Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service
Announcements
NMSU Desert Blooms
- Click here for the weekly blog
- Click here for the Ready, Set, Grow Webinar series
Giant Wasps in Albuquerque are Cicada Killer Wasps and NOT the Asian Giant Hornets.
- Guide H-175: Large Wasps in NM or the Asian Giant Hornet - NMSU Publication
- NO, It is NOT the Murder Hornet from NMDA
- An overview of the Asian Giant Hornet, aka Murder Hornet from TAMU AgriLife Extension
Fall Vegetable Gardening
- NMSU Guide H-234: Garlic Production in New Mexico
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NMSU Video building low cost hoop bed for winter vegetable garden
Soil & Forage Testing Labs
The list and links below are a few labs that can test soil and hay forage. We do not recommend one specific lab, and are only highlighting labs in our region. You will need to download the forms, complete, and include them with the sample that you mail to the respective lab. Prices and processing time vary between labs. Please contact the lab directly for specific questions.
NOTE: Some labs are operating in a limited capacity due to COVID-19. Please check with the lab first, regarding turnaround time for your results:
- CSU Soil Testing lab - Ft Collins, CO call 970 -491-5061
- Ward Labs - Kearny, Neb. call 800-887-7645
Tests for Heavy Metals and Herbicide presence:
- IAS Labs - Phoenix, AZ call 602 273 7248
Note General testing of herbicides and pesticides in soil is fairly complicated and expensive. Please contact NMDA Pesticide division with concerns about soil pesticide issues - call 575-646-2134.
Soil Testing Publications
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Interpreting your Soil Test Results - unlock the secrets of your soil
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Understanding Your Soil Results with Recommendations USU Extension
Winter - Spring Garden Tips
- WATER Your Trees, Shrubs, and Garden beds Colorado State Extension Publication
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Fruit Tree Pruning Tips from Utah State Extension
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Fruit Tree Pruning from NMSU Extension
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Video pruning Apple Trees - from Utah State Extension
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Video pruning Apple vs Peach - from Utah State Extension
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Winter Pruning of Trees and Shrubs from Oregon State University
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Winter Pruning of Flowering Trees and Shrubs from Penn State Extension
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Forcing Spring Bulbs from Iowa State Extension
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Forcing Spring Bulbs from Missouri Extension
Grapevine Pruning Videos
Frost, Freeze, and Growing Days
Drought Stressed Trees and Shrubs
The following publications explain the impact the extreme heat and prolonged drought stress will have on trees and shrubs.
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Plant Responses to extreme heat and drought and management tips - Arizona Extension
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Watering trees and shrubs in the fall and winter - Colorado State Extension
Frequently Asked Questions
- Codling Moth (Apple and Pear pest)
New - Added to the Seasonal Gardening page under Spring: Codling Moth information, from USU Extension.
- Spring - Seasonal Gardening Resources
Pruning is a popular seasonal task, referenced here among other important gardening jobs. (Click to access...)
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Seasonal Yard & Garden Pests
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False Chinch Bugs - These also another seasonal occurrence each year, more so in some areas than others. If you have the appearance of small black bugs on your wall, they may just be these little nuisances. Read about False Chinch Bugs.
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Elm Seed Bug - New to Albuquerque in 2019 have exploded in numbers creating nuisances for homeowners... Read more here from CSU Extension
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Searchable FAQs may be found using the following links from the Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardener Program:
- Downloadable FAQs
If you'd prefer to download and browse more than 70 frequently asked horticultural questions and answers, please click the link.
Q: Can Poinsettias Be Grown Again to Bloom? How? Are they hardy?
A: Poinsettias are not cold hardy. In fact, the coldest zone they can handle is 10! Avoid exposing them to cold drafts in your house. Even this can shorten its life. They can be coaxed into blooming again, but it's not easy. Guide H-406 - Poinsettias: Year after Year is a publication from NMSU with extensive information on poinsettias. In summary, after tiring of the poinsettia plant after the holidays, gradually withhold water until the leaves wither and die and finally the colorful bracts wither and die as well. Put the plant in a cool, dry, dark place until spring. In the spring, take the plant out of storage and trim the stems to about 6 inches. Repot the plant in fresh potting soil. Place in a warm sunny spot in your house. After all danger of frost, take the pot outside and sink it into a warm, lightly shaded flower bed (don't take the plant out of the pot). Keep it well watered and fertilized. As fall weather approaches, take the plant back inside and place in a sunny location. In late September or early October ensure the plant receives total darkness for 14 hours a day for 4 weeks. During the day, place in a sunny and warm location. The poinsettia should develop colorful bracts for the holidays!
Q: I Received An Amaryllis for Christmas. Will It Bloom Again?
A. Amaryllis will bloom again with the proper care. Amaryllis are from the tropics. This region does not have seasons like we do, only a rainy and dry season. The plant grows vigorously (vegetatively) during the rainy season, then enters a dormancy or rest period during the dry season, and resumes growth accompanied by a flowering stalk when the rainy season resumes. In order to get your plant to bloom again, try to mimic this tropical wet-dry cycle. The vegetative growth period is critical for the amaryllis bulb to store up enough energy to bloom the next season. Around here, consider the growing period to be May through August. During this time, keep the plant moist; do not allow it to dry out between watering. Keep the plant in a sunny location (dappled shade, not blazing NM sun will do). Fertilize ever 2 to 3 irrigations with a houseplant fertilizer. In early September, reduce watering enough to allow the foliage to die back. Store the plant in a cool place (55-60 degrees F). Don't allow the soil to become completely dry, but water very sparingly. The flower stalk will appear in spring. Increase watering slightly. Once foliage appears, resume watering and fertilizing. Repeat the process every year and re-pot the Amaryllis every few years.
See Also: Amaryllis Care Sheet
More Winter Plant Care Answers:
Master Composters Program
- Click here for more information about Bernalillo County Extension's unique Master Composters Program.
- Classes and Other Activities for the Public
- Topics include art, science, materials, methods, and benefits of various composting techniques. See individual class descriptions. New classes added as scheduled. Check back often.
Master Gardeners Program
- Master Gardeners Hotlines - Email Only - Albuquerque
Gardening questions can also be emailed directly to the Master Gardeners at hotlinemastergardeners@gmail.com.
- Public Master Gardener Classes - Albuquerque
Afternoon classes are open to the public on Tuesdays, 1 PM - 2:30 PM.
- Master Gardeners Program
- The Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardeners program is a key component of our horticultural outreach! These volunteers are trained by us to provide science-based horticultural advice to the general public.
- Master Gardeners engage the public through various projects, often working on projects with local ARCA members and operating seasonal Hotlines (during growing and harvest months, through September)
- Each year, local Master Gardeners conduct classes for registered applicants who are interested in becoming certified Master Gardeners. The application period begins in mid-August, and class rolls fill quickly. Once registration is completed, students attend special Master Gardener Classes from January through April. Members keep active with volunteer efforts through October.
- Down to Earth: A Gardener's Guide to the Albuquerque Area
The Albuquerque Area Master Gardeners' compendium, tailored to the unique conditions of Bernalillo County.
Turfgrass
We live in a desert, but turfgrass is commonplace in our landscapes and parks. While turfgrass provides many benefits, if not properly cared for it can be a source of much water waste and pollution through overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. The Southwest Turfgrass Association provides valuable education about the latest research in turfgrass care and maintenance at a yearly conference held in the fall.
Selecting the Right Turfgrass Variety for Your Yard. August 30, 2019 Posting, Desert Blooms Blog, a reprint from 2009, Southwest Yard & Garden, by guest contributor Dr. Bernd Leinauer, NMSU Extension Turfgrass Specialist.
Further Reading:
- H-508: Turfgrasses for New Mexico
- Circular 660: Turfgrass Irrigation
- H-505: Mowing Your Lawn
- H-507: Lawn Care for Disease Control
- H-510: How to Perform a Catch Can Irrigation Audit on a Home Lawn Sprinkler System
Trees & Arboriculture
New Column - Transplanting Plum Trees
Southwest Yard & Garden blog tackles this question from Guadalupe County Extension Agent Cheyenne Law. (Click here to read the blog entry).
Feb. 9 & 10, 2023 - Think Trees Regional Conference
This regionally important conference features top-notch presenters and a very affordable fee. Think Trees' largest area of concentration is arboriculture, or the care of the urban forest. In addition to tree-problem diagnostic services available to the general public and to commercial operators, Think Trees provides occasional public workshops on tree planting and pruning. For more information, visit the Think Trees New Mexico website: Think Trees.
Xeriscape / Low Water Use Landscaping
Recognizing that we do live in a desert environment, we are also very involved in supporting xeriscape landscaping. Xeriscape refers to landscaping with reduced, efficient irrigation. The keys to successful xeriscape include proper plant selection, good mulching, and efficient irrigation. In addition to providing advice in these areas, we support the Xeriscape Council of New Mexico's Water Conservation Conference.
Other Resources / Agencies:
- Xeriscape Plant List for Albuquerque
- Center for Landscape Water Conservation
- NMSU's Irrigation Management Program & Research Station
- Irrigation Association
- NMSU Climate Center
- New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
Tomatoes
Our office receives many calls and samples concerning growing tomatoes, the issues and challenges surrounding their culture, and what to do with the harvested tomatoes.
To learn more about common tomato issues, probable causes, and recommended treatments, see our New!, dedicated Tomato Resources page containing much more detailed information in these areas of about tomato propagation and processing:
- Growing & Harvesting
- Diagnosing Problems
- Common tomato plant Pests, Diseases, & Conditions
- Preserving & Recipes
NMSU Plant Diagnostics
NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic is housed on the main campus in Las Cruces. The clinic is a full testing laboratory that helps professionals and homeowners learn more about their plants, gardens, landscape, parks, and agriculture production fields.
Quick Links
Free iPhone App from NMSU - Southwest Plant Selector
Developed by New Mexico State University Media Productions, the Southwest Plant Selector app is a cooperative venture between the NM Office of the State Engineer (NMOSE) and the Center for Landscape Water Conservation. The database was developed by the NMOSE in cooperation with the US Bureau of Reclamation in 2011, who were assisted by a panel of experts from around the State. For iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
Other Resources
- Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardeners
- eXtension Ask an Expert
- Desert Blooms
Plant selector, how to videos, & more. - Southwest Yard & Garden
Searchable archives of television episodes, blog entries, and other documentation of regional growing topics. - NMSU Extension and Experiment Station Publications
Searchable library of research and related documentation.
Contact Us
NMSU-Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service
1510 Menaul Blvd Ext NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Phone: 505-243-1386 844-409-0562 (Toll Free)
Fax: 505-243-1545
Email: bernalillo@nmsu.edu
URL: https://bernalilloextension.nmsu.edu