Good To Grow

GOOD TO GROW: June Gardening Tips

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:29:00 +0000

Denise & Norma talk about what we should be doing in our gardens & landscapes during this hot, hot month of June...including fertilizing, mowing, and checking for pests. In this online-only extended interview, Denise & Norma also talk about what to do to prevent blossom end rot on tomatoes and whether it's still ok to eat those unsightly tomatoes. Aired June 15, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Wise Watering of Trees

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Denise & Norma welcome back Regional Urban Forester Oscar Mestas of the Texas A&M Forest Service. Oscar gives us some watering tips for trees, which are especially important in these harsh drought conditions. He also talks about the State of Texas' decision to move Texas Arbor Day from February to the first Friday in November, a time of the year which is ideal for planting trees, especially for us in the Chihuahuan Desert region. Oscar also talks about the exciting tree climbing competitions that arborists from across the nation and around the world participate in to demonstrate their skills. Miguel Pastenes is an arborist who is a 6-time Texas Tree Climbing Champion, and is ranked 2nd in the nation. To view Miguel Pastenes on a work climb, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXhy7rkEajo

Oscar Mestas can be reached at 915-834-5610.

To learn more about tree care, visit http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/main/popup.aspx?id=1284.

Aired June 8, 2013.

SunScape Workshop

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:44:54 +0000

Learn how to garden with native plants, and find out which plants work best for your space at the annual SunScape workshop, June 22, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at the UTEP Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. This all-day class features presentations by area professionals including Botanical Curator John White, and West Texas Regional Urban Forester, Oscar Mestas. $25, limited to first 25 participants. Register at 915-747-8994.

June Gardening Tips

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:05:28 +0000

There is still time to plant heat-tolerant summer annuals. Just be sure to water transplants as needed until roots become established.

Remove faded flowers from plants before they set seed—this will encourage them to continue flowering.

Frequent mowing (every four to five days) is best for your grass and helps to reduce weeds by preventing seed heads from forming.

A light application of fertilizer every four to six weeks will help keep annual flowers healthy and blooming.

GOOD TO GROW: Distressed Trees

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Denise & Norma talk with Oscar Mestas, Regional Urban Forester with the Texas A&M Forest Service. Oscar talks about why our trees often don't respond right away to severe environmental events, such as a hard freeze or an ongoing drought. Trees often display distress months or even years later, and trees in distress often invite pests and disease. Aired June 1, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: i-Tree Eco

Tue, 28 May 2013 03:25:06 +0000

Denise & Norma talk with Oscar Mestas, Regional Urban Forester with the Texas A&M Forest Service. Oscar talks about i-Tree Eco, a project which measures the cost benefits of trees in an urban community, such as air pollution reduction or energy savings. El Paso will be part of this study beginning on June 9, and researchers will be descending on 250 randomly-selected plots of land within the city limits to conduct their study. If your property is chosen to be part of the study, you will receive a postcard from the City of El Paso that you can mail back with permission to allow researchers onto your property. To learn more about i-Tree Eco, visit http://www.itreetools.org/eco/index.php, or call Oscar Mestas at 915-834-5610.
Aired May 25, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: May Tips - Fertilizers

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Denise, Bill, and Norma continue their talk on May Gardening Tips with a special focus on fertilizers. Hear how slow-release granular fertilizers differ from the quick-acting water soluble ones. What do you need to do to reduce the risk of fertilizer burn on your turf or plants? Is manure an effective fertilizer, and what should you look for if you choose to use it? Also, find out why turf, vegetables, trees, and flowering plants have their own specific fertilization needs.

Aired May 18, 2013.

Homemade and Organic Fertilizers Workshop

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:16:18 +0000

Want to learn how to fertilize your crops without the use of harmful synthetic chemicals? Come to this workshop to find out the many ways an organic grower can help their plants thrive. Led by Mountain View Market Farm Manager Lori Garton.

Saturday, July 6, 9-11 a.m., .

GOOD TO GROW: May Tips

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Bill, Denise, and Norma talk about what we should be doing in our gardens & landscapes in May. Weed control is essential, as is pinching off some of your budding fruit from your fruit trees.

Aired May 11, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Grass

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:30:00 +0000

In a rebroadcast from October 16, 2010, Bill & Norma talk with Jim McAfee, a turf grass specialist with Texas AgriLife Extension in Dallas. Find out why Bermuda grass grows best here in El Paso, and why zoysia grass is another great bet. McAfee also talks about St. Augustine grass, Bermuda hybrid, and cool season grass. McAfee also explains why fall is the best time to fertilize, and when to apply pre-emergents to your lawn to prevent weeds. http://jimmcafee.tamu.edu/

Aired April 27, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Native Plant Sale, Pt 2

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:30:00 +0000

John White, garden curator of the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens returns to the show to talk more about the Native Plant Sale at UTEP. Hear about some of the desert-friendly shade trees that will be available, and some of the plant sale's best sellers, including penstemons and chocolate flowers. Many of these native & adapted plants are excellent food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

The Native Plant Sale is April 27 & 28, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Centennial Museum. The FloraFEST speaker, George O. Miller, delivers a free lecture on landscaping in the Chihuahuan Desert, April 26, 7 p.m., Room 116 of the UTEP Undergraduate Learning Center. 915-747-5565, www.museum.utep.edu

Aired April 20, 2013.

Sunday Growers' Market

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:24:33 +0000

Come support your local growers! Mountain View Market Co-op hosts a Growers’ Market in the Co-op parking lot featuring fresh produce, locally roasted coffee, water-wise desert plants, sustainable crafts, and more! We will be accepting EBT and WIC checks.

Sundays – 10 am to 2 pm at 1300 El Paseo Rd., Las Cruces NM.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please contact mvmoutreach@gmail.com or 575-523-0436.

GOOD TO GROW: Native Plant Sale, part 1

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Norma & Denise talk with John White, garden curator of the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens at UTEP. John talks about why we should consider native & adapted plants for our landscapes. He also explains that even though these are low-water use plants, they are not no-water use plants! John also talks about a few of the desert-friendly trees available at the plant sale that can be found growing native in the Chihuahuan Desert, including Honey Mesquite trees and Desert Willows.

The plant sale is April 27 & 28, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens at UTEP. www.museum.utep.edu, 915-747-5565.

Aired April 13, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Tomatoes, pt 2

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Bill, Denise, and Norma welcome back Master Gardener Dave Turner, president of the Master Gardener Society and vegetable specialist. Turner talks about pruning tomato plants, whether your tomato needs a cage or a stake, and how to protect your tomato plant from El Paso's spring winds. He also talks about what to do if your plant looks wilted, and why mulching with newspaper is a great way to retain moisture and deter weeds.

Aired April 6, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Tomatoes (part 1)

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Denise, Bill, and Norma talk with Dave Turner, vegetable specialist with the Texas Master Gardeners and president of the Master Gardeners Association. It's part 1 of our Tomato Show, and Turner will talk about how we should prep our soil and why now is the ideal time to plant our tomatoes instead of later in the season. Turner also explains what differentiates indeterminate tomatoes from determinate tomatoes.
Aired March 30, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Butterflies

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:30:00 +0000

In a rebroadcast from Sept. 25, 2010, Norma & Bill talk with Mark Muegge, associate professor and extension entomologist with Texas A&M. Muegge talks about the different plants and colors that attract butterflies to our landscapes, and about the types of butterflies we can commonly find in El Paso. He also talks about the kinds of plants we can sacrifice to the caterpillars so they can voraciously feed and eventually metamorphose into butterflies! For more information, visit the North American Butterfly Association, www.naba.org. Aired March 23, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: CoCoRaHS

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Bill, Denise, and Norma talk with Mike Hardiman, forecaster with the National Weather Service in Santa Teresa, and regional coordinator of the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). Hardiman talks about how the community can get involved in measuring rainfall (and the lack of it) and reporting it online to be used by National Weather Service meteorologists, the USDA, researchers, and many others. March is CoCoRaHS's annual recruitment drive, and they are trying to increase the number of El Pasoans and others in the region to report their rainfall. www.cocorahs.org.

Mike Hardiman can be reached by email at mike.hardiman@noaa.gov.

Aired March 16, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Spring Gardening Prep

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Denise, Bill, and Norma talk about preparing for spring gardening. It's time to cut back some of that dead winter's growth on our perennials. Denise also talks about the right type of soil mixture for our gardening beds and container plants. Aired March 9, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Chill Hours and more

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Bill, Denise, and Norma talk about why chill hours are important for certain fruit trees to bloom and set fruit, and why chill hours are difficult to calculate in the El Paso region. They also talk about what the Master Gardeners will be presenting to the public during the upcoming Home & Garden Expo at the downtown Convention Center, March 1-3. Aired Feb. 23, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: February Gardening Tips

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Norma, Bill, and Denise talk about what we should be doing in our gardens & landscapes in February. It's time to prepare our gardening beds for spring planting and to do our last-minute pruning. Aired Feb. 16, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Rose & Shrub Pruning

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Norma, Bill, and Denise welcome back Master Gardener Donna Beamesderfer to talk about pruning. What tools are essential when it comes to pruning your roses? Plus, they about what NOT to do when pruning roses. And...just because it's time to prune doesn't mean you have to. Prune with a purpose! Aired Feb 9, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Rose Pruning, pt 1

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Bill, Denise, and Norma talk with Master Gardener Donna Beamesderfer about rose pruning. Why is this the best season for pruning? Donna explains the whys and hows, and she also explains why one shouldn't panic when it's time to cut back those rose canes.

Aired Jan. 26, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Rose Sale

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Norma, Bill, and Denise talk with Jennifer Hickey, a Master Gardener and consulting rosarian with the American Rose Society. She talks about the different kinds of roses available for sale at the Master Gardener Rose Sale, including all types of floribunda, grandiflora, hybrid tea, and EarthKind roses. Hickey offers some advice on how to pick the right rose for your landscape.

Orders for the Master Gardener Rose Sale will be taken through February 1. Order forms are available online at http://txmg.org/elpaso/2012-rose-sale/ or by calling the Texas AgriLife Extension at 915-860-2515, or the Master Gardener Hotline at 915-566-1276.

Aired Jan. 19, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Unpredictable Weather, Protecting Plants

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Bill & Norma talk about preparing for El Paso's unpredictable winter temps by protecting your plants and your pipes. They also talk about bringing color inside your home with quick-blooming bulbs, ordering seeds for your spring garden from seed catalogs, and why to hold off on fertilizing your plants until the weather begins to warm up. Aired Jan. 12, 2013.

GOOD TO GROW: Pruning, part 2

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 18:30:00 +0000

In a rebroadcast from Dec. 25, 2010, Norma continues her conversation with Oscar Mestas, Regional Urban Forester, Texas Forest Service. Mestas talks about the proper pruning tools that should be used for larger, more mature trees. He also talks about what kind of pruning your tree needs if it has suffered wind damage or if it is planted near a utility line. Mestas also discusses the special pruning that fruit trees might require. Aired Dec. 29, 2012.

GOOD TO GROW: Pruning, part 1

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 18:30:00 +0000

In a rebroadcast from December 18, 2010, Norma talks with Oscar Mestas, Regional Urban Forester, Texas Forest Service. Mestas talks about why to prune, when to consult a professional, and why topping is a harmful practice which could lead to the demise of your trees. Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Aired Dec. 22, 2012.

Farm Volunteer Days

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:07:43 +0000

The Mountain View Market Co-Op hosts Farm Volunteer Days every Wednesday & Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 noon, at the Mountain View Market Farm in Mesilla NM. Learn about organic farming, local food production, vermiculture, composting, laying hens, season extension, and crop planning. 575-523-0436, email mvmoutreach@gmail.com.

GOOD TO GROW: Cold Weather Plant Care; Rose Sale

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Denise, Bill, and Norma talk about the ways we can protect our outdoor plants from the cold weather. Plus, we'll get a sneak preview of January's Master Gardener rose sale. Aired Dec. 15, 2012.

GOOD TO GROW: December Gardening Tips

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Denise & Norma talk about the gardening activities we should be taking part in this month, including cutting back on watering and planting our spring-flowering bulbs. Aired Dec. 8, 2012.

GOOD TO GROW: Holiday Plants

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 18:30:00 +0000

In a rebroadcast from Nov 26, 2011, Bill & Norma talk about how to care for holiday plants & trees, such as living & cut Christmas trees, Christmas cactus, and Norfolk pines. They also talk about how best to plan for winter pruning and how to care for freeze-damaged trees. Aired Nov. 24, 2012.