Members of the Chamber’s Downtown Beautification Committee work on Bell Street cleaning out the large flower pots and replacing the old with new.

The Pottawatomie County Extension Office will hold a Master Gardener program again this year.
The Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Projects and volunteer work is approved by the extension educator in the county.

How should I care for my garden mums now that they have quit flowering?

As soon as garden chrysanthemums are done flowering, you may cut the plants back to 2 to 3 inches high.

Free trees will be distributed by the Greater Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce beautification committee on Saturday, Oct. 31, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Shawnee Municipal Airport. The trees are provided by the Oklahoma Tree Bank Foundation and are funded by the Apache Foundation of Houston.

If you like the spring flowers and the fall color of Bradford Pear trees but have been disappointed when the wind and ice causes their limbs to break and split, there is an alternative tree to consider. The Chanticleer pear, also known as Cleveland Select, may be the tree you are looking for.

My houseplants don’t do well in the winter, can you tell me how I should be caring for them?

Caring for houseplants during the winter, houseplants need varying amounts of water and fertilizer at different times of the year. They need the most during summer when light levels are high and days are long. They need the least during the short days of winter. The primary reason for this is light. Light fuels plant growth.

Do you remember that pasture that was covered by yellow flowers last spring, Buttercup? How about that pasture that had curly dock or red sorrel and your extension educator told you to wait until next fall or the following spring to spray? Did you have a pasture that was covered with thistles last spring and it went to seed? If so, it’s time for you to think about loading up the spray rig and taking care of the problem.

The Pottawatomie County Master Gardener Association and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service will conduct a “Fall and Winter Garden Tips” seminar at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Q: I hear people talk about planting a green cover crop in their garden. What are they talking about?

A: Many folks plant cool season plants in their garden to put nutrients and organic matter back into the soil. Some of those most often used are winter peas, wheat and annual rye.

Rose of Sharon, also known as Althea, has been in bloom in our area since late July. Its scientific name is hibiscus syriacus and it is a member of the Mallow family. Its bloom period is mostly over, but one of its values in the landscape is that its best bloom period begins in July when a number of other flowering bushes have passed their peak.

From Texas we are receiving reports of impressive fall armyworm buildups in wheat, turf and pastures. Fall armyworm is a tropical insect and overwinters only in the warmest areas of the U.S. As populations build throughout the summer, they move northward on weather fronts, often arriving in Oklahoma in late summer.

Have you ever tried to grow blueberries or azaleas only to have them turn yellow, then brown and eventually die? If you have, chances are you planted them in an alkaline soil.
“Acid loving” plants, like blueberries and azaleas, succeed only in acidic soils. In contrast, many plants that are native to Oklahoma are adapted to alkaline soils.

What is the Master Gardener program?
 It is a Cooperative Extension Service Horticulture Volunteer program. This program is designed to give participants horticulture education in an eight week course, once weekly all day sessions. Soils, insects, flowers, vegetables, and lawns are just a few of the topics covered.

October is clean-up month in Shawnee. Each year the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce beautification committee promotes this effort to coincide with the City of Shawnee and Allied Waste scheduled bulk item pick up.

As producers strive to reduce feed costs by investigating avenues to increase grazing days, many still have to use harvested forages in their year-round feeding program. Sampling and testing forages for quality can make designing a feeding program easy and economical.

People traveling Broadway or Highland probably take a second look when they reach the intersection. The Wilson Law Firm has transformed the northwest corner with new landscaping, an improved parking lot and has painted the brick building’s exterior. The entrance has been changed to the west side.

 Is it OK to use fresh manures in my garden?
If using manures, I would want to incorporate them into the garden spot this fall. They can be a source of organic matter, phosphorus and potassium. However, they can also harbor certain bacteria and fungus that need time to break down.

Fall is the ideal time to plant a tree — both for the gardener and the tree! The weather is cooler, so it is more enjoyable working outdoors. The tree also benefits because the soil is better able to retain moisture now than during the hot days of summer, so it becomes established easily.  Here are some tips for successful fall planting of trees.

You can buy the most attractive plants in the greenhouse or order the best seeds, but they won’t produce if your garden lacks nutrients.
A soil test is the best way to check growing potential and determine which, if any, fertilizers are needed. It eliminates the guesswork about soil chemistry.

Kevin Kalies and Doug Watson, both members of the 2009 Master Gardening class; Jim Shull, longtime master gardener; Joe Littlefield, volunteer; and I installed landscaping at six of the Horses in the City locations during August and September. They are located at City Hall, Angelic Hospice, Shawnee Heart Center, Town and Country Veterinary Clinic, plus Arvest Bank and BancFirst on Harrison.