Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Participate in a fun class where you’ll make a Mason jar bouquet, similar to the one pictured.

Kara Back, Horticulture Agent in Taylor Co, will lead the program.

Program is at 4pm on November 15 at the Pulaski Co Extension office.

There will be a $5 fee. Limited spots available. Register by November 10th.

Those interested in native Kentucky plants…

A Facebook group called the [Lake Cumberland Area] Regional Kentucky Native Plants Swap Group will be hosting a plant swap November 5 at the Pulaski Co Extension office.

This Sunday afternoon event will be a fun way to meet others interested in native plants. You may never have to buy a native plant again!

A Commercial Turf Update will be held on November 30 from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Commercial Pesticide License holders will receive 4 CEUs.

This training will be at the Laurel Co Extension office at 200 County Ext Rd, London, KY 40741

Anyone may attend but the training will be geared toward those license holders.

Hort Webinar Wednesday taking a break

As always, the archives may be accessed at  your convenience.

Consider Worm Composting This Winter

Worm composting (vermicomposting) is a way of converting organic waste to a rich stable end form (castings) using red wigglers or other composting worms.

All it takes to get started is a dark plastic tote, newspaper, worms, and food. The food will be your kitchen scraps.

If you’re considering using worms to compost food waste, drop by the Pulaski Co Extension office and see our 17 year old worm bin.

Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners are planning several events and activities for next year.

Master Gardener Deborah will be doing an encore of the multi-session Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening Series starting hopefully next March. Be on the lookout for details.

Native Plant Sale dates for next spring will be May 4 and 11, 2024. Plants will be for sale at the Pulaski Co Extension office parking lot.

The 2nd Annual Kristy’s Home Tweet Home Birdhouse Competition will be held in May 2024.We’re hoping for lots of great birdhouses with lots of creativity. Remember, Master Gardeners gave out very nice prizes last year. So get those creative juices flowing!

Master Gardeners regularly lead sessions with the residents of Sky Hope. In October, Master Gardener Kaye brought pumpkins for them to carve.  And after carving they made nutritious spiced pumpkin seeds in an air fryer. All the fun can be seen in the pictures at right.

If you’d like to be included on future mailings concerning the Master Gardener Program here in Pulaski Co, click the link below.

November Garden To-Do List

Newly planted shade or fruit trees will need protection from deer and varmints, such as rabbits and voles, this winter. Make some tree guards out of chicken wire. You’ll be glad you did!

Leave the leaves. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation encourages raking or blowing instead of shredding leaves. Once you have raked or blown weeds to their final destination for the winter, overwintering insects will use them for shelter (see graphics below)

Mature trees and newly planted trees should not need supplemental nitrogen. However, a tree that has had stresses, such as trenching or compaction, may benefit from nitrogen applied around Thanksgiving. Call our office for more info

Asparagus foliage can be removed after frost has killed them. If you had pest issues previously, burn or otherwise destroy the old ferns.

Cleaning up is not necessary in the perennial garden. It’s a good idea to leave stems and some leaves for overwintering of important organisms like native bees.

Plant bulbs.  Daffodils and tulips are the old standbys, but maybe try some crocus, snowdrops, hyacinths, or colchicums. . Plant twice as deep as the bulb is tall with pointy side up!

Plants that are moved indoors may exhibit leaf loss due to the move to warmer temps and low humidity. Houseplants in general should be fertilized less during the fall and winter months.

Feeding the birds can give you a lot of pleasure during the upcoming months. The best seed to attract the most diversity of birds is black oil sunflower seed.