April in the Low Desert Garden I

Posted by Robert Dailey Apr 4, 2007

April’s here and things are starting to bud out all over if you live in more temperate desert regions.

In fact, things are happening so fast in your garden now that you might start feeling overwhelmed. Instead of panicking, just take a deep breath and follow some of these instructions.

If you grow herbs, you probably have a number of different plants that over-wintered fairly well. Here are some things you want to do now to insure a fragrant and healthy herb garden for the rest of the growing season.

Check herbs (like basil, tarragon, lemon grass and others) for new growth. If you see new growth, prune the plant down to healthy, green shoots. Remember to use sharp, clean scissors or shears to do this.

If you’ve got rosemary, and you see a little browning on the tips of some of the branches, don’t worry. Just snip those areas off.

You may also see something that looks like little balls of foam on your rosemary, sage and other woody herb plants. The foam balls will be between ¼ and ½ inch in diameter. Don’t be alarmed. These are protective nests of the spittlebug larvae (philaenus sp.). They are in there, hiding from enemies and sucking sap from your plants. They won’t kill the plant, and you can get rid of them by simply spraying with a hose.

Dill and fennel, as well as other herbs may host aphids now. You can get rid of aphids the same way you get rid of spittlebugs: spraying the leaves with a water hose. DO NOT USE AN INSECTICIDE ON HERBS.