Green Thumb: It’s time to ‘Ask a Master Gardener’

Master Gardener

Spring is here! It is time to get cracking in the yard. So much to do. So many decisions to make.

Well, if you have questions, we’ve got some answers for you.

Thursday’s “Ask a Master Gardener” seminar at East Center will feature a panel of Master Gardeners taking questions from the audience.

The doors open at 9 a.m., so come early and enjoy coffee, nibbles, and socializing.

The panel will take their seats and your questions at 9:30.

This has been a popular forum in the past with questions such as:

When should I fertilize my citrus trees?

And with what?

How often and how long should I run my drip system?

What type of fertilizer should I use for my roses?

Should I prune my orange tree?

How can I keep caterpillars off my citrus?

Should I water my cactus?

When is the best time to plant trees?

What is a Master Gardener?

The question about a Master Gardener is one we can answer here.

Master Gardeners are folks who were accepted into a 10-week educational program sponsored by Pima County and the University of Arizona. All-day classes covered such topics as desert soils, plant nutrition and fertilization, plant diseases, propagation, cacti, citrus and vegetables, pruning pests, flowers, lawns and so on.

Upon completion of the course, the potential Master Gardeners have to pass a final and then the volunteer hours begin.

Each Master Gardener works the phones once a week at the Cooperative Extension office on Whitehouse Canyon Road.

They are also expected to continue to attend educational classes and work in the demonstration garden behind the Extension office headquarters.

Plant identification is another aspect of their job.

Many winter visitors do not recognize the shrubs and other plants in their gardens since many of these plants are native to Arizona.

The “Plant Clinic” on Whitehouse Canyon Road offers lots of reading material that can be taken home for educational purposes.

There Master Gardeners in the office from 8 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday.

In addition, each spring the “Newcomers” gardening seminar is offered for half a day which covers citrus, desert adapted plants, container gardening and practical irrigation.

You can learn more about this service by calling 648-0808.

Green Thumb is written by Green Valley Gardeners with assistance from seminar speakers. The column runs Wednesdays in the Green Valley News.