Chapter 1: Basic Botany Study Guide PDF

CHAPTER 1: BASIC BOTANY rg 1. VASCULAR SYSTEM OF MONOCOTS VS DICOTS a. Be able to label the diagram below: b. Xylem: conduct water and dissolved minerals c. Phloem: carry food such as sugars d. Cambiu...

CHAPTER 1: BASIC BOTANY rg 1. VASCULAR SYSTEM OF MONOCOTS VS DICOTS a. Be able to label the diagram below: b. Xylem: conduct water and dissolved minerals c. Phloem: carry food such as sugars d. Cambium: layer of meristematic tissue that 1) separates xylem+phloem and 2) produces new xylem/phloem cells. Reason for the plant’s girth e. Pith: soft spongy tissue in center of dicots 2. LEAVES FUNCTION + STRUCTURE a. NODES i. Nodes: Area of stem where buds are located ii. Internode: Area between nodes b. BUDS i. Terminal Buds: located at the apex of the stem ii. Axillary Buds: located at the sides of the stem (usually at axil) iii. Apical Dominance: tendency of a bud to suppress growth of buds below it on the stem c. LEAF STRUCTURE i. Petiole: stemlike appendage that holds a leaf away from its stem ii. Leaf Axil: where petiole meets stem iii. Epidermis: external layer of thick, tough cells; protects the other layers of the leaf iv. Cuticle: part of the epidermis; produces waxy layer called cutin, a waxy layer that protects from dehydration/disease v. Guard Cells: special cells in epidermis that regulate passage of H2O, O2 and CO2 CHAPTER 1: BASIC BOTANY rg vi. Stomata: Tiny openings in guard cells that allow passage of H2O, O2, CO2 vii. Mesophyll: between upper + lower epidermis; contains chloroplasts, where photosynthesis takes place 3. TYPES OF LEAVES a. LEAF FORMATIONS i. Opposite Leaves: positioned across from each other ii. Alternate Leaves: positioned in alternate steps along the stem; only one leaf at each node iii. Whorled Leaves: arranged in circles along the stem b. VENATION TYPES i. Parallel Venation: grass/blase like veins that are parallel ii. Net Venation: 1. Pinnate: feather-like veins 2. Palmate: veins extend like a fan 4. FLOWERS a. FLOWER STRUCTURE i. Stamen: male flower part 1. Contains anther (pollen sac) and long supporting filament ii. Pistil: female flower part 1. Shaped like bowling pin, located in flower’s center 2. Contains stigma, style, ovary a. Stigma is located at the top and is connected by the style to the ovary iii. Sepals: small, green, leaf-like structures located at base of flower; protect the flower bud iv. Petals: highly colored portion of flowers; collectively known as a corolla b. FLOWER TYPES i. Complete: contains stamen, pistil, petals, and sepals ii. Incomplete: missing one of the parts above^ iii. Perfect: has functional stamen and pistils iv. Imperfect: stamen or pistils are missing/lacking 1. Monoecious Species: have both male and female perfect flowers on one plant (ex. corn) 2. Dioecious Species: have separate male/female plants; need to plant one gender plant next to the opposite gender to achieve pollination v. Solitary Flower: plant bears only one flower per stem vi. Inflorescence: plant produces a cluster of flowers CHAPTER 1: BASIC BOTANY rg c. SEED FORMATION i. Pollination: transfer of pollen from anther to stigma, either by wind or by pollinators ii. Fertilization: union of a male sperm nucleus from a pollen grain with a female egg; if successful, a seed forms iii. Cross-Fertilization: combines genetic material from two parent plants 5. SEEDS a. Germination: process when seed embryo goes from dormant state to active, growing stage i. Radicle is the first seed part to emerge, followed by the hypocotyl, then the cotyledons 1. Cotyledons: encase the embryo; monocots have one and dicots have two b. Seed Coat Dormancy: hard seed coat that doesn’t allow water to penetrate; requires scarification - used to break/soften the seed coat c. Embryo Dormancy: seeds must go through a cold season or ‘stratification’ before germinating 6. PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT a. BE ABLE TO FILL OUT THIS TABLE: i. Photosynthesis: process where plants create their own food; requires H2O, light and CO2 → sugar + O2 ii. Respiration: Carbohydrates (food) made during photosynthesis are converted into energy iii. Transpiration: when water vapor is released from leaf tissue; pulls more water from the roots 1. Uses 90% of the water that enters a plant’s roots 2. Water moving via the roots is responsible for: a. Transporting minerals from the soil throughout the plant b. Cooling the plant through evaporation c. Maintaining cell firmness CHAPTER 1: BASIC BOTANY rg 7. KEY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH a. Light i. Quantity: intensity of sunlight, depends on the plant ii. Quality: color or wavelength of lights; blue + red have the greatest effect iii. Duration/Photoperiod: amount of time a plant is exposed to light; controls flowering in many plants b. Temperature c. Water & Humidity CHAPTER 5: PLANT DISEASES 1. Three conditions for a pathogenic plant disease to occur: a. Susceptible host, pathogen, favorable environment i. Host: plant afflicted with a disease or insect pest ii. Pathogen: disease causing organism 2. Signs vs Symptoms of Plant Damage a. SIGNS: physical evidence of organisms that are responsible for plant damage i. Ex. pest or pathogen itself, secretions, chemical residues, or records of extremely weather events b. SYMPTOMS: external responses of the plant to living or nonliving damaging factors i. Ex. galls, blotches or wilting 1. Canker: dead region on bark of twigs, stems or trunks 2. Desiccation: drying out of plant tissue 3. Blight: Rapid discoloration, wilting and death of the plant tissue 3. Seven Types of Disease Causing Organisms (Pathogens) a. FUNGI i. Most abundant group ii. Reproduce via spores, sexually or asexually 1. Fruiting Body: fungal structure that contains or bears spores iii. Common symptoms: Leaf spots, wilts, blights, cankers, dieback, fruit rot b. WATER MOLDS (OOMYCETES) i. Fungus like organisms ii. Common symptoms: leaf spots, blights, cankers, root rots, wilt damping off, dieback c. BACTERIA i. Microscopic organisms composed of single cells ii. Cannot penetrate plant tissue directly; must infect via wounds or natural plant openings iii. Common symptoms: Leaf spots, blights, cankers, galls, wilt, dieback, soft rots d. VIRUSES i. Extremely small particles that require magnification of 100,000x or more for observation ii. Requires vectors (transmitter or carrier of disease ex. insects/humans) to carry them from one plant to another iii. Dependent on live hosts for replication iv. Common symptoms: mottling, mosaic, leaf distortion, stunning, poor fruit set, chlorosis e. NEMATODES i. Microscopic roundworms that damage plant tissue as they feed; many feed on root tissues, but a few feed on foliage or other aboveground organs ii. Have needle-like mouth parts (stylets) that pierce plant tissue and extract cell contents CHAPTER 5: PLANT DISEASES iii. Common symptoms: chlorosis, root galls, damaged/stubby roots, stunting, dieback, reduced yields f. PHYTOPLASMAS i. Extremely small, bacteria-like plant pathogens ii. Differ from bacteria because cannot survive without a host, their smaller size, and lack of cell walls iii. Common symptoms: development of chlorophyll in tissues where normally absent, abnormal growth (Ex. witches broom) g. PARASITIC PLANTS i. Do not have the ability to produce all the nutrients they require, rely on host plants ii. Common symptoms: reduced vigor, dieback 1. Ex. mistletoe will parasitize oaks 4. Principles of Plant Disease Management/Control i. Exclusion 1. Prevents pathogens to areas where they don’t exist 2. Ex. quarantine ii. Avoidance 1. Inhibit establishment of pathogens that exist in other areas 2. Ex. Crop rotations iii. Resistance 1. Select plants w/ tolerance 2. Ex. Hybrid cultivars iv. Protection 1. Implement steps to prevent plants from infection 2. Ex. Apply physical barriers v. Eradication 1. Limit pathogen spread once plant is infected 2. Ex. Remove infected plants 5. Fungicides can be effective in protecting plants before infection or limiting spread 6. Once disease is confirmed a. Sanitation is the most important management practice in the garden CHAPTER 4: SOILS & FERTILITY 1. SOIL STRUCTURE a. Can be destroyed in three ways i. Compaction ii. Excessive Tillage* iii. Tilling when soil is too wet* 1. *→ loss of organic weakens structure b. 4 Practices to reduce problems with wet soil i. Divert rain water runoff away from garden ii. Avoid plants that don’t do well in wet conditions iii. Use raised beds for perennials that need well drained soil iv. Consider/investigate installing drainage c. Permeability: capacity of soil to allow water to pass through it i. Rate at which water moves through the soil d. Leaching: when nitrate remaining in the soil seeps out in the fall/winter + may contaminate groundwater i. Movement of H2O + soluble nutrients down through the soil profile 2. Green Manure: cover crops specifically grown to be tilled/dug into soil 3. Lime is the most common way to increase soil pH a. Organic amendment suitable for use by organic gardeners 4. Elemental Sulfur and Aluminum Sulfate decreases soil pH 5. Primary Nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK) a. GENERAL INFO i. Plants can only take up nutrients that are in solution (dissolved in water) ii. Plants need the largest amounts of nutrients (fertilizer) when they are growing the most rapidly 1. Also need available nutrients shortly after seedling/transplanting iii. pH: a measure of acidity or alkalinity iv. Cation: positively charged ion v. Anion: negatively charged ion b. NITROGEN: i. Plants cannot directly use all forms of nitrogen 1. Can only be used directly by plants in two forms: a. Ammonium b. Nitrate ii. Nitrogen is the nutrient needed in the largest amount by plants 1. In excess, can harm plants and degrade water quality 2. Organic materials with low carbon to nitrogen ratio (ex. Undiluted manure/blood meal) are high in nitrogen CHAPTER 4: SOILS & FERTILITY iii. Immobilization: process where soil microorganisms use available nitrogen when they break down organic matter, leaving little nitrogen for plants iv. Nitrifier: microbe that converts ammonium to nitrate v. Nitrogen Fixation: when atmospheric nitrogen is converted to plant-available forms 1. certain plants + Rhizobia bacteria vi. Immobilization: process where soil microorganisms use available nitrogen when they break down organic matter, leaving little nitrogen for plants c. PHOSPHORUS i. Most KY soil is naturally high in phosphorus CHAPTER 6: DIAGNOSING PLANT PROBLEMS 1. STEPS IN DIAGNOSING PLANT PROBLEMS b. Identification & History i. collect information about the plant and its environment ii. Ex. amount of sun, soil conditions, history of the area c. Examine the Site i. Ex. wildlife habitats, construction sites d. Inventory of Symptoms & Signs 7. INSECTS & MITES a. Chewing Insects i. Holes in leaves or full eating of leaves ii. Chewing mouthparts b. Sap Feeders i. Needle-like/sucking mouthparts ii. Sap removal → can cause yellow/wilted foliage, loss of vigor, dieback, fine spotting or stippling on leaves 1. Ex. Leafhoppers, plant bugs, lacebugs, mites c. Gall Makers i. Gall: Abnormal, localized swelling on leaf, stem or root tissue ii. Caused by wasp, aphids, flies or mites d. Borers & Girdlers i. Borers: tunnel into woody tissue; many produce exit holes ii. Girdlers: beetles who chew around a twig so that it breaks easily; plant their eggs in the fallen twig 8. ABIOTIC CAUSES a. Weather i. Ex. High temperatures, drought b. Physiological disorders - slow decline over time i. Ex. Improper planting techniques, inappropriate sunlight/temp/rainfall c. Mechanical damage i. Ex. Improper pruning, damage from animals/humans d. Nutrition i. Ex. Depleted nitrogen e. Chemical damage i. Ex. Air/soil pollution, improper fertilization technique (ex. Leaf burn from sprays) CHAPTER 7: INSECTS df 1. 8 CLASSIFICATION LEVELS (most specific to least specific) a. Species b. Genus c. Family d. Order (IM = incomplete metamorphosis; CM = complete metamorphosis) i. Odonata: means ‘toothed’; IM; dragonflies, damselflies ii. Orthoptera: means ‘straight wing’; IM; grasshoppers, crickets, katydids iii. Mantodea: means ‘prophet’; IM; praying mantis iv. Blattodea*: means ‘cockroach’; IM; cockroaches/termites v. Dermaptera: means ‘skin wing’; IM; earwigs vi. Thysanoptera: means ‘fringe wing’; Strange Metamorphosis; thrips vii. Hemiptera*: means ‘half wing’; IM; aphids, stinkbugs, cicadas, assassin bugs viii. Neuroptera: means ‘nerve wing’; CM; lacewings, antlions ix. Coleoptera*: means ‘sheath wing’; CM; beetles x. Lepidoptera*: means ‘scale wing’; CM; butterflies, moths, skippers xi. Diptera*: means ‘two wings’; CM; flies xii. Hymenoptera: means ‘membrane wings’; CM; bees, ants, wasps, sawflies *mentioned in quizzes/homework e. Class i. Crustacea (crabs, lobsters, shrimp, crayfish, lobster) ii. Chilipoda (centipedes) iii. Diplopoda (millipedes) iv. Arachnida (spiders, ticks, mites, scorpions) v. Insecta (beetles, butterflies, dragonflies) f. Phylum i. Arthropods = represent 80% of animal life on the planet. What we refer to as insects and their relatives. All have: 1. Jointed appendages 2. Bilateral Symmetry 3. Segmented bodies 4. Have exoskeleton across phylum g. Kingdom h. Domain 2. INSECT BODY SECTIONS a. HEAD i. Antennae 1. Used for smelling, touching, hearing a. Covered in small, hair-like receptors ii. Eyes 1. Simple Eyes: can detect only light/dark; often comes in groups of 3 in a triangle (ocelli) CHAPTER 7: INSECTS df 2. Compound Eyes: Made up of 100s of lenses, combined into a collage-like visual; can detect UV light 3. Do not have good depth perception iii. Mouthparts 1. Chewing a. Beetles, Honey Bees b. Plant Damage: skeletonization, shot hole damage, complete defoliation 2. Piercing/Sucking a. Stinkbugs; Aphids b. Plant Damage: cupped leaves, leaf yellowing, wilting, buildup of honeydew 3. Sponging a. Flies 4. Siphoning a. Butterflies b. ABDOMEN i. Can be made up of as many as eight segments, houses many vital organs, including the reproductive system c. THORAX i. Made up of 3 parts; prothorax, mesothorax, metathorax ii. Starts where the 1st pair of legs are and ends with the last pair of legs 3. INSECT DEVELOPMENT a. Incomplete Metamorphosis i. Process where an insect grows gradually from egg → nymph → adult ii. Nymph: young insect that goes through incomplete metamorphosis b. Complete Metamorphosis i. Four Stages of Complete Metamorphosis 1. Egg will hatch 2. Larva stage a. Seven Basic Larval Types i. Predator (some beetles, lacewings) ii. White grub (japanese beetles) iii. Caterpillar (butterflies, moths) iv. Wireworm (some beetles) v. Leaf Beetles vi. Maggots (flies) vii. Legless gnats with distinct heads (bees*, wasps) 3. Pupa stage 4. Adult Form c. Insect Emergence Times i. Use ‘growing degree days*’ to predict - this is when a temperature is maintained over a few days; different insects have different temperatures CHAPTER 10: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 1. Plant Resistance: bred to support little to no pests 2. Plant Tolerance: bred to be able to host pests without exhibiting symptoms 3. METHODS OF PEST MANAGEMENT a. Cultural Methods i. ‘Right place, right time’ planting ii. Choosing resistant/tolerant varieties iii. Irrigation and Fertilization iv. Sanitation v. Crop Rotation b. Physical Pest Management i. Barriers to Pests 1. Row Covers 2. Plant Collars 3. Sticky Barriers ii. Physical Removal c. Mechanical Methods i. Pest Destruction ii. Trapping 1. Pheromone traps 2. Snap traps/glue traps 3. Bait or habitat traps d. Biological Pest Control Methods i. Predators 1. Ex. ladybug ii. Parasitoids 1. Ex. Wasps iii. Parasites 1. Ex. Parasitic mites, ticks, fleas iv. Microorganisms 1. Ex. nematode, bacteria e. Chemical Methods i. Pesticide usage 1. Fungicide 2. Herbicide 3. Insecticides 4. CREATING A PLAN FOR IPM a. P.A.M.S. i. Prevention 1. Keep the site from getting pests in the first place ii. Avoidance 1. Keep the site from getting pests where populations may be nearby iii. Monitoring 1. Important to see if Prevention & Avoidance are working CHAPTER 10: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT 2. Identifies problems in the garden early on iv. Suppression 1. Necessary if above steps are not successful and pest population is present CHAPTER 11: PESTICIDE AND SAFETY 1. PESTICIDE FORMULATION TYPES a. Liquid i. Emulsifiable concentrates ii. Flowables b. Dry i. Dusts ii. Granules iii. Wettable Powder iv. Soluble Powder c. Other i. Ready-to-use ii. Baits 2. Be able to fill out this table 3. Reducing Risk for Chemical IPM a. Consider the pesticide’s: i. Formulation ii. Active ingredient iii. Application method 4. Pesticide Disposal a. Avoid having excess b. Spray remaining volume over a compatible area c. Spread rinse water over a wide area to dilute 5. Pesticide compatibility: occurs when mixing two or more pesticides can be mixed together without causing adverse effects 6. Antagonism: is mixing two or more pesticides that results in reduced effectiveness 7. Protective Equipment a. Long Pants, Long-sleeved Shirt, Shoes with Socks, Rubber Gloves CHAPTER 13: COMPOSTING df 1. COMPOSTING a. Add 1-2 inches of compost to the garden each year to build productive soils b. Cold Composting: slow process, leaving a pile to decompose naturally i. May take a long time, doesn’t kill weed seeds or pathogens c. Hot Composting: fast process, 6-8 weeks; high temps are maintained by mixing balanced volumes of energy materials + bulking agents, keeping moist, turning frequently i. Pile should be between 120-150F and will shrink to 50% of its volume ii. Raw Materials used in making compost 1. Bulking Agent: wood chips, cardboard 2. Energy Materials: fruit/veggie waste, grass clippings 2. Humus: when organic matter decomposes; acts as a natural glue to bind and strengthen soil aggregates 3. Soil Organisms: break down the remains of plants and other organisms a. Releases nutrients, energy, CO2; creates soil organic matter b. Not all soil organisms are beneficial 4. A soil with equal sand, silt + clay particles = loam 5. Clay: smallest type of soil particle 6. Silt: type of soil particle which is intermediate in size between sand and clay 7. Processed Fertilizer a. Almost immediately available to plants b. Higher concentration of nutrients c. Urea 8. Organic Fertilizer a. Usually slow-release b. Lower nutrient content c. Fish byproducts 9. Worms require 75-90% moisture in their bodies and environment CHAPTER 15: LAWN MANAGEMENT 1. Turf: grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots a. foundation of a quality landscape; improves the beauty of other ornamentals; safe recreational surface 2. FERTILIZING LAWNS a. Fall (Mid-August to Mid-September) = best time of year to apply nitrogen to cool-season grasses i. Ex. KY Bluegrass and Tall Fescue b. Late spring/early fall = best time to fertilize warm-season grasses i. Ex. Bermuda Grass and Zoysia Grass c. Lawn clippings add fertilizer back to the lawn, maybe as much as 25% of the lawn annual needs 2. LAWN PROBLEMS a. Thatch: a layer of undecomposed turfgrass roots and stems situated above the soil surface and constituting the upper stratum of the medium that supports turfgrass growth b. White grubs: larvae of a hard-shelled beetle that is a serious pest in Kentucky bluegrass lawns. Do not often cause problems in tall fescue lawns. c. Localized dry spot: a serious problem for KY bluegrass lawns consisting of an area that resists normal rainfall and irrigation d. Broadleaf weeds: weeds characterized by netted veins in the leaves that are often controlled selectively after germination i. Examples: chickweed, plantain, e. Brown patch: a fungal disease that is most prevalent on perennial ryegrass and tall fescue lawns f. Grassy weeds: weeds characterized by parallel leaf veins that are best controlled with preemergence herbicides i. Examples: foxtail, crabgrass 3. LAWN RENOVATION a. What will allow the best success when renovating an existing lawn? i. Select the best grass for needs and establish it properly ii. Must have good soil contact iii. Existing grass/weeds are killed iv. Majority of existing grass/weeds can be removed v. Surface kept moist for ~2 weeks b. What kind of grass should be used for lawn renovation? i. Usually the same existing grass, turf-type Tall Fescue is preferred CHAPTER 15: LAWN MANAGEMENT 1. Tall fescue is the grass that is most well adapted throughout the state of KY 2. Bermuda grass occurs naturally in many KY lawns and is most often considered a weed c. Soil Preparation i. Core aerification: mechanical cultivation process where cores of soil are removed from soil surface with an aerifier → scattered back on soil surface 1. Reduces compaction and organic accumulation ii. Three types of amending soil/organic matter that can improve soil that is either too sandy or too much clay: 1. Peat moss 2. Well-decomposed sawdust 3. Compost 4. MOWING LAWNS a. Remove no more than ⅓ - ½ of the leaf b. Taller you mow, the less frequently you need to mow c. Common Mistakes: i. Mowing too closely ii. Mowing too infrequently iii. Using a dull mower blade 5. WATERING LAWNS a. When should a lawn be watered once it is established? i. Excessively during dry periods b. Frequent, shallow watering of a lawn should always be avoided CHAPTERS 3 & 18: ANNUALS, PERENNIALS & PROPAGATION 1. Annuals: germinate, grow, bloom and go to seed in one year 2. Biennials: require two full years to complete their growth cycle a. Ex. forget-me-nots, foxgloves 3. Perennials a. Two Types i. Herbaceous perennials: grow year after year without permanent woody branch structures ii. Woody perennials: trees and shrubs b. Preparation & Selecting Perennials i. Soil preparation is a key to strong future growth 1. Double Digging: loosening two layers of soil to prep for planting; allows roots to reach deeper in each ii. Select appropriate plant for the local conditions and hardiness zones iii. Tender perennials: do not survive harsh winters iv. Hardy perennials: plants that live through the winter and send new shoots out *Tender perennials and hardy perennials can take several years to bloom c. Dividing Perennials i. It is important to divide perennials because performance decreases when the plants roots get too crowded 1. Helps with growth and performance d. Mulching Perennials i. Winter mulching too soon may kill the plant by freezing 4. SEEDLING CARE a. Germination: i. Four environmental factors that affect germination: 1. Water 2. Oxygen 3. Light: 16hrs/day after seed germination 4. Heat b. UNDERGROUND PLANT ORGANS i. Bulb: a thin, flattened stem surrounded by fleshy, dried leaf bases called scales ii. Corm: solid interiors, developed from swollen stems iii. Rhizomes: specialized stems that grow horizontally at or just below the soil surface iv. Tubers: swollen, modified, underground stems 5. PROPAGATION a. Asexual propagation i. Division: more than one rooted crown is severed and planted separately CHAPTERS 3 & 18: ANNUALS, PERENNIALS & PROPAGATION 1. Ex: dividing a plant after a few seasons and replanting ii. Cutting: a vegetative part is severed from the parent plant 1. Ex. Cutting a vegetative part off and placing in water iii. Layering: a rooted stem severed from the parent plant 1. Ex: severing a root and replanting iv. Grafting: joining plant parts to grow as one plant 1. 4 conditions to meet that must be successful: a. Scion and rootstock have to be compatible b. Both to be at proper physiological stage c. Cambial layers of scion and rootstock must meet d. Graft union has to be kept moist until hand is healed CHAPTER 20: HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 1. Principles and Practices of Organic Gardening a. Rotating Crops i. Crop Rotation Groups 1. Nightshade - Solanaceae a. Tomato, Pepper, Potato, Eggplant 2. Cole Crop - Brassicacae a. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale 3. Carrot - Apiaceae a. Carrot, Parsley, Celery, Parsnip 4. Gourd - Cucurbitaceae a. Winter/summer squash, melons, cucumber ii. Balance crops based on how they feed or give back nutrients to the soil 1. Heavy Giver: ex. Beans, peas, green manure crops 2. Light Feeder: ex. Beets, carrots, garlic, onions 3. Heavy Feeder: ex. Broccoli, cabbage, corn b. Using planning practices to avoid garden pests i. Cultural Controls: changes in irrigation, fertilization, sanitation; alters current cultural practices - first line of defense for organic gardeners* 1. Ex. Sanitation: clean equipment to prevent weed seeds from spreading; use only sanitized/composted manure; avoid soil infested with weeds 2. Ex. Hand weeding is the oldest and most effective for common weeds ii. Most reliable way to control insects in organic gardens? 1. Monitoring + Sanitation 2. Use recommended dates and avoiding overfertilization c. Building long-term soil fertility i. Intercropping: planting different crops, side-by-side, to take advantage of different maturing times ii. Succession Planting: another seed takes place of a harvested plant 1. Ex. sweet corn → broccoli/spinach iii. Mulching 1. Weed suppression 2. Conserve soil moisture 3. Reduce erosion 2. ORGANIC INSECT MANAGEMENT: a. Fungicides: protectants by nature - will not cure existing infections or symptoms i. Apply before pathogens arrive b. Insecticidal soaps can be used to control aphids, mealybugs, scale and mites i. Do not use bleach to control insect pests 3. GENERAL GARDEN CARE a. Last Frost Date Range: April 30 - May 5 CHAPTER 20: HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING b. Garden plants typically do best in a pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 c. How much water is needed by veggie crops April-September? i. 1” per week d. Wetting Front: As each layer of soil is saturated, water will descend to the next layer; this movement is called the “wetting front” e. Hardening Off: exposing young plants/seedlings gradually to the growing environment to acclimate and strengthen the plant before planting in the ground f. Container Gardening i. Need to water more often 1. The larger the container, the less it will need to be watered ii. Fertilize more frequently 1. Annuals grown in containers will require more frequent fertilization iii. Soil Information 1. Cannot use garden soil for container planting 2. Can reuse potting mix unless the plants in them were seriously diseased 3. Sterilize planting media → oven @ 250 degrees g. How many hours of sunlight are needed for a successful garden? i. 8+ hours/day h. Dead Heading: removing flowers before they go to seed, maintenance for annuals i. Disbudding: removing buds to get larger flowers, one per stem CHAPTER 12,16,17,21: SELECTING, PLANTING, & CARE OF WOODY PLANTS 1. Planting Shrubs a. When planting bare-root and balled and burlap plants, the hole should be dug wider, but not deeper than the root system 2. Staking Newly Planted Tree a. Stakes should be parallel to the prevailing wind b. Use a material that will not chafe or damage the bark c. Remove stakes as soon as possible 3. Pruning Shrubs a. Parts of a Tree i. Scaffold: the framework of the tree ii. Shoot: one season’s branch growth iii. Spur: short shoot that bears flower buds and often fruit, either on the end (terminally) or sides (laterally) iv. Water Sprout: long shoot that grows in an undesirable location on a trunk or major limb v. Collar: swollen area at the base of a branch where it connects to a trunk b. Pruning Timing i. Prune spring flowering shrubs that bloom on last season’s growth soon after bloom ii. Prune shrubs that bloom after June in late winter iii. Rounded is the best shape to prune a hedge c. Selecting branches for permanent scaffolds: i. For greatest strength, choose branches with a wide angle of attachments with the trunk, preferably 60-70% 4. Pruning Cuts: a. Heading suits: involved cutting off a part of a shoot or limb b. Thinning cuts: removes undesired wood 5. Four Reasons for Pruning: a. Training a plant b. Maintaining plant health c. Improving quality of flowers, fruit, foliage, stems i. The more flowers and fruit a plant produces, the smaller they are ii. Root pruning can be used to force a vigorously growing fruit tree into bloom d. Restricting growth i. When pruning twigs and small branches, always cut back to a vigorous bud or intersecting branch 1. Keep the central leader of woody plants - do not prune 2. Required number of cuts when pruning a branch >1.5 inches in diameter? THREE 6. Transplanting Shrubs a. Transplant evergreens in spring b. Transplant deciduous plants while they are dormant (late fall → early spring) c. Ball and Burlap is best established woody plant transplanting method CHAPTER 12,16,17,21: SELECTING, PLANTING, & CARE OF WOODY PLANTS 7. Injury & Issues to Shrubs a. Winter Injuries: i. Three Types: 1. Bud and stem damage 2. Frozen roots 3. Sunscald of bark ii. Prevent Winter Injuries: 1. Proper ground root protection a. Insulate pots with wood chips, leaves, etc 2. Planting tree early enough in the fall to establish roots 3. Paint tree trunk white (reflect sunlight) b. Roots growing very close to/above the soil surface may be caused by: i. Shallow, frequent watering, ii. High water table, and iii. Hard soil layer (hardpan) just beneath the surface c. Chlorotic Leaves on Tree: i. Causes: Lack of water/Drought 8. Fertilizing Shrubs a. Only when needed 9. Watering Shrubs a. Supply water around the root zone, drip line irrigations when irrigating trees and shrubs 10. Espalier System a. Easiest espalier system is horizontal cordon b. Well Adapted Plants: Apples, pears, plums, and some shrubs CHAPTER 22: GROWING FRUIT TREES 1. ROOTSTOCKS a. Good rootstock qualities i. Efficient yield production ii. Disease resistant 1. When buying fruit trees in KY, look at disease-resistance varieties 2. Greatest choice in rootstocks exists with apples iii. Tolerance of different soil conditions 1. Ex. Sweet cherries generally do NOT survive well in KY iv. Cold hardiness 2. Growing peaches in western KY a. Western KY has a milder climate, and peaches do better with springs without cold temperatures b. No suitable dwarfing rootstocks for peaches 3. Pollination of Fruit Trees a. Germination for self-unfruitful fruit trees i. Cut bouquet of blooms from another variety and place it in a pail of water nearby while your tree is in bloom 1. Self-unfruitful: when a tree must be pollinated by another variety of the same tree b. Plant pollen-compatible trees within 100 feet to ensure adequate pollination c. Nut trees depend on to pollinate 4. Spacing fruit trees a. Spacing Close Together i. Benefit: Pushes them into earlier production ii. Drawback: Requires more pruning at earlier stage b. Trees need at least 4 feet of soil above an impenetrable soil layer or water table to have adequate room for root development 5. Nutritional Needs for Fruit Trees a. Gauge nitrogen needs by watching the amount of annual growth; check for yellowing of older leaves b. Boron is an important micronutrient for fruit trees that is essential for plant health, productivity and fruit set 6. Water Needs for Fruit Trees a. Determine your tree’s water needs by checking the soil moisture at the root zone at 12” & 24” deep 7. Pruning Fruit Trees a. Prune fruit trees in late fall / early winter b. Orchard Management CHAPTER 22: GROWING FRUIT TREES i. Thinning: removes some developing embryos that would produce flowering inhibitors; improves the size and quality of fruit 1. Three ways to thin fruit? a. Pick tiny fruit or blossoms by hand b. Mechanical thinning c. Plant growth regulating 8. Harvesting from Fruit Trees a. Use taste to determine the best time to pick fruit? 9. Pheromones, Problem Management & IPM a. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): integrates cultural, mechanical, chemical, and biological controls to control insects and diseases b. Phenology model: determines the presence or absence of a pest and measures its population density connects to a trunk c. Protective Fungicide i. Blossom Spray: used for brown-rot blossom blight on stone fruit, apple scab, cedar apple rust, and powdery mildew on apples and pears d. Pheromones: chemical messengers used by animals to communicate with each other i. Female sex pheromones are used to attract males to a trap ii. Small pieces of glass or plastic containing female sex pheromones to spread throughout an area to confuse males iii. Pheromones are mixed with pesticides, such as insecticides, to attract pests to the chemical control e. Economic threshold: the level at which pest damage justifies the cost of control