May 16 is National Hug a Tree Day! So in honor of this very special day, I am starting this series of articles on how to pick the perfect tree. Perfect Tree for … ? … Factor This: If you want to watch a nursery person cringe, ask them: “What tree should I plant in my yard?” There is simply no way to correctly answer this question without a […]
The warm season vegetable gardening season is starting, and many readers are ‘rarin’ to get growing. Here are my top ten tips for success. Number 1 Tip – Plant What You Eat Plant something that you like to eat or will use, like maybe gourds. Want tomatoes? Tomatoes are the hardest to grow in our hot dry climate – so what’s you next choice? Have you ever had salsa verde […]
Starting seeds indoors is relatively easy, and it’s (past) time to start thinking about your spring planting in the Southwest. Starting Out Starting Seeds You will need a well lit space and some way of keeping your seeds and tender young plants protected from household pets and other slings and arrows of misfortune. Necessary Supplies Sterile seed-starting soil mix Seedling trays with clear plastic covers – either purchased or repurposed […]
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 […]
Vegetables can be easy to grow – especially now that the cooler season is upon us. So maybe call this Cool Season Vegetable Gardening – Tips & Tricks. Yes, it is time now for a cool season vegetable garden in the Southwest. Or maybe less than a garden. Maybe just some pots on the patio. Thing is, days are cooling off in the Southwest and that means it is time […]
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 […]
Fall is time to divide your plants – at least some of them. Yes, it is still fairly hot out there at mid-day, and not so much fun to work outside – but this is a task that will reward you next spring! Why Divide? Just like you separate quarreling sibling humans, you need to separate a clump of sibling perennial plants that are growing too close together. They may […]
Fertilize now – as the season turns towards Fall. Fall is for Fertilizer It is not officially Fall yet (starts September 21), but summer is winding down, and plants know it. For them the nights are getting longer, the suns rays slant in the sky, plus the ground starting to cool off. Plants that go winter dormant are already starting to store in their roots what they need for next […]
It is easy to create compost in a dry climate. Properly done, composting is not unsightly, nor does it smell, or invite pests. I discussed the basics last week (here). More than the Basics Do you get my newsletter? One reader who does emailed me via the link at the bottom and asked for help creating an HOA approved compost area. After several missives we determined that it might have […]
Compost in the desert is not hard – it is just different from what all the gardening books written for other climates tell you to do. We live in a unique area, so you need to use some unique approaches. “Compost Happens” – NOT! That bumper sticker (and tee shirt) slogan just doesn’t work in the desert. Our usual humidity of 15 to 30 percent is just not enough for […]
