Outdoor recreation in the Ozarks from freshare.net

June 9 and 10 Are Free Fishing Days in Missouri

2012-05-24T15:00:01-06:00

The best things in life are free, sometimes. The weekend of June 9 and 10 is one of those times, as the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is suspending fishing-permit requirements for those two days. MDC designates the weekend after the first Monday in June as Free Fishing Days in Missouri each year. The idea is to encourage…

Watermelons in the Home Garden

2012-05-24T14:50:00-06:00

Most plants in the vegetable garden need just a few square feet of space to grow well. Members of the squash family, called cucurbits, are the exception. Available space may be part of the reason most American gardeners limit their production of cucurbits to cucumbers, zucchini and yellow squash, but a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist encourages gardeners…

Disease Problems Dog Trees Around State

2012-05-24T14:41:01-06:00

Two diseases this spring are making trouble for some tree species around Missouri. Fire blight, a bacterial infection, and the fungal disease anthracnose gained footholds in some trees, aided by a stint of cool, wet weather in April and May. “This spring presented a good illustration of the disease triangle, in which you need a susceptible…

MU Expert Offers Tomato Tips

2012-05-24T14:39:00-06:00

Tomatoes reign supreme as the No. 1 home gardening vegetable for a reason. “Our friend tomato is one of the easiest vegetables to grow,” said Tim Reinbott, superintendent at the University of Missouri Bradford Research Center. Hundreds of tomato varieties crowd seed catalogues and gardening centers. Experimenting with new varieties can provide an adventure in taste,…

Conservation Areas Perfect for Celebrating National Trails Day

2012-05-16T22:09:00-06:00

On the first Saturday of June each year, the American Hiking Society encourages people to discover the healthy fun of spending time hiking, biking and horseback riding. National Trails Day falls on June 2 this year, and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) bends over backwards to make it easy to celebrate the occasion. Conservation areas (CAs) have…

A Problem with Patches

2012-05-16T21:59:01-06:00

A lawn can be a source of pride when healthy and green, but a front yard full of disease can be an embarrassment. Dead-looking areas of the lawn can be the first sign of two common fungal diseases. Large patch of zoysia and brown patch on tall fescue showed up especially early this year thanks to above-normal temperatures…

Tagged Catfish Are Being Stocked Around the State

2012-05-10T01:57:00-06:00

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Family and Community Fisheries Program is continuing their efforts to get families involved in fishing with a tagged catfish campaign. Thousands of channel catfish from the AGFC’s warm-water hatchery facilities are currently being stocked at several locations around the state. Hundreds of the fish are being tagged with special Family…

Thinning Fruit in the Home Orchard

2012-05-08T15:16:00-06:00

Sometimes fruit trees try to produce more fruit than is good for the plant. Poor fruit size and flavor, plant stress, and alternate bearing can result when certain types of fruit trees aren’t properly thinned. “For gardeners with fruit trees, this process may be difficult, but it’s necessary to avoid these tendencies,” said Marlin Bates, University of Missouri…

Bull Shoals Lake is Incredible Fishery for Bassmaster Elite Anglers, Amateurs or Families

2012-05-02T14:37:00-06:00

Bull Shoals Lake is an incredible fishery – just ask a pro, especially those at the recent Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest held April 19-22 on this 60,000-acre impoundment. “Most definitely this is one of the best lakes I’ve fished in a long time,” said Bassmaster Pro Gerald Swindle. “If you’ve got children and you want to spend…

As Temperatures Rise, Gardeners Look to Warm-Season Vegetables

2012-04-26T14:19:00-06:00

Home gardeners can finally put their green thumbs back to work on garden mainstays like tomatoes and peppers. Warm-season vegetables need the milder temperatures of late April and early May to ensure successful growth from seedlings to fruitful plants. The average frost-free date-the day when the chance of a late freeze falls to 50 percent-was April 10 for…

Benefits of a Well-Drained Soil

2012-04-25T13:58:00-06:00

An ideal soil is half solid and half pore space by volume, and that pore space should be equal parts air and water. Gardening practices greatly influence pore space in cultivated soils. “Most gardeners don’t have an ideal soil, particularly as it relates to pore space,” said Marlin Bates, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “We need…

Start at the Bottom for Better Fishing Results

2012-04-19T23:50:00-06:00

When the fish are not biting, go to the bottom. It’s a technique that has worked for generations and often one that turns a poor fishing day into a satisfactory one. The basic idea, according to experienced anglers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, is to get your bait or your…

To Seed or to Transplant?

2012-04-19T22:06:00-06:00

A fundamental and often overlooked decision in planting a garden is whether to directly seed a crop into the soil or to place transplants of a crop into the garden, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Gardeners typically let this decision to be made for them,” says Marlin Bates. “If transplants of a particular crop are available,…

Get Into a Two-Week Planting Schedule

2012-04-17T17:44:00-06:00

Too many gardeners go all in when it comes to planting a vegetable garden by planting the entire garden at once, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Some fruiting vegetables can produce throughout the season, so it makes sense to plant them all at once,” said Marlin Bates. “Almost all other vegetables, though, can be planted in…

It’s Time for Asparagus

2012-04-17T17:41:00-06:00

Asparagus is always a welcome sight in spring as a first opportunity for fresh vegetables straight from the garden. It is important to know how to prepare and store fresh asparagus for the best taste and maximum freshness, says a University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist. “If you are buying fresh asparagus, look for firm,…

Bream Are Plentiful and in Many Forms in Arkansas

2012-04-13T13:03:00-06:00

The term “bream” is familiar to any Arkansan who has fished and also to others who have partaken of the small, tasty fish at the dinner table. But the term bream is a label, a catch-all word. There isn’t a fish living in Arkansas that carries the official name of bream. Still, the species covers several…

Lesser-known Plants That Deserve a Place in the Midwest Vegetable Garden

2012-03-29T15:20:00-06:00

There are a lot of vegetables out there for home gardeners in the Midwest to try beyond the standard offerings at the garden center, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist. Marlin Bates suggests gardeners look into some of the lesser-known members of the Apiaceae (ay-pee-AY-see-ee) family.

Spring Pruning: Subtraction with a Plus

2012-03-27T21:54:00-06:00

Trees, hedges and bushes.... When spring comes, the impulse is to hand out haircuts. Correct pruning can help keep your plants’ size in check, remove undesirable growth and stimulate desirable growth. Spring is a good time for tree and shrub pruning for several reasons, says Chris Starbuck, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension. “You can…

Soil Test, Calibration, Measurement Will Help Feed Lawn, Not Burn It

2012-03-27T21:49:00-06:00

Not only have flowers, buds, pollen and green grass appeared with the coming of spring, but so have those fertilizer commercials. “Before you follow up on the advertisements’ suggestions, be sure to have your soil tested for free through your local…

Managing Your Garden’s Soil Moisture Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult

2012-03-21T21:37:00-06:00

Managing soil moisture is an important part of successful vegetable gardening in the Midwest, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Springtime in our region often brings ample total moisture, but for gardeners with heavy soils, this can be as bad as drought,” says Marlin Bates. Too much moisture early on can stunt plants and prohibit good root…