Mcclain County OSU Extension

12/02/2025

GARDEN TIPS FOR DECEMBER!

Lawn & Turf

Remove leaves from cool-season grasses or mow with a mulching mower. (HLA-6420)
Continue mowing cool-season lawns on a regular basis. (HLA-6420)
Continue to control broadleaf w**ds in well-established warm or cool-season lawns with a post-emergent broadleaf w**d killer. (HLA-6421)

Tree & Shrubs

Select a freshly cut Christmas tree. Make a new cut prior to placing in tree stand. Add water daily.
Live Christmas trees are a wise investment, as they become permanent additions to the landscape after the holidays.
Light prunings of evergreens can be used for holiday decorations. Be careful with sap that can mar surfaces.

Flowers

Apply winter mulch to protect rose bush bud unions and other perennials. Wait until after several early freezes.
Poinsettias must have at least six hours of bright, indirect light daily. Keep plants away from drafts. (HLA-6413)
Watch for and control pests on indoor houseplants. (HLA-6411)
Make sure indoor plants are receiving enough light or set up an indoor fluorescent plant light. (HLA-6411)

Fruits & Nuts

Cover strawberry plants with a mulch about 3-4 inches thick if plants are prone to winter injury. (HLA-6214)
Wait to prune fruit trees until late February or March. (HLA-6228)

General

Keep all plants watered during dry conditions even though some may be dormant. Irrigate all plantings at least 24 hours before hard-freezing weather if soil is dry. (HLA-6404)
Order gardening supplies for next season.
Now is a great time to design and make structural improvements in your garden and landscape. (HLA-6425, HLA-6440, HLA-6441)
Christmas gift ideas for the gardener might include tools, garden books, magazine subscriptions, or membership to The Botanic Garden at OSU (http://botanicgarden.okstate.edu).
Clean and fill bird feeders.
Till garden plots without a cover crop to further expose garden pests to harsh winter conditions.
Visit your county extension office or visit the fact sheets web page to obtain gardening information for the new gardening season.
Join a horticulture, plant, or urban forestry society and support community “greening” or “beautification” projects.
Review your garden records so you can correct past mistakes. Purchase a new gardening journal or calendar to keep the New Year’s gardening records.

11/24/2025

Join us on December 9, 2025, at 1:00pm for a Holiday Bites and Sips workshop at the McClain County OSU Extension Office.
To register, call (405) 527-2174.

11/07/2025

GARDEN TIPS FOR NOVEMBER

Lawn & Turf

•Fertilize cool-season grasses like fescue with 1 pound nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft.
•Continue to mow fescue as needed at 2 inches and water during dry conditions.
•Control broadleaf winter w**ds like dandelions (HLA-6601).
•Keep falling leaves off fescue to avoid damage to the foliage.

Tree & Shrub

•Prune deciduous trees if in early part of winter. Prune only for structural and safety purposes.
•Wrap young, thin-barked trees with commercial protective material to prevent winter sunscald.
•Apply dormant oil for scale infested trees and shrubs before temperatures fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow label directions.
•Continue to plant balled & burlap and containerized trees.
•Watch for arborvitae aphids, which tolerate cooler temperatures in evergreen shrubs.

Flowers

•Tulips can still be successfully planted through the middle of November.
•Leave foliage on asparagus, mums, and other perennials to help insulate crowns from harsh winter conditions.
•Bulbs like hyacinth, narcissus and tulip can be potted in containers for indoor forcing.

Miscellaneous

•Leftover garden seeds can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer until the next planting season. Discard seeds over 3 years old.
•Gather and shred leaves. Add to compost, use as mulch, or till into garden plots.
•Clean and store garden and landscape tools. Coat with a light application of oil to prevent rusting. Drain fuel tanks, irrigation lines, and hoses. Bring garden hoses indoors.

Fruits & Nuts

•Delay pruning fruit trees until next February or March before bud break.
•Harvest pecans and walnuts immediately to eliminate deterioration of the kernel.

10/08/2025

10/02/2025

GARDEN TIPS FOR OCTOBER!

Turfgrass

•You can continue to replant or establish cool-season lawns like fescue.
•The mowing height for fescue should be lowered to approximately 2 ½ inches for fall and winter cutting.
•Broadleaf w**ds like dandelions can be easily controlled during October (HLA-6601).
•Mow and neatly edge warm season lawns before killing frost.

Ornamentals

•Plant cool season annuals like pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale, snapdragons, and dusty miller when temperatures begin to cool.
•Begin planting spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, hyacinths, crocus and daffodils.
•Good companion plants for bulbs are ground covers such as ajuga, vinca, alyssum, moneywort, phlox, oxalis, and leadwort.
•Peonies, daylilies, and other spring-flowering perennials should be divided or planted now.
•Dig and store tender perennials like cannas, dahlias, and caladiums in a cool, dry location.
•Purchase trees from nurseries and garden centers to select the fall color you prefer.
•Many perennials can be planted at this time, and the selection is quite nice.
•Plant fall mums and asters and keep them watered during dry conditions. Don’t crowd since they take a couple of years to reach maturity.
•Plant container-grown trees and shrubs this month.
•Check and treat houseplants for insect pests before bringing them indoors and repot rootbound plants.

Fruits & Vegetables

•Dig sweet potatoes and harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
•Remove green fruit from tomato plants when frost threatens.
•Harvest Oriental persimmons and pawpaws as they begin to change color.
•There is still time to plant radishes and mustard in the fall garden.
•Use a cold frame device to plant spinach, lettuce, and various other cool season crops for production most of the winter.
•Plant cool season cover crops like Austrian winter peas, wheat, clover, and rye in otherwise fallow garden plots.
•Remove debris from the vegetable garden to prevent overwintering of various garden pests.
•Start new planting bed preparations now with plenty of organic matter.

Water Gardens

•Take tropical water garden plants indoors when water temperatures near 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
•Close the water garden for the winter by placing hardy plants in the deeper areas of the pool. Stop feeding the fish.
•Cover water gardens with bird netting to catch dropping leaves during the winter months.

09/25/2025

Bulb planting season is here: Prepare for a burst of color

By Trisha Gedon

STILLWATER, Okla. – As the summer gardening season ends, brightly-colored flowers are fading, as if saying goodbye. While the vibrancy of a summer garden slips quietly away, gardeners can prepare for next spring’s vivid colors in the landscape by planting spring-flowering bulbs now through early November.
David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist, said planting bulbs in the fall gives them time to establish a root system before the winter cold sets in.

“Bulbs need a chilling period to bloom in the spring,” he said. “Planting the bulbs at this time of year will provide that and help ensure the bulbs will grow into a strong plant next spring. Be aware that planting bulbs too early will result in premature sprouting.”

Hillock suggests visiting the local garden store soon to have the best bulb selection. Gardeners may also opt to order from their favorite seed and bulb company. Online ordering often provides gardeners with a broader selection of bulb varieties. Quality bulbs make a significant difference, so look for firm, plump bulbs void of mold or soft spots.

As with all aspects of gardening, selecting the right place in the landscape is crucial. Choose a site that drains well because bulbs don’t like soggy conditions. Many Oklahoma gardeners can attest that the abundance of clay soil is common, which means less-than-desirable growing conditions. Planting on a slope can help with drainage issues. Also, select a site that has full sun exposure. It’s helpful if there is protection from heavy winds that can damage the flowers once they’ve emerged.

“Good, well-drained soil is a must for gardening success, and preparing the soil before planting is important,” Hillock said. “Bulbs sitting in water-logged soil will develop root rot. Mixing in organic matter, such as compost, will help with drainage issues in clay soil.”
In addition to clay soil, parts of the state also feature sandy soil, which isn’t suitable for gardening. Amending clay soil with compost will help it become more workable and improve drainage. Compost helps enhance water retention in sandy soil.

Gardeners who don’t have great soil in the landscape can opt for raised beds. Gardeners can fill the beds with the best soil, but raised beds are also easier for garden tasks like w**ding and fertilizing.

“Be sure to read the directions on the bulb package and follow the planting guide,” he said. “Plant at the correct depth, smooth over the soil and tamp it down slightly. Bulbs are typically planted at a depth two to three times their diameter. A 2-inch bulb should be planted 4 to 6 inches deep. Also, remember that bulbs should be planted with the roots facing down. Irrigate until the soil is moist but not soupy. Finally, cover with a 2- to 3-inch blanket of mulch to protect the bulbs from Old Man Winter.”

When planting bulbs, don’t be shy. Planting generously provides a lot of visual interest in the landscape. Plant tulip bulbs in groups of 20 or more with about a foot between each bulb to create a big pop of color.

“Daffodils provide a fantastic display when organized in swaths, much like a lazy river,” Hillock said. “Also, mixing different species and varieties of species will provide a longer display of blooms in the landscape. Consider other spring flowering bulbs such as hyacinths, snowdrops, Siberian squill, Spanish bluebells, fritillaria, and crocus to add visual interest. There are early, mid- and late-season blooming varieties, so mix and match for the best effect.”

Don’t forget about protecting against pests and diseases. Gardeners put in a lot of work planting a garden, and it can be frustrating when pests and diseases wreak havoc. Be vigilant in scouting for pests and treat accordingly.

“The work gardeners put in this fall will pay big dividends in the spring when the landscape is full of beautiful, flowering bulbs,” he said.

Check out more OSU Extension gardening information.

OSU Extension uses research-based information to help all Oklahomans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely throughout the state's 77 counties. Most information is available at little to no cost.

MEDIA CONTACT: Trisha Gedon | Office of Communications & Marketing, OSU Agriculture | 405-744-3625 | trisha.gedon@okstate.edu

09/02/2025

GARDEN TIPS FOR SEPTEMBER!

Landscape:

•Watch for fall specials at garden centers and nurseries since fall is a great time for planting many ornamentals.
•Choose spring flowering bulbs as soon as available.
•Plant cool season annuals like pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale, snapdragons and dusty miller when temperatures begin to cool.
•Watch for and control any late infestations of tree webworms.
•Twig girdler insects should be controlled if large numbers of small branches of elms, pecans, or persimmons are uniformly girdled from the tree and fall to the ground.
•Begin to reduce the amount of light on outside tropical houseplants by placing them under shade trees before bringing them indoors for the winter.

Vegetables:

•You have all of September to plant cool season vegetables like spinach, leaf lettuce, mustard and radishes, and until the middle of September to plant rutabagas, Swiss chard, garlic and turnips.

Lawn:

•Last nitrogen fertilizer application of the year on warm-season grasses should be applied no later than September 15th. (HLA-6420)
•Winter broadleaf w**ds like dandelion will begin to emerge in late September, which is also the best time to control them with a 2, 4-D type herbicide.
•If pre-emergent control of winter-annual w**ds (henbit, chickw**d, annual bluegrass, etc.) is desired in lawns, the application should be completed by the 2nd week of September. (HLA-6421) Note: Do not treat areas that will be seeded in the fall.
•Continue bermudagrass spray program with glyphosate products for areas being converted over to tall fescue this fall. (HLA-6421)
•Plan to seed bluegrass, fescue, or ryegrass as needed in shady areas in mid- to late-September. Fall is the best time to establish cool-season lawns (HLA-6419).
•White grub damage can become visible this month. Apply appropriate soil insecticide if white grubs are a problem (EPP-7306). Water products into soil.

09/02/2025

Have you heard? A McClain County Election is scheduled for next Tuesday. You will be voting to continue a current county tax. This is not a new or additional tax. This has been in place for almost 20 years.
The McClain County ½ cent sales tax provides dedicated funding to the OSU Extension Office, with 7% of revenue supporting extension and 4-H services. This funding enables a variety of research-based programs that benefit the community, including:
• Agriculture & Natural Resources: Support for farmers and ranchers.
• Family & Consumer Sciences: Education on budgeting, nutrition, and wellness.
• 4-H Youth Development: Leadership, STEM, and life skills for youth.
• School Enrichment: Curriculum-based programs in STEM, agriculture, and health for local schools.
• Community Development: Resources for informed planning and growth.
These programs are designed to solve local problems, enhance quality of life, and build stronger communities using the resources and expertise of OSU.

08/06/2025

📣 Attention McClain County Residents!

You're invited to the McClain County 4-H Open House — a fun and FREE event to learn all about the incredible opportunities 4-H offers youth ages 5 through high school graduation! 🌟🍀

📅 Date: August 18th
🕕 Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Location: McClain County OSU Extension Office

Come explore hands-on activities, meet 4-H members and leaders, and see how 4-H builds skills in leadership, citizenship, STEM, cooking, livestock, and so much more!

🎉 Families welcome — fun guaranteed!

📞 For more info, call us at (405) 527-2174

08/04/2025

GARDEN TIPS FOR AUGUST!

Vegetables

•August is a good month to start your fall vegetable garden. Bush beans, cucumbers, and summer squash can be replanted for another crop. Beets, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, and other cool season crops can also be planted at this time. (HLA-6009).
•Soak vegetable seeds overnight prior to planting. Once planted, cover them with compost to avoid soil crusting. Mulch to keep planting bed moist and provide shade during initial establishment. Monitor and control insect pests that prevent a good start of plants in your fall garden.

Fruit and Nut

•Continue protective insect applications on the fruit orchard. A good spray schedule is often abandoned too early. Follow directions on last application prior to harvest. (EPP-7319)

Flowers

•Towards the end of the month, divide and replant spring-blooming perennials like iris, peonies, and daylilies if needed.

General

•Water compost during extremely dry periods so that it remains active. Turn the pile to generate heat throughout for proper sterilization.
•Always follow directions on both synthetic and natural pesticide products.
•Watch for high populations of caterpillars, aphids, spider mites, thrips, scales, and other insects on plant material in the garden and landscape and treat as needed. (EPP-7306)
•Water all plants thoroughly unless rainfall has been adequate. It is better to water more in depth, less often and early in the morning.

Trees and Shrubs

•Discontinue deadheading roses by mid-August to help initiate winter hardiness.
•Watch for 2nd generation of fall webworm in late August/early September. Remove webs that enclose branches and destroy, or spray with good pe*******on with an appropriate insecticide.

Lawn and Turf

•Winter annual w**ds like Poa annua, better known as annual bluegrass, and chickw**d and henbit can be prevented with a preemergence herbicide application in late August. Water in the product after application. (HLA-6420)
•Areas of turf with large brown spots should be checked for high numbers of grubs. Mid-to-late August is the best time to control heavy white grub infestations in the lawn. Apply appropriate insecticide if white grubs are a problem. Water products into soil. (EPP-7306)
•Tall fescue should be mowed at 3 inches during the hot summer and up to 3 ½ inches if it grows under heavier shade. (HLA-6420)
•For areas being converted to tall fescue this fall, begin spraying out bermudagrass in early August with a product labeled for control of broadleaf and grassy w**ds but does not have a preemergent ingredient or one that has long residual activity. (HLA-6419 & HLA-6421)
•Irrigated warm-season lawns can be fertilized once again; apply 0.5 lb N/1,000 sq ft in early to mid August.
•Brown patch of cool-season grasses can be a problem. (HLA-6420)

07/18/2025

Remember to sign up by July 28th!

Join us on August 1 at the McClain County Farm-Home Building as we connect veterans with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in agriculture and business. Whether you're starting a farm or launching a small business, we're here to guide and empower those who have served to thrive in their next mission. RSVP to (405) 527-2174