October Gardening In The Low Desert

Now through mid-November is the ideal time to sow seed for wildflowers or set out plants. Choose a sunny spot and loosen the soil about 3 or 4 inches, water to germinate the weeds for removal and then scatter about ¼ ounce of seed for 25 sq. ft. Lightly rake to soil to cover. Or, set out plants. Water as often as needed to keep soil moist until seedlings appear and then two or three times a week.

October and November are the best months to plant trees in the low desert so they can get established before summer heat next year. Your first consideration, whether you want a deciduous tree or an evergreen. Then, where will you put it and how big it will get. Many gardeners plant a tree on the basis of its appearance while small without realizing how huge it will eventually get. If you have power lines, you want to avoid planting anything that will grow into them and you probably will not want to plant a tall tree much closer than ten feet from your house to avoid damage to your foundation. A little care now will save you frustration and work later.

Plant cool season veggies annuals and strawberries now and into Nov. Nurseries are exploding with veggies and strawberries all ready for planting for those of us too lazy to start them ourselves. Recommended varieties of strawberries for zones 12 and 13 are Sequoia and Tioga. For high desert gardens, Ogallala. If space is limited for veggies, try the dwarf varieties and grow some in containers. Plant perennials for next year's bloom and divide established ones that have gotten too thick. Either dig and pull gently apart or slice into sections with a clean knife. Trim tops a little and replant.

Plant shrubs except for frost tender ones such as bougainvillea, and groundcovers. For the low desert, Acacia redolens, Baja and Mexican evening primrose (in a confined area), Dalea greggii, dwarf rosemary, gazania, lippia, low-growing junipers, snow-in-summer, and verbena as well as others you will find in the nurseries.

Continuuing on with our hints about garden pests, this month we will look at rabbits. These are some of the things that might work..maybe it depends on the bunnie's personalities and perserverance. If you use chicken wire to discourage rabbits, you should put it a couple inches below the surface and then bring it out at a right angle for a couple of inches (when you bring it out at a right angle that piece would be several inches under the surface of the soil. If rabbits can't get under the fence right away, they get discouraged and move on.

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