Fall Checklist

The Southeast Pinal County Master Gardeners produce a free, quarterly newsletter for gardening enthusiasts. The following articles were extracted from the fall edition of The Desert Garden Buzz. Copies of the newsletter are available on their website extension.arizona.edu/spcmg.

Fall Checklist

Irrigation

Check that drip emitters are still working

Move drip emitters to plants’ current drip lines and add more emitters if needed

Adjust timers

Weed, Feed, & Pest Control

Remove existing weeds and spread a pre-emergent to prevent new weeds

Preventively treat for harmful pests, such as the agave snout weevil

Fertilize lemon and lime trees

Remove any fruit that drops to the ground to discourage pests

Planting

Replace summer annuals

Replace or add new landscape plants

Plant wildflowers and cool season vegetables

Prune damaged branches from cold-hardy trees and shrubs

Deadhead summer flowering shrubs

Do not fertilize or prune frost sensitive plants, as that encourages new growth, which makes them more susceptible to frost damage.

References:

Landscaping with Style, Maintenance: www.amwua.org/landscaping-with-style/maintain

Citrus Fertilization Chart for Arizona: extension.arizona.edu/pubs/citrus-fertilization-chart-arizona

Ten Steps to a Successful Vegetable Garden: extension.arizona.edu/pubs/ten-steps-successful-vegetable-garden

Plant of the Quarter: Cascalote

(Tara cacalaco, synonym Caesalpinia cacalaco)

Cascalote is a small evergreen tree with beautiful yellow blooms that will brighten your yard in the winter. A Mexican native, it does well in our area but can become frost damaged when temperatures fall into the low 20s. Although it normally has rose-like thorns, a “Smoothie” variety is available.

Height: 11-15 feet

Width: 11-15 feet

Growth rate: Moderate

Flowers: Yellow blooms in the winter

Sun: Full sun

Cold: Hardy to 20°F

Water: Every 2-3 weeks in summer; 3-4 weeks in winter