior Gardeners

special interest 4-H Club will have a sessions on

Tuesday, January 21 and Monday, February 10 at the Extension

Office. January theme is “Seed Starting” and February theme is

“Fruit and Vegetable Mania”. Lil’ Gardeners Clover Kids will

meet at 5:30 pm and Junior Gardeners special interest 4-H Club will

meet at 7 pm. To insure we have enough supplies, please RSVP by

Noon the work day before the session if you plan to attend.

Lil’ Gardeners and Junior Gardeners are special interest 4-H clubs.

If you are already a member of one Clover Kid or 4-H club in

Mahaska county, you do not pay an additional

enrollment fee to join. If only joining one of

these 4-H groups, you will need to pay the

enrollment fee ($15 for Lil’ Gardeners and $30

for Junior Gardeners). For more information,

please contact Suzette Striegel at the MCEO.

Master Gardeners Meetings Mahaska County Master Gardeners

have scheduled these monthly business

meetings:

Tuesday, January 7 at 6 pm will be

our Celebration! It will begin with a

potluck meal , followed by Garden

White Elephant Exchange and our

monthly meeting.

Tuesday February 4 at 6 pm. It will

be followed at 7 pm by “Growing

Heirloom Tomatoes” with Susan

Gilland, Monroe County Master

Gardener.

Tuesday, March 4 at 6 pm. It will be

followed at 7 pm by a the first speaker

of the annual speaker series: Jim

Kesseler, “Why Native Plants Matter”.

Reminder: Master Gardeners need to enter their

hours into the online reporting system

ASAP.

Master Gardeners without internet

access or those who wish may turn

their hours into Suzette Striegel to

enter. Contact Suzette for more

information and/or questions.

Growing Heirloom

Tomatoes presentation Come learn about Growing Heirloom

Tomatoes on Tuesday, February 4 at

7 pm. Susan Gilland, Monroe County

Master Gardener will be the presenter.

Anyone who is interested is welcome

to attend.

Susan has grown Heirloom tomatoes

since 1999, growing over 100 different

varieties. She has presented about

Heirloom Tomatoes in the past,

including at the 2009 All Iowa Hort

Expo.

At the Garden Gate Page 3

ISU Extension & Outreach

Publications of Interest IC 407 Insect Pests of Stored Foods

IC 472 Household Insect Pest

Management

PM 212 Landscape Plants for the

Midwest

PM 607 Suggested Vegetable

Varieties for the Home Garden

PM 713 Indoor Plants

PM 874 Starting Garden

Transplants at Home

PM 1429f Power Lines and Trees

PM 1913 Perennials for Shade

PM 1914 Perennials for Sun

PM 1942 Annuals

PM 1958 Pruning Ornamental

Shrubs

PM 1966 The Garden Guide to

Midwest Annuals and Perennials

PM 2004 Home Landscape Design

RG 105 Garden Tips-Guidelines to

Seasonal Chores

RG 316 Poinsettia Care

RG 325 Language of Flowers

RG 402 Lighting and Houseplants

SUL 5 Pruning Trees and Shrubs

These publications (as well as many

others) are available to purchase at county

Extension office or at the ISUE online store

https:/store.extension.iastate.edu. Many

of ISUE publications are available for

download at the same site.

Tree Pruning Workshop Many homeowners have trees or plant trees in their landscape and often

are unsure about the proper pruning of them as they grow. Mahaska

County Master Gardeners and Trees Forever will host an opportunity to

learn about tree pruning. Ben Hoskinson, the Mahaska County

Integrated Vegetation Roadside Manager (IVRM) will demonstrate tree

pruning methods on Monday, February 24 at 5:15 pm.

Attendees may bring their pruning tools, and may have an opportunity to

utilize the skills learned on trees planted at the site.

Anyone interested in learning about tree pruning is welcome to attend

this demonstration. Attendees are also encouraged to dress for the

weather.

The workshop will begin at the Mahaska County Shop, 2074 Old

Hwy 163, Oskaloosa. If weather is inclement, the workshop will be

postponed to March 24. Please listen to 104.9 KBOE radio for

cancellation information.

Beekeeping Classes Mahaska County Extension Office will be a site for

beginning beekeeping classes. The seven classes

will be offered on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm

beginning January 23, 2014. To enroll or obtain

information about the classes, please contact Craig

Greene at 641-891-3179; cell 641-891-3179 or

cgreene@iowatelecom.net.

Garden Calendar Available Gardeners, both novice and experienced, will be inspired by Iowa State

University Extension and Outreach’s 2014 garden calendar. It celebrates

the wonderful gifts that trees provide for other living things. The

full-color, 12-month calendar is filled with stunning photography and

information including tree-planting instructions, Iowa's state forests,

vignettes of historical trees and quotes that trees inspired.

Each month has several gardening activities and chores listed, so

homeowners can easily stay on task as they plan, prepare for, plant and

take care of their 2014 garden. “Some gardeners also use the calendar as

a journal to keep notes from their garden,” Cynthia Haynes, ISU

Extension and Outreach horticulture specialist. said. “We hope the

calendar provides new gardeners with information that helps them

improve their gardening practices, while helping experienced gardeners

find new and different things to try.”

The back of the calendar provides plenty of other Extension and

Outreach resources. “Many people buy calendars because they are very

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At the Garden Gate Page 4

Gardening Guide January—

Recycle Christmas tree

Remove dead or hazardous trees

Hike or cross country ski in the

woods after a winter snow.

February—

Inspect trees for damage after ice

Storm.

Begin pruning fruit trees.

Attend Shade Tree Short course in

Ames February 25-27

These items were taken from the 2014

ISU Extension and Outreach Garden

Calendar “The Wonder of Trees”.

Iowa One Call

1-800-292-8989

www.iowaonecall.com

Call 48 hours

BEFORE YOU DIG!

Printing and Postage

costs are increasing... ...and our office would like to insure

all recipients of the newsletter want

to receive it. If you would like to

continue to receive this newsletter (and

be notified of horticulture programming

in Mahaska & surrounding counties),

please indicate this to our office. This

can be a phone call (641-673-5841),

email (striegel@iastate.edu), or by mail

(212 North I Street, Oskaloosa IA

52577).

If we do not hear

from you, your name

will be removed from

the mailing list for

the March/April

pretty to look at,” Haynes said. “This calendar is very visually

appealing, and it also provides helpful hints and tips that gardeners

can sometimes forget. This calendar is a great resource.”

“The Wonder of Trees – 2014 Garden Calendar” (PM 0815) is

available for $6 from the ISU Extension and Outreach online store at

www.extension.iastate.edu/store or from local extension offices,

including the Mahaska county office.

Trees and Shrubs with Winter Color An excellent way to brighten the winter landscape is to plant trees

and shrubs that possess ornamental characteristics, such as colorful

fruit or exfoliating bark. Horticulturists with Iowa State University

Extension and Outreach describe shrubs and trees that add color to

the winter landscape. To have additional questions answered,

contact Hortline at 515-294-3108 or hortline@iastate.edu.

Which shrubs have colorful bark in winter?

One of the most beautiful sights in winter is the bright red twigs of

the redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea) set against a backdrop of

newly fallen snow. Native to Iowa, the redosier dogwood grows 6 to

10 feet tall. Several colorful cultivars are available. ‘Cardinal’ has

bright, cherry red stems. ‘Alleman’s Compact’ is a red-stemmed,

compact cultivar that grows 4 to 5 feet tall. Arctic Fire™ is a

red-stemmed, 3- to 4-foot-tall shrub. ‘Flaviramea’ is a 5- to 6-foot-

tall shrub with yellow stems.

There are also several cultivars of willow that possess colorful bark.

The ‘Flame’ willow (Salix ‘Flame’) has reddish orange stems. The

stems of the coral bark willow (Salix alba ‘Britzensis’) vary from

yellow-orange to orange-red.

The redosier dogwood and willows should be pruned on a frequent

basis as young shoots possess the brightest colors. ‘Flame’ and coral

bark willows should be pruned annually. Cut back plants to near

ground level in late winter. The redosier dogwood requires less

pruning. In late winter, remove approximately one-third of the oldest

stems near ground level.

Which trees have attractive bark?

Selecting trees with attractive bark is an excellent way to add

interest to the winter landscape.

A widely planted tree that possesses attractive, exfoliating bark is

the river birch (Betula nigra). The exfoliating bark varies from

salmon-white to reddish brown. Often planted as a multi-stemmed

specimen or clump, the river birch may eventually reach a height of

50 to 60 feet.

Two small ornamental trees with exfoliating bark are the paperbark

maple (Acer griseum) and Amur chokecherry (Prunus maackii). The

(Continued from page 3)

(Continued on page 5)

At the Garden Gate Page 5

If you want more information about

any of the Mahaska County Extension

horticulture events or have horticulture

questions, please contact Suzette

Striegel, Mahaska County Extension

Horticulturist by calling 641-673-5841

or emailing striegel@iastate.edu.

paperbark maple grows 20 to 30 feet tall, possesses cinnamon to

reddish brown exfoliating bark, and is hardy in USDA Hardiness

Zones 5 to 8. The bark characteristics of the Amur chokecherry are

highly variable. Bark color varies from brownish yellow to reddish

brown to cinnamon red. Some exhibit little or no bark exfoliation,

while others exfoliate heavily. The Amur chokecherry grows 30 to 35

feet tall.

Other trees with showy bark include the lacebark pine (Pinus

bungeana) and Chinese or lacebark elm (Ulmus parvifolia). The bark

of both trees exfoliates in patches revealing a kaleidoscope of colors.

The multi-colored bark of the lacebark pine contains splashes of

green, white, brown and purple, while the Chinese elm is spotted with

brown, gray, green and orange.

Which trees and shrubs have colorful fruit in winter?

While crabapples (Malus spp.) are usually planted for their flowers,

many cultivars also possess colorful, persistent fruit. Crabapple

cultivars with red fruit include ‘David,’ ‘Donald Wyman,’

‘Mary Potter,’ Red Jewel™ and Sugar Tyme®. ‘Indian Magic,’ (Continued on side)

(Continued from page 4) ‘Professor Sprenger’ and ‘Snowdrift’

have reddish orange fruit, while Har-

vest Gold® and Golden Raindrops®

are yellow-fruited crabapple cultivars.

Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) are another

group of small, flowering trees that

possess attractive fruit. Hawthorns

produce white flowers in spring. In fall,

their small (one-fourth to one-half inch

in diameter) fruit turn red and persist

into winter. Two hawthorns noted for

their excellent fruit displays are the

Washington hawthorn (Crataegus

phaenopyrum) and ‘Winter King’

hawthorn (Crataegus viridis ‘Winter

King’).

Shrubs that possess attractive fruit in

late fall and winter include red choke-

berry (Aronia arbutifolia), cranberry

cotoneaster (Cotoneaster apiculatus),

winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Meserve

hybrid hollies (Ilex x meserveae) and

American cranberrybush viburnum

(Viburnum trilobum). All of the

aforementioned shrubs have red fruit.

Snowberries and coralberries

(Symphoricarpos spp.) have white, pink

or purplish red fruit.

The brightly colored fruit of most of

the aforementioned trees and shrubs do

not remain throughout winter. Very

cold temperatures in winter eventually

cause many fruit to turn reddish brown

or black. Hungry birds and squirrels

may also devour the fruit. However, the

fruit display in late fall and early winter

can be spectacular.

ISUEO news release 12/13/2014

Mahaska County Master Gardeners

Education Series All sessions to be held at the Mahaska County Extension Office.

They are free and open to the public.

March 4– Why Native Plants Matter

with Jim Kesseler

March 11– Invasive Plants

with David Pealer, Marion County MG

March 18–Thirteen Things Every Lily Garden Needs

with Sue Williams, Iowa Regional Lily Society

March 25 – Basics of Growing Fruit Trees

with Patrick O’Malley, ISUEO Commercial

Horticulturist

Suzette Striegel, Horticulturist

Amy Brainard, County Youth Coordinator

Natalie Spray, Program Coordinator

Codi Workman, Educational Program Assistant

Lea DeCook, Office Assistant

Nathan Crane, Regional Extension

Education Director

~Office Hours~

Monday—Friday

8:00 am—1 pm, 1:30—4:30 pm

*All events are at Mahaska County

Extension Office UNLESS indicated.

~Mahaska County Office Staff~

Mahaska County Extension 212 North I Street

Oskaloosa IA 52577

Phone: 641-673-5841 Fax: 641-673-0559

January

1 Office Closed for New Years Day

7 Master Gardener Celebration 6 pm

Potluck Followed by Meeting

14 Emerald Ash Borer Program

For Green Industry 1 pm

For Public 6:30 pm

21 Lil Gardeners 5:30 pm

Junior Gardeners 7 pm

February

4 Master Gardener Meeting 6 pm

Growing Heirloom Tomatoes speaker 7 pm

10 Lil Gardeners 5:30 pm

Junior Gardeners 7 pm

11 Gardening Class-Flowers 6:30 pm

18 Gardening Class-Vegetables 6:30 pm

24 Tree Pruning Workshop 5:15 pm

At Mahaska County Shop

25 Gardening Class-Garden Tools 6:30 pm

Upcoming Events*