Horticulture Summer 2024
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Horticulture Newsletter
Summer 2024
Tips From Annette
· Avoid transporting invasive insect species back from summer travels to your home. Watch for spotted lantern flies and eggs and spongy moths. Also purchase fire wood at the site and leave unused wood at the site. For more information on spotted lantern fly and spongy moth, visit: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef465 and https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef425.
· Remove weeds as soon as possible to avoid adding more weed seeds to the soil to emerge in the future.
· Extend the garden season by planting more vegetables for fall harvest. Plant summer squash up to August 15, green beans until August 1, and lettuce and spinach by mid-August. Transplants of cabbage and broccoli can be planted by August 15.
· Renovating an existing or establishing a new lawn is best completed between mid-August through September. More information is available at https://ukturf.ca.uky.edu/tips-and-recommendations-maintaining-home-lawns.
· Collect soil from the lawn for a soil test to determine the nutrients needed by the lawn which would be applied in the fall. Soil tests are currently free for Daviess County residents. Test results are back in about 10 business days. For information on how to collect soil for testing, check out the Daviess County Extension Office website at https://daviess.ca.uky.edu/testing-identification.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Fair entry drop-off at Daviess County Lions Club Fairgrounds from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Fair entries are judged on 5 categories:
· Condition
· Quality
· Uniformity
· Trueness to type
· Size
Information on what is accepted as fruit, vegetable, flower, and houseplant entries is available at the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office or https://daviess.ca.uky.edu/dc-fair
Wednesday, July 17– Saturday, July 20, 2024
Daviess County Lions Club Fair
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Pick up entries and premiums at
Daviess County Lions Club Fairgrounds
from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
More Hammerhead Worms
By: Jonathan L. Larson, Entomology Extension Specialist
Over the last 2 years, the Extension entomology group has received multiple inquiries about strange, ribbon-like worms with hammer or moon-shaped heads. These are creatively named “hammerhead worms,” and they are predaceous flatworms that look like something made up for Star Wars. There have also been some social media posts that promote fear about hammerhead worms. These slimy weirdos are in Kentucky, but luckily, they don’t pose a huge risk to humans and there are some options if one is discovered on your property.
Identification
Hammerhead worms are land planarians, a group of flatworms. Flatworms differ from the earthworms most Kentuckians are familiar with in that they are flat and unsegmented. Earthworms on the other hand have segmented bodies; the bands that can be seen on them mark the segments.
Hammerhead worms are of a similar hue to earthworms, typically light brown or honey in color. Some of the species seen in Kentucky have varying numbers of dark stripes that run down their back. For example, Bipalium kewense (also known just as hammerhead flatworm) has five dark lines, while Bipalium pennsylvanicum or the three-lined flatworm has… three lines.
Hammerhead worms can be impressively long; some can be over 10 inches long. Aside from their size, the other thing most people notice is their weirdly shaped hammer or half-moon shaped head that gives the group their name.
What is the issue?
The two flatworms listed above are potentially invasive and definitely non-native organisms, which can have effects on Kentucky ecosystems. There are flatworms native to Kentucky; they have unfortunately been lumped in with the invaders as “bad”.
One of the potential problems with hammerhead worms is their diet. They are predaceous, feeding on snails, slugs, and earthworms. Earthworms are broadly considered beneficial organisms and so there is worry that if hammerhead worms were to fully “invade” that they may harm populations of nightcrawlers and other earthworms that provide ecosystem services by decomposing various materials in nature.
Finally, hammerhead worms do pose a slight medical and veterinary concern. Some species produce tetrodotoxins, which are potent and most famously associated with pufferfish. That being said, encountering or even accidentally making skin-to-worm contact won’t automatically kill you. Being aware of what these flatworms are and exercising caution around them is recommended. People should avoid handling or holding hammerhead worms. If you touch any, wash your hands afterwards. Hammerhead worms are also potential hosts for rat lungworms, as are snails and slugs. Humans can acquire this parasite by consuming undercooked or raw snails, slugs, freshwater shrimp, crabs, and frogs. Because of the toxin and possible parasites, if you were considering it, definitely do not eat hammerhead worms!
Are they in Kentucky?
The short answer is yes, these have been found in the state. Between 2020 and 2023, samples were confirmed from Letcher, Calloway, Pulaski, Fayette, Marshall, Boyd, Casey, and Whitley Counties. In 2024, images and samples have been brought in from Allen, Jefferson, and Russel Counties as well.
This suggests a possibly wide distribution in the state. While hammerhead worms aren’t “actionable pests,” (as in they don’t have government actions associated with them), Kentuckians can help us keep track of these worms if they would like to e-mail photos and a location. Hammerhead worms are most likely to be found in warm, damp environments. They might be spotted under rocks and logs or in leaf litter. Sightings of hammerhead worms may increase on rainy days, particularly if the rainy day occurs after a dry period.
Management
There isn’t a true management tactic for these. No sprays or baits can be applied to prevent or control them. There are some things that can be done to kill an individual worm that is discovered.
First, don’t try to physically destroy or cut up the worms. Segmenting them can result in reproduction. Part of their body does naturally “fall off” and turn into a new individual, so don’t help them with that process. Salting them, like you would a snail or slug, will destroy them. Do be cautious about not getting salt in the soil around your plants. Spritzing the hammerhead worm with vinegar or citrus oil can also kill it. If you need to isolate the treatment, you can pick up the hammerhead worm with tweezers or gloved hands, and put it in a sealable bag; then apply salt or vinegar.
Kentucky Tornado History
By Tony Edwards – National Weather Service Charleston, WV
Here’s some Bluegrass state tornado facts that blow your mind - pun intended!
● Well over 1,000 tornadoes have hit the Bluegrass State since 1950! And that’s just counting the ones we know about. Many more have occurred but gone unreported to the National Weather Service.
● While tornadoes are much more common in central and western Kentucky, every one of Kentucky’s 120 counties has had at least one documented tornado.
● Tornadoes occur most frequently from March through June, but they have occurred in every month of the year.
● While tornadoes typically occur between 3 pm and 10pm, they have occurred during every hour of the day. The ones that occur during the nighttime hours can be especially dangerous.
● The longest tracked tornado to strike Kentucky occurred on December 10, 2021. The tornado first struck Obion County, TN before crossing into Fulton County, KY. The tornado, which reached EF4 intensity with peak winds of up to 190 mph, covered a track of over 165 miles in about three hours, claiming 57 lives and injuring over 500 people.
● The strongest tornado you can get is one that is rated a five on the Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale. There have only been two F5 tornadoes to strike Kentucky and they both occurred on April 3, 1974. One struck Breckinridge and Meade Counties and another occurred in Boone County.
● Unfortunately, 222 Kentuckians have lost their lives in tornadoes since 1950 with over 3700 injuries and over four billion dollars in property damage!
The good news is that the National Weather Service has meteorologists on staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, keeping a lookout for severe weather and tornadoes. We issue outlooks, watches and warnings that keep you informed of the potential for severe weather. Severe weather outlooks are produced by the Storm Prediction Center and can be accessed online or in our Hazardous Weather Outlook product on NOAA Weather Radio. Severe Thunderstorm and/or Tornado Watches are issued when environmental conditions are supportive of severe weather and/or tornadoes. You may get the notification that a Watch has been issued and look outside and see the sun shining. However, that Watch is telling you to get a plan in place as severe weather and/or tornadoes could soon threaten. Warnings are issued when severe weather and/or tornadoes are happening or about to happen. Warnings mean to take action and to get to your safe place!
Summer Heat Safety
Source: Jane Marie Wix – National Weather Service Jackson, KY
Summer heat arrived with a bang in mid-June across Kentucky! Unfortunately, we are only getting started with the summer season—there will most certainly be several months of hot weather ahead. Summer is also the season when everyone wants to be outside, either working or having fun. As much as we love this time of year, it is also a very dangerous season.
Heat continues to be the deadliest form of weather across the country. Higher than flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Sadly, statistics for last year showed a higher-than-average fatality rate. Heat related deaths have been creeping up every year for the last few years.
During excessive heat, avoid heavy activity and direct sunlight. Stay hydrated, find a cool indoor place, and check on children, the elderly, and pets. Protect yourself outside by wearing light, loose-fitting clothes, stay hydrated, and spend time in the shade. Also, never leave anyone (or pets) alone in a locked car, even in the winter, as death can occur in as little as 10 minutes.
Know the signs:
Heat Exhaustion: Becoming faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, cool/clammy skin, nausea, rapid/weak pulse, muscle cramps.
Heat Stroke: Throbbing headache, no sweating, red/hot/dry skin, nausea, rapid/strong pulse, possible loss of consciousness.
If someone experiences these symptoms, get them to a cooler place and try to cool the body (loosen clothing, drink cool water, etc.). If it’s a heat stroke, call 911 IMMEDIATELY.
Current Tree Flagging
Look for flagging in trees where periodical cicadas from the XIX Broood have been present. This injury occurs when the female cicada splits a twig to lay her eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the tiny nymphs fall to the ground and burrow into the soil in search of tree roots, remaining there for 13 years.
Twigs break at these weak spots and are left to dangle, turn brown and die. This “pruning” is not a serious problem for large trees but can adversely affect the developing structure of small trees.
There is a high potential for Brood XXIII to emerge primarily in the Green River Area and Purchase areas in the year 2031.
Did you know?
Those fruits, flowers, and vegetables you are growing in your home garden can be entered into the Daviess County Fair?
Your entries have a chance to win cash prizes!
For a list of entries and prize amounts, stop by the Extension Office, or visit https://daviess.ca.uky.edu/dc-fair
