December 2024 Home Horticulture Newsletter

December 2024 Home Horticulture Newsletter

December 2024 Home Horticulture Newsletter

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December 2024 Pulaski County Home Horticulture Newsletter

Winter….brrrr. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

And please remember to REGISTER for the programs you’d like to attend by scanning the QR codes or clicking on the graphic.

 
Upcoming Events

Sorry for the lateness of this newsletter - you likely didn’t miss it with all the holiday goings-on.

 

December 25 — Merry Christmas!

 

December 25 to January 1, 2025 — Cooperative Extension offices are closed.

 

January 2, 2025 — Cooperative Extension offices are OPEN!

 

January 6-7 — 2025 KY Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Lexington

 

January 15 — Homesteading Series: Freeze-drying and Dehydrating the Harvest, , 4pm, Pulaski Co Extension office.

 

January 20 — Lake Cumberland Beekeepers Association monthly meeting, 6:30pm, Pulaski Co Extension office. All are welcome!

 

January 21 — Hooray for Houseplants, 3:30pm, Shopville Branch Library.

 

January 23 — Winter Sowing Workshop, 5pm, Pulaski Co Extension office. BYOM, bring your own milkjug!

 

 
A Few Poinsettia Tips
Rebloom Your Poinsettia
 

The days are getting shorter, the nights cooler, and if you notice some clustering on the outside of your home, it could be insects trying to get inside.  Once inside, these insects usually don’t increase in numbers because they are accidental invaders and also harmless.

 

Insects are usually no threat, mainly just a nuisance.  Although stink bugs can exude a substance that doesn’t smell pleasant.  If you vacuum stink bugs from windows sills, or wherever they are, you might want to throw away the vacuum bag because of the odor.  Lady bugs and stink bugs can also leave a stain if you smash them, which is why we recommend vacuuming them.

 

Exclusion is considered the best way to keep insects out of your home, because there are more control options available on the outside.  Pest-proofing your home as much as possible will help keep insects out.  Caulking, inspecting screens and windowsills, checking where utilities come into the home are ways to winterize your home. 

How To Pest-Proof Your Home
 
 

Master Gardener Updates

 

Eight Master Gardeners-in-training have passed their test and are completing their 40 hours of volunteer service requirement.

 

Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners will be hosting the State Master Gardener Conference in 2025. This will be a great time to showcase our community.

 

Master Gardeners are currently planning for the move to the new Extension office and prioritizing our demonstration garden needs.

 

The 365 Days of Gardening Raised Bed Series will start soon. A more comprehensive series is being offered in 2025 thanks to Master Gardener Deborah!

Learn more about the Master Gardener Program
 
You Tube HWW Archive
 

Cornell’s Project Feeder Watch begins November 1st.  

 

But you can join at any time.  There is no commitment for a certain number of observations. It’s Citizen Science at its best, deploying millions of people to monitor how are birds are doing across the globe.

 

A feeder is not required and you can observe at one location or several different locations. Check it out!

 
 
December Garden To-Do List
If you feed the birds, black oil sunflower seed attracts the most different species of birds.
Go through seed catalogs and start planning your spring vegetable garden. Reference UK’s Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky.
Provide water for our birds and wildlife friends. They need water each day, even when it’s below freezing outside.
Provide poinsettias a nice warm home (no drafty areas!), regular water, and some bright light and it should last into the new year.
Start doing germination tests on leftover seed. Properly stored seed (and sometimes improperly stored) can last several seasons. So save money and do this simple test.
Start planning for a winter vegetable garden. Get supplies like rebar, PVC pipe, and plastic sheeting. Or build yourself a cold frame. And don’t forget to order seeds!
 
 

It’s Always a Good Time to Soil Test

 

Soil quality determines your success as a gardener. Pulaski County residents get 25 soil analyses for FREE. Soil probes are also available to loan out. Call our office for more details 606-679-6361

Call the office now
 

Credit Cards Now Accepted for Pine Straw!

Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners are now able to accept credit cards for pine straw. There is still plenty left for your end-of-the-year mulch applications.

Pine Straw Sales Information
 
 
Learn More
 

Recipe of the Month

Shortest days of the year and kale is still in season for those winter gardeners. If you think kale is too tough, try massaging it with a little salt and lemon juice. You’ll be surprised how much better it is. Google it if you don’t believe me.

 

Take a deep dive into all the UK Plate It Up Kentucky Proud recipes by clicking the button below.

More Recipes
 
Newsletter Archive
To access archived Extension newsletters, click here.
 

 

 

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.  

Reasonable accommodation of disability may be available with prior notice. Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  

Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and other related matter should be directed to

Equal Opportunity Office, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment,  University of Kentucky, Room S-105, Agriculture Science Building, North Lexington, Kentucky 40546,  

the UK Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, 13 Main Building,  University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0032 or  

US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,  1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

 

 
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Pulaski Co Extension Service

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Somerset, KY 42502-0720

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Contact Information

28 Parkway Dr. P.O. Box 720 Somerset, KY 42502-0720

(606) 679-6361

pulaski.ext@uky.edu