Panicle Hydrangea

Cheryl Boyer, Nursery Crop Specialist at Kansas State University tells us about Panicle Hydrangea, or Tree Hydrangea just starting their annual bloom period in our area. 

Perfect for an early August wedding or just plain enjoyment in your own garden space, Hydrangeas can sometimes be tricky. High soil pH is commonly a problem for many species, but not panicle hydrangea which is pH adaptable. There are quite a few wonderful cultivars from which to choose within the H. paniculata species.  In the case of panicle hydrangea, the main guideline is that they need more water during times of drought than the average low-maintenance shrub.

Panicle Hydrangea is an upright, vase-shaped, medium-sized shrub, reaching 5 to 10 feet in height (can be pruned into a small tree shape). It grows quickly and has large inflorescences which may reach 12 to 18 inches long and 6 to 12 inches wide.  They start out white and change to purple-pink over the course of the flowering season (mid-July through September). It prefers sun to partial shade and protection next to a structure is ideal. However, it is one of the most cold-hardy hydrangeas available and is quite tolerant of urban conditions.

Modern cultivars of panicle hydrangea offer wonderful features in such a gorgeous plant. Quick Fire™ (‘Bulk’) flowers early (May to June), while ‘Tardiva’ flowers open later in September. For pink flowers, look no further than Pinky Winky™ (‘DVPpinky’), which has inflorescences that appear two-toned as they open white and mature to a dark pink and ‘Pink Diamond’ which has light pink flowers.

Some recent cultivars have lime-green inflorescences. These include Limelight™ and Little Lime™ (‘Jane’), which is a more compact plant.

Another compact cultivar is ‘Little Lamb’ which has white flowers. I must confess, however, that I’ve been more than a little infatuated with Vanilla Strawberry™ (‘Renhy’), a new introduction from the First Editions® plant series out of Bailey Nurseries. Its large inflorescences emerge a creamy vanilla white and mature through soft pink and finally strawberry red at the base of the inflorescence. All of this color and they are also supported by red stems. I’m in love and I have the perfect spot for one. Now if I could only find the time to go buy it! Race you?

Read more about Hydrangeas here: http://franklincountymgs.blogspot.com/2010/07/hydrangeas-in-my-landscape.html

Upcoming Events

Farm and Garden Penn State Extension
Franklin County
181 Franklin Farm Lane
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Telephone: 717-263-9226
Upcoming Events
Fall Turf Workshop – Thursday, September 5^th 6:30-8:30 p.m. Did the summer weather leave your lawn looking a little ragged and tired? Would you like to prevent the same yearly problems? Join Master Gardener Bob Hyatt to learn from his many years of experience caring for area landscaping, so you can have the nicest lawn in your neighborhood.  Workshop fee is $10.00. Contact the Extension Office at 263-9226 to register.

Master Gardener Fall Garden Tour – Sunday, September 8 12:00-5:00 “Waynesboro Inspired Gardens” - You are invited to stroll through eight gardens in the Waynesboro area. The tour gardens offer inspiration and ideas for visitors of all ages who have varying levels of gardening expertise. Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be purchased at the Penn State Extension Office and other area businesses in the county. Contact the Extension Office for specifics.

Composting – Monday, September 9^th 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. – Penn State Environmental Educator George Hurd and Master Gardener Jane Krumpe will teach all the ins and outs of turning kitchen and yard waste into “Black Gold” for your garden soil.  Class fee is $10.00.  Call the Extension Office at 263-9226 to register.

4-H Benefit Auction – Friday, September 13^th - Overcome the bad luck of Friday the 13^th by bidding on items donated to Penn State Extension of Franklin County 4-H Benefit Auction. The third annual 4-H Benefit Auction takes place on Friday, September 13 at Hurley Auctions in Greencastle. Doors open, food stand opens, and the silent auction begins at 4:00 p.m., with the live auction starting at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds directly benefit the Penn State Extension of Franklin County 4-H Program and are used for the purchase of educational materials, entry fees to events, transportation, awards, volunteer support and other 4-H expenses. Some of the items to be auctioned off include gift cards from various businesses throughout Franklin County, a handcrafted wooden oak chest, a free night stay at Monte Vista Bed and Breakfast, LG LED computer monitor, radio flyer steel wagon, homemade quilts, tractor printed stepping stones and much more.
The Franklin County 4-H program helps teach young people responsibility, develop good citizenship, improve self-esteem, and provide experience and useful skills that will last a lifetime. Building on over 100 years of tradition, the 4-H motto is “to make the best better”. Through hands-on opportunities youth “learn-by-doing” as they explore robotics, animals, sewing, conservation, leadership, nutrition, community service, and much more.
In 2012, the Penn State Extension-Franklin County 4-H program reached over 7,000 youth aged 5 to 18. These youth development programs were conducted by 205 adult and 21 teen volunteers.
For more information contact Jason Goetz at 717-263-9226 ext. 232 or email jjg300@psu.edu

Growing Shiitake Mushrooms – Saturday, September 14, 9:00-11:00 a.m. - Join Master Gardeners Dave DesJardins and Dr. Beth Brantley of Penn State, Mont Alto, to learn mushroom identification and create a Shiitake mushroom log to take with you. All supplies provided. Class limited to 25, so register early! Cost for the workshop is $20.

Wood Processing From Our Forests – Saturday, September 1, 9:00 am to Noon. The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association is sponsoring a wood processing workshop at a 110 acre woodlot near Bloserville.  The utilization of standing timber and sawing techniques using a portable sawmill and wood processing equipment will be demonstrated. You do not have to be a member of the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association to attend and there is no cost for the workshop.  The workshop will be at a woodlot owned by Robert Drawbaugh and is located at 150 Church of God Road, Newville, PA  17241.  To get to the woodlot from the intersection of Route 233 and 641 in Newville, take 641 east 3.7 miles and turn left onto Bloserville Road.  Proceed 3.3 miles to a stop sign in Bloserville.  Go Straight onto Enola Road (944 East).  Proceed 1 mile and continue straight onto Church of God Road.  Proceed for 0.6 of a mile to a left turn at first place on left after white church.  You have arrived at the Drawbaugh property. 
Sometimes woodlot owners want to or need to harvest some timber from their woods. This is the time when you can improve your woods for the future or cause real damage from which it might not recover for generations.  Portable sawmills can be economically beneficial to private landowners who have small volumes of timber which need to be salvaged or harvested. The end-product from a portable sawmill is quality lumber which can be either sold at a profit or used to meet a landowner’s personal needs.  The program on September 14 will demonstrate timber management practices that are sustainable, produce income, and help meet the goals of a woodlot owner’s Forest Stewardship Plan.
More information on “Small Woodlot Harvesting” can be found here http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/pdfs/WWI.pdf 
The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association is organization of private forestland owners and others interested in forestry issues in south central Pennsylvania. The mission of the association is to provide information, education and an exchange of ideas to its members and others about the methods and benefits of proper forest management.  For more information about the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association and the meeting, contact Fred Peabody at 717/776-3565 (email: fredp5@earthlink.net). 

Franklin County Extension and Conservation District Annual Meeting – NEW TIME OF YEAR! – SAVE THE DATE: The Penn State Extension and Franklin County Conservation District 3^rd Annual Joint Meeting will be on the evening of Friday, October 25, 2013, at Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4868 Wayne Road, Chambersburg, PA  17202.  The featured speaker is Mr. George Greig, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Ticket prices are $13.00 per adult.  For tickets or more information, contact Jen Wetzel at 263-9226, ext. 221 or by email at jlw69@psu.edu.

3rd Annual Joint Meeting

3^rd Annual Joint Meeting

Penn State Extension- Franklin County and Franklin County Conservation District

The Penn State Extension and Franklin County Conservation District 3^rd Annual Joint Meeting will be held on the evening of Friday, October 25, 2013, at Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4868 Wayne Road, Chambersburg, PA  17202.  The featured Speaker is Mr. George Greig, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Secretary Greig will be speaking on the following topics:  Future of Ag in PA (including issues most affecting Pennsylvania Agriculture and how PDA is addressing these issues) and Ag trends in PA. Tickets are $13 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-11 and children under 6 are free. Dinner is provided. Tickets can be purchased at the Franklin County Penn State Extension Office or the Franklin County Conservation District on Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg. For more information, contact Jen Wetzel at 263-9226, ext. 221 or by email at jlw69@psu.edu or contact Mary Ann Shaffer at 717-264-5499.

 

Diseases and Insects Affecting Our Forests

From Penn State Extension

On Thursday, March 14, 2013, at the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association meeting, Sharon Coons and Nathan Fite, Foresters with the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry, will be speaking about diseases and insect pests threatening Pennsylvania forests.  Information for woodland owners on identification and methods for controlling forest insect pests such as Gypsy Moth, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Emerald Ash Borer, Tent Caterpillars, Scale Insects, and Weevils will be presented. The meeting will be at 7:00 PM, at the Penn State Extension office which is located at 181 Franklin Farm Lane in Chambersburg.  The meeting is open to the public.  You do not have to be a member of the association and there is no cost to attend.  The workshop is handicap accessible.  If you need specific accommodations, please contact Penn State Cooperative Extension in advance at 717-263-9226.

It is estimated by the U.S. Forest Service that native forest insect pests and diseases cause losses of approximately 18% of forest products (e.g., lumber, pulp) valued at $9.8 billion annually.  Invasive insects, plants, and microbes also have had and continue to have a significant harmful impact on U.S. forests.  It is estimated by the U.S. Forest Service that economic damages caused by non-indigenous species and costs for control and management of these species exceed $137 billion per year. 

Pennsylvania annually surveys approximately 17 million acres of public and private forestlands to determine the impact of forest pests throughout the Commonwealth.  Surveys focus not only on current pest threats, but also on pests that have historically caused damage to Pennsylvania's forest resources, as well as invasive threats that are not yet here. 

The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association is an organization of private forestland owners and others interested in forestry issues in south central Pennsylvania. The mission of the association is to provide information, education and an exchange of ideas to its members and others about the methods and benefits of proper forest management.  For more information about the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association and the February 9^th meeting, contact Fred Peabody at 717-776-3565. 

***Penn State is an affirmative action, equal opportunity university***

Waynesboro Historical Society Children’s Tea Party

 

“All Dolled Up” is the theme of a Children’s Tea Party

from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23,

in Waynesboro Historical Society, 138 W. Main St.

 

Those attending may bring their favorite doll. Participants will handcraft a special souvenir to keep and have the opportunity to visit the doll house on permanent display at the historical society.

The tea, open to children 5 to 12, will feature music and flowers, finger foods, desserts and hot tea.

Reservations are required by calling Helen Shelley at 765-0191. The cost is $25 for one child and one adult, and $12.50 for each additional child. Proceeds benefit the historical society.

Sponsors are: Dr. Jerzy Kornilow, Antietam Eye Associates; Stephanie Honodel, PuppyWear; Joe Rock, Antique Flower Pot; and Charles Strausbaugh CPA.

News From Totem Pole Playhouse

Seats Going Fast for Biggest, Brightest, Boldest Season in Totem Pole Playhouse’s 63 Year History

Excitement over an expanded seven-show season, featuring a line-up of Tony Award-Winning productions including four musicals, is building as Totem Pole Playhouse heads into its 63rd season. With pre-season sales of tickets and subscriptions up and a major influx of returning subscribers, theatre fans from near and far are eager to take advantage of the extraordinary cultural and entertainment value the noh yn-profit Totem Pole Playhouse has provided for well over a half-century.

Please visit the link below for the full release.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/TotemPolePlayhouse/February2013/prweb10420762.htm

Thank you so much for your continued coverage and support of Totem Pole Playhouse.

Cloning Apple Trees

Farm and Garden, Penn State Extension, Franklin County
181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202
Telephone: 717-263-9226

http://extension.psu.edu/franklin

      

Cloning Apple Trees

    

We occasionally receive calls or visits to the Extension Office from gardeners, or homeowners, who want to know how to get an apple seed to germinate. Or, they want to know what kind of apple it is that is growing on their property.  Often, the gardener is trying to reproduce an old apple tree that was special for some reason (good quality fruit, planted by grandparents, etc.) Unfortunately, apples grown from seed will not be like the parent.

    

Only about 1 in every 80,000 apple trees grown from seed will be as good as the apples we are used to eating. Granny Smith apples, for example, are grown from cloned scion wood that came originally from a single specimen, a chance seedling that grew out of a rubbish pile by Anna Marie Smith's kitchen window in New South Wales, Australia. So, most apple trees grown from seed will result in a tree that has small and inferior quality fruit. If you want a tree exactly like the parent, you must propagate that tree vegetative.

     

In the case of apples, this usually means grafting. Apple trees are actually quite easy to graft, even for beginners. Don't be afraid to try this even if you haven't done it before. The step that needs to be done at this time of year is the choosing and cutting of scion wood or small branches that will be grafted on top of a rootstock.

   

If you are planning on doing any grafting this spring, now would be a good time to collect scion wood. Following are tips on how to choose and prepare them.

        

-        Scions should be cut from one-year-old wood.

      -        Buds should be prominent and widely spaced. Water sprouts work well for this. Water sprouts are twigs that grow straight up from a major branch.

      -        Inner bark should be light green and the wood creamy white.

      -        Best scions have more wood than pith; small diameter wood often has wide pith.

      -        Older bearing trees produce poor scions unless pruned heavily. The best scions are toward the top of the tree. You may need a pole pruner even for small trees.

      -        Cut the shoot into 6-8 inch pieces having at least 3 buds per stick.

      -        The best scion is often the basal (bottom) piece.

      -        Always discard the terminal (the end piece).

      -        Store in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with moist paper towels.

    

Fruit trees are normally grafted (or budded) onto specially selected rootstocks. These rootstocks usually are selected to manage tree size. For example, a tree that normally would get 25 feet tall will only reach 10 feet if it is grown on a certain rootstock. Dwarfing rootstocks also allow apples to bear fruit a year or more earlier.

   

Note that dwarf rootstock reduces tree size, not fruit size. Therefore, a Golden Delicious tree that only reaches 8 feet tall due to a dwarfing rootstock, will bear the same size fruit as a Golden Delicious tree that is 25 feet tall.

   

Most nurseries only sell trees that are already grafted. A company that does sell rootstocks is Raintree Nursery, Morton, WA, (360) 496-6400.  Another is Cummins Nursery, (865) 233-3539.  It is also possible to buy a tree from a local nursery and graft your clone into it. One disadvantage of this method is that it is possible to prune off the special clone instead of the cultivar branches by mistake.

    

The details of grafting or budding and subsequent care of the grafted tree can be found at these excellent publications by Missouri Extension:

   

http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/hort/g06971.pdf  - Grafting

http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf/agguides/hort/g06972.pdf  - Budding

Book Signing and Art Show

Waynesboro Historical Society will host a

 book signing and art show

at its Oller House headquarters at

138 W. Main St. from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10.

 

Guest authors and artists include:

Mary Alice Baumgardner — “No Excuse for the Skunk”

Marie Lanser Beck and Maxine Beck — “The Royers of Renfrew — A Family Tapestry” and “The Royers of Renfrew — The Threads of Change”

Becky Dietrich — “Once Upon a Life or The Vintage Years, Fore and Aft”

Ruth Gembe “A Visit to Roadside” and assorted books from the Waynesboro Historical Society collection

Terry McClellan with works by John McClellan — “A River to Cross” and “Blue Ridge Summit — The Beginnings, The Counterfeiters”

Robert Morrow — “The Black and White Art of Robert Morrow”

Sally Sawyer — “Prelude to Reveille — A Vietnam Awakening”

Candice Whitsel will display prints by her late husband, artist Landis Brent Whitsel, and there will be prints, paintings and note cards by Yvonne Leasure.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

For more information, call Helen Shelley at 765-0191.

Photo caption: Becky Dietrich displays her book ‘Once Upon a Life or The Vintage Years, Fore and Aft.’ Dietrich is one of the guest authors and artists scheduled to attend a book signing and art show March 10 in Waynesboro Historical Society.

Fungus Gnats

Farm and Garden, Penn State Extension, Franklin County
181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202
Telephone: 717-263-9226
    

http://extension.psu.edu/franklin

Fungus Gnats

    

Fungus gnats are small insects (1/8 to 1/10 inch long) that are common in houseplant soils that are kept moist. Though adults are mosquito-like in appearance, they do not bother humans or pets. It is actually the larvae or maggots that can injure plants by feeding on the roots. Symptoms include sudden wilting, loss of vigor, poor growth or yellowing leaves. Use of sterile potting soil and avoiding overwatering can help prevent infestations.  Let the surface of the soil in the pot dry before watering again.  Existing infestations can be controlled using products containing the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis (Bti) – Gnatrol is one such product.  Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium that is complete safe for people and pets, and even most insects.  It will only affect insects in the order Diptera, or flies, and it must be consumed by the larvae (maggot) to be effective.  It is the same active ingredient used in mosquito control operations, or in the mosquito dunks used in birdbaths, or other small sources of standing water.  As with all pesticides, be sure to read the label and follow the directions.

Plants with Winter Interest - Corkscrew Willow

Farm and Garden, Penn State Extension, Franklin County
181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202
Telephone: 717-263-9226

http://extension.psu.edu/franklin

    

Plants with Winter Interest - Corkscrew Willow

   

In recent weeks, Franklin County Master Gardeners Carol Kagan and Jerry Lewis introduced us to the contorted hazel, or Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, and Coral Embers Willow, Salix alba.  In this article, Master Gardener Ray Eckhart talks about another tree with Winter Interest that has aspects of both - Corkscrew Willow, or Salix matsudana.

     

Corkscrew Willow is a small to medium-sized, upright spreading tree of about 30 feet in height with a 15-foot-spread.  The main ornamental feature of this plant is the contorted and twisted branches and twigs. Branches arise from the trunk at an acute angle and grow up almost parallel to the trunk before they curve back to the horizontal. The winter branch pattern is most interesting and probably accounts for the popularity of the tree.

    

It is native to China and hardy to zone 5, and the warmer parts of zone 4.

    

The cultivar 'Tortuosa' was introduced into North America in 1923 when Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum received a cutting from China, it was named the next year and entered commerce during the 1930s.

    

Corkscrew willow grows best in full or partial sun, and tolerates multiple soil conditions including clay, sand, and loam, and both acidic and alkaline pH’s  And, like all willows is more tolerant than most plants to "wet feet" conditions, or conditions where the soil stays saturated or soggy for several days after a rain. 

      

Pollarding, a method of pruning that keeps trees and shrubs smaller than they would naturally grow (a practice generally not recommended for most trees), can, in this case, enhance the contorted effect in winter landscapes.

    

The best time to prune, or pollard, is late winter.

     

The added bonus is that the trimmings can be used in dried arrangements, or as support structures for climbing vines in container gardening.

    

Like all willows, corkscrew willow is very easy to propagate.  Take your cuttings, or prunings, and place in water, and they'll root easily. The reason is that willow cuttings secrete a hormone called auxin, which stimulates growth and encourages roots to form. Auxin is also water soluble, so it dissolves in the water and creates a solution that can then be used to help root other plants.  You can even make your own "Willow Water" by cutting up twigs of willow and letting them steep in water.  The resultant "tea" can then be used to increase the success of rooting other plants. 

     

Learn more about Plants with Winter Interest:

   

http://franklincountymgs.blogspot.com/2013/02/plants-with-winter-interest-part-11.html