Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message was recorded on Tuesday, April 8, 2008.

Don’t forget the FREE rose pruning workshop, this Wednesday, April 9, beginning at 9:00 at Lincoln Park in Grand Junction. The rose garden is located off of Gunnison Avenue, in front of the clubhouse. Dr. Curtis Swift, Tri River Area Extension agent, will be joining members of the Desert Vista Garden Club, the Grand Valley Rose Society, and the Master Gardeners for a discussion of rose care and pruning, after which we encourage all participants to practice proper rose pruning techniques. We hope to get all 300 roses pruned by noon! Bring hand pruners, loppers, a pruning saw if you like, plus your rose armor and pruning hat, and come join the fun. There is no need to pre-register; just show up.

Additional upcoming workshops include pruning hybrid tea and shrub roses on Friday, April 25, at the Gardens at the Mesa County Extension office, located on the fairgrounds at 2775 Highway 50. This workshop is from 9:00 to noon, and it will be followed in the afternoon by a workshop on pruning shade and ornamental trees from 1:00 to 4:00 at the same location. Two additional workshops on pruning trees and shrubs will take place May 13 at the Crawford Lake State Park and May 14 at Sweitzer Lake State Park (just south of Delta) from 9:00 to 4:00. Bring a lunch if you’d like to stay for the entire session, or just come for part of the day. All these workshops are free of charge.

As we clean up our yards this spring, let’s consider composting the yard wastes. A three foot area is sufficient for starting a compost pile. Chop or shred the material, and layer a combination of high carbon material (twigs, straw, dried leaves, sawdust) with high nitrogen material (grass clippings, untreated weeds, other green non-woody plant material) and keep the pile evenly moist. Turn it frequently for best results. Information on composting is available on the Extension website at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07212.pdf or give us a call at 244-1836 to receive a copy by mail. Another option in Mesa County is to take your compostable materials to the landfill, Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 to 4:30, at no charge. The composting facility there will turn it into Mesa Magic and other soil amendments, which may be purchased by the yard.

We recommend that people not be too eager to start putting a lot of water on their lawns, shrubs, and flower beds. It is important to actually check your soil to determine the moisture content and water needs, and many areas have recently received sufficient water for now. Check by digging into it and feeling the soil; if it is moist enough to hold together in a ball, it is wet enough for your plants. Roots require oxygen as well as moisture to grow, and too much water in the soil fills the spaces that should contain the oxygen. The third requirement for root growth is soil warmth, and early in the season the water is often cold enough to inhibit root development.

The poplar twiggall fly, Hexomyza schineri, forms a common gall on aspens in the Tri River Area. Right now, before the aspens have leafed out, they are very visible and sometimes cause concern. A major infestation may limit leaf formation and stress the tree, but in most cases these galls do little harm beyond being unsightly. Pruning them out does not provide control, and may remove natural enemies such as parasitic wasps. Our entomologist recommends an annual soil-applied treatment of imidacloprid for control of this insect, but this will only prevent future galls and won’t affect the ones already present. Please see our fact sheet at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05579.html for additional information, or give us a call at 244-1836 to receive a copy.

Master Gardeners are available in our Mesa County office, to test soil and water for salt levels, identify plants and plant problems, and offer information and advice on yard and garden topics. We’re located on the Mesa County fairgrounds at 2775 Highway 50, or you can give us a call at 244-1836.

Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message will be updated next week; have a great week!

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Curt Swift CSU Extension Tri River Area Horticultural Agent