Desert Blooms

Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Curtis Smith Archived column from  August 2007   with intro by Dr. Marisa Thompson This beautiful rose bush at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center Learning Garden is full of buds, but a few of the stems have gotten leggy and can be pruned back now to encourage new buds to bloom before the season’s end. First frost is expected in mid-October. Photo credits Marisa Thompson. STAY TUNED for photos of the buds on the above stems in the coming weeks to see how many of the buds open indoors!   This time of year, we receive many questions about whether or not it's safe to prune landscape plants. I found this column written by former NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist Dr. Curtis Smith in August 2007 by searching the NMSU Southwest Yard & Garden archives at https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/search.html . For more details, try searching " pruning roses ." And to access a column from last August addressing the same question for trees, sea...

Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Curtis Smith, intro by Dr. Marisa Thompson Reprinted from August 2010: https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/archives/aug-14-2010.html Mushrooms found hiding under leaf litter, surrounded by mulch in the Learning Garden at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas on August 17, 2021. Photo credit Marisa Thompson.   Blame it on the rain. Mushrooms are popping up all over the place, and County Extension Agents across the state are certainly hearing about it. This week, I selected an archived Southwest Yard & Garden column written by retired NMSU Extension Horticulture Specialist Dr. Curtis Smith in August 2010. To access past columns, visit https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/archives/ . -         Dr. Marisa Thompson Question: I have mushrooms growing all over my lawn. Should I worry about them? How can I get rid of them? - Susie K. , Albuquerque ...

  Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Marisa Thompson Adequate drainage in a growing container is a much bigger deal than many new gardeners realize. Photo credit Marisa Thompson. The only difference between a gardening guru and a newbie gardener is the number of plants they’ve killed. This column is for beginners interested in growing something in a container for their patio or doorstep but who don’t quite know where to start. Or maybe they’ve tried a few times half-heartedly, and it didn’t end well. Container gardening 101 includes the container type and size, drainage, soil selection, recommended plants, more drainage, placement, and irrigation. What size of container is best? Generally, use large pots for large plants or combinations of small plants, and use smaller pots for individual small plants. Note that the smaller the pot, the more quickly you can expect it to dry out. And avoid using a large container with a single, tiny plant because that extra soil can be problem...

Southwest Yard & Garden by Dr. Curtis Smith with additional observations by Dr. Marisa Thompson ‘Prairie Red’ plums ripening at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas on July 29, 2021. Photo credit Marisa Thompson.   Partial reprints from July 2001 ( https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2001/071401.html ), written by Dr. Curtis Smith Question: I have a willow tree that seems to be "raining" down what feels like moisture in hot weather. Is this common? What is the tree doing? If you look at the tree with the sun behind it, you can see the droplets falling. Answer: This is a common occurrence in the summer. The most likely cause is an infestation of aphids feeding on liquids in the leaves of the tree. This "sap" is high in sugar and low in protein, so a large quantity of sap must be consumed. Surplus water and sugar (in the form of a syrupy substance called honeydew) are excreted by the aphids. This ...

Southwest Yard & Garden Curly Top Q&A  Dr. Marisa Thompson This tomato plant is suspected to be infected with the curly top virus and will likely never grow large enough to fill its cage. Note the stunted size, yellowing stems, and curled leaves with purple venation. Photo credit Marisa Thompson. Last week, I attended an online conference with a few dozen researchers who all had one thing in common: they all study the curly top virus. Some of them were virologists who work on all kinds of viral pathogens. Others were entomologists who study how the virus is transmitted from plant to plant via the beet leafhopper. Some study this virus specifically in sugar beet production. Others study how it affects spinach or chile. This summer at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas, we’re studying tomatoes, another curly top victim, and how shade cloth might help home gardeners by either protecting plants from the tiny, ...