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February in the garden π, time to feed citrus π, stunning winter-blooming vine πΏ, & more ππ΅
Published 5 days agoΒ β’Β 2 min read
Hi, Desert Gardener,
I received a lot of feedback regarding last week's featured article on why you shouldn't put rocks in your pots, including some great ideas. My favorite? Marylee Pangman of The Potted Desert suggested using grow bags as cache pots and placing them inside large or tall pots. Brilliant!
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If you have citrus trees, February is prime time to fertilize. For best results, there are a few factors to consider: when to fertilize, how much fertilizer to apply, and what to look for in a citrus fertilizer. This week's featured article covers everything you need to know.
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In case you haven't checked out the Tucson Garden Events Calendar for a while, I've just added loads of events for February and March. And for those of you who live in the Phoenix area, I've added Maricopa County's Desert Institute of Gardening classes. And for those of you who live elsewhere, some classes are online, so anyone can participate.
In this week's newsletter, we cover:
What to do in the garden in February
Featured plant: Lilac vine
Fertilizing citrus guide
Upcoming gardening events
and more!
February Gardening Guide
February may still technically be winter, but itβs on the cusp of spring in the southwest. Hereβs a look at what you can plant, what you should prune, how and when to fertilize citrus, and more.
"How far can saguaro roots spread? I'm wondering if my saguaro is getting water from nearby plants that are on irrigation."
Saguaros have been widely studied and a fair amount is known about the root system and how they use water. They have an anchoring tap root that is normally 2+ feet long, but the majority of roots are found within the top 4 to 6 inches. These surface roots typically extend twice as far as the cactus is tall, but can extend as far as 100 feet! So it's very possible that your saguaro is getting water from those nearby plants.
Lilac Vine: Enchanting Winter Flowers
In late winter, when most flowering desert vines are dormant, lilac vine explodes with showy purple flowers. What a treat to see cascades of wisteria-like flowers in February! The rest of the year it's covered with leathery, evergreen leaves.
There's always more to learn about gardening! Here are some upcoming highlights. * Rose Pruning Demo @ Green Things * New to Vail? Let's Grow @ Four Arrows Garden Center * Home Grown Tomatoes @ Harlow Gardens
Not in Tucson? Look for online classes denoted with this icon. π» Anyone can participate in these.
How & When to Fertilize Citrus Trees
If you grow citrus trees, itβs important that you fertilize them to keep them healthy, attractive, and productive. But thereβs more to it than haphazardly sprinkling some fertilizer around the tree. Learn how to fertilize citrus for optimal results.
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
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