This weekend April will begin, so here are some garden tasks you can think about getting out and doing. Check your last frost date before some of these April tasks. Prune Check your last frost date – and if it is past then go ahead and prune frost damage off bougainvillea, lantana, autumn sage, and other summer flowering frost tender perennials. Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs until bloom period is through. […]
March can be a busy month in the garden. Here are some of the things to get done this month. Weather Repeats Itself Just like hsitory. You my hear people complain about this “odd” winter we are having in the Southwest – but they haven’t been here long enough. Cold, windy, dry at first, and then late rains. This all happens every 50 years or so. Last time was 1968, […]
Cover image – Viola, also called heartease – for February, National Heart Month. There is not very much maintenance or tasks the must be done in the Southwest garden in February, just enjoy the season and any flowers you have. Tidy up some things – especially in Low or Middle Desert. Upper Elevations – you get to chill (pardon the pun). Speaking of Flowers I will be speaking of flowers! […]
When planning your vegetable garden and other gardening tasks – you need to look at “Last Frost” date for your area. And as Autumn comes along you will need to start looking at “First Frost” data – but that is another article. Cover image is frost on a sage plant. Which Garden Tasks go by Last Frost Date? Last frost date tells you when you can safely put your tender […]
January here in the Southwest is blessed in many ways. We have spectacular sunsets in winter, not to mention a most salubrious winter climate. Despite the occasional cold front that touches down, withering tender plants, winters are, on the whole, great for growing everything in our region. Here’s some ideas to get you growing. January Color Grow some winter color. There are a number of annual plants that prefer cooler […]
There are a number of reasons to resolve to keep a garden journal – and we look at some great reasons this week as the New Year approaches. cover image is mourning dove by J. J. Audubon. Journal Your Journey Want to become better at caring for your yard or garden? Keep a garden journal. Want a fun project to do with your kids? Keep a garden journal. Want to […]
Days are getting shorter. Or, more correctly from the viewpoint of an organism that needs sunlight for photosynthesis, nights are getting longer. Either way – it’s a tough time of year for many plants, and for people too. Not Enough Sunlight Long nights mean there is often not enough hours of sunlight to make enough food to grow. Not just grow but to also do all those complex processes to […]
When it comes to Garden Tasks, December is a slow month. That’s a good thing because it’s the holiday season and there are plenty of other tasks to do. December Overview It is too late (or too early) to prune anything. This year the weeds are not too rambunctious, and cool temperatures mean slow growth. Slow growth does not mean no growth. Roots continue to grow, so be sure to […]
It’s November and that means weather is cooling off. You will need to keep an eye out for frost – depending on your region of the Southwest. Might have already happened for you. Push Your Zone In Carson City, Nevada they already have some snow. But in other areas of the Southwest, I encourage you to live (a little) dangerously. In Middle and Low Desert go ahead and keep planting […]
It seems that every October is different than the previous one here in the Land of El Sol. Luckily there are some things in common – and thus I can help you plan your October 2022 gardening tasks ahead, so your garden will look great through the holidays ahead.* Watch for The 3 W’s – Winter ,Weeds, Wildflowers We had spotty rain across the Southwest in late September. Rain means […]
