Washington County Master Gardeners

08/14/2026

🌡It's hot! Tree stress is very visible now. See these tips on caring for trees during extreme heat and high temperatures.

Essential Heat Care Tips:

💦 Water deeply: Soak the soil slowly.

Water Distribution: Apply water under the entire canopy footprint (the drip line) rather than right against the trunk. For newly planted trees, water just outside the root ball to entice the roots to expand into the native soil.

Clay Soil Cycling: Because Arkansas clay and compacted soils cause rapid runoff, UAEX recommends a cycle watering method: run a soaker hose or drip system for 20 minutes, turn it off for 20 minutes to allow infiltration, and repeat until the soil is thoroughly wet.

⏳️ Time it right: Water during the early morning hours to reduce loss from evaporation.

🪏 Apply mulch: Put down a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch to keep roots cool and hold onto moisture, but keep it away from direct contact with the trunk. No volcano piles of mulch!

❌️ Skip extra stress: Avoid pruning or fertilizing trees while extreme heat and drought conditions persist.

🔗 Check out the link in comments on FAQ on trees.

08/11/2026

🌿 Good garden decisions begin with reliable information.

Whether you’re planning a new garden, choosing plants for fall, or saving ideas for next spring, knowing where to find trustworthy, locally relevant information makes all the difference.

This week’s Ask a Master resource features a collection of reliable plant databases from the Washington County Master Gardeners, including horticulture information from the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Use these resources to:

• Research specific plants
• Find selections suited to our area
• Compare growing requirements
• Plan ahead for fall or spring planting

Even if you aren’t planting this fall, winter is the perfect time to research, dream, and create a plan for spring. Save this link—you’ll want to return to it!

🔗 Explore the WMCGAR.ORG plant information page for a comprehensive list in the comments.

08/06/2026

Great information!

08/06/2026

One of my favorites!

💜Here's an upright perennial that's a well behaved clumper and can add a bright pop of color to your garden: Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)

🐝 According to the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, this plant likes moist, rich soils (though doesn't like wet soils in winter). The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, and the small seeds are attractive to songbirds. Mass in perennial borders, native plant gardens, cottage gardens and prairie areas. Suitable for use in fresh cut or dried flower arrangements.

Keep an eye out for this one, and try it in your own garden if you have the right conditions!

📝 Key Characteristics:
--Height: 2 - 4 feet
--Spread: 0.75 - 1.5 feet
--Bloom Time: July to August
--Bloom Description: Red-purple
--Sun: Full sun
--Water: Medium

08/06/2026

❓️How can something so small be a big deal?

After reading the article you will see why removal and disposal of diseased plant matter is important. 👀

08/04/2026

🍅🥒 Lots of Blooms, but Where’s the Fruit?
If your tomatoes and cucumbers are flowering but not producing like you expected this summer, you’re not alone. (Oddly shaped fruit also.)

Northwest Arkansas weather can create some real challenges for fruit set.

Tomatoes: When daytime temperatures stay above about 90°F, especially when nights remain above 70–75°F, tomato pollen can become less viable. Flowers may bloom normally but simply drop without setting fruit. High humidity can also make pollen sticky and interfere with pollination.

Cucumbers: Cucumbers have separate male and female flowers, and they depend heavily on pollinators to move pollen between them. Early in the season, plants often produce mostly male flowers. Later, if you see tiny cucumbers that yellow, shrivel, and fall off, incomplete pollination is often the culprit.

A few things NWA gardeners can do:
💦Keep soil moisture consistent. Big swings between dry and soaked add stress and can reduce fruit set.

🪏Maintain 2–3 inches of mulch to moderate soil temperature and moisture.

❌️Avoid pushing plants with too much nitrogen. Beautiful leafy plants don't necessarily mean more tomatoes or cucumbers.

🐝Encourage bees and other pollinators by planting flowers nearby and avoiding insecticides while plants are blooming.
If cucumber pollination is questionable, try hand-pollinating in the morning with a small brush or by transferring pollen from a male flower to a female flower.

✨️And sometimes the best remedy is simply patience. When temperatures moderate, tomatoes in particular can begin setting fruit again.

08/02/2026

Way to go👏👏👏

Today's harvest going to G.R.A.C.E. Place are the following:

14.5 lbs Peppers
6 lbs Okra
21.5 lbs Tomatoes
4 lbs Squash
1.5 lbs Cucumbers

07/30/2026

🌧Who's being gifted with rain this evening? 🌧

👍 🌳Plants and trees going to love this! ❤️

If you are receiving rain drop your location in the comments. ⬇️⏬️⬇️

07/28/2026

☀️ Is Your Garden Feeling the Heat?

With the recent high temperatures, limited rainfall, and the heavy chert and clay soils common across Northwest Arkansas, many plants are showing signs of stress.

🌿 Look for:
• Wilting during the hottest part of the day
• Curled or scorched leaves
• Yellowing or early leaf drop
• Slowed growth or fewer blooms

✅ Do:
💧 Water deeply in the early morning.
🌱 Apply 2–3 inches of mulch to help conserve moisture.
🌳 Give newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials extra attention.

🚫 Don't:
❌ Fertilize drought-stressed plants.
❌ Water lightly every day—deep watering encourages deeper roots.
❌ Assume every wilted plant needs water. In our clay soils, check the soil 3–4 inches deep before watering.
❌️Don't over water plants that don't like wet feet. Follow plant preferences to reduce individual stress.

Remember, a little afternoon wilting can be a normal response to extreme heat. Healthy roots are more important than perfect-looking leaves!

🌻 What signs of heat stress are you seeing in your garden this summer?