Fall and spring are my favorite seasons. Finally, some cooler temperatures have arrived and it is actually feeling more like fall! I encourage you to get outside and enjoy the fall season. It is the perfect time to do some tasks around your landscape that will help next spring.

First, let’s talk lawn weeds. I know, they are probably the last thing on your mind since we are winding down the mowing season. Believe it or not, it is the ideal time to tackle those weeds. Not next spring when you fire the mower up again!

Cool season broadleaf weeds such as henbit, dandelions and chick weed all germinate in the cool moist periods of September and October. They overwinter as small plants, barely visible unless you get down close to the ground to look. Once warm weather arrives in the spring, the plants grow rapidly and flower.

Fall control is ideal for these cool season broadleaf weeds. The weeds are storing food in their roots and will send a leaf applied herbicide to their roots as well. The herbicides will translocate to the roots and will kill the plants from the roots up. These plants are also small and easily controlled right now.

There are several products on the market that are effective on these fall germinating weeds. Herbicides such as 2,4-D or combination products that contain 2,4-D, MCCP and Dicamba, sold under the trade names of Trimec, Weed-B-Gon, or Weed-Out, can be used. A product called Weed Free Zone is also an option. It contains the three active ingredients mentioned above plus carfentrazone.

Newly planted lawns should not be treated with any herbicide until the new grass seedlings have been mowed two or three times depending on the product. Read and follow the label directions closely.

Next, let’s talk flower bulbs. Bulbs are a good addition to any landscape or garden because they offer a variety of bloom color, flowering time, plant height, and shape. Now is the time to get those bulbs in the ground!

Bulbs can be planted in a variety of locations including around house foundations, under deciduous shrubs and trees, along borders, in perennial beds, and rock gardens. You can also plant them in containers and even on steep slopes.

When planted along a foundation, bulbs will add color in the early spring if planted in a grouping of twelve or more bulbs. If you have evergreen shrubs planted along a foundation, they will provide a nice background for planting of bulbs. Bulbs will “pop” with color in contrast to the green of the shrubs.

A border of bulbs planted along the edge of the lawn will add a splash of color to the lawn area. Or consider planting low growing bulbs around the edge of a flower bed to add interest. You can add them directly into a perennial bed. The bulbs will bloom in March, April and May before perennials start to grow. Make sure to locate the bulbs so the dying foliage will not be noticed.

Both spring and summer bulbs can be planted in portable containers. The nice thing about container plantings is their versatility. For spring bulbs, once bloom is past, the container can be moved to a location out of sight while the foliage matures. Summer bulbs will add color all summer long to areas such as a patio or deck.

Keep in mind that planting bulbs of one variety or color in mass will have greater visual impact. This will provide uniform color and texture that is pleasing to the eye. With bulbs such as tulips or daffodils, plant at least twelve bulbs of one variety in a grouping. Smaller bulbs should be planted in groups of fifty to have visual impact.

Take action now to have a beautiful, weed-free, colorful lawn next spring!

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

MyMedicare.gov program is starting this fall to help Medicare beneficiaries manage personal Medicare benefits and service information. Registering with MyMedicare.gov gives you access to your personalized information at any time. Registering lets you:

• Check your Medicare information, such as your Medicare claims as soon as they are processed and important Medicare-related information specific to you.
• Find your eligibility, entitlement, and preventive service information.
• Check your health and prescription drug enrollment information.
• View your Part B deductible information.
• Manage your prescription drug list and other personal health information.
• Print an official Medicare card.
• Create an “On the Go Report” that allows you to print your health information to share with your healthcare providers.

Medicare uses the same information that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has on file for you (or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) if you get RRB benefits) to verify your information and set up your online account. To register online, you’ll:

• Enter your Medicare number (as it appears on your red, white, and blue Medicare card).
• Register with the same address that the SSA or RRB has on file for you. During Registration, you will be asked you to validate your address. This is an important step to protect your personal information, because Medicare may send you mail at this address that contains important personal account information.
• Create a username and password that you can remember and use to sign into MyMedicare.gov each time you visit.
• Provide information to reset your username or password if you forget it in the future.

Medicare will mail you a confirmation letter and send a confirmation email if you provided one during registration.

The security provided by MyMedicare.gov prevents others from illegally gathering data from or about you, keeping your personal information safe. Your MyMedicare.gov account may only be accessed by signing in with your own username and personalized password. You or your appointed Authorized Representative are the only people who should have this information.

Remember, you play an important role in protecting your personal information (including your Social Security number) from unlawful access. Always log out of your MyMedicare.gov account after you are finished with your session. Do not share your login information with anyone. Keep your username and password stored in a safe place.

Annual Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15^th– December 7^th, make an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Counselor for Kansans (SHICK) for assistance in setting up your MyMedicare.gov account when reviewing Part D prescription and Advantage Plan options for 2020. If you have questions or would like to make an appointment at one of the Southwind Extension District offices (Fort Scott, Erie, Iola, and Yates Center), contact me at 620-223-3720 or [email protected].

Above normal rainfall this year meant one thing – the lawn mowers have never stopped running! Our fescue lawns did not go dormant this year and the crabgrass hasn’t slowed down either. You might be surprised at how much of your lawn is actually crabgrass and not fescue. If you are thinking about renovating your lawn, September is the time to do it. Renovating doesn’t have to be done by plowing under the current turf and starting from scratch. Instead, lawns can be thickened up by overseeding.

To start the overseeding process, mow the grass short (1-1.5 inches) and remove the clippings. This will make it easier to get good seed-soil contact and increase the amount of light that will reach the young seedlings. The success of overseeding is dependant on good seed-soil contact. Thatch can prevent the seed from reaching the soil and germinating. If the thatch layer is ¾ inch or more, use a sod cutter to remove it. A power rake can also be used to reduce a thatch layer.

Next, the soil should be prepared for the seed. Holes must be made into the soil for the seeds to fall into. A verticut machine can be used. It has solid vertical blades that can be set to cut furrows into the soil. Another option is to use a core aerator. This machine will punch holes into the soil and deposit the cores on the surface of the ground. Each hole will produce an excellent environment for seed germination and growth. Machines to do such work can often be rented, so check around.

Fertilizer should then be applied at the rate suggested by a soil test or a starter fertilizer should be used at the rate suggested on the bag.

Seeding is the next step. For overseeding, use half the amount needed compared to seeding bare ground. For tall fescue, the normal rate for bare seeding is 6 to 8 pounds per 1000 square feet so the overseeding rate would be 3 to 4 pounds per 1000 square feet. You don’t necessarily have to overseed with the same variety you planted before. The quality of a lawn by can be raised by overseeding with a fescue variety that has better growth habits. Many stores carry blends of several newer high-quality tall fescues.

Finally, water everything in and then keep the seedbed constantly moist to insure rapid germination. Frequent light waterings are better than deeper, infrequent watering as the seedlings become established.

Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer again 4 to 6 weeks after seeding to keep plants growing well and to build up food reserves.

On a side note, many homeowners often want to overseed bare spots under trees, but have minimal luck. The turf will sprout as fall progresses and will get established by winter. It continues to look good going into spring. However, the next summer it begins to die out again – despite any care it is given.

In many cases, this is due to too much shade or the type of turf planted isn’t a good fit for the location. Tall fescue is the only widely used lawn turf in Kansas that can survive some shade. All other cool and warm season turfs need more sunlight.

Instead of establishing grass under trees, consider underplanting the tree with shade tolerant ornamental plants. Examples include ground covers such as vinca minor vines, Boston ivy or liriope, or plants such as hostas or hardy ferns.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

I know there is still a lot of summer left. But in just a few weeks, students will be back in school and fall will be here in the blink of an eye. Although our summer gardens are going strong, it is time to start thinking about getting our fall vegetables planted. Believe it or not, fall is a great gardening season!

When you think about it, fall weather is much like spring – warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. Rainfall is typically more abundant in the fall than summer (although we have had plenty this summer) so less irrigation is needed and fall gardens often have fewer insect pest and disease problems. Combine all of these and you have the ingredients for a great garden! And of most importance is the taste of the produce grown. Flavors of fall grown vegetables are often sweeter and milder in taste than those grown during hot summer weather.

Some of the best vegetables for a fall garden are lettuce, spinach, radishes, beets, cabbage, turnips and carrots because of their frost-tolerance. These vegetables can be planted directly into your garden wherever space can be found – next to plants still growing in the garden like tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkins. Plant mid-August until the first week of September.

Left over seed from spring planting can be used as long as it was stored in a cool, dry location. To speed up germination and seedling emergence, soak the seeds overnight before planting. If you are purchasing new seed, look for the shortest season cultivars that you can find to insure harvest before a killing frost. The average fall freeze date for our area is around October 24 according to the Weather Data Library on the K-State campus.

Sometimes establishing a fall garden can be difficult during the summer when soil temperatures are extremely high. One way to avoid this is to establish plants in containers or pots for transplanting into the garden later in the season when the weather begins to cool. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and collards can be grown in cooler protected areas for 2-4 weeks prior to setting in the garden. Be sure to acclimatize crops for several days before transplanting directly into the garden.

Garden soil should be prepared just like for spring. An application of fertilizer will probably be necessary for optimum plant growth. Use one pound of a complete analysis fertilizer, such as 12-12-12, applied per 100 square feet of garden area. Weeds and grasses will also grow well in a fall garden so mulching may be warranted.

Everyone gets geared up to plant vegetables in the spring, but the fall season offers many benefits to gardening. Few take advantage of the season, but consider giving it a try this year.

The Extension office has the “Vegetable Garden Planting Guide” publication available free of charge. This guide offers information such as days to first harvest, days to germination, planting depth, frost resistance, and more.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Agricultural agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Replacing Your Social Security Card Just Got Easier in Kansas

Your Social Security card should be kept in a safe place with your other important papers and avoid giving it out unnecessarily. Even with best intentions, it may get misplaced. Keep in mind you may not need a replacement, sometimes simply knowing your Social Security number is enough.

If you do need a replacement, the state of Kansas has made it easier. Kansas residents now have the ability to request a Social Security card replacement online, allowing you to skip the in-person appointment process. Replacing your card is quick, secure, and free.

To replace your card online, first you will need to log in or create your My Social Security account. Your personal information is protected by using identity verification and other security features. To set up an account go to https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.

To replace your card online, you must also meet certain criteria. This includes being a U.S. Citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address, cannot be requesting a name change or any other change to your card, and must have a driver’s license or state-issued identification card from one of the states participating in this program.

My Social Security is an online service provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows you to review your earnings history, check current or future benefits, and access other Social Security services. You can also use your My Social Security account to:

• Check applications.
• Set up direct deposit for your benefit payment.
• Change your address or phone number.
• Request a benefit verification letter.
• Request a replacement of tax forms SSA-1099 or SSA 1042S.
• Check the status of a pending claim or appeal of disability.

Submitted by: Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District Director

In January 2019, the Southwind Extension District 4-H Livestock Judging Team of Jillian Keller (Piqua), Brody Nemecek (Iola), Haydon Schaaf (Uniontown), and Clay Brillhart (Fort Scott) were named Reserve National Champions at the National Western 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Denver, Colorado. In recognition as a winning team, they were awarded an invitation to compete internally at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland and at the Charleville Show in the Republic of Ireland, June 19-July 3, 2019.

The Royal Highland Show was a top-notch livestock show similar to what could be found at the American Royal or National Western Stock Show. The Southwind District 4-H youth were divided into pairs, and each pair judged a different species. Jillian Keller and Clay Brillhart formed the Kansas 4-H Sheep Team and earned recognition as the Reserve Champion Sheep Judging Team. Haydon Schaaf and Brody Nemecek were the Cattle Team and were 7^th. No overall results were announced, but combined division scores reveal that the Kansas 4-H Team was Reserve Team Overall, behind a 4-H team from Virginia. Individually, Jillian Keller was 2^nd in Sheep; Brody Nemecek 5^th in Cattle; Clay Brillhart 7^th in Sheep and Haydon Schaaf 14^th in Cattle.

The biggest part of the International Livestock Tour included agriculture seminars, tours and opportunities to enhance leadership skills and education through interaction with the citizens of the UK and Ireland. They toured a variety of livestock operations, including a water buffalo milking facility that produced their own mozzarella cheese; a sheep milking operation that produced their own blue cheese; a progressive 3-ring sale barn; and a Waygu beef feeding facility that raised 5-year old steers that are sold at a retail price of $50,000 each. One of the most memorable tours was on a farm that raised Highland cattle and owned a bull that came from the Queen’s own herd.

In addition to the agriculture tours, the Kansas youth also wore kilts in Scotland, rode the London Eye in England and kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland. The International Livestock Tour included American 4-H and FFA Teams from 9 different states who had all earned the opportunity to travel by winning either a Champion or Reserve title at a National Livestock Judging Contest.

To raise funds for the Tour, the Southwind team sold stock in the Livestock Judging Team and will be hosting a shareholders meeting on Friday, August 2, 2019, at the Liberty Theater in Fort Scott, KS. Shareholders will be treated to dinner and a detailed explanation of the learning opportunities encountered on the Tour so they can see the return on their investment in the 4-H Livestock Judging Team.

Carla Nemecek

Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

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