Home
Delmarva Farmer
New Jersey Farmer
Shore Home and Garden
Poultry
Country Cookin'
Country Store
Next Generation
Beef & Dairy
Aqua Page
Weather
Sponsors
AFP, Staff
Comments
Links
The horticulturist

By JIM JOHNSON
Extension Ag Agent
Rutgers University
Cumberland County

Preparing for the effects
of a hurricane
MANTS 2007
Click Above for the full section
Roses ’N More
By Ginny Rosenkrantz
Faculty Extension Assistant
Commercial Horticulture
The truth be told about poinsettias....
Editorial with archive
This month - To remain viable, hone skills, search out new things

Q&A
Send your questions to

Landscapeipm@hotmail.com.

Ratty hosta and bumpy maples
Better Growing - By Francis R. Gouin
Professor Emeritus
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
University of Maryland
College Park

7.01.2008 -

By George!
It’s in your hands
Insects in winter
The Entomologist
By Peter B. SCHULTZ
Entomologist and Director
Hampton Roads AREC
Virginia Tech
Cutting Edge

by SIGNE HANSON
w/her archives

This Month

Sustainability, Part 2

Workshops scrutinize invasive pests, diseases - By D.S. FIOLA - Is an alien
Wind in greenhouse maximizes yields - By SEAN CLOUGHERTY - Wind energy has
One up on bugs

By STANTON GILL
Regional Specialist
Central Maryland Research and Education Center, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension

6.1.2009 - Wet weather woes
Floriculture
By Thomas M. Blessington
David L. Clement and
Central Maryland REC
University of Maryland
Production and care of columbine


Middletown, DE
Seaford, DE
McAlisterville, PA
Intercourse, PA
Hoober stands for quality before and after the sale. If you have any problems, you can be confident that Hoober will provide the solution.
SPECIAL REPORT
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS

Business Management
By ALEX WHITE
Extension Specialist, Finance
Dept. of Agricultural & Applied Economics
Virginia Tech

Financial analysis:
Liquidity and solvency

Green Industry Communications
By Sylvia Hoehns Wright
Communications Specialit
The Wright Scoop
7.1.09 - Market share, the people factor
Four Seasons
By Dr. Russell J. Balge
Professor Emeritus
University of Maryland
Steppng out
The Business End
By SUSAN BARTON
University of Delaware
Extension Specialist
Stop mulch mounding

Nuts & Bolts of Growing
By ANDREW RISTVEY
Regional Specialist
Commercial Horticulture
Wye Research and Education Center

Potting media and pH
— liming substrates
COMING EVENT

Virginians challenged to GoGreen in turf management practices

Do you question the future of an American tradition, the sprawling lawn? While some advocate its demise, others agree turf matters as it serves as one of Mother Nature’s preeminent filtering systems when managed appropriately.
Virginia Tech’s Mike Goatley, associate professor and turfgrass specialist, joining the Virginia Green Industry Council, has issued statewide a challenge to Virginians to GoGreen, become environmental stewards in turf management practices.
During the 2009 Virginia GoGreen garden festival and more, slated Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Garner Pavilion in Richmond, Goatley and his colleagues will host an all-day lawn clinic. In support of their effort, the Turf Store (www.theturfstoreusa.com) and the Smart Lawns Program sponsored by Henrico County Extension will be on site and will assist with advising how to safely manage lawns while protecting Virginia’s water resources.  
Goatley provides a host of current and archived tips in best management practices for homeowners and their lawns through the “Turf and Garden Tips” Web site, www.weblogs.cals.vt.edu/lawn_garden.  One of the most important steps towards achieving a healthy lawn or landscape is to conduct a soil test, an activity recommended at least every three to four years for lawns in Virginia.  
Improving soil will almost certainly improve a lawn and landscape. Many lawns struggle from the onset as turf and ornamentals at new construction sites are planted in what essentially is subsoil. The best sod in the world can only temporarily mask underlying soil problems.
Attendees are encouraged to complete a soil test In advance of the turf clinic. On-site experts can help interpret the results and discuss how one can amend a poor soil into a desirable growing environment for plants through proper fertilization, cultivation and compost applications
An equally important step is to select a turf that works well for your environment. For a list of the best adapted cultivars for the state, review the current Virginia/Maryland Turfgrass Recommended Variety lists posted at www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/np/2805-1003.pdf. Consider existing lawn quality in relationship to current water, fertilizer and pesticides uses, and then question if both the lawn and the environment would benefit by selecting a better adapted grass that requires fewer inputs.
Traditionally, Virginians prefer cool season grasses and early fall is a great time to establish and/or renovate these lawns. Detailed demonstrations on how to calibrate spreaders, how to calculate appropriate amounts of nutrients and lime, and how to deliver them accurately and efficiently will be available at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. during the festival. Also, experts demonstrate how to properly establish seed and sod. 
Mismanaged lawns can negate all the great attributes of a healthy turf: water filtration and groundwater recharge, erosion control, temperature and glare moderation, and the use of turf for recreation and relaxation. The festival’s hands-on clinic provides you plenty of “best management practices” to deliver a great looking, environmentally friendly lawn. 

MONDAY, JUNE 29
Practical Training for Turfgrass Technicians, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annapolis, Md. Offered in Spanish June 30 and July 13. (410) 841-5959.
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Maryland Arborist Association and University of Maryland Pest Walk, Salisbury Zoo, Salisbury, Md. Ginny Rosenkranz, (410) 749-6141, rosnkrnz@umd.edu.
SATURDAY, JULY 11
OFA Short Course, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio., July 11-14. (614) 487-1117, www.ofa.org.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association Field Day, Foxborough Nursery, Street, Md. (410) 823-8684, mnacma@aol.com.
FRIDAY, JULY 17
Woody Plant Conference, Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa. (610) 388-1000, Ext. 507, www.woodyplantconference.org.
SUNDAY, JULY 19
Perennial Plant Symposium, Marriott at Union Station, St. Louis, Mo., July 19-24. Steve Still, (614) 771-8431, www.perennialplant.org.
TUESDAY, JULY 21
PA Green Expo, Harrisburg, Pa., CANCELLED (800) 789-5068.
THURSDAY, JULY 23
Maryland Greenhouse Growers Association summer picnic, Homestead Gardens wholesale production facility, Davidsonville, Md. www.mdgga.org.
SATURDAY, JULY 25
Parade of Ponds Garden Tour sponsored by Grounds Keeper, Matawan, N.J., 8:30 a.m. (908) 930-5160, www.groundskeeperinc1973.com.
MONDAY, JULY 27
Maryland Cut Flower Farm Tour, Farmhouse Flowers and Plants, Brookeville, and Plantmasters, Laytonsville. Suzanne Klick, (301) 596-9413.
TUESDAY, JULY 28
Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (PANTS), Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Valley Forge, Pa., July 28-30. (717) 328-1673, www.pantshow.com.
THURSDAY, JULY 30
SNA2009 World's Showcase of Horticulture, July 30-Aug. 1.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field day: Golf & Fine Turf, Hort Farm II, North Brunswick, N.J. www.njturfgrass.org
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7
Maryland Nutrient Management Certification Exam and Mid-Atlantic Certified Crop Advisor Exam. Maryland Department of Agriculture, (410) 841-5959.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19
ANLA Landscape Distribution Tour, New England, Aug. 19-22. ANLA Landscape Operations Tour, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Aug. 19-22. www.anla.org, (202) 789-2900.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
Irvine Native Plant Symposium, Stevenson, Md. Robt Mardiney, (410) 484-2413, www.explorenature.org.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Turfgrass Field Days, Blacksburg, Va., Sept. 1-2. (757) 464-1004
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
CPH Specialist Exam — IPM and Pest Control, TBA. (410) 823-8684, mnacma@aol.com.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Maryland Greenhouse Growers Association/Maryland Ag Education Foundation Golf Tournament, Oakmont Green Golf Course, Hampstead, Md. www.mdgga.org.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) annual meeting and expo, Chicago, Ill., Sept. 18-21. (888) 999-2752, www.eshow2000.com/asla/2009.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Garden Writers Association Symposium, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 23-26. (703) 257-1032, www.gardenwriters.org

1-800-634-5021 - E-mail any suggestions to mailto:admin@americanfarm.com