   2002 Gardening Resolutions - January 2, 2002 Jeff Schalau, County Director, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County As County Agent, I see and hear about a lot of gardening problems. Many of these "challenging situations" could have been avoided if the gardener had thought about the consequences of their gardening decisions. So, to help you get the New Year started with the greenest thumb possible, I am offering a few 2002 New Year's gardening resolutions and extending some ideas, solutions, and references to information. Start Composting. If you're a gardener and not composting, you are missing a serious piece of your gardening puzzle. Composting has many benefits and, when done correctly, it's not necessarily disgusting and stinky. If you are already a composter, consider upping the ante by using worms or brewing compost teas. The Cooperative Extension office has publications and information on composting. Other resource: search the Backyard Gardener (BYG) web site archive under "compost" and "vermiculture". Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM). All gardeners have occasional pest problems. However, before reaching for the nearest available pesticide, attempt to identify the pest, assess the degree of damage, and weigh the advantages or disadvantages of using pesticides. Natural enemies of the pest may be present in large enough quantities to exert natural control on pest populations. There are also several alternatives to pesticides, which have little effect on non-target organisms: exclusion, growth regulators, pheromones, soaps, etc. Resources: search the BYG web site archive under "IPM". The University of California has an excellent web site on IPM at: http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/. Make No Pruning Cut Without Good Reason. There are two reasons to prune ornamental plants. These are (1) safety and (2) maintaining the health of the plant. Reasons not to prune: appearance of the plant, excess energy, new pair of loppers or saw. If you do need to prune, do it correctly: make three cuts to avoid bark stripping and preserve the branch collar to speed healing/callusing of the wound. Cooperative Extension has several publications on pruning. Also, for fruit tree pruning, watch the newspapers for dates and times of workshops during January and February. Resource: search the BYG web site archive under "pruning". Prepare the Soil Before Planting Vegetables and Annual Flowers. Adding compost, nitrogen fertilizer (such as manure or fertilizer), and phosphorus will supply the higher nutrient demands required to grow flowers and fruit. It's easier to add the needed amendments before planting. Your compost may contain enough nitrogen to meet the crop's nutritional requirements (you can add additional nitrogen later). Phosphorus fertilizer (triple super phosphate, ammonium phosphate, bone meal) should be concentrated in the root zone for maximum availability. Resource: search the BYG archive under "fertilizer". Plant Suitable Species for Our Area. This is an opinion, but there are many plants that simply have no business being planted in our area (azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, etc.). Put simply, plants that prefer humid climates and acid soils do poorly here. Instead, I recommend planting drought-tolerant or desert-adapted species that conserve water and increase planting success. Resource: the Sunset Western Garden book is the definitive resource for plant species selection. Use Appropriate Planting Dates. Be mindful of our climate. It is not uncommon for temperatures to be in the 70's or 80's during the day and dip down to freezing at night. If you choose to plant early, be prepared to employ frost protection strategies. Likewise, you can use season extenders, such as coverings, cold frames, and thermal mass, to lengthen the fall growing season. Resource: the Arizona Master Gardener Manual On-line (http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/) has planting dates for most vegetables or search the BYG archive under "extender". Know the Mature Size and of Trees and Shrubs. Many of the cute little plants that are available at local retail establishments can become massive at maturity. Reputable nurseries can tell you how large a tree or shrub will be when mature. The is nothing as disappointing as seeing a beautiful, thriving tree or shrub that has been topped or otherwise hacked up because it was planted under utility wires or too close to a structure. By simply doing some research or asking questions, you will discover that many dwarf or compact varieties of common landscape plant species have been developed for smaller growing spaces. Again, the Sunset Western Garden book is the definitive resource for plant species selection. Keep a Gardening Journal. Have a simple notebook with notes about planting/harvesting dates, soil preparation, species and varieties planted, and most importantly, how successful you thought it was. A journal can also include maps that detail where you planted certain crops previously so that you can rotate these locations to minimize pest and disease problems. A small, bound journal is what I use to keep records. Enjoy Gardening. Keep your gardening activities manageable. Do not plant more stuff than you can reasonably take care of. Finally, gardening should be fun, so, don't be overly serious and remember to laugh at your own mistakes. Visit Your Local Cooperative Extension Office. Meet the Yavapai County Master Gardener volunteers, ask questions, request publications, attend our workshops and seminars, and think about becoming a Master Gardener volunteer yourself. In Cottonwood, we are at 2657 Village Drive (in Verde Village) just off Hwy 260. You may find us less painful than giving up your favorite vices for the New Year. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 or E-mail us at mgardener@verdeonline.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/. |