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