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Hi, Desert Gardener,
In Tucson and Phoenix, December was the warmest on record. And for a while, it looked like we might not have "winter" this year, but it's finally arrived.
As the nighttime lows dip towards freezing, you may be unsure which plants to cover. I've written a post (see below) that should take the guesswork out of which plants need protecting from the cold and which do not.
π΅ π΅ π΅
Over the holidays, I finally redesigned Southwest Gardener's home page. (I'm chagrined to admit it's been on my "to do" list for over a year. π«£) It's no longer the "default" home page which is just a list of recent posts. Please check it out -- I hope you will find it to be an improvement.
In this week's newsletter, we cover:
- Stunning columnar cactus
- What black spots on cactus means
- What to cover? Guess no more!
- Why "ghosts" are better than "lollipops" π»π
- Upcoming gardening events
- and more!
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Mexican Fence Post: Stunning Cactus Makes a Statement
This exceptionally attractive, low maintenance cactus is so symmetric that it appears to be covered with stripes. Unlike most columnar cactus, this Mexican native grows fast.
βRead more ββ
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A Reader Asks:
"My Mexican fence post cactus has black spots on some of the columns. What's wrong? What can I do?"
Black spots on a cactus usually means it's been overwatered and root rot or an infection has set in. While getting established, this cactus only needs to be watered once per month in the summer and does not need supplemental water during the winter. The past few weeks, we've had enough rain to waterlog your cactus if your soil does not drain well. Cactus hate cold, wet roots.
The good news is that even if a few columns are damaged, they can be cut away without harming the plant as a whole, provided you can fix what is ailing it.
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It's Cold! Should I Cover My Plants?
When nighttime temperatures dip to freezing, you might be wondering which, if any, of your landscape plants you should cover. Hereβs a look at which plants may need protecting, and which do not.
βRead more ββ
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Upcoming Garden Events & Classes
There's always more to learn about gardening! Check out these events and classes coming up soon.
* Poison Free Pest Management @ Tucson Botanical Garden
* Growing in Containers @ Pima County Master Gardeners
* Rose Care & Pruning Class @ Harlow Gardens
Get the details in our Tucson Gardening Events Calendar β
Not in Tucson? Look for online classes denoted with this icon. π»You can participate in these no matter where you live.
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Cold Weather Tip!
When covering plants to protect them from cold, think "ghost" not "lollipop". Ghosts trap heat radiating from the ground, keeping plants warmer than lollipops.
(Image courtesy of Pima County Master Gardeners.)
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Garden Humor
"Covering plants is cold, miserable, and often wet work. I didn't move to Tucson to be cold and miserable - I moved here to be HOT and miserable." π
β Deane Alban, botanist, garden writer
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January Gardening Guide
January is the second coldest month, but there are still plenty of things to be done in the desert garden. Hereβs a look at what you can plant this month, how to adjust your watering schedule for winter, how to care for holiday plants, and more.
βGet the details here ββ
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Before You Go...
Do you have a gardening question you'd like to see answered here? Send it to ask@swgardener.com.
If you found this information helpful or interesting, please share it with friends! They can sign up for this newsletter here.
And please stop by the new Southwest Gardener Facebook page and "Follow", "Like", or "Share".
Keep growing and learning,
βDesert Dee
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113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
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