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1. Trees for the Acreage
Planting and caring for landscape trees requires a considerable investment of time and money, and so it is important to make the right decisions when choosing these plants for your yard.
To choose wisely, you need to know two basic pieces of information. First, you need to know the ultimate size of the space that you want filled by the tree, and second you need to be sure that the species or varieties you are considering can grow vigorously in the climate and site conditions of your property. The websites below are designed to provide guidelines to help you select trees and shrubs for acreage landscaping.
Learning about the habits and needs of landscape plants is worth the effort. Nursery grown trees and shrubs of landscape grade are expensive. Years of care are required to produce well shaped tops and ample root systems before trees are sold. More years of care will be required after the trees are transplanted to a landscape. If you make the right choice at the beginning, not only will you save time and money, but your landscape will provide years of pleasure.
Trees in the Home Landscape
Tree Placement on Home Grounds
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2. Where Are The Pin Oak Acorns?
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
The reason for the lack of acorns on pin oak and red oak trees is the freeze of April 2007. Now, that may lead one to ask an additional question: What does a freeze that happened over a year ago have to do with this year? The answer is: Everything!
The red oak family has an interesting habit in the fact that it takes two seasons for acorns to form. The first year, the tree forms what are called acornets which are immature acorns. These small growths are hardly noticeable at all on the tree. The second year, they develop into what we know as an acorn.
The freeze of April 2007 killed the developing acornets, thus halting the production of an acorn crop in 2008.
Keep in mind, this only pertains to members of the red oak family such as pin and red. Members of the white oak family such as swamp, only take a year to develop so there is an acorn set on these trees.
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3. Planting Fruit Trees
A fruit tree is any tree that produces fruit for human food, which makes fruit trees valuable to home gardeners who not only want to save money by producing more of their own food but also want to enjoy many more varieties than are generally found at the grocery store.
By picking your fruit when it's ripe, you'll enjoy the full flavor that only home grown fruit from your own fruit trees can offer since commercially grown fruit is often picked before it is ripe so that it looks ripe by the time it reaches your local grocer.
Plant a selection of fruit trees and enjoy.
Learn more . . .
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4. Pruning Fruit Trees
By Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator
Following simple fruit tree pruning instructions will ensure your fruit trees enjoy good health, disease management, and better fruit yield. By pruning your fruit trees, you stimulate shoot growth, control the size and shape of the tree, and improve the quality of the fruit.
If you have not pruned before, don't worry! It is not difficult, and you'll get a real feel for how to prune fruit trees the more you work at it. And it's worth every minute!
The best time to prune fruit trees and shrubs is in early spring while the tree is still dormant, before growth activity begins. This is when pruning wounds heal best and you can easily see the buds to work around.
Learn more . . .
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5. Turfgrass for the Acreage
By John Fech, UNL Extension Educator
People always ask us, "What kind of grass should I plant on my acreage?" Actually, that is not as simple as you might think. In addition to knowing what kind of grass or which grass species, you also need to know which cultivars (cultivated varieties) are best. Some are better than others in terms of disease resistance, color, growth habit, etc. The best place for this information is http://www.ntep.org. This is an independent nationwide testing and turfgrass evaluation organization that provides reliable recommendations for specific locations in the United States.
Learn more . . .
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6. Strategies to Maximize Your Landscape Dollar
By Ann Marie VanDerZanden, Horticulturist, Iowa State University
Landscaping your home can be an expensive proposition. You should expect to spend between 10 percent and 20 percent of your home's value on landscaping. If you live in the median-value American home ($213,000) that calculates to between $21,300 and $42,600. Not exactly spare change.
With a little ingenuity and patience you can create a beautiful home landscape for less. Here are some tips for both new landscapes and renovations of existing landscapes.
New Landscapes
Consider working with a professional. When doing a large projects, working with a landscape professional can be helpful. Money spent early in the project for the services of a landscape designer, landscape architect or certified nursery professional can pay off in the end. Having a clear plan of the overall design and a strategy to phase portions of the project as your budget permits will ensure the design will look good when completed. Also check out nurseries that offer landscaping services. Many will offer discounts on plant material if you purchase both their landscaping services and plants.
Existing Landscapes
Work with what you have. Capitalizing on your property's assets such as existing plants, natural slopes and flat areas can save a significant amount of money. Preserving existing plants, particularly if they are large, can reduce the expense of new plant materials. Leaving natural slopes in place rather than grading them level can also save a lot. If the slope is too steep to mow, plant it with ground cover of suckering shrubs to prevent erosion. At the same time locating a patio on an already flat area further reduces the costs of excavating and hardscape materials.
Hire a horticulture consultant. Hiring a professional to draw a comprehensive landscape plan can cost between $500 and $1,500. If you have an idea of what you want and are able to create a rough sketch, you can hire a horticulture design consultant to look at it and provide feedback.
New and Existing Landscapes
Start with good soil. Make sure the soil can sustain landscape plants. Consider adding necessary amendments (compost, manure, organic matter) if necessary to provide the right growing environment.
Choose plants wisely. Choose the right plants for your location. Consider hardiness, mature size, light requirements and moisture requirements. Selecting the right plant for the right location, and planting it correctly, can save a lot of money in the future when improperly located plants die or need to be replaced.
Hire yourself. Doing a majority of the landscape installation yourself can save a lot of money. You may want to hire a professional for jobs that take more muscle or skill than you have (patios, decks, retaining walls), but if you plant the small trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals, you'll save a lot.
Acquiring plants. Nurseries, garden centers and mail-order nurseries are obvious places to purchase plants, but there are some cheaper alternatives to consider. Look for plant sales at local arboretums or botanical gardens, or those organized by local gardening clubs. Talk to neighbors or fellow gardeners to see if they have perennials that need to be divided. Offer to help them divide the plants if you can take home a few for your garden. There are also a number of resources on the Internet that offer free or discounted plants. One caution though- Buyer Beware of plants purchased sight unseen.
Purchase larger sizes of specimen trees or shrubs, or those that have a slow growth rate. Purchase 4 inch or 1 gallon sized perennials since they tend to grow quickly. Many times 4" plants are half the price of 1 gallon plants, and the 4" plant will reach the same size as the 1 gallon by the end of the growing season.
If you can wait until fall, buy plants and other gardening supplies when retailers want to clear out their merchandise and products are marked down. In the Midwest, fall is a great time for planting because it gives plants time to get established before the summer heat arrives.
A home landscape is a long term investment. Working with professionals, starting with a good growing environment and choosing plants wisely will pay off in the end. But most importantly is the need to be patient. The old adage about landscapes is true: The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, and the third year it leaps. Just think what you have to look forward to!
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7. The Small Flock for Poultry Meat
By Melvin L. Hamre, University of Minnesota Extension
A well-planned and well-managed flock can be a good source of fresh poultry meat. Large scale commercial broiler production and merchandising techniques often result in market prices difficult to match with a backyard flock. Small flock owners should not plan to produce more birds than the family can use or market, either live or dressed, to friends and neighbors.
The most economical meat production is obtained from the commercial meat strains developed from breeds such as the Cornish, Plymouth Rock, and New Hampshire. These crosses have been bred for the most economical conversion of feed to poultry meat; they feather rapidly and mature early. Some breeds such as White or Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and New Hampshires are used for farm flock meat production, but they generally don't grow as rapidly as the crosses and take more feed per pound of weight gained. Leghorn males do not make good meat birds and are unprofitable even if day-old chicks are sometimes obtained free.
The various classes of chicken meat birds are raised from the same commercial strains. Broilers or fryers are slaughtered at 7-9 weeks of age when they weigh 3-5 pounds and dress a 2½ to 4 pound carcass. The same bird slaughtered at 5 weeks of age provides a Cornish game hen and can be grown out to 12 weeks or longer to make a delicious roaster. The males can be caponized at 3-4 weeks and marketed after 18 weeks as capons. Meat-type chicks are usually purchased on a straight-run (males and females mixed) basis.
To read more, visit The Small Flock for Poultry Meat.
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8. Warm-Season Grasses for Hay and Pasture
By Stephen K. Barnhart, ISU Extension Agronomist
Switchgrass, Indiangrass, and big bluestem are warm-season grasses that are a suitable alternative for summer pasture in Iowa. Their advantage over cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, bromegrass, and orchardgrass is their ability to produce during midsummer.
Pasture efficiency may be improved by converting one-fourth to one-third of the cool-season grass pasture acreage to a warm-season grass to be used in conjunction with cool-season grasses. Cool-season grasses can be grazed in the early and late parts of the grazing season, with the warm-season grasses grazed during midsummer. This scheme provides a larger and more uniform supply of forage, and greater seasonal animal gains can be expected. Furthermore, the cool-season grasses can be given a rest during midsummer. This improves their vigor and provides a greater supply of forage for late-summer and fall grazing.
Learn more . . .
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9. Benefits of Legumes
By Bruce Anderson, UNL Forage Specialist
Reducing pasture expenses can help your bottom line. But don’t try to starve a profit from pastures or livestock. Sometimes you need to invest. This spring, invest in legumes.
Spring-like weather in February should get you looking forward to next growing season. I’m sure one thing you won’t look forward to, though, is paying for nitrogen fertilizer on your pastures. Avoid this expense by adding legumes to your grazinglands. Five years of grazing research in eastern Nebraska showed that brome/legume pastures produced almost four-tenths of a pound higher average daily gain on yearlings than did straight brome pastures fertilized with 50 pounds of nitrogen. That may not sound like a lot to you, but that much faster gain for the full season produced an extra fifty-one pounds of beef per acre. With no nitrogen fertilizer. Adding the value of heavier yearlings plus reduced fertilizer expenses resulted in more than an extra fifty dollars per acre profit. That’s fifty dollars – per acre!
Similar research was conducted with warm-season grasses with nearly the same results.
February and March are good months to start adding legumes. Red clover is the easiest one to establish because seed can be broadcast on pastures even if they are covered with several inches of snow. As snow melts and temperatures fluctuate in early spring, the seeds will get worked into the soil, germinate, and start to grow. With a little attention to controlling competition from the existing grass, new red clover plants can start increasing your pasture production by summer.
Don’t become trapped by the never ending cost of nitrogen fertilizer. Use legumes to reduce costs and increase production.
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10. Alternative Water Sources Can Help In Emergencies
By Julie Albrecht, Ph.D., UNL Food Specialist
When winter and spring storms knock out electricity for prolonged periods it can be difficult to obtain water from the usual sources. Thinking about alternative water sources before this happens will help in these emergencies.
Storing drinking water is the best way to prevent being left without a reliable water source. As a general rule, two weeks worth of water should be stored for emergency situations. Store one gallon of drinking water per day for every member of a household.
Purchasing and storing bottled water will ensure a clean water supply in emergencies. However, if caught unprepared other sources of water usually are available although they may require some preparation before drinking.
Draining a plumbing system into sterilized containers gives an immediate source of water after a power outage. Open the faucet at highest level in the plumbing system to vent the system. Water then can be drained from the lowest spigot on the system. Often times this is a faucet located on the outside of a house.
Water heaters hold a supply of water that can be used in emergencies. Follow these instructions when draining a water heater.
- Shut off the electricity or gas source
- Shut off the main water line entering the house
- Close the water intake valve on the top of water heater
- Open a hot water faucet
- Open drain on bottom of water heater to release water
Waterbeds hold up to 400 gallons of water and are another potential source of water for emergency situations. However, if chemical conditioners have been added to the bed do not use the water.When planning to use a waterbed as a back-up resource, drain yearly and refill with fresh water containing one-fourth cup of bleach for every 120 gallons of water.
Flush tanks on toilets provide a few gallons of water that may be used in an emergency as long as chemical cleaners have not been used in the tank.
Any water that is used from an outside source or a possibly contaminated source such as lakes, streams, snow or rainwater should be purified before drinking.
Water can be treated using heat, chemicals or filtration. Each method has certain advantages and disadvantages that must be considered. In some situations, a combination of these methods may be preferred. It is important to recognize the limitations of each method and the possible level of contamination in each water source.
Boiling is the safest way to purify water. It destroys disease causing bacteria and some protozoans such as giardia and cryptosporidium, which are resistant to chemical sanitizers.Water should be brought to a rapid boil for 10 minutes and then allowed to cool before consuming or storing.Boiling will not safely purify water that has been exposed to chemical contaminates.
Chlorine can also be used to purify water that has been exposed to biological contaminants. Use a liquid bleach containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite and no soap. Warnings that say 'Not For Personal Use' may be disregarded if sodium hypochlorite is the only active ingredient. Add a quarter-teaspoon of chlorine bleach to purify each gallon of water, and allow it to sit for 30 minutes before consuming.
Portable filters provide immediate access to drinking water without adding unpleasant tastes or odors. Commercially available portable filters provide varying degrees of protection against disease-causing contaminants. The better filters provide adequate protection but less sophisticated filters may not provide enough protection. If in doubt about the quality of a filter, filtration should be followed by either chemical disinfection with chlorine or boiling.
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11. Home Energy Savings
By Mary Beth Kaufman, ISU Extension Field Specialist/Family Resource Management
The arrival of spring has many folks breathing a sigh of relief that the costly winter heating season is over. However, this is NOT the time to forget about energy conservation because we never know what the summer cooling season will bring. The Department of Energy offers these tips for lowering your central air conditioner's energy usage.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees F or higher. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. Each degree setting below 78 degrees F will increase energy consumption by approximately 8 percent.
- Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
- Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
- Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10 percent less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. Also reduce the cooling load by shading east and west windows.
- When possible, delay heat-generating activities, such as cooking, baking and dishwashing, until evening on hot days.
- Inspect and clean both the indoor and outdoor coils. The indoor coil in your air conditioner acts as a magnet for dust because it is constantly wetted during the cooling season. Dirt build-up on the indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor efficiency. The outdoor coil must also be checked periodically for dirt build-up and cleaned if necessary.
- Have a service contractor check the refrigerant charge. The circulating fluid in your air conditioner is a special refrigerant gas that is put in when the system is installed. If the system is overcharged or undercharged with refrigerant, it will not work properly.
- Are you planning home remodeling projects this summer? The U.S. Department of Energy website (www.energy.gov) cites "No-Regrets Remodeling" (published by Home Energy Magazine) as a source of information for energy-saving possibilities.
Even if you are not remodeling, there are countless ways to reduce your energy use, many of them inexpensive and easy. The Department of Energy's Home Energy Saver website allows you to enter your zip code and information about your home, in order to identify the most cost-effective energy-saving measures. Or, check out home energy conservation information from Iowa State University Extension.
Look For the ENERGY STAR7 Label if you're in the market for new appliances or equipment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are working together to promote the use of energy-efficient equipment by awarding the ENERGY STAR label to products that save energy, help prevent air pollution and save money, frequently with better performance. Manufacturers and retailers volunteer to place the ENERGY STAR label on those models that meet or exceed the criteria set by EPA and DOE.
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12. Outdoor Cleaning Tips
By Doug Stokke, ISU Forest Products Extension Specialist
As temperatures warm and the spring rains come, dirt and mildew on your house and outbuildings can become a real nuisance. Fortunately, cleaning is relatively easy, and a real must if your plans include painting. Paint simply doesn’t stick very well to dirt, grease, mold, or mildew.
There are quite a number of commercial siding cleaning products on the market, however or the cost-conscious, a simple home-brew solution will neatly do the trick for only pennies: mix 1/3 cup household detergent (liquid dishwashing soap will do fine), 1-2 quarts of 5% sodium hypochorite (better known as liquid household bleach), and 2-3 quarts of warm water. CAUTION: Never mix bleach with any cleaner or detergent that contains ammonia, as deadly toxic gasses will be generated.
Scrub the surface to be cleaned with a bristle brush or sponge, and then rinse with clean water. If you plan to paint let the surface dry thoroughly before you proceed.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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13. Nebraska Winery & Grape Growers Forum, March 5-7
The 12th Annual Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Forum and Trade Show will be held in Kearney, NE on Marcy 5-7. This event is presented by the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program in collaboration with the Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association.
Among the outstanding speakers lined up for this conference are Jean-Marie Peltier, President of the National Grape and Wine Initiative; Dr. Mark Chien, Pennsylvania State University Viticultuist; Patrick Pierquet, Associate Enologist for the Ohio State University; Keith Powell, "the business revivalist"; and Michael Jones of Scott Laboratories.
Watch for more information coming soon.
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14. From Recipe to Reality Seminar, March 9
The Food Processing Center is offering a one-day seminar for all individuals interested in exploring the idea of starting a food manufacturing business. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration deadline: December 19.
Additional program dates for 2009 in Lincoln, NE - May 15, May 16 (presented in Spanish), August 15, October 3.
Other locations-
February 28 in Storm Lake, Iowa; March 17 in Spearfish, South Dakota; May 2 in Shreveport, Louisiana; and May 20 in Chicago, Illinois.
Contact Jill Gifford at (402) 472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu for an information packet. For more information and to register for the program, visit the UNL Food Processing's Food Entrepreneur web site.
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15. 2009 Nebraska Tree Care Workshops for the Green Industry, Begins March 10
Entitled "Tree Care Essentials" these workshops will offer topics on roots and soils, matching tree to site, common conifer problems and retaining your tree after storm damage. Outdoor concurrent sessions will also cover design, placement and planting solutions as well as identifying I&D problems and pruning solutions for better structure.
Workshop Topics:
The Right Way the First Time on Soils, Roots & Planting- Eric Berg, Nebraska Forest Service
Common Conifer Problems- Laurie Stepanek, Nebraska Forest Service
Retraining Your Tree After the Storm- Rachel Allison or Chip Murrow, Nebraska Forest Service
Matching the Tree to the Planting Site- Justin Evertson or Bob Henrickson, Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
Outdoor Concurrent Sessions:
Design, Placement & Planting Solutions- Eric Berg and Justin Evertson or Bob Hendrckson
Identifying Problems & Pruning Solutions- Laurie Stepanek and Rachel Allison or Chip Murrow
Times: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $40.00 per person if postmarked by March 3, 2009.
A $10 fee will be added to walk-ins and registrations postmarked after March 3, 2009.
Registration fee includes lunch, refreshments and workshop materials.
$30 for students, Master Gardeners, tree board volunteers, ReTree ambassadors and NAA, NNLA and ISA member
Program Brochure
Information about the 2009 Tree Care Workshops is also available online at www.nfs.unl.edu and from your Nebraska Forest Service district forester. Locate your NFS district forester by visiting www.nfs.unl.edu/NFSdistricts.asp
| Locations and dates include: |
North Platte—March 10
North Platte Community College
601 W. State Farm Road
Room 145, McDonald-Belton Campus |
Norfolk—March 17
Northeast Community College
Lifelong Learning Center
801 E. Benjamin Avenue
Rooms H & I |
Hastings—March 11
Central Community College
Highway 6 & E. Community Drive
Fir/Cedar Room, Dawson Building |
Lincoln—March 18
Antelope Park
1650 Memorial Drive
Auld Recreation Center |
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16. Wineries Unlimited Conference & Trade Show, March 10-13
The largest wine trade show and seminar program east of the Rockies, will hold its 33rd show at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA.
Learn new ideas, renew philosophies, brush up on techniques. Multi-track conference sessions are designed to increase your knowledge, expand your profit, and put money back in your pocket.
This two-day event is the buyer's trade show for the Eastern wine industry with over 330 exhibitor booths available for one-on-one meetings with new and returning vendors (includes lunch and wine tasting on day two).
See old friends and make new ones. Develop business contacts and gather ideas from your fellow wine-mates.
Program information, exhibitors and registration will be available online at http://www.wineriesunlimited.com
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17. National Small Food Manufacturer Conference, April 23-24
Heat up your food business. All small food
manufacturers are invited to attend the
National Small Food Manufacturer Conference presented by
The University of Nebraska- Lincoln Food Processing Center.
This conference is the first national conference designed specifically for micro and small food manufacturers throughout the country. It includes current topics and industry recognized national speakers which will educate and motivate participants. Attendees will:
- Learn from national industry respected, knowledgeable speakers
- Learn how to expand and grow their businesses
- Participate in interactive sessions
- Explore new opportunities
- Network with peers and industry experts
Date: April 23-24, 2009
Location:
Holiday Inn – Downtown, Lincoln NE
For more information or to register for the conference please visit the conference website.
For contact Jill Gifford
Phone:
(402) 472-2819
Email: jgifford1@unl.edu
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