Dirt Dauber Day Camp
Dirt Dauber Day Camp is organized and conducted by Lee County Master Gardeners. In 2025, the campers explored four areas: Mini Gardens, a Scavenger Hunt to identify special plants and plant structures, and hands-on learning about birds and worms in their habitats. Forty-four campers attended the camp, which was this year's camp capacity. Each section was led by a Master Gardener: Donna Tucker, Brenda Conrad, Pat Agnew, and Mitchell Custred. Each camper took home a crate filled with a worm box, a mini garden, and a bird feeder. They were happy campers!
The Dirt Daubers Camp project was selected as the Outstanding Project of the Year Award for 2024 by the Mississippi Master Gardeners Association. Master Gardeners Carolyn Beasley and Marian Hill are co-chairs of the project.
Dirt Dauber Day Camp is organized and conducted by Lee County Master Gardeners. In 2025, the campers explored four areas: Mini Gardens, a Scavenger Hunt to identify special plants and plant structures, and hands-on learning about birds and worms in their habitats. Forty-four campers attended the camp, which was this year's camp capacity. Each section was led by a Master Gardener: Donna Tucker, Brenda Conrad, Pat Agnew, and Mitchell Custred. Each camper took home a crate filled with a worm box, a mini garden, and a bird feeder. They were happy campers!
The Dirt Daubers Camp project was selected as the Outstanding Project of the Year Award for 2024 by the Mississippi Master Gardeners Association. Master Gardeners Carolyn Beasley and Marian Hill are co-chairs of the project.
The Plant Doctor: Watering and Plant Disease
MSU Extension Service Publication Number: P3881
View as PDF: P3881.pdf
Water, especially water droplets on leaves and stems, plays a major part in plant diseases. Unlike other important factors, such as temperature, you can sometimes control water and moisture. By understanding a few basic principles of how free water (water droplets and films of water on the surface of plant tissues) relates to plant disease and by watering appropriately, you can limit disease in your garden.
Most plant diseases in the state are caused by fungi, but bacterial diseases also occur. Fungi and bacteria that can cause disease are called pathogens. They spread by seed-like structures called spores or by cells.
The fungal spores and bacterial cells are often not released until they have been wet for a certain period. Once released, they may be carried on the wind, in raindrops, or irrigation water. Fungi and bacteria must have water to spread and infect plants.
Fungal spores are small and delicate (Figure 1). Like plant seeds, they require moisture to begin germination, and once they germinate, they die if they dry. Many fungi require a film of free moisture for at least 9 hours to germinate and penetrate the plant leaf. Some require slightly less time, and others more.
Splashing water droplets move pathogen “seeds” short distances. The splash carries the “seeds” from the soil to lower plant leaves, from the lower plant leaves to the upper plant leaves, and from one plant to another. The “seeds” may move longer distances by windblown water droplets.
Moisture is the critical factor in disease development. The amount of disease depends on the number and length of wet periods.
You can control many plant diseases by controlling the number of free moisture periods and how long those periods last. Reduce the number of periods by watering only when needed, and then watering deeply.
Reduce the amount of time leaves are wet. Remember that dew is water, too, so your watering schedule has to account for it. Do not extend the period of leaf wetness by watering as the dew is beginning to dry in the morning or before it forms in the evening (Figure 2). Extending the period of leaf wetness will let more pathogen “seeds” germinate.
Observe how long the dew stays on the plant canopies and turf; then water when the dew would normally be on the plants. Dew is usually present from about midnight to 8:00 in the morning. If watering in the evening, make sure you stop watering early enough that the watered areas dry before dark. If watering in the morning, stop early enough that the watered areas dry at the same time as or before unwatered areas.
A plant has leaves on the outside and the inside of its canopy. The inside leaves are sheltered from direct sun and drying winds, so water will stay longer on them. Plants shade the soil, slowing the drying time and raising the humidity levels around the plants. This means diseases are more likely to become established inside the plant canopy than on the outside.
Reduce disease inside plant canopies with proper pruning and landscaping. Make the best use of morning winds and sun to dry your landscape. You may hasten drying of particularly valuable areas of turf or plants by brushing a bamboo pole or pulling a garden hose over them to remove the dewdrops.
Consider using drip irrigation in your established plantings and soaker hoses in your more temporary ones. If watering by hand, try to water at the base of plants. Drip irrigation and watering at the soil level will help reduce the amount of free moisture on plant canopies. This won’t be possible with your lawn, so water it at the proper time.
How Much to Water
Have you ever noticed that as you dig a hole, the soil becomes moister the deeper you dig? Even when the upper soil layers are quite dry, the deeper layers are moist. So there is more moisture deeper in the soil.
How does water get into the plant? Through the roots. So, putting the two together, you want the plant roots to penetrate as deeply into the soil as possible, to avoid the drying cycles of the upper soil layers.
How can you do this? Encourage the roots to grow deeply. Just as branches twist and turn to get more light, roots grow toward a supply of water.
If the area is constantly watered lightly, there will be enough soil moisture just below the surface for the plants. But the soil moisture will dry up quickly and leave plants dessicated in hot weather. Instead, water deeply so the moisture penetrates to about 4 inches. Then, don’t water until it is needed. See Figure 3.
You can check the depth of the soil moisture using an unpainted wooden dowel, like you use a toothpick to check if a cake has fully baked. Soil crumbs clinging to the dowel indicate moist soil.
By understanding the association of free moisture to disease development and by changing your watering practice to cut the duration of leaf wetness and number of irrigations, you can lessen disease in your landscape.
MSU Extension Service Publication Number: P3881
View as PDF: P3881.pdf
Water, especially water droplets on leaves and stems, plays a major part in plant diseases. Unlike other important factors, such as temperature, you can sometimes control water and moisture. By understanding a few basic principles of how free water (water droplets and films of water on the surface of plant tissues) relates to plant disease and by watering appropriately, you can limit disease in your garden.
Most plant diseases in the state are caused by fungi, but bacterial diseases also occur. Fungi and bacteria that can cause disease are called pathogens. They spread by seed-like structures called spores or by cells.
The fungal spores and bacterial cells are often not released until they have been wet for a certain period. Once released, they may be carried on the wind, in raindrops, or irrigation water. Fungi and bacteria must have water to spread and infect plants.
Fungal spores are small and delicate (Figure 1). Like plant seeds, they require moisture to begin germination, and once they germinate, they die if they dry. Many fungi require a film of free moisture for at least 9 hours to germinate and penetrate the plant leaf. Some require slightly less time, and others more.
Splashing water droplets move pathogen “seeds” short distances. The splash carries the “seeds” from the soil to lower plant leaves, from the lower plant leaves to the upper plant leaves, and from one plant to another. The “seeds” may move longer distances by windblown water droplets.
Moisture is the critical factor in disease development. The amount of disease depends on the number and length of wet periods.
You can control many plant diseases by controlling the number of free moisture periods and how long those periods last. Reduce the number of periods by watering only when needed, and then watering deeply.
Reduce the amount of time leaves are wet. Remember that dew is water, too, so your watering schedule has to account for it. Do not extend the period of leaf wetness by watering as the dew is beginning to dry in the morning or before it forms in the evening (Figure 2). Extending the period of leaf wetness will let more pathogen “seeds” germinate.
Observe how long the dew stays on the plant canopies and turf; then water when the dew would normally be on the plants. Dew is usually present from about midnight to 8:00 in the morning. If watering in the evening, make sure you stop watering early enough that the watered areas dry before dark. If watering in the morning, stop early enough that the watered areas dry at the same time as or before unwatered areas.
A plant has leaves on the outside and the inside of its canopy. The inside leaves are sheltered from direct sun and drying winds, so water will stay longer on them. Plants shade the soil, slowing the drying time and raising the humidity levels around the plants. This means diseases are more likely to become established inside the plant canopy than on the outside.
Reduce disease inside plant canopies with proper pruning and landscaping. Make the best use of morning winds and sun to dry your landscape. You may hasten drying of particularly valuable areas of turf or plants by brushing a bamboo pole or pulling a garden hose over them to remove the dewdrops.
Consider using drip irrigation in your established plantings and soaker hoses in your more temporary ones. If watering by hand, try to water at the base of plants. Drip irrigation and watering at the soil level will help reduce the amount of free moisture on plant canopies. This won’t be possible with your lawn, so water it at the proper time.
How Much to Water
Have you ever noticed that as you dig a hole, the soil becomes moister the deeper you dig? Even when the upper soil layers are quite dry, the deeper layers are moist. So there is more moisture deeper in the soil.
How does water get into the plant? Through the roots. So, putting the two together, you want the plant roots to penetrate as deeply into the soil as possible, to avoid the drying cycles of the upper soil layers.
How can you do this? Encourage the roots to grow deeply. Just as branches twist and turn to get more light, roots grow toward a supply of water.
If the area is constantly watered lightly, there will be enough soil moisture just below the surface for the plants. But the soil moisture will dry up quickly and leave plants dessicated in hot weather. Instead, water deeply so the moisture penetrates to about 4 inches. Then, don’t water until it is needed. See Figure 3.
You can check the depth of the soil moisture using an unpainted wooden dowel, like you use a toothpick to check if a cake has fully baked. Soil crumbs clinging to the dowel indicate moist soil.
By understanding the association of free moisture to disease development and by changing your watering practice to cut the duration of leaf wetness and number of irrigations, you can lessen disease in your landscape.
Figures left to right
Figure 1. Diagram of the cross-section of a leaf with fungal spores (top of leaf, left) and bacterial cells (top of leaf, right). The surface of the leaf often has a cuticle, beneath which are living cells (represented by square blocks). Water on top of the leaf lets the spores and bacterial cells penetrate the plant and cause infection. Drying the leaf kills the fragile spores.
Figure 2. Irrigation scheduling. Free water on plant leaves is a major contributor to plant disease. You cannot control how heavy or long a dew is, but you can water while the dew is still on the plants. This lessens the length of time the leaves stay wet and reduces disease.
Figure 3. Root systems respond to watering type.
Figure 1. Diagram of the cross-section of a leaf with fungal spores (top of leaf, left) and bacterial cells (top of leaf, right). The surface of the leaf often has a cuticle, beneath which are living cells (represented by square blocks). Water on top of the leaf lets the spores and bacterial cells penetrate the plant and cause infection. Drying the leaf kills the fragile spores.
Figure 2. Irrigation scheduling. Free water on plant leaves is a major contributor to plant disease. You cannot control how heavy or long a dew is, but you can water while the dew is still on the plants. This lessens the length of time the leaves stay wet and reduces disease.
Figure 3. Root systems respond to watering type.
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Lee County Master Gardener Projects
The Lee County Master Gardeners lead and participate in many projects that help to promote gardening and serve as beautification to areas in Lee County. The projects provide a way to engage the public in gardening activities and to share current ideas and develop new ideas. Please use the Master Gardener Project button to explore and learn how the Lee County Master Gardeners contribute their time and love of gardening with the community. |
Mississippi Vegetable Gardener's Guide
MSU Extension Publication Number: P3616
View as PDF: P3616.pdf
Variety Recommendations for Mississippi Vegetable Gardens
MSU Extension Publication Number P3744
View as PDF: P3744.pdf
There are many good reasons for growing a vegetable garden in Mississippi.
MSU Extension Publication Number: P3616
View as PDF: P3616.pdf
Variety Recommendations for Mississippi Vegetable Gardens
MSU Extension Publication Number P3744
View as PDF: P3744.pdf
There are many good reasons for growing a vegetable garden in Mississippi.
- A garden offers the opportunity to enjoy vegetables at their freshest. Sometimes only minutes elapse between harvest, preparation, and eating. Most fresh vegetables available at the grocery store travel about 1,800 miles between producer and consumer, and this travel often occurs over a period of several days. There’s a lot to be said for “homegrown” freshness.
- In recent years many people are growing vegetables to save money on their grocery bill.
- A garden can be a wonderful place for children. They provide opportunities for play, learning, and for having fun.
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Magnolia Botanical Gardens
Verona Research and Extension Center Magnolia Botanical Gardens serves as a demonstration and educational resource for green industry professionals and consumers. There are many ornamental plants in the botanical gardens including Mississippi Medallion plants. Many plants are labeled for identification. The public is invited to view these gardens to see plants they may want to include in their landscape. Magnolia Botanical Gardens is located at the Verona Research and Extension Center, south of Verona, MS on Hwy 145. |
Location:
MSU Lee County Extension Office
5338 Cliff Gookin Blvd.; Tupelo, MS 38801
MSU Lee County Extension Office
5338 Cliff Gookin Blvd.; Tupelo, MS 38801