You’re Invited!
Winter Rose Pruning Demonstrations
While your roses are dormant it’s a good time to learn about winter rose pruning. Proper pruning will help ensure a healthy plant and beautiful blooms throughout the year.
El Paso County Master Gardeners and the El Paso Rose Society will present a rose pruning demonstration for the public to take the mystery out of winter rose pruning. The demonstration will be at the Municipal Rose Garden, 1702 N. Copia (Copia and Aurora) on Saturday, February 1st, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Join us to learn more about the “3 D’s” of rose pruning and how and when to prune climbers. Master Gardeners will demonstrate pruning techniques for hybrid teas, grandiflora, floribunda and other rose varieties. Information on rose care and maintenance will be available along with the demonstrations.
The Rose Garden is closed for the winter season while Master Gardeners and other Rose Garden volunteers ready the 1,600+ roses for spring bloom. The garden will open to the public on March 1 with peak blooming expected in April.
Related articles from our Learn » Gardening Topics-Links page:
Rose Pruning Handout
Growing Roses (regional-appropriate advice on plant types, planting, location, irrigation, soil, fertilization, bush and climber winter pruning, dead-heading, insects) – (Click here for print-friendly PDF)
Roses for the Desert
The Best Date to Start Pruning Roses in El Paso?
Pruning Climbing Roses—Prune yearly for healthier, more manageable growth and bigger, better flowers
How to Determine if Trees Need Water in the Winter
by John White, Horticulturist–Southwest Lawn & Garden, Part II
Trees and shrubs found in Far West Texas and Las Cruces areas are mentioned in this video.
Plant and Gardening Questions?
Ask an Expert
The Master Gardener Help Desk has closed for the winter and will reopen in mid-February 2020. Until then, please submit your gardening questions using the Ask the Help Desk form. You will receive an answer from a Master Gardener volunteer by phone or email.
By the Season – Gardening in El Paso
January Monthly Tips
Low Desert Pruning Guide for Commonly Used Shrubs (includes Tips and Schedule)
Texas Tree Planning Guide: Planting, Pruning, and Care (text and video; Spanish version at page bottom of selected pages)
Trees for High Desert Communities
Regional Recommended Tree List (TPG List)
Help Your Tree Survive in El Paso (PDF)
Follow Proper Pruning Techniques-Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Groundcovers
Hold Off Pruning Freeze-Damaged Plants
Tools and Equipment (includes chain saw, lawn mower, sharpening tools, etc.)
Tool Tips — Care, Maintenance and More
Watering Tips for Lawns, Vegetable Gardens and Trees
Find other helpful articles at Gardening in El Paso – Articles and Gardening Topics – Links.
Good to Grow Radio Shows
(Current and Archived)
Winter Freeze Plant Protection
Cold Weather Gardening Tips
Cold Tree Pruning
Tree Pruning Tips – Part 2
Proper Pruning Tips
Winter Tree Care
Home Gardening Class + Seeds! (archived show; current class starts 1/25/20, see above post.)
Spring Gardening Ideas
Irrigation, Part 1 of 2
Irrigation, Part 2 of 2
Houseplants
Garden Weed Control
Watering Your Landscape
Listen live on Saturdays at 11:15 a.m. on 88.5 FM or stream from the archives at KTEP Good to Grow.
Read more about our Good to Grow Radio Show, here.
What Evergreen Trees Do Well in El Paso?
by Bill Hodge, El Paso Master Gardener
Credit: Row of Italian Cypress Trees at El Paso Municipal Rose Garden by Marlene Stalker, El Paso Master Gardener
Everyone knows what an evergreen tree looks like, right? When most people here think of evergreen trees, the first to come to mind is the Afghan pine (Pinus eldarica). The Afghan pine is a great tree for El Paso because it does well in our hot, dry climate with alkaline soils. It is a medium-sized, drought tolerant tree growing to 40-50 feet tall with soft, dark green needles. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It can be used as a windbreak or on a border.
However, not so fast! Even though the Afghan pine is an excellent tree for El Paso, we also have some other great evergreen trees that may surprise even the seasoned gardener. Here are some excellent choices:
Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) is a 10- to 15-foot multi-trunked shrub that may also be trained into a small tree. It requires little water and thrives in either full sun or partial shade. This plant’s thick, glossy leaves and fragrant, purple blooms in early spring make it a treasured accent in every landscape. Its seeds are very hard and are poisonous.
Related articles from our Learn » Gardening Topics-Links page:
- Regional Recommended Tree List (TPG List)
- Trees for High Desert Communities
- What Tree is for Me?
- Texas Tree Planning Guide: Planting, Pruning, and Care (text and video; Spanish version at page bottom of selected pages
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Note: Only purchases at smile.amazon.com will support us (not www.amazon.com, nor the mobile app). For purchases which are eligible for donations to result in donations, the smile.amazon.com page must be accessed from a device using an internet browser. Purchases not made using an internet browser (for instance, using the Amazon Shopping App, Kindle Store, FireTV, Amazon Dash, or Amazon Echo) are not currently eligible for donations. Thank you for your support.
Newcomer’s Gardening Snapshot for El Paso County
Improve Your Skills with Our
Informative El Paso Gardening Handbook
Who We Are
The El Paso County Master Gardeners Association, as a member of the Texas Master Gardeners Association, is a non-profit educational and charitable organization supporting the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in providing quality, relevant outreach and continuing education programs and services to the people of El Paso County. Our local volunteers receive extensive training and experience in a wide range of subjects before certification as Texas Master Gardeners.
In collaboration with the County A&M AgriLife Horticultural Agent, Denise Rodriguez, we educate the community through various events, workshops, and demonstration gardens. Our Master Gardeners volunteer through our Outreach programs and community Projects to provide information and recommendations on horticultural topics to all residents of El Paso County.
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