St. Tammany Master Gardener Association

Are you seeing black mold covering the leaves of your crapemyrtle trees? Learn how to manage Black Sooty Mold with Dr. Aaron Ashbrook.

Sooty mold isn’t a disease. It’s a sign of an insect problem. (07/31/26) Insects such as aphids leave behind sticky honeydew, which provides a growing medium for sooty mold.

A fake event has been circulating on Eventbrite. Please be aware of scammers!

🚨 Scam Alert – Please Read & Share 🚨

Scammers are using a 2026 Covington Artisan Market & Festival to target potential vendors and attendees through fake vendor applications, fraudulent payment requests, and impersonated event pages.

Please do not send money or share personal information. If you receive suspicious messages or payment requests, report them and help spread the word to protect others from becoming victims.

Please share this post to help keep our community informed and safe.

Time to start planning your fall vegetable garden!

August signals the time to start planning your fall vegetable garden! Here are some things you can plant this month. There are more in the vegetable growing guide: https://tinyurl.com/VegetablePlantingGuide

Broccoli (plants):
S. LA 8/1-10/31
N. LA 8/1-10/31

Beans, lima, bush (direct-seed):
S. LA 8/1-9/1
N. LA 8/1-9/1

Cabbage (plants):
S. LA 8/15-11/30
N. LA 8/1-11/30

Collards (direct-seed):
S. LA 7/15-10/31
N. LA 7/15-10/31

Kale (direct-seed or plants):
S. LA 7/15-11/15
N. LA 7/15-10/31

Squash, summer (direct-seed or plants):
S. LA 7/1-9/15
N. LA 7/1-8/31

Swiss Chard (plants):
S. LA 8/15-10/30
N. LA 8/15-10/15

Tomatoes (plants):
S. LA 7/1-8/15
N. LA 7/1-8/10

Turnips for roots (direct-seed):
S. LA 7/15-10/31
N. LA 7/15-10/31

2026 St Tammany Master Gardener Fall Seminar
- Greaux Native: Plants, Bugs, and People of the Southern Landscape

Whether you’re a longtime gardener, a native plant enthusiast, a landscape professional, or just getting started, join fellow gardeners from across Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast for a morning of gardening education and practical ideas you can apply at home or in your business.

Featured Presentations
• Elise Smith – Southern Women, Southern Landscapes
• Dr. Jeff Wilson – Incorporating Native and Non-Native Plants in Your Garden
• Linda Auld (“The Bug Lady”) – Plant It and They Will Come

📅 Friday, October 9, 2026
🕗 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (Presentations begin at 9:00 a.m.)
📍 Castine Center at Pelican Park
Mandeville, Louisiana

Registration: $40 per person
Registration Opens August 3 – October 1, 2026

Register at www.stmastergardener.org/event

Come early to browse plant and garden vendors, visit educational exhibits, enjoy refreshments, connect with fellow gardeners, and meet our featured speakers during book signings.

Most of Louisiana is under an extreme heat advisory today with heat indexes reaching over 110 degrees in parts of the state.

Limit time spent outdoors if possible and try to get any outdoor chores done in the evenings. Stay hydrated if you have to be outside. Keep an eye on young children and the elderly who are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and avoid bringing pets outside for prolonged periods.

Don’t forget about this awesome training and volunteer program- deadline is approaching fast!

🌿 Looking for a Few Good Volunteers With a Passion for Gardening! 🌿

Join the Louisiana Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program in St. Tammany Parish and turn your love of plants into meaningful service, lifelong learning, and community impact.

Additional details can be found here:
https://www.stmastergardener.org/becomeamastergardener

We hope to see you in our next class! Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just beginning your gardening journey, you’ll gain research-based knowledge, form lasting friendships, and make a meaningful difference in our community through volunteer service. Come greaux with us in St. Tammany Parish!

Love daylilies?

Be sure to check out the July issue of GNO Gardening Magazine! You’ll find a great article by our St. Tammany Parish Extension Agent, Will Afton, along with many other informative gardening articles to inspire your summer landscape.

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/8/e/5/c/8e5c47da7989064cad08566558914d18/july%202026%20apdf.pdf

Got ants? Try the Texas Two-Step

Recent rain may be causing an increase of fire ants in your landscape. LSU AgCenter entomologists recommend the "Texas two-step" method to control fire ants.

Learn more about how to control ants in your landscape here: https://www.lsuagcenter.com/articles/page1741871276535

Stop by the library tonight for this rescheduled event

https://stpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/6a3afb8996ee38a44a92a6d1