Nelson County Master Gardeners

Tools & Techniques

1. Precision Farming Tools: Variable-Rate Application

   There are a number of questions that must be answered before establishing a site-specific crop management (SSCM) program. Many of these questions are economic, some are agronomic and environmental, and others are technology-related. This publication is intended to discuss variable-rate devices that are available, while providing an understanding of which technologies might best fit a cropping system and production management strategy.

2. Gardening and Your Health: Arthritis
   For individuals suffering from arthritis, gardening can be a great exercise and stress reducer when done correctly. In fact, gardening is an excellent activity for maintaining joint flexibility, range of motion, and quality of life.

   Arthritis is a disease that causes inflamed joints. The two main types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is characterized by a degeneration of joint tissue, which can lead to pain and stiffness in the joints. The cartilage that protects the ends of bones wears away. It is most commonly seen in fingers, hips, knees, feet, and the spine but can affect any joint, and is characterized by stiffness, pain, and a loss of mobility.

3. Calibrating Your Lawn Spreader

   There are two basic types of fertilizer spreaders for use on the home lawn: the drop and the broadcast.

   The drop type spreader (shown at left) "drops" a set rate of fertilizer. This type is best suited for a limited space in order to avoid wide dispersal on sidewalks and driveways. The amount of fertilizer that is spread depends on the opening setting, the type of fertilizer used, and the speed at which the spreader is pushed.

4. Season Extenders

   To get the most out of a garden, you can extend the growing season by sheltering plants from cold weather both in early spring and during the fall. Very ambitious gardeners harvest greens and other cool-weather crops all winter by providing the right conditions. There are many ways to lengthen the growing season, and your choice depends on the amount of time and money you want to invest.

5. Propagation by Cuttings, Layering and Division

   Asexual propagation is the best way to maintain some species, particularly an individual that best represents that species. Clones are groups of plants that are identical to their one parent and that can only be propagated asexually. The Bartlett pear (1770) and the Delicious apple (1870) are two examples of clones that have been asexually propagated for many years.

   The major methods of asexual propagation are cuttings, layering, division, and budding/grafting. Cuttings involve rooting a severed piece of the parent plant; layering involves rooting a part of the parent and then severing it; and budding and grafting are joining two plant parts from different varieties.