Wichita gardener’s almanac for Feb. 6

Check for scale — Woody plants that have scale insects can be treated with a dormant oil during this dormant season, by March 1, Ward Upham of K-State says. But spray only when the temperature is above 40.

Plants that should be checked for scale include apples, pears and other fruit trees, bush fruits, lilac, crabapple, oak, ash, elm, lilac, maple, linden, arborvitae, juniper, pine, spruce, yew and, especially, Manhattan euonymus. Scales often look like small shells. If there are only a few, it’s not a problem. But their numbers can explode during the growing season and cause damage and even death to the plant, Upham writes in this week’s Horticulture 2016 newsletter.

Fungus gnats — If you see sudden wilting, loss of vigor, poor growth and yellowing leaves on houseplants, the cause could be fungus gnats, Upham says. They are small and common in soils that are high in organic matter and kept moist. Adults look like mosquitoes but don’t do any harm, Upham says. But the larvae or maggots can feed on plant roots. Using a sterile media and avoiding overwatering can help prevent infestations, Upham says. To treat an infestation, use Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis (Gnatrol), he says.

Garden events

Family Fun Fair — Botanica will have its annual Family Fun Fair this weekend, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Kids will be able to make nature crafts and take part in other activities indoors and out. The event is free.

Landscaper talk and seed exchange — The Suburban Garden Club will meet Monday at Botanica. There will be a social at 9:45 a.m. followed by a talk by Dennis Strole, a landscaper from Johnson’s Legacy Landscapes. There will also be a seed exchange. Those who are interested can go to lunch at Ruben’s Mexican Grill afterward. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Daylily meeting — The Wichita Daylily Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Botanica. The program will be a PowerPoint presentation by the American Hemerocallis Society entitled “Shapes of Distinction” explaining and showing examples of sculpted daylilies. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Talk on new annuals — Dan Parcel of Kaw Valley Greenhouses will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about how new annuals and perennials are tested for how well they grow in the Wichita area and make the cut for sale to the public. The lunchtime lecture, at 12:15, is included in Botanica admission. Sweet Basil will have lunch for sale from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for $8.

Lawn-mowing clinic for kids — On March 16, during spring break, the Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardeners and K-State Research and Extension will hold a lawn-mowing clinic for girls and boys in fifth through ninth grades. They will learn about turfgrass, mower safety, mower maintenance and the business of lawn mowing and take home a packet of information, a certificate and business cards. Two sessions are available — 9:20 to 11:30 a.m. or 1:20 to 3:30 p.m. — at the Extension Education Center, 21st Street and Ridge Road. Register by March 14 online at sedgwick.ksu.edu or call 316-660-0100. The cost is $10 if you register by March 1, $15 after.

Annie Calovich

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for Feb. 6."