Tree wraps or guards can lessen the risk of southwest injury, a condition that can afflict young trees in winter, said a University of Missouri horticulturist.

Southwest injury, or trunk scald, occurs on the lower portion of the trunk, said Michele Warmund. Low-angle winter sunlight warms trunk tissue during the day. This warming can activate dormant cells that become vulnerable to injury as temperatures plunge in the evening.…[more]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week in order to maintain and improve optimal health. This recommendation is especially important for older Americans, who can be less likely to fulfill this requirement, yet are more at risk for chronic diseases associated with aging.

Gardening is a…[more]

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - With the high cost of fertilizer and challenging economic times, a soil test before planting should be at the top of every gardener’s “to-do” list, says Dr. Obadiah Njue, Extension horticulture specialist with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Cooperative Extension Program.

Armed with soil test results, you may be able to reduce or eliminate fertilizer use. Soil test results show the amount…[more]

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - It’s the holiday season, which also means that garden catalogs will be arriving. That was the situation last Christmas when a discussion with my wife and daughter-in-law evolved regarding the classification of the passion flower as an ornamental or a weed. The fireworks reminded me of a plant ID situation that developed with Uncle Ray.

His note read, “What is this thing?” after he mailed…[more]

The 16th annual Great Plains Vegetable Growers Conference is set for Jan. 8-10, 2009, at the Fulkerson Center at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo.

Among the highlights at the 2009 conference will be a pair of presentations on giant pumpkins by Marc Petersen, a championship grower from Iowa who took top place at the Iowa State Fair this year for a 1,238-pound pumpkin he grew…[more]

Without eyes or ears, plants must rely on the interaction of molecules to determine appropriate mating partners and avoid inbreeding. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers have identified pollen proteins that may contribute to the signaling processes that determine if a plant accepts or rejects individual pollen grains for reproduction.

Like humans, the mating game isn’t always easy for plants. Plants rely on external factors such…[more]

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - The popular Christmastime plant, the poinsettia, is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the diplomat and botanist who in 1825 brought the plant to the U.S. from southern Mexico. These semi-tropical plants aren’t ideally suited for Missouri’s climate, but a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist has some tips for enjoying your poinsettia year-round.

“To maintain your poinsettia beyond the holiday season, you will need…[more]

Replanting a live Christmas tree can enhance your landscape for years, but it will require some special attention, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.

“Be sure to keep the tree outdoors as long as possible,” said Chris Starbuck. “Live trees cannot be kept indoors as long as a cut tree.”

The warm air and low humidity indoors can dry out the tree, he said. A…[more]

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Fall planting of fruit and nut trees gives them a head start over those planted in the spring, says Dr. Dr. Obadiah Njue, Extension horticulture specialist with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Cooperative Extension Program. Fall planting should be done after the danger of long warm spells is past, so the tree doesn’t burst into growth just ahead of winter, advises Dr. Njue.

Mulch volcanoes are killing trees, says Sherri Sanders, White County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Sanders says mulch volcanoes are one of her pet peeves.

Never heard of a mulch volcano? It’s a term applied to the pile of mulch around the base of a tree to form what looks like a volcano as it angles up the tree trunk, says…[more]