Good To Grow

Having trouble making the transition to fall gardening because your summer crops are still going strong?  We'll find out how you can manage both on today's program.   And with the cooler weather on the way, fill that empty space in your yard with a tree - fall is the best time for planting!  And if you love spring-flowering bulbs, get those into the ground now.

Aired Sept 24, 2016

  The summer is slowly transitioning into fall.  Our grass is not as lush, our trees are not as vibrant, and our summer vegetable crop is coming to an end.  It's time to start thinking about fall gardening - get your winter veggies ready!  Let's get our minds off of tomatoes and squash and on to garlic, cilantro, and greens.  Master Gardener Jan Petrzelka will also be telling us about why pomegranate trees make such a terrific addition to any landscape.

Aired Sept 10, 2016

    

Gardening tools are some of the most handy ways to keep a landscape in check, whether is a nifty weed hoe or a bulb planter. On this program, we'll talk about some of our favorite gardening tools!

Aired Sept 3, 2016

  

  Oleander might not be toxic to those little aphids who swarm the plant in the spring, but it is toxic to humans and to pets. The ingestion of 1 leaf can cause severe illness or even death. If you have pets, you may wonder what plants in your landscape might be toxic. You may also be surprised as to the number of plants on that list. 

On this program, we'll hear about some of the plants that may be harmful to your domestic animals, and why you shouldn't necessarily panic and yank everything in your yard out of the ground!
 

Here are some helpful online resources:  https://hort.purdue.edu/ext/poisonousplants.html, http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants, http://www.cceoneida.com/home-and-garden/factsheets/plants-and-fungi/toxic-plants/

Aired Aug 27, 2016

  Cooler summer means an increase in hummingbird activity in the garden! On this program we'll find out some interesting facts about these feisty little hummers, including the remarkable ability to remember your yard if you have yummy feeders or plants...and we'll learn what we can do to keep them in our yards.

A terrific resource for learning about hummingbirds in the Southwest is the book Hummingbird Plants of the Southwest by Marcy Scott.  

Aired Aug. 20, 2016

  It's almost back-to-school time, and maybe your kids' school is thinking of starting up a garden on campus. On this program, we'll hear about the endless possibilities in a school garden tended by students and teachers.

If your school would like assistance from the Master Gardeners on how to get your school garden started, call 915-771-2354.

Aired August 13, 2016

  Our hot, hot summer has taken its toll on our landscapes, and many of us can't wait for the cooler temperatures in the Fall. On this program Denise & Norma are joined by Master Gardener Jan Petrzelka for a talk about learning the lessons of a hot summer to plan for a more successful fall garden.

Aired July 30, 2016

  Leaf miners are eating away at elm tree leaves...bores are munching into the barks of stressed trees...how can we control these tiny destroyers?  White flies and spider mites are also prevalent in our hot, dry weather.  Also, if you have recent transplants, should you water them more or less than your established plants?

Aired July 23, 2016

  

  Unrelenting triple digit heat is crisping up our plants...but are you overcompensating by watering your plants too much? On this program, we'll find out how much you REALLY need to water in these hot conditions.

Here's a link to a fantastic resource on how much we should be watering: http://wateruseitwisely.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Landscape-Watering-Guide.pdf

Aired July 16, 2016

    

Spider mites...white flies...grub worms and June beetles...
These are all unwelcome guests in our landscape during the summer months. On this program we'll find out how to keep these buggers under control!  Plus, we'll find out why it's mandatory to follow those directions on pesticide labels.

Read more about controlling grubworms at http://theurbanrancher.tamu.edu/retiredsite/bugs/l1131.pdf.

Aired July 2, 2016

  How are your TOMATOES handling the heat? If you are over- or underwatering them, they may crack. Or the leaves may brown if they suffer a bacterial or fungal outbreak. We'll help you solve some tomato issues on this program.  Click on this link for more information on troubleshooting your tomato troubles!  http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/problem-solvers/tomato-problem-solver/

Aired June 25, 2016

  With El Paso sweltering in triple-digit heat, we need to protect our turf, trees, and container plants from heat stress. On his program, we'll talk about the importance of watering deeply to help our plants make it through June!

Aired June 18, 2016

  Spiders, bees, and wasps...oh my!  Don't reach for that bug spray just yet because some of these critters might be beneficial to the plants in your landscape.  On this program, we'll offer some tips on how to help identify these critters, and how to preserve a specimen for professional identification.  Some helpful links are also available for bug ID:  https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoBugs?fref=nf and http://citybugs.tamu.edu/.

Aired June 4, 2016

  CONTAINER GARDENING adds a great splash of color to small spaces, and makes gardening accessible to just about everyone! On the next GOOD TO GROW, we'll continue our conversation on container gardening, with a focus on fertilizing, watering, and troubleshooting those pesky bugs.

http://m.extension.illinois.edu/containergardening/default.cfm 

Aired May 28, 2016

  Container gardening allows us to grow ornamental plants or vegetables in a small space, such as our front or back patios. On the this program, we'll get a primer on container gardening, with tips on how to pick the right container and the right soil.  Part 1 of a 2-part show.

Great container gardening tips are available at http://m.extension.illinois.edu/containergardening/default.cfm

Aired May 21, 2016

  El Paso County Master Gardeners are hosting weekly gardening talks at El Paso Public Library branches, monthly Gardening 101 Workshops at the Multipurpose Center, weekly appearances at the Ardovino's Farmers Market beginning Memorial Day Weekend, and much, much more.  On this program, we'll learn how your Spring gardening can be enriched by the knowledge of these community volunteers.

http://txmg.org/elpaso/

Aired May 14, 2016

  Uh, oh!  It's almost Mother's Day and you don't have a gift!  On this program, we'll give you some last minute suggestions.  Bouquets of cut flowers are always a good choice, and we'll have tips on how to pick the right flower and keep it looking beautiful for several days.  If you're looking at potted plants for Mom, we've got you covered, too.  And don't forget about gift cards, gardening tools, or gardening books!

Aired May 7, 2016

  Our Spring winds not only cause havoc with our allergies, but with our plants and trees.  What's the best way to protect your trees or shrubs from the winds, and what can you do to salvage an already wind-damaged tree?On this program, we'll get windy-weather gardening tips ... and other gardening suggestions for the month of May! Aired April 30, 2016

  Shoppers at the FloraFest Native Plant Sale on the UTEP campus are taking home fantastic native & adapted shrubs, trees, and perennials.  But what do we do once we get them home?  Where do we plant them?  On this program, we'll determine the perfect spot for that shade tree, or where you can plant that shade-loving columbine or sun-loving sage.

Aired April 23, 2016

  It's almost time for FLORA FEST at UTEP! John White, the Garden Curator of the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens at UTEP will join us to tell us about the FloraFEST speaker, Marcy Scott, author of "Hummingbird Plants s of the Southwest." She will talk on April 22 at 6pm at the UTEP Undergraduate Learning Center about how to "Plant a Hummingbird Haven." John will also talk about the wide variety of native and adapted plants that will be available for sale on April 23 & 24, 9am-4pm each day at the UTEP Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. 

  Does your landscape reflect the beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert? If you think your front yard, back yard, outdoor living space, or patio is a great example of landscaping with native and adapted plants, your landscape may be featured on an El Paso Water Utilities feature called DESERT BLOOMS. Anai Padilla of EPWU joins us to talk about how your wise garden designing can be an example for the rest of El Paso!

Contact Anai Padilla at ajpadilla@epwu.org, or call  the Water Conservation TecH2O Center at (915) 621-2000.  If you are submitting a site, please add your name, phone number and address.  The deadline for submissions is April 22.

Aired April 9, 2016

  Master Gardeners and the El Paso Rose Society have been hard at work in recent months to get the 1200 roses at the Municipal Rose Garden ready for display.  They will be hosting a public tour of the garden on April 9, 10am-2pm, and Patrick O'Brian and Estela Loy will join us to tell us more.  Patrick & Estela are co-chairs of the Master Gardener Rose Committee.

The Municipal Rose Garden is located at 3418 Aurora, across from Memorial Park.

http://txmg.org/elpaso/event/public-tour-of-municipal-rose-garden-3/

Aired April 2, 2016

  Vermicomposting involves worms breaking down your kitchen scraps to make rich compost for your potted plants and small gardens. And you don't need a large space to accommodate these little guys!  On this program, we'll find out what kinds of worms you'll need, where you can keep them, and what you can feed them from your leftovers.

This terrific document explains even more: https://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/Sustainability_2012-08pr.pdf

Aired March 26, 2016

  It's tomato time! If you've been itching to get tomatoes planted in your vegetable garden, wait no longer. On this program, we'll share some helpful tips for planting vegetables and herbs this spring.  We'll also find out how to protect our vegetables from El Paso's winds, and Denise Rodriguez also shares a neat trick on how to shorten a tall, leggy tomato plant...without the use of pruners!

Aired March 19, 2016

  John White, Garden Curator of the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens at UTEP, returns to give us a preview of some of the amazing native and adapted plants & trees that will be available at next month's Native Plant Sale (April 23-24).  Hear about the Angelita Daisies, Blackfoot Daisies, Zinnias, Penstemons, Oaks, etc, that you can use to beautify your landscape!

Denise will also give us some details on the March 19 Summer Vegetable Workshop & Sale taking place at the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.  Information & registration available online at http://txmg.org/elpaso/event/2016-summer-vegetable-workshop-plant-sale/ or by calling 915-771-2354.

Aired March 12, 2016

  John White, Curator of the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens at UTEP, joins us to tell us about the upcoming SunSCAPE workshop, which plans to educate participants in irrigation, landscape design, plants, trees, and ways to garden in harmony with the desert.  The class is March 12, 8am-4:30pm, at the UTEP Centennial Museum, and information is available by calling Kaye Mullins at 915-747-8994.  The deadline to apply is Thu March 10.  

Aired March 5, 2016