Webster County Extension Office

06/23/2026

Daylilies are hardy and easy to care for! And if you live in Mississippi, you can plant these now in the month of June.

They prefer full sun to partial shade and can thrive in a variety of soil types, although well-drained soil is ideal. They work well in perennial borders, mixed flower beds and as a ground cover on slopes. Daylilies are drought-tolerant once established.

The only thing we don’t like about daylilies is that each individual flower lasts only for a day --hence the name “daylily.” But the fact that the plants produce multiple blooms over several weeks provides an extended period of color.

It’s important to note that daylilies do not grow from bulbs but from bare roots. These roots store essential nutrients and energy, enabling the plants to endure harsh conditions and regrow each year.

When planted in the right conditions, daylilies can bloom year after year with minimal care!

06/23/2026

06/23/2026

The flowers of hardy hibiscus are HUGE, sometimes up to 12 inches across! They are often called dinner plate hibiscuses because they are so big.

Flower colors include white, pinks, reds and bicolors. The flowers are bright, beautiful and gaudy! The foliage color of hardy hibiscus can vary from light to medium green, with some selections even offering burgundy and dark-purple leaves.

Hardy hibiscus plants are bushy and grow from 2 to 5 feet tall. They love the sun and need moist, well-drained soil. Keep these plants watered to ensure larger flowers and lush foliage. You can also deadhead to improve the appearance of the plant.

06/22/2026

We wanted to help get the word out about this!

Some small businesses, private nonprofits, and certain agriculture-related entities affected by the January 23–27 severe winter storm may be eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loan assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SBA, a valuable external resource for many residents, determines all eligibility, approval, loan amounts, terms, deadlines, and any impact on other assistance.

Learn more or apply through SBA Disaster Assistance: https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=MS-20018

Questions can be directed to 800-659-2955 or [email protected]

06/18/2026

Go ahead and save the date for our North Farm Field Day on August 17! Great opportunity for producers and ag industry folks to learn about the latest research being conducted on North Farm.

06/18/2026

Peak nesting time for black-bellied whistling ducks in Mississippi is late June!

Once rare in this region, these striking, pink-billed ducks are rapidly expanding their range northward and are now common summer residents in many parts of the state.

Did you know?
Similar to wood ducks and hooded mergansers, whistling ducks are cavity nesters. Meaning they nest in the cavity of trees or artificial nest boxes.

MSU research suggests that over two-thirds of nests they monitored in MS are parasitized (eggs laid by other hens), but unlike wood ducks, that doesn’t always hurt success. These larger clutches were on average more successful than clutches laid by a single female.

Both parents help raise the brood – which is rare in ducks!

Ducklings need shallow, calm wetlands with plenty of vegetation and cover—moist-soil impoundments, emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands.

Exhibit strong perching behavior. They’ll loaf on fences, branches, utility poles, rooftops—any elevated surface.

And yes—they really do whistle, not quack. Their high-pitched calls often give away their location before you see them.

Follow MSU Extension Gamebird Program for more content like this!

06/18/2026

Cogongrass is one of the most invasive plants in the world. It is an aggressive, fast-growing grass species that has established throughout the state but is most dense in southern Mississippi.

Though cogongrass was introduced for soil stabilization and forage, animals tend to lose weight rather than gain weight when consuming it. It is a threat to timber stands and protected and endangered wildlife. Its litter is highly flammable, which can lead to wildfires in pastures, rights-of-way, forest stands, and other disturbed areas where it readily establishes and spreads.

How do I identify cogongrass?

Bright green leaves in spring and summer; straw-colored or silvery-tan leaves in late fall and winter.

Leaves are up to 6 feet long and 1 inch wide with serrated margins and off-center midribs, which can vary significantly.

Leaves arise from underground horizontal stems (rhizomes) that are white, segmented, and covered with reddish-brown scales. Rhizomes are very sharp, so be careful when handling cogongrass specimens.

Flowers are light maroon before opening, then whitish-silver, fluffy, and 2 to 8 inches long; seeds disperse long and short distances in fluffy, white clumps in the wind from late March to mid-June.

Leaf collar (ligule) may be hairy with overlapping leaf sheaths, giving a round appearance.

Plants do not arise from a dense clump, though there may be some thatch around the base.

How do I prevent or control cogongrass?

It is very difficult to prevent and control cogongrass since it's one of the most invasive plants in the world.

To prevent establishment, avoid soil disturbance, maintain native ground cover, clean equipment before it enters the site, and prevent the spread of contaminated soil.

Control may be achieved through a two-step process using glyphosate and imazapyr over several years. Since cogongrass likes fire, prescribed burning can stimulate its growth and spread.

What should I do if I find cogongrass?

Contact the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) area forester in the county you found the cogongrass to report the location. Website: https://www.mfc.ms.gov/cogongrass-control-program/cogongrass-control-program-application/

06/18/2026