   2005 Gardening Resolutions - December 29, 2004 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 offer you a few 2005 New Year's gardening resolutions and extending some ideas, solutions, and references to information. 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 plant-eating insects may be present in large enough quantities to provide some natural control. 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. 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". 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 and/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". Plant Suitable Species for Our Area. 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. 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. I use a small, bound journal to keep records. 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. If you can’t make it to the office, call a Yavapai County Master Gardener 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/. |