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May gardening in Southwestern New Mexico & west Texas can be hot, dry and/or windy. Take precautions to make sure all watering systems are working at their best.

Use Cypress mulch to help keep roots insulated from the HOT sun. This helps keep moisture in the root zone as well as the keeping weeds down to a minimum.

Lantana, red bird of paradise, Oleander, and other winter damaged plants may be emerging at this time. Do NOT remove them permaturely. These plants will emerge if watered occasionally during winter.

Crape Myrtle will begin to show flower buds at this time and will need regular watering when flowers begin to develop. They like fertilzing and resist “leaf burn” if given a soil acidifying product such as Ironite in conjuction with a regular fertilizer. Remove faded flower tips reguarly.

Planting during this month is still successfull. The Vitex, oleander, crape myrtle, roses, bird of paradise, texas sage, butterfuly bush, red yucca and most “xeriscaping” plants will thrive when planted during this month. Be sure to water thoroughly when first planted.

Trees will also fall into this category. Just follow the directions as noted above. All ash, mesquite, desert willow (timeless beauty is a new variety), Chitalpa, Palo Verde, Live Oak, Chinese Pitache, and many more. Call us at 505 523 1520 for availabilty.

Be sure to fertilize your lawn, shrubs, tress, and bedding plants regulary to take advantage of your watering schedule. Overwatering will NOT help “Green up” plants. Overwatering can lead to chlorotic plants or excessive yellowing or Root Rot.

Fertilizing reguarly in May as needed takes advantage of water your are applying. IT also keeps blooming plants blooming longer and resists insect and or diseases.

Fertilize Mexican Elders during this time of the year. This will help before it goes into the summer dormancy. Use a good all purpose fetilizer such as 16-8-8 with iron and sulphur. It can also be used on other trees, shrubs and lawns.  Slow Release Formula To Fertilize All Deciduous Trees

Article by: Gary Guzman all right reserved.

You may plant just about anything such as tomato plants, fruit trees shade trees, evergreen shrubs, flowering shrubs, bulbs etc. It is also the month that garden centers usually are fully stocked, at least in the southwest.

Fertilize your bermuda or warm season grasses at this time if you have not done so in late March. You may also fertilize your fescue, rye, or bluegrass (cool season) lawns if it has been more than 6 weeks since you’ve last fertilized. 16-8-8 with iron, zinc, and sulphur works well if you do not have a problem with weeds. This can be used on both warm season and cool season grasses at this time of year.

If you have oleander, now is the time to cut back any winter damaged leaves or stems it may have suffered from the cold. Shear oleander if you want them to look full and bushy or you may selectively prune branches to give it a more open and air look. You may also prune them into multi-trunked trees, which look quite picturesque when mature.

Lantana plants may be just coming out of their dormant period at this time. It is best to pull away any mulch that may be around the base of the crown, to allow the sun to heat up the soil and allow it to “wake up” from it’s winter sleep. Don’t let these plants fool you, they may look dead, but 9 times out of 10 they are just dormant. They need quite a bit of heat to start growing. Be patient!

Roses may should still be in stock at this time and take well to being planted at this time. For existing roses, fertilizing is key. I recommend a water soluable fertizier such as Peters Tm 20-20-20 every other week, for healthy foliage and multiple blooms. In addition to this use a soil acidifier such as Ironite Tm or Grow More Tm organic chelated iron. These products help keep foliage dark green and give flowers more vibrant colors.

Feed all trees, and shrubs at this time. There are many product to choose from. It is best to look for a product that is easiest for you to use. Most plant will respond to just about any kind of fertilizer as long as it is applied correctly. Stop by and we can help take any confusion out of this situation, or you can e-mail or call. 505-523-1520 or 505 521-0496

Gary Guzman

Perennials for spring color

• Ajuga Plants - Purplish/brownish in color grown for their foliage easy to grow and propagate. Can be used as ground cover.
• Black Eyed Susan - Usually yellow daisy like blooms with large black center they do better in full sun.
• Coral Bells - Fantastic foliage color in spring and fall. Flowers bloom in late spring.
• Coreopsis - Beautiful yellow, red and pink blooms that will last from last spring till fall. They do not like moist soil let dry before watering again.
• Daylily Plants - Day lillies are easy plants to grow from deep dark red to light pink blooms. Cut down during the cold season and they will pop right up in spring
• Columbine - Easy to go grow perennial usually multi colored but some species are gold in color.
• Penstemon - Long limbs with beautiful small like petal blooms. Full sun and good drainage will work
• Rose of Sharon - Large purple, white, pink blooms from late spring until late fall in the southwest. Can be trimmed into a small tree.
• Salvia - Long spiky like blooms that shoot straight up beautiful reds, purple, violet blue and even white.
• Thyme Plants - Evergreen shrub with blue violet bloom all season long. Drought tolerant once established easy low maintenance plant.
• Yarrow - A good ground cover plant usually with yellow cloud like blooms. Some species come in red easy to propagate. Plant in full sun but can tolerate some shade. Organic gardening is an excellent way to grow your trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables and plants.

  Annuals for spring color What are annual plants? They are plants that will complete their life cycle within one growing season. In other words if you plant pansies in spring they look spectacular however the mid summer heat will stress the plant. Replace pansies with another good summer annual such as Gazania’s, Daisies or Geraniums. Pansies - Wide species with numerous colors. Good in containers and will survive light frost and snow. They start to droop during hot summer months.

• Impatients - Bright colored blooms from reds to whites. They do well in shady areas, including hot summer months.
• Gazania - Beautiful multi colored blooms
• Cosmos - Beautiful yellow, red and pink blooms that will last from last spring till fall.
• California Poppy - These Poppies do best in cooler temperatures. They come in yellow, white, scarlet, red, bright orange. They do well in spring and fall months.
• Petunia - Excellent in hanging baskets or containers they like to be watered and fertilized often.
• Daisy - Easy care annual usually yellow with dark middle. Plant them in full sun for good growth.
• Viola - These plants are actually pansies. Numerous multi colored blooms but with smaller petals.
• Coleus - Several species to choose from. They like shade and are grown for their foliage rather than blooms.
• Geraniums - Perfect for flower beds, containers, and hanging baskets. They do not like temperatures below 30% fahrenheit. Fertilize these plant at least once per month during spring thru fall season.

Paul Guzman

Well here’s wishing you a Happy New Year! This is still a great month you work on your garden (if it’s not too cold for you). Here’s a list of suggested task for January.
Water once or twice this month, yes even plants that are dormant.
Use dormant oil on plants, and trees that lose their leaves during winter.
Intead of raking up all the fallen leaves, try incorporating them back into your soil or start up a compost pile. (compost maker is available)
Prune all dormant plants now, keep in mind the best rule of thumb for pruning is to have a reason for every cut you make!
Prune roses now thru early February (stop buy for a pruning lesson).
Fertilize your fescue, blugrass, or ryegrass lawn if it not looking as green as is should. Use 16-8-8 with iron, zinc and sulphur now.
Our roses should be ready to plant by mid January so hurry for best selection. We carry Jackson & Perkins roses.
Do not cut back oleander just yet. It is best to wait until late March.
Plant fruit and shade trees now to help establish roots before our hot dry winds begin.
Don’t forget now is the time to plant pansies, snapdragon, viola, calendula, primrose, and perennials. These items will begin to arrive weekly at your local nurseries.