Monday, December 01, 2008

What to do in a Desert Garden in December?

Here are some tips on what to do in the desert garden this month from the
University of Arizona College of Agriculture Maricopa County Extension
There's also a lot of other helpful information and FAQ's on that website.
Another site of interest on what to do in the garden here in the low
desert is John Chapman's site.


Climate Information for December
in Phoenix, Arizona



Rainfall:


    Average: 1.0 inches
    Record: 4.0 inches (1967)
Temperature (degrees F):
    Average High: 66.2 degrees
    Lowest High: 36 degrees (1898)
    Record High: 87 degrees (1950)

    Average Low: 41.8 degrees
    Highest Low: 59 degrees (1949)
    Record Low: 22 degrees (1900, 1911)

Note: Rainfall and temperatures vary widely within the valley depending upon elevation and microclimate.

To Do List . . .
Turf

    After the first mowing, fertilize winter lawns with a high phosphate fertilizer like superphosphate, triple superphosphate, or a complete fertilizer that is 20% phosphorous or more by weight. Ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) is another option. Follow the application rates and directions on the label.

    Identify and correct problems with winter laws quickly.

Vegetables

    Plant Seeds
      Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Collard Greens, Lettuce (Head & Leaf), Mustard, Green Onions, Peas, Radishes, Spinach, Turnips

    Plant Transplants

      Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Lettuce (Head & Leaf)

    Watch for insect and pest problems, identify and manage early to prevent damage.

Roses

    New rose catalogs come out and bare root roses are available at nurseries from the middle to the end of the month.

Fruit and Nut Trees

    Be prepared to protect citrus from early winter frosts

    Wrap the trunks of young citrus and other cold-tender trees with cloth, cardboard or several layers of newspaper (NOT plastic) to protect them from the winter freeze. Leave them wrapped until the threat of frost has passed in the Spring.

    Peel color is not a good indicator of maturity or taste in citrus. Give it the taste test. If it is not sweet enough for your liking, leave it on the tree. Up to a point, the longer the fruit is left on the tree the sweeter.

    Deciduous fruit trees must receive sufficient chilling for their flower buds to develop properly. Different varieties have different "chilling requirements." In order to have good fruit set, even in milder winters, choose a variety that requires less than 400 hours of chilling.

Landscape Plants
    Cut off spent blooms to stimulate rebloom

    Reduce irrigation to one deep watering of the root zone per month for the winter

    Plant winter hardy trees, shrubs and vines

    Pre-emergent herbicides can be applied from October through early December for winter annual weed control. Follow the package directions carefully for best results. DO NOT use pre-emergent herbicides where you will be planting seeds this season.

    Be prepared for early winter frost

Don't List . . .
DO NOT increase opportunities for fungal disease on turf by over watering, watering at night, over fertilizing, or mowing when the grass is wet.

DO NOT OVER WATER which will result in root rots. Allow the soil to dry out between watering.

Frequently Asked Questions
Damage is Noticed on the Fruit

    Citrus fruit split
      Inappropriate water management leads to sunburn, making the rind less supple and less resilient to stretching and growing, thus as the fruit starts to enlarge it splits. There is nothing to be done for this season, ensure adequate irrigation next summer.

    Small fruit size

      This may be related to a heavy fruit set or weather. Lack of normal rainfall during the midsummer period can have a direct influence on fruit size. Citrus fruit growth is always greater as a response to rain vs. a similar amount of irrigation water.
    Brown stains that are obvious in some pecan meats
      This is probably the result of stink bug feeding earlier in the season. No bitter taste effect results from this damage.

Damage is Noticed on the Leaves

Damage is Noticed on the Stem or Trunk

Damage is Noticed on the Roots

Cultural / Environmental Questions

    Citrus fruit split
      Inappropriate water management leads to sunburn, making the rind less supple and less resilient to stretching and growing, thus as the fruit starts to enlarge it splits. There is nothing to be done for this season, ensure adequate irrigation next summer.

    Small fruit size

      This may be related to a heavy fruit set or weather. Lack of normal rainfall during the midsummer period can have a direct influence on fruit size. Citrus fruit growth is always greater as a response to rain vs. a similar amount of irrigation water.
    The needles on several branches of a pine tree are turning brown but staying attached to the tree

Insect/Pest Questions

Disease Questions

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