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Brought to you in cooperation with the Kansas State University Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners. Each week we feature interesting topics for winter reading. |
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Winter Wisdom
As gardeners, we have a vital share of responsibility for our environment and the affect of our own methods and habits of planting, fertilizing and pest control. By now we should all know the importance of the concept of Integrated Pest Management, an approach to pest and disease control which combines cultural, biological, physical, and finally chemical control measures to prevent and control growing problems. Cultural control
includes use of resistant varieties, keeping plants healthy by proper
selection and Biological control methods make up another element in an IPM program. This includes use of beneficial insects like Lady Beetles, Mantids, as well as microbes and beneficial nematodes to attack pests. Physical controls consist of the use of fences, row covers, tree bands, pulling weeds by hand, and the use of traps and lures. Finally, the judicious use of chemicals, both manmade and those derived from natural sources, are often a necessary component of an IPM program. There are several local sources available to assist you in an approach to gardening based on responsible use of resources. A good place to start is your County Extension or Outreach service. Another excellent source of advice is your local Water District which can provide recommendations for protecting our water supply and using it economically. To return for a
moment to genetically modified crops, the t This cautionary
attitude toward new and often invasive plants is shared to some degree in
our own country, and is Articles submitted by Bill Latimer, Johnson County Extension
Horticulture Assistant and Dennis Patton, Johnson County Extension Horticulture Agent. * Winter Wisdom is an information service of the Kansas State Johnson County Research and Extension Master Gardeners. Research-based responses are provided by Extension Master Gardener volunteers weekdays from March 1 through October 31, from 9:00 am to 4:30pm . To telephone, call (913) 764-6306 or visit the Extension Office at 13480 South Arapaho Drive, Olathe, Kansas. Visit their website at www.oznet.ksu.edu/Johnson
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Winter
Wisdom
If
you are looking for something to worry about, if the Near East and the
Bi-state Tax aren’t enough, you might add the affect of genetically
modified crops on our health and happiness. 
management, fertilizing, watering and mulching. Other important cultural
aspects are sanitation, selecting healthy plants that grow well in this
area, removing diseased plants, and cleaning up dead plant material.
Proper timing of planting and crop rotation in vegetable gardens also
improve plant health and reduce growing problems. 
opic
is a very lively one. Sometimes a fresh point of view is valuable. With
this in mind, we were interested in reading a recent news item from BBC
News. It was in the form of commentary on an address by Lord May,
president of the Royal Society (the British equivalent of the National
Academy of Science), and the chief scientific advisor to the UK
government. The headline was an attention getter!, “Gardens Greater Threat
than GM”. His Lordship contended that genetically modified (GM) crops are
a lesser threat to biodiversity than some imported garden plants. He
claimed there are real problems with invasive species in the UK, “But they
come from plants you can buy at garden centers.” 
reflected in legislation limiting the resale and planting of some species
of Lythrum and several aquatic plants that easily become noxious weeds. In
fact several gardening and horticultural organizations are recommending
that area gardeners seek out plants, particularly perennials, shrubs and
trees, that are native here. Not only are we thus helping to preserve our
distinctive horticultural heritage, but we aid our environment generally
by reducing the number and variety of interventions necessary to promote
healthy plant growth. Something at least to ponder on cold winter nights,
while waiting for spring warmth to make its way back!