QUESTION: When should I plant native warm season grasses and how should I prepare the soil?

ANSWER: Warm season native grasses include but are not limited to the blue stems, buffaloes, gramas, Indian rices, lovegrasses, sideoats and wheatgrasses. Planting of most of these grasses should occur just before the monsoon rainy season begins in July. Seeding rates vary between different grass species. For example Buffalo grass is seeded at 3 to 4 pounds and blue grama grass is seeded at 1 to 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. In most situations it is advisable to mix 2 or more compatible species together and sow them so there is more diversity in the planting.

For best germination and stand till the soil 4 to 6 inches deep (this is very necessary on new construction sites because of compacted soil), rake smooth, spread seed, and top dress with compost or composted manure. The dark compost will warm the soil and hold moisture which aids in germination.

Many of these warm season grasses make attractive landscape areas but are not suited to heavy traffic and play. However, breeding programs are currently developing turf type lawn grasses from native warm season grass species that will withstand traffic. Also, many of these grasses are more drought tolerant than the more traditional turf grass and require less water than bermuda grass, but others require more.

QUESTION: Why are the melons and winter squash that I planted in May looking so poor? Some of the skin of the fruits are soft and yellowish while others ate very brown and the skin is hard. What should I do to grow good melons and winter squash?

ANSWER: You have sunburned fruit. It is too late to apply sun-tanning lotion! I have found that it is best to plant melons, pumpkins, and winter squash after the first of July. The reason is that normally we will have some cloud cover and rain while the really hot weather of May and June is subsiding. Soil temperatures are warm enough so that seeds germinate rapidly. If you plant just after the last spring frost the plants will grow normally. However, the fruits will be produced too early and become sun burned because of the heat and poor leaf cover, which shades the fruit, during the month of June when compared to plants sown in July. We have a long enough growing season to mature these crops in September and October. Our normal first fall frost in Cochise County is in late October. Try planting melons, pumpkins, and winter squash now and you will have better results, I guarantee!