Agriview:
Cold Spells, droughts
By: Rick Hirsch County Extension Agent

A couple of cold spells have taken their toll on many ornamental landscape plants throughout East Texas this winter and you can be sure that more are on the way.

It is often difficult to assess exactly how extensive winter damage is on a given plant. Leaves may brown and darken only to leaf anew in the spring time. It is virtually impossible to determine the extent of damage until the growing season arrives. In general, if roots and stems escape severe damage, the plant will regenerate new leaves and survive.

Time is the true test for evaluation of plant damage. I would recommend that homeowners not prune or remove seemingly damaged plants until they have had a chance to respond under good weather conditions. Only then should damaged plants be severely pruned or removed.

In some cases, branch or stem damage may occur until summer when heat stress may cause them to split and die. Pruning the plant just prior to spring growth will stimulate growth and stronger recovery. A severe pruning may be necessary to remove all dead wood and to allow live root systems to sprout a new flush of growth. If the root system has been severely damaged there is little likelihood that the plant can be saved.

Cold damage is more prone to occur when excessive moisture is drawn from the plant tissue in freezing temperatures. Plants which are in dry soils consequently will suffer a greater degree of damage. Therefore, it is important to maintain adequate soil moistureeven in the winter time. Mulching shallow rooted plants such as Azalea with 4 - 6 inches of mulch will also help protect root systems.

FERTILITY MATTERS:

If your garden performed below expectations last year, or maybe things just didn't grow quite right, a few dollars invested in a soil test may be just the solution. A properly prepared and fertilized garden soil is the real key to successful gardening in most areas of Texas. You can't look at the soil, taste it, smell it, or feel it to tell whether your soil is low in nitrogen, high in phosphates, or maybe just right. One sure way to overcome the mystery, and avoid confusion when it comes time to purchase fertilizers, is to have your garden soil tested.

Why is it important to know how much phosphorus or nitrogen is in the soil, or what the pH of the soil is? The answer is simple. Vegetables don't do well in improperly fertilized soil, whether it be too fertile or not fertile enough.

The soil test report will tell you the level of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium available to your garden plants. It will also indicate the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of your garden soil. For the most part, this is all you need to know to properly fertilize your garden soil and insure a bountiful harvest.

DROUGHT ASSISTANCE:

Recently, requests for Texas hay from other states have increased significantly due to drought and lack of hay in these states. However, hay suppliers and shippers need to be aware that the imported fire ant (IFA) quarantine impacts hay shipments. One-hundred-andsixty Texas counties are quarantined for IFA. The list of quarantined counties is available at http:// www.tda.state.tx.us or can be obtained by calling 800 TELL TDA. Hay from a non-infested county can be certified based on the hay origin. However, hay from an infested county must be stored on a concrete slab or heavy duty plastic and the premises kept free of IFA using appropriate bait treatments recommended by the Texas Cooperative Extension

located at http:// fireant.tamu.edu. Alternatively, local extension agents may be contacted for the same information. A Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) inspector will inspect the hay and issue a phytosanitary certificate if free of IFA. For all hay shipments destined to other states, shippers should call local TDA office to obtain a phytosanitary certificate. The Tyler TDA office can be reached at 903-939-3999.

DORMANT OIL:

I have had several questions recently regarding the use of dormant oil on fruit and nut trees. Dormant oils are good methods of controlling insects such as pecan phylloxera, scales, aphids, mites and the egg stages of all of these. Although the oils can be used at this time without any adverse problems to the plant, it would be best to wait until just before bud break to apply these materials.

The main reason for this is to allow the insect time to use up as much oxygen and body fat, and become weak so that the oils have a better action against the pest. Oils can be used effectively on fruit trees as well as pecans and on ornamentals with excellent control. Summer oils should not be used in the winter because of their weak formulation.

FROM THE STAFF OF THE TEXAS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICE IN HENDERSON COUNTY, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Rick Hirsch is the Henderson County Extension Agent - Agriculture for Texas Cooperative Extension. Visit our web page at henderson- co.tamu.edu.