January

• January 3, 2009
  Salt accumulation in potting soil damages house plants.

• January 10, 2009
  Poinsettias will freeze outside in New Mexico.
  It is difficult to force lilac twigs to bloom early indoors.

• January 17, 2009
  Minimize damage to tree roots when building footers.

• January 24, 2009
  Fire prevention pruning may increase chances of bark beetle attack, but pruning paint won't help.
  Siberian elm may be used to create a "shrub" hedge.

February

• February 7, 2009
  If you want to grow blueberries in New Mexico, you must work to modify soil pH.

• February 14, 2009
  Some reasons a nandina plant may do poorly.

• February 21, 2009
  Manage weeds to reduce curly top virus this summer.
  Yes, you can grow okra in New Mexico.

• February 28, 2009
  Composting can be almost odorless.

March

• March 7, 2009
  Restarting a "rested" garden is like beginning a new garden.

• March 14, 2009
  Don't let seeds dry when they are germinating!

• March 21, 2009
  Be careful when using fertilizer combined with post-emergent herbicide.

• March 28, 2009
  Avocados are not a recommended tree for New Mexico.

April

• April 4, 2009
  You can save your poinsettia for next year if you are willing to take the effort.

• April 11, 2009
  Gardening in New Mexico is different from the East Coast.

• April 18, 2009
  Grafting may help a wounded apple tree.

• April 25, 2009
  Fungus gnats in aloe vera potted plant.

May

• May 2, 2009
  Wisteria seed planning and peach tree seedlings.

• May 9, 2009
  Which is better? Rock mulch or bark mulch?

• May 16, 2009
  Grass can be weeds in garden.

• May 23, 2009
  You can keep birds from eating your seedlings.

• May 30, 2009
  Are there any roses that will grow in Cloudcroft?

June

• June 6, 2009
  Transplants can be shocked by the transplant process.

• June 13, 2009
  You can grow stevia in New Mexico during the summer.

• June 17, 2009
  There are several potential causes for a tree to appear to die suddenly.

• June 27, 2009
  Spurge weed management in lawns.

July

• July 4, 2009
  There are options if a tree is too close to a house.

• July 18, 2009
  Curly top virus strikes again!

• July 25, 2009
  Blossom end rot in New Mexico is due to hot, dry conditions.
  Tomato spotted wilt virus is a problem in New Mexico.

August

• August 1, 2009
  Fruit trees do not usually bear good quality fruit the first year after planting.

• August 8, 2009
  Extreme pruning of euonymus now can cause problems in some parts of New Mexico.

• August 15, 2009
  Some vegetable plants not forming fruits this summer.

• August 18, 2009
  Transplanting New Mexico locust and Russian olive and what to do with a tree the wind broke.

• August 29, 2009
  Consider safety when installing greywater systems.

September

• September 5, 2009
  Early September is a good time to prepare houseplants for wintering indoors.

• September 12, 2009
  My houseplants have gotten too large to bring indoors. They will not fit where I kept them last winter. Is it OK to trim them back?

• September 19, 2009
  Gourds may be edible, but often not tasty. Be sure you know what you are eating.
  Now is the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs.

• September 26, 2009
  Coffee grounds and tea leaves are good for New Mexico gardens.

October

• October 3, 2009
  Efficient turfgrass irrigation depends on you.

• October 10, 2009
  Juniper mistletoe is difficult to eradicate.

• October 17, 2009
  Saving seeds for next year.

• October 25, 2009
  There are some trees, shrubs, and vines to give red fall color in New Mexico.

November

• November 5, 2009
  Rose pruning in fall is discouraged.

• November 21, 2009
  Here are some unusual and interesting houseplants you can grow.

• November 28, 2009
  Fruit flies or fungus gnats? You need to identify insects to properly manage problems.

December

• December 5, 2009
  There are several reasons why people do not compost.

• December 12, 2009
  Making compost from leaves may need some additional nitrogen.

• December 19, 2009
  Should we irrigate in the winter?

• December 26, 2009
  Pinching to remove flowers buds helps keep some coleus plants attractive.

Desert Blooms Website

Marisa Y. Thompson, PhD, is the Extension Horticulture Specialist, in the Department of Extension Plant Sciences at the New Mexico State University Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center, email: desertblooms@nmsu.edu, office: 505-865-7340, ext. 113.

Links:

For more gardening information, visit the NMSU Extension Horticulture page at Desert Blooms and the NMSU Horticulture Publications page.

Send gardening questions to Southwest Yard and Garden - Attn: Dr. Marisa Thompson at desertblooms@nmsu.edu, or at the Desert Blooms Facebook page.

Please copy your County Extension Agent and indicate your county of residence when you submit your question!