USU Invasive Insect workshop

For Box Elder County Fruit Growers and Gardeners,

Announcing a workshop that USU Extension & USU IPM team will be putting together this Friday (Mar 6) in Brigham City. They will cover the monitoring, management, and identification of Spotted Wing Drosophila and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. SWD is a very destructive pest of fruit and BMSB is a destructive pest of fruits and vegetables. SWD has been found in Box Elder County, as well as Rich, Cache, Weber, Davis, and Utah Counties. BMSB has been found in Salt Lake and Utah Counties.

To register or for more information about these workshops see http://utahpests.usu.edu/caps/htm/events-and-workshops

Spotted Wing Drosophila

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Utah State University Extension gardening classes 4-week series

The USU Extension office will be holding a 4 week series of gardening classes for Box Elder County residents. The first class starts on Thursday, March 5 and will be taught at the USU Brigham City Campus. The classes will focus on small fruit, tree fruit and vegetable production. To register for the class, go to http://extension.usu.edu/boxelder/ and click on the gardening class link.

February Gardening

Our current Utah winter conditions have been more like a perpetual balmy spring, and terribly dry. Punxatawny Phil in Philadelphia may have seen his shadow on Groundhog Day, but the groundhogs around here demanded an early spring and it seems as though that's what we are getting! Sunshine abounds!
With that said, pay attention to trees and shrubs in your yard, especially those most recently planted. Even though it is winter and in their dormancy you don't notice any growth above ground, below ground they are still somewhat active. They still need a drink to prevent winter kill and damage, and to get established. Drag out the hose and after it spits out the ice cubes, let the water trickle around the roots under the dripline and give them a good soak. They'll love you for it! This is a good idea all through winter, not just during warm and dry February!

Check out this link for more in depth information: Preventing Winter Injury