Public Classes for July-August, 2018
Download the class flyer here.
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New Mexico State Master Gardeners 2018 Conference
The 2018 Master Gardener Conference (August 31st to September 2nd) is now open to the public. Please visit the Conference website to register and for more information. Click here to visit the conference website. You don’t want to miss it! There will high-powered experts to teach seminars and lead hands-on classes on topics that are crucial in these times of climate change. Some examples: Growing zone changes Edible seeds and plants Seed-saving techniques Pollinator gardens Water Wise Growing Noted author and southwest gardening expert Judith…
Southwest Plant of the Month – Blackbrush Acacia
Plant Form: Tree Plant Size: 18′ x 10′ Plant Type: Deciduous Water Usage: Low Sunlight: Sun, Partial Shade Flower Colors: Yellow Physical Description: Large, 2-3″, fragrant, pale yellow to golden flowers in spring. Dark colored bark on rigid, thorny branches. Care and Maintenance: Needs training when young if single trunk habit is desired. Thorns. Slow growing. Freeze damage possible in very cold winters. Gardener’s notes: Large shrub or small tree. Dark bark and rich green foliage provides attractive contrast in the landscape. Native to eastern…
Cold Frames for a Longer Season
Roy Archibald, SCMG A cold frame is a valuable tool for getting an early start in the garden and extending the season in the fall. We can begin planting at least a month earlier using one. In the fall adding a hoop cover can extend harvest for another month. The use of these adds an additional 60 days to our short gardening season. An easily constructed cold frame will provide protection from frost, temperature extremes, and drying winds. A cold frame in its simplest form…
Winter Tree Care
By Dave Pojmann As we close one of the driest years on record, it’s time to think about the trees and bushes in our landscapes. Although the leaves have fallen, the roots of the trees are still active, and they need water to stay healthy. Young trees are especially vulnerable to winter damage if they don’t have enough water. A heavy soaking every three or four weeks is preferable to more frequent light watering. The water should be applied around the drip line of the…
Southwest Plant of the Month
Black locust – Robinia pseudoacacia Plant Form: Tree Plant Size: 50′ x 25′ Plant Type: Deciduous Water Usage: Low Sunlight: Sun Colors: White Physical Description: Tree has an open sparse branching habit. Bark is deeply furrowed. Showy display of creamy-white fragrant flowers in the spring. Care and Maintenance: Weedy, thicket-forming if not controlled. Thorns. Root suckering can become a nuisance. Gardener’s notes: The wood is hard and dense. Often used as posts because wood is rot-resistant and strong. Once widely planted for shelter belts, and…
Pollinators and Garden Design Workshop Series
New series of workshops to learn more about pollinators, nectary and pollen plants, collecting, cleaning and saving seed from native pollinator plants and garden design for a sustainable pollinator garden. Class size is limited. Cost is $40 cash at the first class for all for classes. $10 bucks a class is quite the deal. Note classes are at different locations. Please register online at: http://rsvp.nmsu.edu/rsvp/pollinators Download the Pollinator Workshop Flyer her.
How to Prune Hands-on Instructional
Southwest Plant of the Month – Big Bend Silverleaf
Southwest Plant of the Month Big Bend Silverleaf Leucophyllum candidum Plant Form: Shrub Plant Size: 4’ x 4’ Plant Type: Evergreen Water Usage: Low Sunlight: Sun Colors: Blue, Purple Physical Description: Densely foliaged, compact, rounded shrub with soft velvety, silver-gray leaves and stems, and intense deep blue-violet flowers following heavy rains from late spring to fall. Very drought tolerant. Care and Maintenance: Overwatering and/or poor drainage will quickly kill this plant. Gardener’s notes: Naturally tidy and compact in full sun. Chihuahuan desert native with several cultivars released by Texas…
Winter Gardening – Planning for Spring Season by Loren Meinz Master Gardener
So, rather than winter boredom watching TV all day, there are some things we gardeners can and should be doing to get ready for spring season. First, if you have fruit trees, January/February is the time for pruning. After several years of my pruning efforts, my two trees are somewhat “odd” shaped, so this year I am hiring an arborist to give them a professional crew cut. After pruning, consider applying dormant oil spray to rid the tree of left over pest bug eggs that…