2009 Southwest Yard & Garden Archives
January
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January 31 - Salt accumulation in potting soil damages house plants.
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January 101 - Poinsettias will freeze outside in New Mexico.
2 - It is difficult to force lilac twigs to bloom early indoors.
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January 171 - Minimize damage to tree roots when building footers.
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January 241 - Fire prevention pruning may increase chances of bark beetle attack, but pruning paint won't help.
2 - Siberian elm may be used to create a "shrub" hedge.
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January 311 - Pruning thornless blackberries.
2 - Raspberries and blueberries for Central New Mexico.
February
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February 71 - If you want to grow blueberries in New Mexico, you must work to modify soil pH.
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Febrary 141 - Some reasons a nandina plant may do poorly.
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February 211 - Manage weeds to reduce curly top virus this summer.
2 - Yes, you can grow okra in New Mexico.
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February 281 - Composting can be almost odorless.
March
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March 71 - Restarting a "rested" garden is like beginning a new garden.
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March 141 - Don't let seeds dry when they are germinating!
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March 211 - Be careful when using fertilizer combined with post-emergent herbicide.
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March 28Avocados are not a recommended tree for New Mexico.
April
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April 4You can save your poinsettia for next year if you are willing to take the effort.
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April 11Gardening in New Mexico is different from the East Coast.
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April 18Grafting may help a wounded apple tree.
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April 25Fungus gnats in aloe vera potted plant.
May
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May 2Wisteria seed planing and peach tree seedlings.
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May 9Which is better? Rock mulch or bark mulch?
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May 16Grass can be weeds in garden.
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May 23You can keep birds from eating your seedlings.
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May 30Are there any roses that will grow in Cloudcroft?
June
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June 6Transplants can be shocked by the transplant process.
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June 13You can grow stevia in New Mexico during the summer.
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June 17There are several potential causes for a tree to appear to die suddenly.
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June 27Spurge weed management in lawns.
July
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July 4There are options if a tree is too close to a house.
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July 11Plant hollyhock seeds as they mature on the plant.
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July 18Curly top virus strikes again!
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July 25Blossom end rot in New Mexico is due to hot, dry conditions.
Tomato spotted wilt virus is a problem in New Mexico.
August
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August 1 Fruit trees do not usually bear good quality fruit the first year after planting.
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August 8Extreme pruning of euonymus now can cause problems in some parts of New Mexico.
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August 15Some vegetable plants not forming fruits this summer.
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August 18Transplanting New Mexico locust and Russian olive and what to do with a tree the wind broke.
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August 29Consider safety when installing greywater systems.
September
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September 5Early September is a good time to prepare houseplants for wintering indoors.
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September 12My houseplants have gotten too large to bring indoors. They will not fit where I kept them last winter. Is it OK to trim them back?
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September 19Gourds may be edible, but often not tasty. Be sure you know what you are eating.
Now is the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs.
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September 26Coffee grounds and tea leaves are good for New Mexico gardens.
October
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October 3Efficient turfgrass irrigation depends on you.
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October 10Juniper mistletoe is difficult to eradicate.
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October 17Saving seeds for next year.
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October 25There are some trees, shrubs, and vines to give red fall color in New Mexico.
November
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November 5Rose pruning in fall is discouraged.
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November 14You can start a mimosa tree from seeds.
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November 21Here are some unusual and interesting houseplants you can grow.
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November 28Fruit flies or fungus gnats? You need to identify insects to properly manage problems.
December
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December 5There are several reasons why people do not compost.
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December 12Making compost from leaves may need some additional nitrogen.
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December 19Should we irrigate in the winter?
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December 26Pinching to remove flowers buds helps keep some coleus plants attractive.
Marisa Y. Thompson, PhD, is the Extension Horticulture Specialist, in the Department of Extension Plant Sciences at the New Mexico State University Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center, email: desertblooms@nmsu.edu, office: 505-865-7340, ext. 113.
Links:
For more gardening information, visit the NMSU Extension Horticulture page at Desert Blooms.
Send gardening questions to Southwest Yard and Garden - Attn: Dr. Marisa Thompson at desertblooms@nmsu.edu, or at the Desert Blooms Facebook page.
Please copy your County Extension Agent and indicate your county of residence when you submit your question!