1. Nuts and Bolts of Desert Gardening
Zann Wilson, 2016

2. Common Pests Aphids Piercing/sucking Numerous, many colors
Blast of water to remove
“Honeydew” present
See bulletin AZ 1635

3. Grubs Larvae of beetles Seek moist plant tissues
Some grubs break down organic matter

4. Hand pick through soil to remove
Nematodes work as natural pesticide

5. Grub damage to Agave from Agave Snout Weevil

6. To pretreat for grubs on Agave, current chemical pesticide recommendation is Imidacloprid.

7. Mites
Piercing sucking mouthparts
Stippling as evidence

8. Too small to see with eye – only microscope
Appear in hot/dry conditions

9. Cochineal Scale

10. How did I get here?
Do I look like a pest?

11. Flea Beetle damage
Phyllotreta cruciferae,

12. Cactus Long horned beetle
Moneilema
armatum

13. White lined sphinx moth Hyles lineata

14. Guess who had me for dinner?

15. Powdery Mildew

16. High soil Salt

17. Bacterial or fungal rot

18. Fertilizing Light green or yellow leaves Leaves with dead spots
leaves smaller than normal
fewer leaves and/or flowers than normal
short annual twig growth
dying back of branches at the
wilting of foliage
Fertilizing
Light green or yellow leaves
Leaves with dead spots
Leaves smaller than normal
Fewer leaves or flowers than normal
Short annual twig growth
Dying back of branches at the tips
Wilting of foliage

19. Macro Nutrients
N – nitrogen: promotes the growth of leaves and vegetation
P – phosphorus: promotes root and shoot growth
K – potassium: regulation of water and nutrient movement in plant cells, and should promote flowering, fruiting and general hardiness

20. Special purpose fertilizers
Citrus
Rose
Cactus
Slow release
Organic
Vegetables Herbs Lawns Fruits Annual flowers Perennial flowers Deciduous shrubs Evergreen shrubs Deciduous shade trees Evergreen shade trees
High Medium to Low Medium to High Medium Medium Medium to Low Medium to Low Low Medium to Low Low

21. Slow release/organic
Organic starter
4-3-3

22. Super Bloom
All purpose
The “Blue Stuff”

23. Weed: Any unwanted plant
Weeding
Weed: Any unwanted plant

24. Pruning

25. Why Prune? Promote tree’s health • Reduce hazards to people
• Train a young tree
• Increase or decrease flowers/fruit

26. Texas Ranger

27. Tools and cuts

28. Thinning
Gradual renewal
Rejuvenate

29. Pruning Hedges
Prune to this line
Correct shape
incorrect

30. Container Gardening No recurving pots
For succulents use fast draining mix
For herbaceous plants, use garden grade mix plus compost
Always ensure good drainage

31. Pumice
Perlite

32. Types of containers

33. Underpot desert plants Plant stemless plants w/ crown above soil
Repot after three years
Pot size to fit current size of plant
Water more than in ground plants
Saucers must be emptied after watering

34. Watering/Fertilizing Containers
Water until water runs through
Water succulents per season
Fertilize annuals bi-weekly
Fertilize succulents monthly – Mar – Oct.

35. Summer annuals Winter annuals Winter annuals lobelia geraniums
alyssum
dusty miller
pansy
blue salvia
petunia
dianthus
snapdragon
stock
blue salvia
golden fleece
cosmos
vinca
lisianthus
salvia
nierembergia
zinnia
portulaca
gazania
pentas

36. Come and see me sometimeit