Desert Horticulture

A hard freeze went through the Las Vegas Valley last night so today I want to talk about the effects that freezing temperatures have on plants, the difference between a winter freeze in the spring freeze, the importance of wind and freezing temperatures and how to protect plants from freezing. These topics and more on today’s Desert Horticulture.Support the show (https://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/)

There is a lot of advice available out there on how to prune fruit trees. Pruning different types of fruit trees correctly requires different skills and years of practice. After pruning 20,000 temperate fruit trees of all kinds, and teaching it to many people, I was forced to look at the two core concepts that makes someone a successful pruner regardless of the type of tree or its age. I present my fruit tree pruning concepts to beginners and experienced pruners alike. Support the show (https://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/)

January is the time for the first fertilizer application in the Desert Southwest. Join our discussion about fertilizers, conventional and mineral, using compost and manure as a fertilizer, foliar fertilizers and how to make and apply them and iron fertilizers. Plants growing in desert soils sometimes need them. Support the show (https://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/)

This episode discusses how to get Bosc pears to produce more fruit when a pollenizer tree is not close by. Bob Morris also talks about irrigating fruit trees in general using the old farmer technique and new technology. Everybody knows that water softeners are the bane of landscape plants if you're not careful. Learn some techniques that might save a few landscape plants from dreadful "water softeneritis". Lastly, Lemon bottlebrush sometimes has yellow leaves and it's not because it's a lemon bottle brush. Learn how to correct this problem and what causes it.Support the show (https://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/)

Newcomers to the desert can make some serious mistakes in thinking that it is not a hostile environment. Unexpected freezes make citrus a gamble in some places even though trees can look good. And some technology doesn't transfer well from commercial applications to residential spots. And lawns, you better have a good reason for planting one because they can be frustrating if not planted, irrigated and managed correctly. Deserts can be unforgiving when it comes to gardening and horticulture.Support the show (https://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/)

Fertilizer injectors were born to save time and money. But when it is used in home landscapes, is it a good idea? You can extend the life of a container soil by adding compost but eventually it must be replaced. Garden soils are NOT potting soil and don't interchange them. But one can be added to another. Which one? And Santa Rosa plum is a good old fashioned mid-season soft plum. But it has other advantages too.Support the show (https://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/)