MSUE Genesee County

Join in on a self-paced, 6-week walking program! This cohort starts June 17–July 22. Participants are encouraged to walk for 10–35 minutes, 3x a week! For more information or to register, visit: https://bit.ly/wwejune17

D9: Q- “What do I do if only the tip of my dragon tree is dead or dying?”
A-I believe that the dead top of the one stem is a result of over watering. It may be as simple that it was the side of the pot you consistently watered on. Let the pot dry out to keep the other stem from withering, then water every 2 to 3 weeks.
Dracaena grows in shade or part sun and is tolerant of drought and a wide variety of soil types. Prune the top of the dead branch off. Two or more branches form after pruning a stem (if the stem is still viable). This technique can be used to increase the density of the plant. This can be beneficial since lower leaves drop from the stems as the plant grows taller leaving the bottom of the plant bare.

Resource link on plant care:
Dragon Tree: Indoor Plant Care & Growing Guide (thespruce.com)

Spaces are still available in the Foundations of Gardening class!

Learn the ins-and-outs of gardening grounded in science and have your certificate in hand before it's time to plant tomatoes!

2024 Pruning Workshops for Smart Gardeners Choose one of two sessions to learn more about the best practices and the proper equipment for pruning.

Q- “Is it legal to grow bamboo in Michigan?”
A-There are many species and varieties of bamboo. Some things called "bamboo" are not bamboo at all. Examples would be the indoor plant lucky bamboo, which is a dracaena, and Michigan bamboo, which is a highly invasive plant that is also called Japanese knotweed. This plant is not legal to possess, sell, plant, or relocate in the state of Michigan. It is more closely related to buckwheat than bamboo, yet has a bamboo-like appearance. True bamboo species and varieties can also be problematic as they are often aggressive fast growers. For this reason, they are not suitable for most landscapes and can potentially become invasive.

Q- “If I supply my apples [personal orchard] and have another orchard press them and put them in jugs, can I sell the cider?
A- MDARD has a Frequently Asked Question bullet for Farmers Markets, and this information would also apply to other outlets. On occasion, the owner of an orchard will take apples to a cider mill and have cider manufactured from that fruit. The owner of the mill presses, bottles, and labels the cider as a paid service. This is called custom pressing. Effective January 3, 2004, cider produced under these circumstances must be pasteurized or otherwise treated by an approved system.
The grower in this situation may sell only pasteurized cider. Any person who purchases cider from a manufacturer and sells it at a farmers market may sell only pasteurized cider. In both of these cases the vendor must hold a food establishment license to sell cider at a farmers market.
While apple cider does not necessarily have to be sold from a refrigerated display at a farmers market, MDARD recommends that the vendor provide some method of temperature control during the transport, storage, and sale of the product.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/food-dairy/farmersmarket/farmers-market-faq

Q- “Is it possible to put in new landscape trees (e.g., replant boxwoods) in December?
a- Trees may be planted in late August to October. This time frame can be stretched into November and even December depending on the soil temperature. If the soil temperature stays above 50℉, it would be okay to plant depending on the tree. Read more here: https://arbordayblog.org/treeplanting/why-its-great-to-plant-trees-in-the-fall/

However, in Michigan, spring is a preferable time to plant: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/is_fall_really_a_great_time_to_plant_trees #:~:text=For%20the%20Midwest%2C%20however%2C%20where,to%20plant%20in%20the%20fall.&text=Dr.,part%20by%20MSU%20%27s%20AgBioResearch.

The best time to transplant boxwood is during late winter just before spring growth begins to mid-summer. Warmer temperatures promote better root development: https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/

Join us online for Matter of Balance every Wednesday, January 17 - March 6 from 1-3PM. Matter of Balance is a program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. For more information or to register here: bit.ly/mobjan17

If you have opinions on Michigan State University Extension and how it could be improved, please consider attending one of these sessions. The closest one to Genesee County is at the Saginaw Valley Research & Extension Center near Frankenmuth on December 13 from 4:30-7pm

MSU Extension announces statewide public listening sessions in November and December Staff, partners and members of the public alike are encouraged to attend and voice their ideas to help shape the future of Extension.

Q-“I want to cut the rose hips down that are between my garden and the road. But, if there is a good explanation for me to keep them, I'd like to not cut them down.”
A-The rose hips are the individual fruits left behind after the flower blooms. This depends on what type of roses these are and what your goals are.
If these were existing or wild roses, they could be either native roses or invasive multiflora roses. Consider reaching out to your local conservation district to help with identification. The others should be fine. Management of letting the plants go to see and get mature will also help them to be higher in fiber and lower in sugars.
A video link on how to prune self-planted, ornamental roses: https://extension.msstate.edu/southern-gardening/video/2019/pruning-roses

Homeownership Education Webinar
This homeownership seminar from MSU Extension will provide you with valuable information about the home buying process. Pre-Registration is required. To register and for more information go to www.mimoneyhealth.org

Q: When I prepare frozen tomatoes for canning tomato sauce, I let them thaw in a colander and save the "water" for soups and casseroles. Someone has just pointed out to me that removing the water is dangerous, and that I need to boil it down with my tomatoes to retain the acidity in the water.

A: Yes, removing the water is a safety issue. Do not drain or squeeze the tomatoes to remove excess liquid or juice. This will remove some of the acid needed to ensure a safely home preserved tomato product.