In descending order, by date published.
8/22/2019 (major revision)
Authors: Jessica Bessin, Rick Durham, Adam Leonberger, Kimberly Leonberger, Matthew Springer, Andrea Stith, Lee Townsend, Nicole Ward Gauthier, Stacy White, Erica Wood
For those with a green thumb, growing plants may seem easy. However, when plant problems arise, determining the cause of these issues can be difficult. Developing the skills necessary to determine the cause of a plant problem takes experience and time. The steps involved in the diagnostic process first require analysis of information regarding the history of the symptomatic plant and the surrounding area. Plant symptoms and signs provide additional evidence to aid in determination of a possible cause.
Departments: Barren County, Bell County, Entomology, Forestry and Natural Resources, Franklin County, Hopkins County, Horticulture, Mercer County, Plant Pathology
Series: Interdepartmental (ID series)
Size: 1.20 mb
Pages: 28
3/5/2018 (major revision)
Authors: Gregg Munshaw, A.J. Powell
Turf is the foundation of a quality landscape. It improves the beauty of other ornamentals and provides a safe recreational surface. Quality lawns greatly increase the economic and sociological value of urban homes. They beautify and reduce the often harsh urban environment by decreasing noise, glare, heat, dust, and mud. Lawns and other recreational turf areas are an integral part of our daily activities.
Departments: Plant and Soil Sciences
Series: Agronomy (AGR series)
Size: 1.00 mb
Pages: 22
1/29/2018 (minor revision)
Authors: Lee Townsend
Insects, spiders, mites, etc. are among the oldest and most numerous animals on Earth. Some species, like the house fly, occur in every county of the state, while others live in very specific areas, such as a western Kentucky wetland or an eastern Kentucky mountain meadow. Like it or not, insects have a major impact on our lives, health, and environment. Learning more about them can increase your enjoyment of nature and help you to manage problem species more effectively.
Departments: Entomology
Series: Entomology (ENT series)
Size: 1.38 mb
Pages: 12
1/23/2018 (minor revision)
Authors: Lee Townsend
"Pest" is not a biological term for an organism's environmental role as are the words plant, herbivore, predator, and scavenger. It is a term for an organism that is either causing damage or is somewhere where it's not wanted. Pests can include plants, insects and their relatives, and microorganisms that cause plant diseases. Often, pests are a problem because we use cultural practices or create conditions favoring organisms that they feed on, compete with, or infect the desirable species.
Departments: Entomology
Series: Entomology (ENT series)
Size: 310 kb
Pages: 10
1/23/2018 (minor revision)
Authors: Tom Barnes, Matthew Springer
Most people enjoy watching wildlife around the home, whether it is birds at a feeder, butterflies on flowers, or the occasional deer or turkey wandering through the yard. In some instances, wildlife come into contact with humans and are in the wrong place at the wrong time. For the gardening enthusiast, this encounter can create conflict.
Departments: Forestry and Natural Resources
Series: Forestry and Natural Resources (FOR series)
Size: 750 kb
Pages: 10
1/22/2018 (minor revision)
Authors: J.D. Green
Every garden has weeds, and every gardener wonders what to do about them. Gardening involves lots of small decisions that can have a cumulative effect on those weed problems. This chapter will explore the origin of weeds, their adaptation and impact, and the techniques you can use to manage weeds in your landscape.
Departments: Plant and Soil Sciences
Series: Agronomy (AGR series)
Size: 965 kb
Pages: 14
3/2/2016 (major revision)
Authors: Kelly Jackson, Kimberly Leonberger, Robbie Smith, Nicole Ward Gauthier
Anyone who has ever planted a garden knows not only the rewards of beautiful flowers, fruit, and/or vegetables, but also the disappointment when plants become diseased or damaged. Many factors cause plants to exhibit poor vigor, changes in appearance, or even death. This chapter focuses on those living organisms that cause disease: fungi, water molds, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, phytoplasmas, and parasitic plants.
Departments: County Extension, Plant Pathology
Series: Plant Pathology (PPA series)
Size: 5.00 mb
Pages: 24
8/6/2012 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham, Bill Fountain
Woody ornamental plants are key components of a well-designed landscape. Landscape plantings divide and define areas, add aesthetic and psychological benefits, and increase a property's environmental and economic values.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 880 kb
Pages: 18
5/7/2012 (new)
Authors: Krista Jacobsen
Organic gardening offers the gardener many benefits--a safe, low-chemical gardening environment, produce free from synthetic pesticide residues, and gardens that can increase in fertility and natural pest control over time. However, reaping the benefits of organic management requires planning, observation, and thinking about the garden as an interconnected system of soils, plants, pests, and beneficial organisms.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 615 kb
Pages: 12
3/26/2012 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham, Brad Lee
We generally view gardening as a wholesome activity that enhances our environment. But pesticides, fertilizers, and erosion from gardens and landscapes can contaminate lakes, streams, rivers, oceans, and groundwater. Since the quality of our water resources affects our quality of life, we must learn how gardening practices can contribute to water contamination and how to reduce the threat to water quality.
Departments: Horticulture, Plant and Soil Sciences
Series: Interdepartmental (ID series)
Size: 410 kb
Pages: 8
3/12/2012 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham
To prune or not to prune? This is a question that gardeners often faces gardeners. Most feel they ought to prune but are not sure why or how. Pruning is an accepted practice in orchards and frequently is done in rose gardens, but it is used haphazardly elsewhere. Ornamentals are most often pruned only when a shrub or tree begins to encroach on its neighbors, a walkway, or a building.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 1.90 mb
Pages: 20
3/12/2012 (new)
Authors: Sharon Bale, Rick Durham
Can you imagine a world without flowers? Their textures, colors, scents, and forms inspire gardeners, artists, and writers. The desire to grow flowers often motivates novices to take up gardening and moves experienced gardeners to become flower specialists. Annuals, biennials, and herbaceous perennials offer variety and interest to all styles of gardens.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 1.10 mb
Pages: 14
3/12/2012 (new)
Authors: Sharon Bale
A houseplant is simply an outdoor plant that is grown indoors. Not all plants are suitable for indoor culture. Some require environmental conditions that are impossible to duplicate indoors. Others adapt to indoor culture if their minimum growth requirements are provided. The key to successful indoor plant culture is to select plants that are adaptable to the conditions in your home.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 950 kb
Pages: 14
3/12/2012 (new)
Authors: John Strang
Growing tree fruits and/or nuts can provide a great deal of satisfaction, but it takes a commitment to care for your trees year-round.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 900 kb
Pages: 14
3/12/2012 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham
This chapter is not meant to define the art of landscape design but rather to help you take a realistic approach to landscape planning. Your end design should meet your needs and incorporate principles of sustainability into an evolving landscape.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 1.40 mb
Pages: 20
10/12/2011 (new)
Authors: Brad Lee, Edwin Ritchey
Soil is a mixture of weathered rock fragments and organic matter at the earth's surface. It is biologically active--a home to countless microorganisms, invertebrates, and plant roots. Soil provides nutrients, water, and physical support for plants as well as air for plant roots. Soil organisms are nature's primary recyclers, turning dead cells and tissue into nutrients, energy, carbon dioxide, and water to fuel new life.
Departments: Plant and Soil Sciences
Series: Agronomy (AGR series)
Size: 1.50 mb
Pages: 24
10/12/2011 (new)
Authors: Patty Lucas
Many gardeners are concerned about the use of pesticides. Some pesticides, if not used, stored, and disposed of carefully, can harm the applicator, the environment, children, pets, and other nontarget organisms. You can address these concerns by implementing integrated pest management practices in your garden. Thoughtful, well-researched pest management choices will reward you, the environment, and the beneficial organisms with which you share your garden.
Departments: Entomology
Series: Entomology (ENT series)
Size: 1.95 mb
Pages: 16
10/12/2011 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham
The rules of plant identification and nomenclature (naming) may seem complex and more trouble than they are worth, but knowing the basic rules and applying them to everyday gardening leads to a better understanding of plants and how they are classified.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 320 kb
Pages: 4
10/12/2011 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham
Sexual propagation involves the union of the pollen (male) with the egg (female) to produce a seed. The seed is made up of three parts: the outer seed coat, which protects the seed; the endosperm, which is a food reserve; and the embryo, which is the young plant itself. When a seed is mature and put in a favorable environment, it will germinate, or begin active growth. In this section, seed germination and transplanting of seeds are discussed.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 1.15 mb
Pages: 16
10/12/2011 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham, Brad Lee
Gardeners have long made and used compost to improve garden soil. Composting plant and vegetable matter is an important way to reduce the waste burned or dumped in landfills. Yard wastes and vegetable scraps can make up as much as 20 percent of household garbage. Composting effectively recycles that waste into valuable organic matter that can be used as soil amendments.
Departments: Horticulture, Plant and Soil Sciences
Series: Interdepartmental (ID series)
Size: 470 kb
Pages: 8
8/15/2011 (new)
Authors: Rick Durham
Many plants are familiar to us, and we can identify and appreciate them based on their external structure. However, their internal structure and function often are overlooked. Understanding how plants grow and develop helps us capitalize on their usefulness and make them part of our everyday lives.
Departments: Horticulture
Series: Horticulture (HO series)
Size: 3.73 mb
Pages: 30
