“Know thine insects” By Mark Brown PhD, Demi-God of Entomological Science

If you want to win a war it is best that you know your enemy. Know their hab-its, their traits, their likes and dislikes, and most of all know just what kind of ammunition you should be packing to make sure you do the job right. In ser-vice of this I am going to provide you with battle plans for a one of our peren-nial pests in the hopes that you might be better prepared to wage war against them.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a species of leafhopper native to the southeastern United States and is present throughout Georgia. Like all leafhoppers, glassy-winged sharpshooter has piercing sucking mouthparts, which is used so feed on plant sap. The adult glassy-winged sharpshoot-er is 12 mm (1/2inch) long, mostly brown colored, with yellow-orange dots on the head and thorax and yellow-orange legs. Wings are translucent (hence the name “glassy-winged”), smoky-brown, and have reddish veins. Females may have a white spot on each forewing, which is a powdery substance that the female accumulates after mating then scrapes off and co-vers her eggs with in the process of egg-laying. The spots are not always present.

Glassy-winged sharpshooter feeds on more than 100 plant species including blueberry, peach and grape. It is a pest because it vectors the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes a variety of plant diseases including Pierce’s disease of grape, phony peach disease of peach and bacterial leaf scorch of blueberry. Glassing-winged sharpshooter acquires the bacterium when it feeds on an infected plant then transmits it when feeds on an uninfected plant. Bacterial leaf scorch is a known problem in south-ern highbush blueberries but appears to be a minor issue in rabbiteye blueberries. The initial symptom of the disease is marginal leaf scorch, which could be confused with symptoms of drought, fertilizer salt burn, or root rots. Eventually, the leaves drop, and the stems and twigs may turn yellow. Plant death can be rapid, but in general death occurs a year or more after plants first show symptoms. There are no chemical controls that act directly on Xylella fastidiosa, so managing glassy-winged sharpshooter is key for breaking the disease cycle. There are several insecticides active against leaf-hoppers and registered for use on blueberry. Most of these have systemic activity and are applied to the soil. Biological control of glassy-winged sharpshooter includes parasitoid wasps that attack the egg stage and fungal pathogens. Cultural control includes selection of resistant varieties and removal of other host plants that serve as reservoirs for Xylella fastidiosa. This critter is one of dozens in our area that can cause harm if left to their own devices. For this rea-son it’s imperative that you scout for insect incursions in to your home, lawn, and garden. As always, if you need to know about anything that crawls, flies, or slithers don’t hesitate to bring it my way!

1st Quarter 2019

James T. Murphy ANR Agent

Adult Glassy-winged Sharp-shooter Copyright © 2013 Ma-

RCMGEVA Newsletter 1st Quarter 2019

Message from the President: "Will Spring be Early or Late? "

by Donna Powell

Associates, we are starting a new year and a great one it will be! Our project man-agers and volunteers have worked hard in the past producing exemplary results. Let us continue to support our projects by volunteering for continued success of each one. We are glad to have James Murphy, Rockdale County Extension Agent, with fresh ideas on working with the public in educating them on the benefits of good gardening practices. Any ideas on new projects or improving existing ones are always welcome.

Spring is around the corner. Will it be early or late? There is still time for more freezes. A couple of years ago I was setting in a SPROUTS class when the speaker was talking about the unusual early warm weather we were experiencing. He cautioned about fertilizing the grass too early. All you will ac-complish is fertilizing the annual bluegrass (Poa annua). Right after he said that my husband texted me that he was getting a jump on spring and just finished fertilizing the lawn. Yep, we had the best crop of annual bluegrass I ever saw that year! So don’t break out the fertilizer yet and don’t rush planting the annuals.

Every day I find that nature has another lesson to teach us. And, we don’t always agree how to tackle a problem in gardening or landscaping. Even during training as a Master Gardener Intern there were ex-tension agents that had conflicting ideas. The beauty of our association is that we have a chance to dis-cuss and test our ideas for the best results. Each person has a different experience to share with every-one else in our organization. Let us value that and have a very fun, wonderful year!

Thank you,

Donna Powell

Page 2

Seed Starting for Garden Success By Jill Woodward

There are lots of reasons to start your own garden plants from seed but for me having greater plant variety tops the list. When you “adopt” your seedlings for transplant, you are limited to those few varieties the growers have found it profitable to produce. Some-times those common varieties do work well in our area, but I like to try new things. Looking at one of my favorite catalogs recently, there were 136 varieties of tomatoes to choose from. That might be a little overwhelming, but as I read the descriptions I can narrow down my choices. Cucumbers? The same catalog has 39 types- along with 69 kinds of squash and18 different cabbages. A world to explore!

RCMGEVA Newsletter 1st Quarter 2019 Page 3

Today’s Garden Quote:

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.” ~ May Sarton

Growing your own means more control over what kind of soil or growing medium, fertilizer, and pest control go into it (no more neonicotinoids to kill helpful pollinators). I have also found that certain problems can be avoided if I tweak the gardening season a bit. For example, by starting summer squash inside I can jump start them and sometimes harvest the crop before the dreaded squash borer comes along to destroy my plants. And for the price of one six-pack of seedlings, you can get a whole packet or two of seeds, so it’s generally the less expensive way to go.

So then, what are the essentials for starting seeds? The basics- a container and growing medium, wa-ter, oxygen, light, and warmth. Obviously, without water, seeds remain dormant. It’s usually a good idea to plant your seeds and keep the humidity high, either misting regularly or covering them with a clear cover or even plastic wrap until they germinate.

Be sure your growing medium drains well so that your seeds have all the oxygen they need. Garden soil--- especially if yours is rich in Georgia red clay- will typically compact and if your seedlings manage to survive, they won’t thrive.

Adequate light is also essential. Without it, your plants will grow tall and spindly as they reach desper-ately for the light they need. A south-facing window may provide the six to eight hours of light the young plants require, but I’ve rarely raised successful seedlings without a plant light. Just be sure, if you use one, to keep the light a couple of inches higher than your tallest seedling.

Seeds germinate more quickly, and young plants thrive when the temperature is right. For most plants, 65° - 75° is about right. It seems like a bit of a luxury, but putting a heat mat under the flats or trays can help to insure maximized results.

You can buy containers designed just for starting seeds or be creative with recycling packaging materi-als. You can use fiber pots, cow manure pots, or make your own little pots from soy-based ink printed newspapers (the AJC is printed using soy-based inks).

Another method for seed starting bypasses the need for indoor space, and it’s fun to experiment with- you can sow your seeds in containers (think milk jug) out in the garden in the winter, and let nature takes its course. The milk jug creates a mini-green house, giving your plants the head start you want. The theory is that the seeds won’t start until the time and growing conditions are right. They’ll be get-ting the sunlight they need because you start them in a full-sun space. When the time is right, trans-plant them to the garden. Lots of seeds can be started this way, and it’s much lower maintenance than indoor growing. It works particularly well with seeds that like to “volunteer” in the garden (think canta-loupe and tomato), but there are lots of vegetables, flowers and herbs that can be grown with this method.

Here are a couple of web resources with more information if you’d like to try this idea: https://www.gardengatemagazine.com/articles/how-to/start-seeds/sow-seeds-outdoors-in-winter/ or winter-sown.org.

Whatever method you use, it’s a good idea to plant extra. If all off the plants do well, you will have seedlings to share with neighbors and friends. If disaster strikes (Have you ever had a flat of seedlings dump upside down? It’s a very sad thing to have happen.) you have a surplus to fall back on.

RCMGEVA Newsletter 1st Quarter 2019 Page 4

Soil Testing for Home Lawns and Gardens: $9.00 (new price)

by Amy Smith, ANR Program Assistant

When and how often should soils be tested? Soils can be tested any time during the year. However, allow enough time for the analysis and for fertilizer and lime appli-cation. Lime reacts slowly and, if possible, it should be mixed with the soil two to three months before planting. Generally, fall is the most desirable time to sample because landscapes and gardens are usually dry and easily accessible. Once medi-um or high fertility levels are established, lawn and ornamental areas need to be sampled every two to three years. Vegetable gardens should be sampled every 1 to 2 years.

Steps in Soil Sampling

Recommendations about when and how to apply nutrients are only as good as the soil sample submitted for analysis. To obtain a representative soil sample, the following steps are useful: identify sampling loca-tions (zones), determine the sampling depths, use the right sampling tools, sample at the right time, and handle the samples accordingly.

1. Sampling Locations

Map out the area where the plants are to be grown or are presently growing. This will help in record keeping and ensure that the soil is tak-en from throughout the entire area. Divide the area such that each soil sample represents one plant type or condition. An area that has been divided according to obvious differences in plant types, plant perfor-mance, soil types, and drainage.

2. Sampling Depth

The depth of sampling depends on the type of plants being grown. For lawns, sample to a depth of 4 inches. For gardens, ornamentals, mixed fruit trees and wildlife plots, sample to a depth of 6 inches.

3. Sampling Time

Soil sampling should be done well in advance of planting or spring green-up. This allows adequate time for sample analysis, data interpretation, and fertilizer and lime application.

4. Sampling Tools

Use clean sampling tools and containers to avoid contaminating the soil sample. Never use tools or con-tainers that have been used for fertilizer or lime. Collect samples with tools like trowels, shovels, spades, hand probes or hand augers.

5. Sampling Procedures

Clear the ground surface of grass thatch or mulch. Using a trowel, push the tool to the desired depth in-to the soil. Push the handle forward, with the spade still in the soil to make a wide opening. Then, as shown in Figure 3, cut a thin slice from the side of the opening that is of uniform thickness, approximate-ly 1/4-inch thick and 2 inches in width, extending from the top of the ground to the depth of the cut. Col-lect from several locations. Combine and mix them in a plastic bucket to avoid metal contamination. Take about a pint of the mixed soil and place it the UGA soil sample bag. Be sure to identify the sample clearly on the bag and the submission form before mailing. Sample Handling Samples should be air dried over-night. Dry samples on a flat surface lined with clean white paper. Take care to avoid contamination. After drying, transfer the sample to the soil sample bag and bring it to your local extension office.

UGA Soil Testing Brochure was source of this information.

RCMGEVA Newsletter 1st Quarter 2019 Page 5

New Addition to Our Library

By Donna Powell

Update your gardening knowledge the easy way! Our associa-tion now owns six DVD courses with a wealth of information. They are located in Amy’s office and are for your viewing at your convenience. If there is a particular topic of interest the seg-ments are listed on the DVD case or in the accompanying book. Judy Skillern and Amy can familiarize you on the various DVDs and how to run the TV/DVD equipment. Eventually these DVD courses will be great tools in teaching the public in a class room setting about gardening and landscaping without having to pro-vide an extensive speaking format.

Charles Chance enabled us to purchase these from ‘The Great Courses’ at excellent prices. He has also given us the opportuni-ty to view these courses during his Friday lunch-n-learn series. Also remember, we have so much information and brochures that Charles has accumulated for our library over the years. We are fortunate to have the information on hand and I encourage everyone to look through the files. It in itself has been a suc-cessful project and we thank Charles for his accomplishments.

Get On The Bus Schedule

By Marti Colglaizer

Join with other MGs for fun daytrips to tour different gardens around the area. Trips include a stop for lunch. $5 pays for you to ride the bus. Entrance fees and lunch are at your own expense.

Feb. 8 - Swan Coach House

March 15 - Gibbs Gardens Daffodil Festival

April - Callaway Gardens

May - Cherokee Medicinal Garden

June - State Botanical Garden

RCMGEVA Newsletter 1st Quarter 2019 Page 6

PARH Garden

By Ronnie Peden, Project Manager

As of Monday, Feb. 4th, we have spread 3 of the 4 truckloads of screened topsoil.

The back half has had the pellatized lime put out on it.

Thursday, Feb. 7th @ 9:30 am, Lee is planning on spreading the last truckload of

dirt on the front half of the garden and will apply the lime (bring your spreader if

you have one). Then we’ll till in and let the garden rest for February and first two

weeks of March.

Have placed plant order w/Kathy Henderson for Big Boy Tomato's, Big Bertha Bell

Peppers and Black Beauty Eggplants. She hopes to have them ready by week of

April 15th.

Monday, March 18th (depending on grass / weed growth) will apply herbicide to kill.

Monday, March 25th apply fertilizer and till the soil.

Wednesday, March 27th begin laying out row's and weep hoses.

(Saturday, March 30th is the average last frost date for Atlanta area)

Week of April 8th, begin first planting of Silver Queen Corn, Pole bean, Okra, Squash, Cucumber and

Melon seeds.

Monday, April 15th, begin planting tomato, bell pepper and eggplants (putting down newspaper and

mulch).

The next week (Monday, April 22nd) begin staking and caging planted plants. Will begin our Monday,

Wednesday and Friday work days this same week (time to be determined).

Again, this schedule is weather / rain dependent.

Sharon and I will be out-of-town on a Huck's Trip leaving on Monday, April 22nd and returning on Sun-

day, April 28th).

Pollinator Garden:

Pam VanRavensway will not be able to be the leader of the pollinator garden this year. I really appreciat-

ed her taking the roll this last year. She did a great job in getting the pollinator garden started. I am

looking for a new leader. Anyone interested, please contact me.

We will replant Marigold and Zinnia seeds (if anybody has seeds, please let me know / bring to garden)

and will move the rose bush. He fennel is coming back already.

We plan on killing the grass and putting out mulch between the PARH fence and the two rock lined polli-

nator gardens.

Jane Smith ………………………………………..…. Jan 24

Russell Brown ………………………………..….... Jan 27

Janie Mitchell ……………………………………... Jan 31

Pam Stapley …………………………………...….... Feb 2

Charlene Hutson ……………………………….... Feb 20

Linda Nixon ………………………………………… Feb 25

Barbara Painter ………………………….………. Mar 3

RCMGEVA Newsletter 1st Quarter 2019 Page 7

Plant Sales: The Source of our Funding

By Debbie Altman

We are currently getting ready for the Cherry Blossom Festival and our Spring Plant Sale. Save the dates...March 23-24 for Cherry Blossom Festival at the Georgia International Horse Park and March 30 for the Spring Plant Sale at a NEW LOCATION..the Rockdale County Court House parking lot.

We have had 2 plant sale meetings so far this year. If you would like to join us, the next meeting is March 15th at 10 am in the Sun Room at the Extension office.

Pat has finished the pre-order form for the Spring Plant sale and emailed it to all the master gardeners. Print as many as you need to and send or give them to all of your friends and family. We need to sell at least 100 fruiting plants to have them delivered to us. The deadline for pre-orders is March 22nd.

In addition, we are now working on our 2019 Annual RCMGEV Gardening Booklet. We will use it all year at our events. The advertisement application has been created and emailed to all MGs and is available in the office. All of the cover and center ads have been sold. Full page, 2/3 page, and 1/3 page ad space is still available. The deadline to submit ads is March 1, 2019.

All funds raised through these events are used to finance our projects.

Sign up sheets will be available in the near future for MGs to volunteer their time for setting up and working during both events. These hours count toward your yearly requirements.

I can't wait 'till Spring!

Rockdale Master Gardeners

Education Fees Due $10

Our Education Fees help to pay for the speakers who provide continuing education to us at our meetings. The fees also help pay for books, DVDs, and other resources for expanding our knowledge as Master Gardeners.

Join the Georgia Master Gardener Association

by March 31, 2019 and

GMGA will send $5 to the Rockdale Master Gar-dener Association for each of our members who joins the state association by March 31.

5 Rockdale members join GMGA = $25 to RMGEVA

10 Rockdale members join GMGA = $50 to RMGEVA

Support both GMGA and RMGEVA!

The Rock Garden is a bi-monthly publication of the Rockdale County Master Gardener Association distributed quarterly.

Articles are encouraged and can be submitted to Pat Roling at pat.roling@yahoo.com or through the Extension Office. Articles received within two weeks of publication may not appear until the following issue.

The Rockdale County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are an organization of the Rockdale County Extension Office located at 1261 Commercial Drive, Suite A, Conyers, GA 30094.

Rockdale County UGA Extension Office 1261 Commercial Dr. , Suite A ▪ Conyers, GA 30094

(770) 278-7373

THE ROCK GARDEN

Get Involved … Stay Involved! Contact one of these Rockdale MGEVs to find out how!

RCMGEVA Officers:

President ............................................. Donna Powell

Vice Presidents .................... Marjean Levy & Gail Ward

Treasurer ............................................... Linda Nixon

Corresponding Secretary ............................. Judy Abell

Recording Secretary ......................... Vivian Cheatham

Historian .......................................... Charlene Hutson

3-Year Director ................................... Debbie Altman

2-Year Director .................................. Marti Colglaizer

1-Year Director ........................................... Pat Roling

Past President ............................... Cesare Matrundola

Projects & Committees:

Arboretum ............... Cesare Matrundola & Mary Carter

Cherry Blossom Festival ....................... Debbie Altman

Garden Planners ........................................ Pat Roling

MG Sprouts ......................................................... TBD

Nancy Guinn Library ................................... Judy Abell

Newsletter & Gardening Booklet .................... Pat Roling

Plant-A-Row (PAR) ................................ Ronnie Peden

Plant Sales (Spring & Fall) .................... Debbie Altman

Walk of Heroes ……………………………………….… Buddy Roebuck

Page 8

Rockdale MGEV Projects

Plant-a-Row for the Hunrgy (PARH) Garden

Day/time: Schedule varies with time of year and weather

Project Leader: Ronnie Peden

Address: 1400 Parker Rd., Conyers, GA 30094

Garden is behind building next to tennis courts. Tools available.

Memorial Arboretum (Georgia Intl. Horse Park)

Day/time: Last Saturday of month 8 am

Project Leaders: Cesare Matrundola & Mary Carter

Address: 1996 Centennial Olympic Pkwy, Conyers, GA 30013

If possible, enter through Gate A on Gee Mills Rd. Take a right, go about a ¼ of a mile and park car near Park near Memorial Arboretum Sign. Bring your own tools.

Nancy Guinn Library

Day/time: 2nd & 4th Thursdays 8:30 am - 10:30 am

Project Leader: Judy Abell

Address: 864 Green St. SW, Conyers, GA 30012

Bring your own tools.

Walk of Heroes (Clarence Vaughn Memorial)

Day/time: flexible, Check Park for hours park is open.

Project Leader: Buddy Roebuck

Address: 3001 Black Shoals Rd. NE Conyers, GA 30012

There is a guard shack at entrance. After the guard, take an immediate RT. Go through the gate, take another right. Then park by the Helicopter. Bring your own tools.

An Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution

RCMGEVA Newsletter 1st Quarter 2019 Page 8

Rockdale Master Gardener

Monthly Meetings

2nd Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am at the Extension Office