Graham County Gardening Newsletter

Transcription

1 Graham County Gardening Newsletter June/July 2003 As you all are well aware, Arizona along with several other states is in the middle of a prolonged drought. Even though we might not think that our actions at home can have an influence on the situation they definitely can. We all need to be thinking of ways to conserve water and use it more efficiently. Listed below are 15 tips you can do around the home to help conserve water. 1. Stop leaky toilets. Leaky fixtures can account for significant water losses over time. Take a minute and check and repair them. 2. Install a low flow toilet. Most toilets sold in the U.S. are 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) instead of the previous 3.5 gpf. The early low flow toilets were a disaster but many improvements have been made that make them much more user friendly, so to speak. 3. Take shorter showers. The average 10 minute shower consumes approximately 70 gallons of water. Shorten that shower to 7 minutes and you only use 50 gallons. 4. Install a low flow showerhead. Low flow showerheads will allow you to take that longer shower (10 minutes) and use only 25 gallons of water. 5. Turn off water when brushing teeth. You may use up to two gallons of water if you leave the water on while brushing your teeth. 6. Repair leaky faucets. A leaky faucet dripping 30 times per minute will waste 1,008 gallons per year. 7. Use proper sized pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary. 8. Only do full loads in your dishwasher or washing machine. Be efficient with your laundry and dishes wait for full loads. 9. Don t over water your plants. Don t under water either. Restoring a water stressed plant will take more water that if you provide adequate amounts regularly. 10. Use crushed rock or organic mulch around plantings. Mulches reduce water use by reducing the amount of water loss to the atmosphere through evaporation. 11. Harvest water from rains. When it rains (hasn t been too often lately) have a way to efficiently utilize it. 12. Know your lawn s water requirements. By tracking water use (available in the newspaper or at you can provide sufficient amounts of water to maintain a healthy lawn without over watering. 13. Practice xeriscaping. This is an overall landscaping principle. For more detailed information come to the Extension office. Xeriscaped landscaping does not mean no water use but efficient water use. 14. Plant low water use plants. A list of low water use plants was published in this newsletter last year. If you have lost it or never got it call us at the Extension office. 15. Install a timed irrigation system. The most efficient way to irrigate a landscape is to let the timer do it hey, it also means less work for you! For more detailed information on gardening call the Cooperative Extension Office at Randall Norton, Ph.D. Extension Agriculture Agent Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences is an Equal Opportunity employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to sex, religion, color, national origin, age, Vietnam Era Veteran s status, or disability

2 In the June/July Garden: Plant sunflowers, cantaloupe, honeydew, Armenian cucumbers, and radishes all month. Plant watermelon and okra through the 15th of the month. Plant summer bedding plants such as celosia, coleus, cosmos, marigolds, salvia, verbena, vinca, and zinnias. Start preparing the soil for your big July garden. Harvest herbs before they begin to flower. Quality is best in the morning. Treat chlorosis in plants with iron chelate. Chlorosis shows up as yellowing between the veins of the new growth. Pepper, cucumber, squash and tomato plants need even soil moisture to prevent blossom end rot. Black or brown leathery patches develop on the blossom end of the fruit. Uneven moisture levels cause a calcium deficiency in the fruits. Keep evenly watered and put mulch around the plants to hold moisture. Watch for signs of curlytop virus in tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers. The leaves of the affected plant curl upwards and the plant will be stunted. Remove and destroy affected plants. Blast off aphids, thrips and mites with a stream of water from your hose or use insecticidal soap. Check for squash borers. Look for clusters of small brownish eggs on squash vines. Rub them off before the borers hatch. Feed citrus with a high nitrogen fertilizer and water thoroughly. Protect young trees from sunburn by painting trunks with white latex paint or wrapping with burlap. Feed and water roses after each bloom cycle. When pruning hedges, make sure that the bottom of the hedge is wider than the top so that lower foliage is not shaded out. Make sure that apricot trees are watered amply to carry them through their fruiting cycle. Fertilize indoor plants monthly during the summer. Pinch back tips to maintain fullness. Treat grapes and hedges with powdered sulfur or systemic fungicide to prevent mildew. Plant winter squash, corn, beans, black eyed peas, cucumbers and radishes all month. Plant sunflowers, summer squash, watermelon and pumpkins (planting now will give you Halloween pumpkins) through the 15th of the month. Plant broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and kohlrabi from July 15th on. Set out annuals such as cosmos, coreopsis, marigolds, salvia, verbena, vinca rosea and zinnias. Pollination often suffers when temperatures are high. Bell peppers, tomatoes and squash are most commonly affected. Flowers dry up and fall off, leaving no developing fruit. Keep plants watered and healthy and fruit production will resume when the temperatures drop. Fertilize lawns monthly through the summer. Bermuda grass needs to be watered about every 3 days during the heat of the summer. If you notice sizable wilted patches of dull, bluegreen grass that does not spring back after being walked on, it is time to water. Give lawns special attention where tree roots compete for moisture. Cut back chrysanthemums to about 8" high or pinch back smaller plants on July 1 and again August 1 to encourage bushier plants and more flowers in the fall. Feed roses after each bloom cycle. Mulch plants with 3 4 inches of organic matter for weed control and moisture retention. Continue to deadhead spent blossoms to promote more flowers. Continue to deep water trees and shrubs through the heat of the summer. Make sure apricot trees get enough water to carry them through their fruiting. Keep watching for grape leaf skeletonizers.

3 Graham County Master Gardener Happenings Upcoming Events: April 1 April 3 Master Gardener 2 nd quarter of hour log starts Master Gardener Executive Board Meeting 6:00pm Phelps Dodge Room Safford/Graham County Library Presentation on Irrigation and Water Methods for the Home Garden Ralph McClellan Certified Master Gardener since 1999 Graham County 7:00pm Phelps Dodge Room Safford/Graham County Library Sponsored by UA Graham County Master Gardener Association Refreshments provided by Ralph McClellan ruthanne@ag.arizona.edu Master Gardener 1st quarter hours deadline. Please submit to Ruth Anne by today! April 1 3 April 10 April 19 May 1 May 3 May 6 May 8 June 5 Water Field Days for Community 4th Grades Safford Agricultural Center suzanne@ag.arizona.edu Set out transplants for the Home Garden Variety Trials Safford Agricultural Center Master Gardener Guests on Valley Talk 1230 AM KATO Radio 7:30 am Pre Tour for Home Garden Tour 3 rd Annual Home Garden Tour 9:00am 2:00pm Sponsored by Graham County Master Gardener Association ruthanne@ag.arizona.edu Associate Master Gardeners receive Certificates and Name Badges Last night of the Gardening and Landscaping Class Association Meeting Gene Fowler Home, 2390 Palm Drive, Safford Master Gardener Executive Board Meeting 6:00 pm Phelps Dodge Room Safford/Graham County Library Presentation on Farm to Market: Marketing Choices and Advice Speaker: TBA 7:00pm Phelps Dodge Room Safford/Graham County Library Sponsored by UA Graham County Master Gardener Association Refreshments provided by Randy Norton ruthanne@ag.arizona.edu

4 Your Time is Appreciated!! Thanks to Rob Call for the February presentation on Grafting and Budding. Sue Martin was responsible for providing the Refreshments. Thanks to Dorine Chancellor for Hostessing the March meeting and presentation. She really came to the rescue when the scheduled hostess came down sick at the last minute. Dorine also pitched in to help with the sterilization of the greenhouse! Susan Syfert spent many hours using her editing skills reviewing the Edu Venture Curriculum. Senior Girl Scout Troop #145 would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Joe Dugan, Ralph McClellan, Lorraine McGhee, and Ellen Pingleton for help with the service project at the Old Odd Fellows Home during their spring break. This project included preparing and planting 66 roses in the walkway by the fountain. Gene Fowler was supportive with advice as he stopped by to cheer them on. Marilyn Weaver as fearless leader guided Amanda Arnold, Keller Ellsworth, Ruth Anne Neff, Ellen Pingleton, Kris Sheryl, and Michael Rothwell for a workday at the Safford Agricultural Center grounds on March 22nd. Make sure to stop by to oooohhhh and aaahhh at the new Edu Venture pathway and the weedless surroundings! 1st Quarter 2003 Volunteer Hours Deadline is: Thursday April 3 rd VOLUNTEER HOURS TOTALED TO 1, HOURS Top Volunteer Hours for 2002 Marilyn Weaver: 173 hours Top Educational Hours for 2002 Ralph McClellan: 40.5 hours Conferences Attended by Master Gardeners High On the Desert Conference Sierra Vista February 20 & 21 Dorine Chancellor, Gene Fowler, and Marilyn Weaver Youth Gardening Conference Tucson March 21 A great big thank you to Susan Syfert for helping plan the presentation that Ruth Anne Neff gave on Greenhouse Operations. Another big thanks to Ruth Powell for being the Susan Substitute since Susan was unable to make the conference.

5 Plant of the Month: Raywood (Claret) Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa) If you are looking for a tree that will provide a significant amount of fall color in our desert environment one tree you might consider is the raywood or claret ash. This tree is a close relative to Fraxinus angustifolia or narrowleaf ash. As member of the olive family, this tree is tolerant of less than optimum growing conditions surviving in an arid environment not requiring large amounts of water like that required by a cottonwood or willow tree. It is a deciduous tree that will be dormant during the months of November through February. The raywood cultivar appears to have been developed in Australia and performs very well in the drier climates. The claret ash normally achieves a height of approximately 30 feet but may grow taller. It is a fairly fast growing tree with dark green foliage that exists during the summer months. Towards fall, the dark green foliage turns to a beautiful red purplish color just prior to leaf drop. Care of the claret ash is going to be very similar to that of the common Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina). Train the tree while it is young establishing the lowest main scaffold branches to the desired height. Very little other pruning will be required during the life of the tree. Water requirements of the tree may easily be met during the summer months with a deep watering every 20 to 25 days. This amount of water should be sufficient to maintain a healthy tree. Insect of the Month Western Flower Thrip (Frankliniella occidentalis) One of the most common insect pests of many of our fruit trees and vegetables is the thrip. The most common type of thrip found in our area is the western flower thrip. Thrips may cause damage to foliage and also to developing fruit. The graphic to the far right illustrates the developmental stages of the western flower thrip with the adult in the top center of the image. Leaf damage caused by thrips might appear as crinkled or cupped leaves. Immature rose blooms may appear bruised at the edges from thrips feeding on the soft tissue. Control of thrips can be accomplished with either of two common insecticides, diazanon or acephate. Always make sure to read and follow label directions before using any pesticides.

6 Graham County Master Gardener Presentation June 5, :00 pm Phelps Dodge Room of the Safford/Graham County Public Library Arizona Farmer s Market Nutrition Program (AZFMNP) How Can You Get Involved? By Dr. Randy Norton Graham County Extension Agent Person with a disability may request accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting UofA Graham County Cooperative Extension at Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. ARIZONA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 PRSRT STD POSTAGE & FEES PAID USDA PERMIT NO. G 268