Annual catalogue of Jos. F. Dickmann's reliable garden field and flower seeds (1895) Source:
Wikimedia
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Photo: Parker Filer
Eric’s Update: Master Gardener Propagation Has Its Benefits
Spring brings new growth activity for our gardens after a period of winter dormancy. For Pima County Master Gardeners, it also means our big fundraising events – the spring plant sale and the Master Gardener home tour. The plant sale is on April 6 from 8 – 11 a.m. All of the plants are propagated and grown on site by Master Gardeners. This means that these plants are more likely to do well in our Tucson-area microclimate than plants that have been grown elsewhere and shipped in to sell.
Click here
to learn more about our propagation efforts.
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Meet the Daleas: Charming, Durable, Desert Shrubs and Groundcovers
By David Williams
The genus Dalea (pronounced
day
’-lee-uh) is comprised of hundreds of species spread across the “New World” in every conceivable climate zone,
including the Sonoran Desert. It is named for Samuel Dale, a 17
th
century British apothecary, physician, and amateur botanist. Dalea are under appreciated and underutilized, although there are a dozen of its varieties that deserve greater usage in desert landscapes for several important reasons:
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Interesting forms, bloom colors, and blooming times
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Attractive foliage - scented in some varieties
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Excellent drought tolerance, ideal for xeriscape settings
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Tolerant of partial to full and reflected sun
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Tolerant of wide temperature ranges
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Suited to many landscape applications (Shrub, sub-shrub and
ground cover-sized plants)
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Attractive to pollinators
Click here
to see a table that captures the Dalea varieties you may find in nurseries in Pima County, with features and comments for each.
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Source: Master Gardener archives
Diagnose and Treat
Plant Problems-Part 3
By Rick Gibson
Plant Protection is a branch of science that studies how to diagnose and treat specific plant problems. Diseases, insect damage, weed competition and environmental factors all contribute to the decline of plants. Successfull protection requires an understanding of how these constraints affect the health and well being of plants.
While the process of figuring out what is wrong with landscape and garden plants may seem daunting at first, it can be both rewarding and challenging to learn how to look at a plant, identify the important symptoms, decide what the problem actually is and make a decision on how best to resolve the problem.
Click here to learn more.
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Photo: John Tann
Fungus Gnats are Not Fun for Us
By Deborah North
If
you have diligently kept your sensitive plants indoors or in a greenhouse over the winter and you’re noticing little black flying insects buzzing around your pots as you move them outside, you have a problem - Fungus Gnats (Orfelia and Bradysia species)!
These little flies are pests in both their larval and adult stages. They infest any soil with organic matter, including potting soils and other growing media that provide rich organic material.
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Xeriscape Garden Plants its First Saguaro
By Stephanie Van Latum and
Marilyn Robinson
The saguaro is iconic.
Just think about every southwest sunset or sunrise photo you’ve seen. Saguaros are native only to our region - the Sonoran desert of Arizona and Northern Mexico and its blossom is Arizona’s State flower. In a wild setting, sometimes growing to over 40 feet tall and weighing over 3,000 pounds, fully hydrated, the saguaro is very appealing - perhaps because it’s like a tree with intriguing arms that seem to offer a big hug, and the monumental size. These giants can command a hefty price if you want to own one.
If you’ve ever visited our Xeriscape garden, you know it is worthwhile to spend time there learning about native plants in a lovely natural setting. The garden’s newest resident is a 7-foot saguaro, donated by Master Gardener intern Phil Coursodon from his own property. If you have ever thought about owning a saguaro, here are some things you need to know about how to buy and install one.
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Community Gardening Links
Tucson Botanical Gardens: https://tucsonbotanical.org
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeffrey C. Silvertooth, Associate Dean & Director, Economic Development & Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.
Any products, services, or organizations that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied in this publication do not imply endorsement by The University of Arizona.
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