Garden guides
Three books, booklet offer advice to gardeners unfamiliar with New Mexico’s climate
Q: My son and new wife are moving back home! She is a good gardener but coming from South Florida I’m afraid she’s going to be in for a rude awakening when faced with our mile-high climate, soils and annual precipitations. Would you please recommend a couple of books I could give her as a “welcome to this world” so she’ll have a better chance at success when they landscape and garden in their new home? — MIL., West Side
A: Right off the bat I can think of three books and one booklet that would be a good way to start her learning curve.
First is “Down To Earth — A Gardeners Guide to the Albuquerque Area.” Compiled by the Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardeners this gem is chock full of information applicable to this clime. Listings of local resources, a suggestion-filled monthly gardening calendar, all about water — how much to use when and how, soil types and how to deal with them, charts and graphs, plant lists, what grows well here, and on and on.
Second is Sunset’s “Western Garden Book.” Being able to look up a plant by either botanical or common name in the “Western Garden Book” could make it her constant companion when looking for and at plant life. I trust the information gathered in this book to let me know if what I want would work here. WGB isn’t just about plants either. It covers many aspects of gardening that could ease her transition since she isn’t in South Florida anymore.
The third book, by author Baker Morrow, “Best Plants for New Mexico Gardens and Landscapes” is a lovely book. Each entry, with an accompanying photo, quickly teaches the whys and hows about the chosen piece of plant life. Having both common and botanical names she’d be able track down even more info to make educated plant life choices.
Lastly, available through the City of Albuquerque is a booklet that starts with the teachings of xeriscaping and watering systems. This booklet has great plant life lists, dos and don’ts, is easy to read and then apply the information offered.
These three books and the city’s booklet would be just the beginning of her library. I’m confident that you can find these publications at the Albuquerque Garden Center in their Garden Shop. Most book stores will have them, too, or at least import them for you. Hope this is a good start to a new beginning for her.
Q: Mentioning bulbs last week, I wonder if it’s time to shop for bulbs I plan on growing this winter. I’ve never started one from scratch before and don’t really know what I’m looking for. — G.I., West Side
A: Oh, it’s rapidly coming. One of my favorite projects of the year: forcing bulbs indoors. Yes, now, and for several weeks to come, the selection of forcible bulbs will be at their greatest. And since most require a chilling period, go for it.
As far as choosing the bulbs you want to force, I’d suggest staying with varieties that by nature won’t grow too tall. On the packaging of the spring blooming bulbs available now you’ll find bulb height at maturity numbers. I’d suggest looking for bulbs that, grown outdoors, get no more than 12-inches tall. Grown indoors, a bulb that can get taller could create a challenge keeping it upright in the container. You should be able to find lots of tulip bulbs, several different varieties of daffodil bulbs, hyacinth and crocus that would fit the short bill.
To store your treasures, place them in paper bags and keep them in the vegetable crisper drawer in the refrigerator — not the freezer! Remember to turn the bags so the bulbs say aerated, so to speak, and be patient as it nowhere near time to begin this fun and rewarding project.
So, now’s a marvelous time to shop for your bulbs. Have fun Diggiing In this first weekend of autumn 2017.