San Augustine County AgriLife Extension

01/25/2022

01/19/2022

Calling Teachers, Extension Faculty & Staff, Volunteers! If you haven’t heard, the 2022 JMG National Leader Training is a kinda big DILL! Join us for the happening on the campus of Texas A&M University Feb 21-23!

More info/registration at: https://JMGkids.us/2022JMGNLT

01/13/2022

The 2022 Smith County Master Gardeners Library Lecture Series is about to begin. See dates, presenters and other information below. Series is held at the Tyler Public Library and is Free to the Public.

01/08/2022

Many are still seeing effects the 2021 winter freeze had on our trees. As we begin seeing stronger cold fronts move across the state, there are a few things that can be done to help “winterize” and protect our trees:

Prune: Winter is the best time to prune trees because that is when they are dormant. Removing dead branches through pruning can improve the form of the tree which in turn helps maintain its strength and health, making them more resistant for large stressors like freezing temperatures.

Water: Even though trees are dormant through the winter, they still need water. Water can act as an insulator in the soil - moist soil will be warmer in the winter months. Trees don’t need to be watered as frequently in the winter, only in the absence of precipitation should they be watered once or twice a month until spring. When watering, water slowly and deeply at a rate of 10 gallons per inch of tree diameter. The best time to water is when the temperature is above 40 degrees and earlier in the day, so the water has time to soak into the soil.

Mulch: Mulch can be a great tool to retain heat and moisture in the soil. A 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch that spreads from 3 inches away from the base of the tree to the drip line can add a protective layer from the cold.

Wrap: The sun can be quite damaging to a young or thin barked tree on a cold winter day, it can heat up the tree’s bark, stimulating activity. When this happens and then passing clouds drift by, blocking the sun, bark temperature can drop rapidly, damaging or killing that active tissue. The resulting damage is called sunscald. Sunscald can be avoided in younger or newly planted trees by wrapping the trunk for winter tree protection. Wrap the bark of susceptible trees with either tree wrap tape, plastic tree guards or similar light colored material. Remove the wrap in the spring after the last frost, to avoid insects living under the material during the summer.

The best thing you can do for your tree is keep it healthy the rest of the year. If a tree is healthy overall, the stress from winter weather will be less likely to cause long term damage to your tree. When in doubt, always contact a certified arborist for assistance.

01/08/2022

Are your allergies getting the best of you this week? With two back-to-back cold fronts moving across the state, it's no surprise that cedar fever is hitting those with allergies once again.

Cedar fever is actually an allergic reaction to the pollen released by mountain cedar trees - predominantly Ashe juniper in Texas. Typically it is the worst west of I-35, where you have primarily juniper mixed in with oaks and some other species, and because all of those junipers are producing pollen at the same time, you’re going to get a higher concentration of pollen in the air.

Ashe junipers are so concentrated in central Texas that, even if you aren't generally susceptible to allergies, it could still affect you. They also start producing pollen in mid-December and are often triggered by colder weather, or the passage of a Texas cold front.

Learn more about cedar fever season in Texas here: https://bit.ly/3GXxGar.

01/05/2022

01/04/2022

Feeling a little "Fruity or Nutty" 😅😆 then this Conference is for you. $25.00 per person. Friday the 14th at the Expo. Registration closes Friday-call 903.590.2980.

01/04/2022

You don't want to miss this. Click Here For The Entire Document [Here's our latest Newsletter ! We hope you enjoy. ] Click Here Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Smith County | 1517 W Front Stre

01/03/2022

Up until now, it’s been a mild winter and the St. Augustine grass was still green. If you have a sprinkler system, fertilize more than once, and have a St.

12/30/2021

East Texas Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Conference January 14, 2022. Lots of great information, don't miss out ! Call today to register (903) 590-2980. Registration at 8:00 am cost $ 25.00 dollars per person, and program starts at 8:30 am, and will adjourn at 3:00 pm.

12/29/2021

Need any CEU's ? East Region AgriLIfe Conference and Expo coming up January 14, 2022. Don't forget to register (903) 590.2980