Gardening Zone 2
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MARCH Key IssuesBe aware that many SW locations will be facing water restrictions this spring and summer, so be Water Wise. Consider the following:
Seed Starting Made EasyIt’s time to start vegetable and annual flower seeds of bush and pole beans, sweet corn, all root crops, melon, squash, marigolds, zinnias, amaranthus, alyssum, lobelia, ageratum, cone flowers. More Hardy Bulbs for the SouthwestSummer flowering bulbs - gladiolus, dahlia, calla, canna and tigridia can all be planted now. Check out your sprinkler system. Make sure you repair leaks and broken sprinkler heads well before you need them. Why and When to PruneApply pre-emergent herbicides to your lawn before those spring weeds get out of control. Fertilizer Application Tips for Trees and ShrubsApply fertilizers to your lawn, shrubs, trees and roses. So-called “slow-release” (aka “timed-release”) products are useful, as they dissolve and spread their content as the weather, or soil, warms, precisely when the plants need to be fed. Pruning BasicsIf the chance for a hard freeze has passed in your location, trim your evergreen shrubs. But be careful! Don’t cut back azaleas or other flowering shrubs, as you will trim off their buds and you won’t have flowers this year. Did Your Roses Get Zapped?If you didn’t do so earlier, now’s a good time to trim the dead canes on your roses. Again, though, don’t remove buds and flowers, just the dead vegetation. Bed Preparation for Spring PlantingGet ready for spring plantings! Till your garden soil when it’s dry and incorporate mulch or compost. While you’re at it, have your garden soil tested now; your local garden center may do it free.
APRIL Key IssuesBe aware that many southwest locations will be facing water restrictions this spring and summer, so plan accordingly. Consider the following:
Fire Ant TreatmentEradicate fire ants. These pests will be showing their ugly little heads (and bodies) as soon as the soil begins to warm. Get to their mounds before they spread! Chemical and organic pesticides are available. Seed Starting Made EasyGrow your salad. Sow seeds or plant transplants of leaf lettuce in the garden. If you stagger your planting dates, you’ll continue to enjoy lettuce until the hot weather arrives. Establishing Self-Sufficient PlantsPick self-sufficient plants. Planning to add some new trees or shrubs to your garden this spring? Select ones that are low-maintenance and require little water once established. Weed ManagementGet rid of those weeds, and prevent others from popping up in your garden. You can mow, pull and apply mulch. Chemical and organic weed controls are also available, just be sure to always read and follow label directions for proper use! Summer bulbs like gladiolas, canna, calla and tuberous begonia can go in the soil later this month. Wait a bit longer for fancy leaved caladiums and elephant ears. Selecting the Right MulchIf your area hasn’t received adequate rainfall this season, make sure your lawn and landscape plants still get the soil moisture they need. A layer of mulch can help conserve that much-needed moisture in your planting beds. Till your garden (when the soil is dry) in preparation for those glorious spring plantings! Bare spots in your lawn? Consider seeding those areas now to keep unwanted weeds from taking over.
MAY Key IssuesBe aware that many southwest locations will be facing water restrictions this spring and summer, so plan accordingly. Consider the following:
Too Hot to Handle? (A Heat-Related Illness Primer)The thermometer's rising – that's your cue to pace yourself when working in the garden! Water Wise Gardening: Southern California and the Desert SouthwestContinue to be water wise! Make sure your irrigation systems are maintained and operating properly. And do what you can to help protect your new plants from suffering in the hot, drying winds. Drip Irrigate Your Container GardenKeep your container garden healthy and thriving without wasting water! Be water-wise when it comes to irrigating your potted plants – one drip at a time. Raised Bed BasicsMake way for more vegetables or flowers in your garden with raised beds. They help conserve water, avoid possible drainage problems and give you an area to grow plants in fresh, nourishing soil. Another plus: You don't need to be a master builder to create your own! Growing and Enjoying Summer SquashMany vegetables and flowers can be planted this month. Consider beets, radish, long day onion, leaf lettuce, collards, okra, pole and bush beans, sweet corn, popcorn and summer squash. Seed Starting Made EasyThere's still a little time to start the following flowers from seed: ageratum, alyssum, celosia, all coneflowers, cosmos, gaillardia, lobelia, marigold, portulaca, salvia, sunflower and zinnia. Transplants of summer-flowering annuals can also go directly in the garden now. Fertilizer Application for LawnsContinue to mow regularly, and fertilize your lawn with a well-balanced fertilizer before the really hot weather arrives. Selecting the Right MulchUse several inches of organic mulch to conserve needed soil moisture and keep weeds at bay, as well as help stabilize soil temperatures and erosion. If you have palms in your yard, now's the time to prune them. Remove all dried or dead material, as well as any live fronds if the palm needs shaping.
JUNE Key IssuesEven though spring rains have been adequate for seasonal growth in many areas, water shortages can be expected this summer. Chili thrips are a new pest, and they’re hard to spot – but their damage isn’t! Look for distorted new growth in your landscape (especially on roses, oaks and plumbago). If you suspect an infestation, collect a sample and have it tested by your local Cooperative Extension.. Aphids can be found on a wide variety of plants, too. Too Hot to Handle? (A Heat-Related Illness Primer)Always exercise caution when gardening in hot weather! Temperatures continue to rise, turning what was once warm weather into hot and stifling conditions. Only work in the garden during the cooler morning hours; wear a hat and lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing; apply (and reapply) sunscreen; and keep that water bottle handy! Continue to deadhead, fertilize and water any annual flowers to extend their life – and your enjoyment – as long as possible. Weed Management: Part 2Eliminate water-guzzling weeds from beds and turf. Do what you can to keep them under control – pulling, hoeing, mowing, tilling and mulching are your best weapons at this time of the year. If you have fruit and nut trees, you’ll need to keep your orchard clean of weeds, too, as well as well-irrigated this time of year so you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest
next spring. Drip Irrigate Your Container GardenInstall a drip-irrigation system in your pots and planters. You’ll save water, your plants and money. Save Water, Save Your PlantsWater lawns and all plantings during the wee hours of the morning. Consider using a soaker hose in landscape beds to apply water directly to where it’s needed most – the roots Share it, Save it, Sell it! (The Joys of Extra Produce)Harvest fruits and vegetables as they ripen. Excess harvest can be donated to a local food bank or soup kitchen. Make sure that plants are mulched with 2 inches of organic mulch to stabilize soil temperatures and conserve needed soil moisture. Keep our feathered friends happy and hydrated by providing them with a birdbath for fresh water and bathing. Feel the Heat With Hot Summer AnnualsHeat-loving, summer annuals can still be planted in the garden |
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