September Tree Care

September Tree Care

Now that it is cooling off there is more work to be done in our landscapes. If you didn't fertilize your citrus yet in the low desert - you still have a few more days!

My trusted colleague John Eisenhower owns Integrity Tree Service. If you ever need your trees maintained (pruned) and perhaps you have a concern about their health, please give John a call. I just got his newsletter this week and he has a list of tree care items for September. Pruning can now be done and even some planting as well. Check out his Tree Care Calendar.

Happy Digging,

The Garden Goddess

Down 2 Earth Gardens, LLC

Final Summer Harvest?

Final Summer Harvest?

I got out in the garden this past Sunday to do a little clean up and start to prepare the front bed for the winter garden. Seems funny to use the word 'winter' when it was still over 100 degrees on Sunday.

I was pretty ruthless with the cleanup up. I pulled out or cut off at the soil line whatever looked like it was done for the season. I noticed I still have 2 armenian cucumbers on the vine and about 3 green peppers so those plants got to stay in the ground. The plastic knives used as plant markers were dated March 21, 2009. Some of those plants were in the garden 6 months and made it through the worst summer in decades.

But I also took out anything that looked stressed from a pest or fungus. I thought the hollyhock has rust, but it turned out to be some kind of very small bug. And when I turned the leaves over I saw MORE SQUASH BUG EGGS!

As you are cleaning up your garden for the next season or to put it to rest for the season, be sure you examine the plant material well so you can see what lurks out of view. I thank the sacrificial hollyhock for taking one for the team. They were attacked by something, but the veggies were OK!

Happy Digging,

The Garden Goddess

Down 2 Earth Gardens, LLC

Look Who's in the Garden!

Look Who's in the Garden!

As I was cleaning out the summer garden today I found this little creature sunning himself on the porch. He must be camera shy as he ran into the bush when I reappeared with my camera!

Can you identify the kind of insect he is and is he a good insect or a bad insect?

But these other two furry helpers are never shy. Now if I can only teach them to actually plant!

Happy Digging,

The Garden Goddess

Down 2 Earth Gardens, LLC

Creating an On-Line Gardening Community

Creating an On-Line Gardening Community

I have been thinking about starting an on-line garden community so I can teach more people around the world to garden more sustainably. I really love the local commuity I have built here in Phoenix, AZ, USA. My clients and their gardens are very special to me, I enjoy teaching gardening classes face to face with people from the surrounding communities and writing gardening articles for local papers and magazines is always interesting.

I also specialize in low-desert gardening and permaculture. But that doesn't necessarily mean I am limited to the Phoenix area. What about other areas of the world that have equally arid climates? Much of what I teach on sustainable gardening transcends climate.

So my question to you, my faithful readers, is what would you like to see me offer? Don't worry if you are not sure if I offer it or not now, but if you were to be a member of an on-line gardening club what would YOU like to receive in exchange for your membership fee?

I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Digging

The Garden Goddess

Down 2 Earth Gardens, LLC