Gifted Gardener

Gifted Gardener D E C E M B E R

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

LOOKING BACK

From Tree Thief to Holiday 2 Tradition: The Story of Mistletoe Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly

4

2019 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference

6

A Messy Winter Garden makes good wildlife habitat Ice and Snow removal, what works and what doesn't Holiday Cactus Calendar of Events

2 0 1 8

8

There are no shortage of opportunities from our office to learn more about almost anything. We have a Beekeepers Association, Beef Cattle Association, Master Gardeners, Garden Club of Bardstown, countless 4-H clubs and many opportunities from Homemakers and Family and Consumer Sciences.

However, one thing we are particularly proud of is the leadership opportunities we provide to all age groups within our county. We are thankful to have willing and qualified individuals help us in these endeavors as well. This year alone we worked with 6

10

high school youth for an indepth look at Agriculture and Horticulture through our 15 program called FoCUS (Food Chain Under Survey), thirty high school sophomores for 12

1

from Nelson County’s Young Leaders Agriculture Leadership day, and twenty adults from Leadership Nelson County’s Ag Education Day. During all these events we are thankful for the volunteer

families that allow us on their farms and share their unique insight into what they do. We feel its very important to have individuals hear from the farmers themselves as to the trials, tribulations, and passion they have for what it is they enjoy doing. The further our youth are removed from farming and where their food comes from the more important it becomes for them to have opportunities to learn and be exposed to an industry and way of life that many would find a very refreshing opportunity.

By Nicole Gauthier, UK Extension Pathologist

Fall is a good time to sample soils to determine nutrient needs for the coming year’s crops. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture has two soil testing facilities that can provide farmers with professional test results.

Once autumn leaves have fallen, mistletoe becomes highly visible on large trees throughout Kentucky. Phoradendron, the scientific name for Kentucky’s most common type of this parasitic plant, means tree thief. These small leafy plants are commonly found on twigs and branches of many hardwood species in the southern United States.

Mistletoe extracts (steals) water, mineral elements, and food from tree hosts; hence the name.

Mistletoe use in holiday traditions has roots in pagan times. The appearance of a

2

live parasitic plant while the host tree appears dead led some to believe mistletoe mysteriously held the life of the tree during winter.

Druids harvested mistletoe in a special rite, never allowing the plant to touch the ground, and then hung it in their homes for good luck.

Our modern-day mistletoe holiday tradition likely originates with a mythological Norse goddess of love and beauty. Frigga, whose son was restored from possible death by mistletoe, was thought to bestow a kiss on anyone walking beneath one. Today, when two people meet

under the mistletoe, tradition suggests they must exchange a kiss for good luck.

Phoradendron has simple, fleshy green leaves arranged oppositely on stems (Figure 1). Stems are short and more branched than host trees, so mistletoe often appears as a spherical bunch of dense vegetation

(Figure 2). These bunches may be a foot or two in diameter and are located high in the tree where sun exposure is greatest. Mistletoe berries range from white to strawcolored to light red. Birds eat the fruits, reportedly toxic to human and animals, then deposit the seeds onto branches where they germinate and penetrate the next host tree.

Mistletoe commonly appears in open-grown trees where birds tend to roost, thereby less frequently in forest trees. Generally, mistletoe causes minimal damage, although it can be harmful to stressed trees.

Mistletoe can be removed from landscape trees by pruning.

Many Kentucky lawns can go for a number of years without applications of phosphorous and potash, or even lime. But it is not unusual for a homeowner to apply these amendments annually. A good practice is to find out what is actually needed for good lawn quality in the upcoming months.

By testing the soil before deciding to add any of these, gardeners’ dollars can be saved. It is important to keep in mind that application of nutrients when none are needed is hard on the wallet as well as the environment, in the form of both the products applied and the fuel required to spread amendments.

If a soil test indicates a need of soil amendments, November into the month of December is a recommended time to fertilize a fescue lawn. Nitrogen is the nutrient recommended yearly, because so much is taken up in the production of the leaf blades making up the turf lawn. Nitrogen aides in the retaining the green color in most winters and also allows for quicker brightgreen color in early spring.

NovemberDecember timing of fertilizer application allows the turf to grow better root systems, also, to protect the lawn in the harsh winter months. On most Kentucky lawns, evenly apply 1 to 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet of turf.

3

Decorating with greenery during the holidays is a time honored tradition.

Like the song says, the evergreen most people Holly is an evergreen, choose when they “deck the halls” is holly. Holly but, like any cut foliage, will greenery can sometimes eventually become be hard to find and is dry. We suggest that often expensive. But, if you keep your cut your landscape has the holly in a cool place, space, green thumb not exposed to intense heat or cold. gardeners can plant their Cut holly will last own holly trees and considerably longer if shrubs for an instant and the stems are placed cheap source of holly in water, similar to cut flowers. Add fresh boughs.

Such diversity among one genus of plants is why hollies have become popular with landscapers, designers, and home gardeners. Of course, we can’t forget the berries. The bright, red berries of hollies add winter interest to gardens and can be food source for birds.

They also look great when cut and used in wreaths and flower arrangements during the holidays.

Common hollies Japanese Hollies (Ilex crenata) – This group of evergreen hollies usually remain small (3 to 10 water immediately.

The genus Ilex (Holly) feet tall) with a similar spread.

Add fresh water several times weekly. consists of more than 300 They have leaves that generally species. There are about look more like boxwood than Wreaths and swags are usually hung 20 American holly species, holly as they lack spines on the outdoors. Prevent 120 Oriental species, and leaves. They tolerate severe from freezing if nearly 200 English pruning, which makes them an possible. In warm and varieties.

Among these, excellent choice for a hedge, and dry climates, or if their sizes range from 18 they have black berries. Among hung inside, misting the leaves daily will inches to more than 50 these dense shrubs the most prolong their feet tall. Hollies may have common selections include freshness. Avoid green, blue, or variegated ‘Compacta’, ‘Helleri’, placing any holly ‘Microphylla’ and ‘Rependens’. arrangement in direct foliage and that foliage sunlight, on may be either evergreen Chinese Hollies (Ilex cornuta) – televisions, or in any or deciduous. Each holly These medium growing hollies area of direct heat. also has a distinctive (10 to 20 feet tall) produce large, shape which may vary spiny, dark green leaves. They from columnar, rounded, are also one of the few hollies pyramidal, or weeping. that can produce berries without 4

pollination. The ‘Burfordii’ is a popular medium growing tree (20 feet) which attracts birds to its heavy fruit set. The ‘Dwarf Burfordii’ does not set as heavily but grows only half as tall. ‘Berries Jubilee’ is a rounded 10 foot tall tree that produces a heavy crop of bright, red berries.

American Holly (Ilex opaca) – The tallest of all hollies (50 feet) is a native holly. It has large, spiny green leaves and bright, red berries. Many cultivars exist, including ‘Jersey Delight’, ‘Merry Christmas’, and ‘Yellow Berry’ which has bright, yellow berries.

English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) – One of the few evergreens with cultivars of variegated white and green foliage.

English hollies are attractive; however their slow growth rate and poor heat and drought tolerance make them less popular in the south.

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) – This holly is native to the eastern U.S. It may grow to 15 feet tall and the females produce small, red berries.

Two popular cultivars are ‘Dwarf Yaupon Holly’ which only grows to 5 feet and ‘Pendual’ which has a weeping habit.

Possumhaw Holly (Ilex deciduas) – This deciduous holly may not add much foliage to decorations but the masses of berries that are left on the branches add a brilliant show both in the landscape and indoors.

This small tree may grow to 10 feet tall.

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) – Another deciduous holly that produces enormous crops of bright, red berries that persist through winter. This small tree does well in boggy soils.

Meserve Holly (Ilex meserveae) – This small growing (7 feet tall) group of shrub hollies includes the “blue” hollies, referring to the blue-green winter foliage color. Although they are very cold hardy they often struggle in our hot, dry summers.

Growing hollies is fairly simple. Most hollies require well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and slightly acidic. Japanese Hollies are intolerant of poorly drained soils. Hollies can grow in sun or shade but produce the best berries when planted in full sun. Some hollies are self-fertilizing, but many

require a male holly nearby for berry production. A reputable nursery can tell you which holly pairs are needed for fertilization. Maintenance is usually limited to pruning of vigorous cultivars and problems can be avoided by selecting a species that meets your height requirement in the landscape before planting. Containerized and balled-and-burlapped trees can be planted now so long as the ground is not frozen. Even during cold weather it is important that your newly planted holly receives water during dry periods.

5

2019 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference set for Jan. 7-8 Fruit and vegetable producers will find much information to help their enterprises at the 2019 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference Jan. 7-8 at Lexington’s Embassy Suites Hotel.

Preconference sessions on Sunday, Jan. 6 will begin with a vegetable roundtable discussion from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a tree and small fruit roundtable from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Preconference sessions on Sunday, Jan. 6 will begin with a vegetable roundtable discussion from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a tree and small fruit roundtable from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

“This conference will provide producers with valuable information that will help both business and production aspects of their operations,” said Rachel Rudolph, extension vegetable specialist in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “We’ve tried to cater the conference to both new, less experienced growers and growers who have been farming for a long time. We have a wide range of presentations, including some topics that previous 6

attendees have requested, such as talks on irrigation and new product development and marketing.”

Participants may choose from several concurrent sessions with topics that include farmers markets, small fruit production, vegetable production, tree fruit production, high tunnel production, marketing and business management, organic production, the Grape and Wine Short Course and updates on Produce Best Practices Training and the Food Safety Modernization Act. In addition to UK extension associates and specialists, speakers will include Bruce Bordelon, extension viticulturist from Purdue University; Carl Cantaluppi, retired North Carolina extension agent and East Coast asparagus expert; Maria Peterson, filtration media specialist at Scott Laboratories, Petaluma, California; Celeste Welty, The Ohio State University extension entomologist; and

Annette Wszelaki, vegetable extension specialist at the University of Tennessee.

Horticulture Biz Quiz

An Exhibitor/Grower Luncheon will be offered on Jan. 7, with an optional wine tasting that evening. The luncheon on Jan. 8 will feature Kentucky Proud products. Participants will be able to explore exhibits on both days during the trade show.

Are you thinking about starting a horticulture operation?

Answer a few questions to learn what horticulture crops might suit you.

The conference is a joint meeting of the Kentucky State Horticulture Society, the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, the Organic Association of Kentucky, the Kentucky Wineries Association, and the Kentucky Horticulture Council, in cooperation with the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Kentucky State University and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Conference preregistration is $40 per person, while registration after Dec. 14 or at the door is $60. Registration includes a one-year membership in the Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association, Kentucky State Horticulture Society or the Organic Association of Kentucky and entry to the Grape and Wine Short Course.

https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/ form/SV_0OgKXJHVHkPPdxH

7

A Messy Winter Garden Makes Good Wildlife Habitat

Piles of rocks, logs, brush, straw or even tree leaves will be appreciated by small mammals, lizards and snakes. Instead of throwing out cracked or chipped terra-cotta pots, flip them over and place them under trees and shrubs for ready-made toad abode.Unless you’ve recently suffered from an infestation of garden pests, leave plant debris intact until spring to shelter beneficial insects like earwigs, and ladybeetles. A discarded Christmas tree will protect perennial plants and provide shelter to a variety of backyard wildlife. Offer refuge to flying friends by hanging up a variety of bat and birdhouses.

You worked hard turning some of your property into wildlife habitat. You planted nectar and host plants for butterflies and pollinators. Trees and bushes offer shelter and habitat for birds, squirrels, and other small creatures. Perhaps this summer, a box turtle took up residence in your back yard or you heard tree frogs singing in your own trees! Now, after all your hard work, why would you destroy that wonderful ecosystem by cleaning it up for winter?

This time of year, experts encourage us to clean up and cut down. That is the right way to manage a manicured golf-course landscape; but it’s the wrong way to treat the property you’ve cultivated as wildlife habitat. Think about it; does Mother Nature rake leaves and cut down

8

dried seed heads? No. Decaying plant matter provides food and shelter for insects and animals throughout the winter, and to complete the lifecycle, decaying matter amends the soil—free fertilizer!

First, let’s talk about not raking leaves. Leaf litter is a microecosystem all its own. It’s full of eggs, larvae, pupae, and

thriving insects. Bag up the leaves and they’re gone—an entire little ecosystem is gone.

You invited all those beneficial insects into your yard. If you want to keep them there, don’t destroy their home and kill their offspring! Instead, allow leaves to lay where they fall. Only remove leaves from areas you

Pests, Uninvited Guests for the Holidays By Sharon P. Flynt, Agent for

must. A foot of leaves is as detrimental to that thriving community as no leaves at all.

In addition, wet slippery leaves are hazardous. Find balance between being a responsible homeowner and supporting the living community underneath those leaves.

Horticulture, Scott Co. Cooperative Extension

Before the title makes you think of friends and family, let us consider our gardenvariety pests that may invade homes throughout the holidays.

Next up is your wildflowers. They’re looking shabby this time of year, but fight the urge to cut them back. Birds and other creatures depend on seeds and dried leaves for food. Many insects overwinter in dried stems. And honestly, what looks a tad shabby right now will look spectacular surrounded by a blanket of snow. I plant river oats because those glistening seeds bowing over a blanket of bright snow are beautiful.

By late fall, most outdoor insect home invaders have settled down for a long winters nap, either outdoors or in your home. Yet it is still a good time to seal, caulk and repair cracks, crevices and gaping thresholds as a way to keep pest invaders - and cold winter air - out of your home. If any spiders, ladybugs, stinkbugs, or flies, appear in your home, they are more nuisance than harmful and vacuuming them up often takes care of the problem.

Experts tell us that a messy winter garden encourages disease, and they’re right.

Please don’t apply this messy strategy to your vegetable garden plots or your precious cultivars such as roses. Some of your landscape will require special care.

However, in those areas that you purposely turned over to nature, continue to let nature take the lead.

Chances are that you have also already brought in your outdoor plants to overwinter. Realize that you may have unknowingly brought in “hitchhikers” pests and diseases - that are often hidden in the leaves or soil of plants. While overwintering your summer plants, keep them in a “quarantine” for at least a month to guard against passing disease or insects to other houseplants. Routinely check your plants for insects such as aphids, mealybugs, white flies, scale, spider mites and thrips. If there is a problem, refer to UK publication ENTFACT406: Houseplant Insect Control to find

Butterflies, native bees and pollinators, and other beneficial insects need a safe place to hibernate over winter. Birds and other small creatures need shelter and food. Truly wild places are in decline, so your yard matters. Every yard matters.

Leave your wildlife habitat messy, and let nature do what it does best in a healthy balanced system.

(Continued on page 13)

9

Breaking the ice Using ice melting compounds to clear snow and ice from walks, drives, and entries near public buildings is virtually a universal practice today. Facility maintenance personnel As a result, there are learned long ago that to more than 100 brands achieve safe surfaces in of ice melters the shortest time with available today. the least total cost, ice Unfortunately, many of these products are melters are a necessity. packaged with no Understandably, mention of their whenever a product chemical composition. category gains such Others carry labeling which specifies widespread acceptance, contents but make the market attracts a erroneous or host of suppliers looking misleading claims to capture a share. As a about the products’ abilities. The result is result, there are more considerable than 100 brands of ice confusion about the melters available today. benefits and Unfortunately, many of limitations of such products. these products are packaged with no mention of their chemical composition.

Others carry labeling which specifies contents but make erroneous or misleading claims about 10

the products’ abilities. The result is considerable confusion about the benefits and limitations of such products.

Few Actual Materials Although there are many dozen brands of ice melter, the list of materials in common use is much shorter.

It includes the following compounds:  Sodium Chloride (rock salt)  Calcium Chloride  Potassium Chloride  Urea  Magnesium Chloride  Sodium Acetate  Calcium Magnesium Acetate  Ammonium Nitrate  Ammonium Sulfate Various blends of the above, with and without abrasives (such as sand, etc.)

Of the materials listed, rock salt and calcium chloride are most extensively used in applications around commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. Rock salt, calcium chloride,

potassium chloride, and magnesium chloride are naturally occurring salts. Urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate are synthetic materials which find their most common applications as fertilizers.

How Ice Melters Work

reasonable time period). The “practical� lowest temperature limits for these materials is defined as effective within 15-20 minutes of application and is listed next to the material. When reviewing deicing materials on the basis of their effectiveness at practical temperatures, they rank as follows:

Generally, all ice melters work in the same way. They depress the freezing point of ice or snow and turn the mixture into a liquid 1. Calcium Chloride (-25o F) or semi-liquid slush. Solid chemical salts o bore through ice or snow and form a strong 2. Magnesium Chloride (5 F) brine solution. This brine spreads under the 3. Sodium Acetate (5o F) ice or hard-packed snow and undercuts, 4. Calcium Magnesium Acetate (5oF) breaking the bond to the surface. Once 5. Potassium Chloride (12o F) loose, the ice or snow is easily removed by 6. Urea (15o F) mechanical means. Or, in many cases, users, 7. Sodium Chloride (20-22o F) apply the material in anticipation of ice or o snow. This prevents the bond to the surface Various Blends (usually 20-22 F) Others Factors and melts the snow or ice as it comes in contact with the brine.

Another measure of ice melter effectiveness is the amount of Fertilizer products work in much the same material needed to accomplish the manner, though they do not form a brine. undercutting job. Perhaps the best All are soluble in water and the resulting way to compare materials is to look at solution acts by depressing the freezing the volume of ice they are able to point of snow and ice. melt pound-for-pound within normal Though common deicing materials work in temperature conditions over a the same way, they vary widely in reasonable time period. When performance. The determining factors are reviewing materials based on amount, speed, quantity of material required, and most users will choose calcium duration of melting action. Environmental chloride first, followed by magnesium considerations are also important. chloride and sodium chloride.

Comparing Temperature Ranges The first measure of an ice melter’s effectiveness is the range of temperatures in which it can provide deicing action (in a

A final measure of performance for an ice melter is how long it will provide deicing action. Obviously, the longer the ice melter acts, the less often (Continued on page 14)

11

In shades of white, golden yellow, pink, rose, coral and red, the flowers of holiday cacti look like exotic birds in flight. It is no wonder that these fall and winter blooming plants have become holiday favorites.

Don’t fall into the trap of constantly repotting into a bigger pot.

Holiday cactus likes to be root-bound, and repotting every 2-3 years (even back into the same pot) is plenty. If you repot, use a sterile, welldraining potting soil such as those packaged for African violets, orchids, or bromeliads.

People group holiday cacti together under the term “Christmas cactus.”

Actually, most holiday cacti are derived from the Thanksgiving or crab cactus, Schlumbergera truncata, family Cactaceae. The true Christmas cactus is Schlumbergera bridgesii. The main difference between the two is the shape of the leaf-like stem segments. In the Thanksgiving cactus, the edges of the segments are toothed or pointed; in the Christmas cactus, the segments are smaller and have rounded lobes. The Thanksgiving cactus tends to grow more upright, while the Christmas cactus tends to be more 12

pendulous, or drooping.

Both species originated in Brazil, where they grow as epiphytes in plant debris trapped among tree branches or in decaying humus on the ground.

Therefore, plants grown in the home do best in a light, ‘humusy’ or peat-

based potting soil and containers with holes for drainage. Avoid potting in heavy mineral-type soils (garden soil), where over watering will quickly lead to root rot and plant death. The once recommended practice of keeping holiday cacti quite dry in the fall to stimulate flowering probably grew out of greenhouse growers’ attempts to

prevent fungal diseases in plants grown in (Continued from page 9) heavy soils under cool, moist conditions. easy, non-toxic ways to remove pests.

Though holiday cacti naturally flower Remove and destroy leaves with dark around Thanksgiving and Christmas, spots, lesions, and those that are commercial growers take no chances -yellowing as this may indicate bacterial/ they manipulate light levels and fungal leaf spot diseases. Be careful not to temperatures to guarantee timely overwater plants or leave plants in flowering. Holiday cacti bloom in response standing water as root/stem-rot diseases, to short days and/ or cool temperatures. as well as gnats, find very wet soil In the greenhouse or in the home, expose conditions or standing water perfect for them to nine hours of light and 15 hours proliferation. of darkness each day, starting in Holiday decorating can bring its own pest September, to cause plants to set flower potentials. Poinsettias, Christmas cactus buds. Holding temperatures between 50 and other holiday plants can bring and 59F. will stimulate flowering despite unwelcome guests hidden within their day length. Kentucky gardeners that releaves or soil. When considering a plant flower their holiday cactus each year, simply leave the plants outdoors through for purchase, gently disturb and scrutinize the leaves and soil surface. If you see tiny September and protect the plants from pest crawling or flying around leave that frost if necessary. When the plants are plant at the store. Automatically pass by brought indoors in early October, flower buds are set and the plants flower around plants that have yellowed or spotted leaves and any plant that looks sickly. If Thanksgiving. you suspect pests or diseases on the Temperature above 75F., sudden changes plant, do not buy the plant. With any in temperature or light levels, and over purchased or gifted plant, follow the same watering plants in heavy soil will cause observation procedures and separate unopened flower buds to fall off. Besides from other plants once in your home. controlling the growing environment, greenhouse operators use chemical Need to know what insects you just growth regulators to increase stem found crawling on your kitchen counter? branching and flower bud formation. That Worried about what pests may be damis why the plants you see in florist shops aging your property? Curious about the and greenhouses have many short lateral existence of bed bugs? The identification branches loaded with flower buds. One to of insects and other pests can be tricky. two flowers at the end of each stem are Insect identification is a free service that normal, but treated plants may have the University of Kentucky Cooperative three to five.

Extension Service offers the public.

13

(Continued from page 11)

reapplication will be required. The natural state of the chemical has the greatest effect on how long an ice melter will last.

Those which are naturally liquids – calcium chloride and magnesium chloride – continue as brines longer since they resist evaporation.

Judicious use of deicers will minimize concrete damage.

Prompt removal of slush and residual deicer from concrete surfaces will further minimize the chance for damage.

Beyond physical properties, the shape of ice melters is important. Research confirms that rounder particles have distinct performance advantages.

Round particles contact a smaller surface area than flakes or irregularly shaped granules, so they’re more effective at boring vertically downward rather than horizontally. This results in faster penetration to the pavement and quicker disbondment.

Environmental Aspects Considerable emphasis has been placed on the environmental impact of ice melters and many studies have been 14

conducted. Virtually all of these studies have concluded that, given the alternative of hazardous conditions, the benefits of ice melters far outweigh their potential disadvantages. However, these concerns should be addressed.

Residues. Of the materials under review, the only materials which have the potential for leaving a solid residue on internal flooring are those which naturally occur as a solid.

Effect On Vegetation. All materials under review have the potential to damage plant life.

However, in the amounts recommended for grounds maintenance, the threat to grass, trees and shrubs is minimal. In fact, The Institute for Safety Analysis concluded in its major study, “Benefits and Costs in the Use of Salt to Deice Highways,” that: “There is no evidence that road salting produces permanent ecological effects. What salinity buildups occur are due almost entirely to improper

storage rather than application”.

Effect On Concrete. Many are concerned with deicers’ effects on concrete. Among the materials under review, only ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate will chemically attack concrete. The others do not chemically attack concrete, but can affect the freezing point of water. When the freezing point of water is depressed, the number of freeze-thaw cycles the water goes through can increase. And the expansion of freezing water (hydraulic pressure) can exceed the strength limits of the concrete.

Spalling can be the result, but this is greatly minimized in good quality airentrained concrete.

Calendar of Events 

Third Tuesday of the Month: The Kentucky Home Extension Master Gardeners meet at 6:30 to share a meal, conduct business, and share information.



Third Thursday of the Month: Nelson county Beekeepers meet at 6:30 pm to share a meal and information.



February 13th @ 7 pm Sheep & Goat Webinar Nelson County Extension Office



Getting to Know Your Woodlands: A Primer for Beginners Webinar Series. Dates and Times: Thursdays February 21st, 28th, March 7th, March 14th, March 21st 2019: 7 pm to 9 pm EST @ the Nelson County Extension Office. Call for more details.



Every Fourth Friday of the Month: Nelson County District Board Meeting at 12 noon

Judicious use of deicers will minimize concrete damage. Prompt removal of slush and residual deicer from concrete surfaces will further minimize the chance for damage.

An objective review of the performance capabilities of common ice melting compounds finds significant differences in their performance. As a result, firms should always make their purchasing decisions with full knowledge of exactly which compound(s) are in the products they choose. https://www.peterschemical.com/ break-the-ice-comparison-of-icemelting-chemicals/

Robbie Smith County Extension Agent for Agriculture Phone: 502-348-9204 email: robsmith@uky.edu

15

16

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

University of Kentucky Nelson County 317 South Third Street Bardstown, KY 40004

Cooperative Extension Service

«DPBarcode»

««EndorsementLine»

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID BARDSTOWN, KY PERMIT #028