Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture (Otero County)
Plan Goals
To increase horticultural knowledge of home and professional gardeners, and landscapers by providing training, skills, and resources in urban horticultural.
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Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture
Impact Reports
Otero County Pruning Workshop
The Cooperative Extension Service office and Otero Master Gardeners receive a considerable amount of calls in the winter about when is the best time and how to prune fruit and ornamental trees. In response a hands-on pruning workshop was presented where participants received instruction and then actually had the opportunity to practice their newly learned skills on several trees in an old tree nursery site. Participants received such instruction as: when planting trees choose a tree of appropriate height and size for the growing site, correct pruning of trees according to variety and purpose for optimum health and production of the tree, and avoiding common misnomers such as topping and pollarding trees.
A pretest and posttest were delivered to the 14 participants. Participants averaged 15% on the pretest and 86% on the posttest resulting in an overall average gain of 71% in their pruning knowledge.
Native Plant Presentation to the Flowering Desert Garden Club
The Flowering Desert Garden Club (a club for primarily rose growers) requested a program on “Native Plants of Otero County and Their Uses”. The Agricultural Agent presented a program on the uses of Native Plants in the past and present with emphasis on the benefits of landscaping with low water consumptive native plants and their ability to provide an aesthetically pleasing landscape.. The 15 attending members were encouraged to use their status as esteemed horticulturists in the community to pass this information on to the community through their programs and contacts, enabling others to select plants for their landscapes that use less water.
Vegetable Gardening in Otero County Presentation to the Sertoma Club
The Sertoma Club requested a program on Vegetable Gardening in Otero County. Due to the short time constraints (45 minutes) a program was delivered to the 18 members in attendance on gardening basics with slides highlighting the techniques and outcomes of successful gardeners (Otero Farmers’ Market Growers) in Otero County. The program concluded with the dates and times for the upcoming opening of Tularosa and Alamogordo Farmers’ Markets.
“Walk-n-Talk” through Tularosa’s Green Zone with Dr. Curtis Smith”
As per the request of the Otero Master Gardener’s a “Walk-n-Talk Master Gardeners Advanced Class on the plants of the Tularosa Green Zone with Dr. Curtis Smith” was presented. Master Gardeners who attended got to see firsthand such horticultural problems as: spittle bug, fire blight, nutrient deficiency in young peach trees and a huge amount of species that do well in arid Otero County along with species that do well with extra water in Otero county. Participants were so enthused over the walk they requested another for the near future.
“Xeric Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Fruit Trees , and Container Vegetable Gardening For The Tularosa Basin” Information Tables
On six separate occasions (Otero County Fair, Holloman AFB Exchange Spring Celebration, Alamogordo Arbor Day Celebration, Holloman Air Force Base New Subdivision, Alamogordo Earth Day Celebration, and the Tularosa Water Fair) information was given out by the agricultural agent and Master Gardeners to the public on the benefits of landscaping with low water consumptive native plants and that it is possible to have an aesthetically pleasing landscape using native plants. They were also given explanations and NMSU publications on fruit tree varieties that do best in Otero County and information on container gardening.. This information will enable urban residents with limited yard and garden space and restricted water use the ability to maximize their gardening space and minimize their water usage.
The Cooperative Extension Service office and Otero Master Gardeners receive a considerable amount of calls in the winter about when is the best time and how to prune fruit and ornamental trees. In response a hands-on pruning workshop was presented where participants received instruction and then actually had the opportunity to practice their newly learned skills on several trees in an old tree nursery site. Participants received such instruction as: when planting trees choose a tree of appropriate height and size for the growing site, correct pruning of trees according to variety and purpose for optimum health and production of the tree, and avoiding common misnomers such as topping and pollarding trees.
A pretest and posttest were delivered to the 14 participants. Participants averaged 15% on the pretest and 86% on the posttest resulting in an overall average gain of 71% in their pruning knowledge.
Native Plant Presentation to the Flowering Desert Garden Club
The Flowering Desert Garden Club (a club for primarily rose growers) requested a program on “Native Plants of Otero County and Their Uses”. The Agricultural Agent presented a program on the uses of Native Plants in the past and present with emphasis on the benefits of landscaping with low water consumptive native plants and their ability to provide an aesthetically pleasing landscape.. The 15 attending members were encouraged to use their status as esteemed horticulturists in the community to pass this information on to the community through their programs and contacts, enabling others to select plants for their landscapes that use less water.
Vegetable Gardening in Otero County Presentation to the Sertoma Club
The Sertoma Club requested a program on Vegetable Gardening in Otero County. Due to the short time constraints (45 minutes) a program was delivered to the 18 members in attendance on gardening basics with slides highlighting the techniques and outcomes of successful gardeners (Otero Farmers’ Market Growers) in Otero County. The program concluded with the dates and times for the upcoming opening of Tularosa and Alamogordo Farmers’ Markets.
“Walk-n-Talk” through Tularosa’s Green Zone with Dr. Curtis Smith”
As per the request of the Otero Master Gardener’s a “Walk-n-Talk Master Gardeners Advanced Class on the plants of the Tularosa Green Zone with Dr. Curtis Smith” was presented. Master Gardeners who attended got to see firsthand such horticultural problems as: spittle bug, fire blight, nutrient deficiency in young peach trees and a huge amount of species that do well in arid Otero County along with species that do well with extra water in Otero county. Participants were so enthused over the walk they requested another for the near future.
“Xeric Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Fruit Trees , and Container Vegetable Gardening For The Tularosa Basin” Information Tables
On six separate occasions (Otero County Fair, Holloman AFB Exchange Spring Celebration, Alamogordo Arbor Day Celebration, Holloman Air Force Base New Subdivision, Alamogordo Earth Day Celebration, and the Tularosa Water Fair) information was given out by the agricultural agent and Master Gardeners to the public on the benefits of landscaping with low water consumptive native plants and that it is possible to have an aesthetically pleasing landscape using native plants. They were also given explanations and NMSU publications on fruit tree varieties that do best in Otero County and information on container gardening.. This information will enable urban residents with limited yard and garden space and restricted water use the ability to maximize their gardening space and minimize their water usage.
4-H Horticultural Team
When youth who have an interest in horticulture (or any other area) are given a chance to explore their interest through 4-H Horticultural projects and compete on a 4-H judging team it increases the young person’s knowledge and their chances of being more successful in that area as an adult. The agricultural agent coached the 4-H Horticulture Team for county, district, and State 4-H Contests and put-on the county horticulture contest. The training for Horticulture contest teaches 4-Hers how to identify different fruit, nut, vegetable, and ornamental varieties, discern healthy desirable specimens from less healthy and less desirable samples, and hones their decision making skills in placing the specimens within the classes. As a result of the training they received in their practices, the Senior 4-Hers placed third at State 4-H Contest and the Novice and Junior 4-Hers participating at District Contest placed 10th.
When youth who have an interest in horticulture (or any other area) are given a chance to explore their interest through 4-H Horticultural projects and compete on a 4-H judging team it increases the young person’s knowledge and their chances of being more successful in that area as an adult. The agricultural agent coached the 4-H Horticulture Team for county, district, and State 4-H Contests and put-on the county horticulture contest. The training for Horticulture contest teaches 4-Hers how to identify different fruit, nut, vegetable, and ornamental varieties, discern healthy desirable specimens from less healthy and less desirable samples, and hones their decision making skills in placing the specimens within the classes. As a result of the training they received in their practices, the Senior 4-Hers placed third at State 4-H Contest and the Novice and Junior 4-Hers participating at District Contest placed 10th.
Otero County 2008 and 2009 Master Gardener’s Class
As in 2008, the 2009 Otero Master Gardener’s Classes began September 8th and will continue every Tuesday for twelve consecutive Tuesdays until November 17th. Twenty two residents of Otero County make up the majority of the new class with three to ten members of the existing Otero Master Gardeners Association attending also. The class participants are acquiring skills and information for growing healthy gardens, fruit trees, berries, lawns and ornamental trees and shrubs resulting in bettering their nutrition and saving them money through home-grown fruits and vegetables, while providing them a healthier environment through the cultivation of ornamentals in and around their homes. The classes, Basic Botany, Trees & Shrubs, Weather, Entomology, Soil, Weeds, Wildlife Damage Management, Fruit and Nut Trees, Berries, Urban Forestry, Turf Grass, Plant Pathology, Pesticides, and Growing Vegetables in Otero County, are being taught by NMDA Wildlife Damage Control, NMSU specialists, and one class by 3 local growers.
The Otero County Agricultural Agent set-up the schedule, secured the speakers, made copies of the speaker’s power point presentations, tests, and other handouts for the class members, oversees and helps with the room set-up and take down, and grades the class tests.
So far, as a result of this training, 100% of the participants responded that all the classes increased their knowledge of the particular subject matter taught, 93% responded that they expected to use the information taught in all of the classes, 89% responded that the overall rating of all the classes was excellent, and 11% responded that the overall rating of all the class was good.
Otero Master Gardeners Association
The Otero Master Gardeners Association is comprised of vegetable, fruit and nut tree, growers and home landscape hobby horticulturists who sell their produce at farmers market, share and trade with their neighbors, or just enjoy the fruits of their labors with their families. All members of this organization have completed the series of Master Gardeners class and have the option of attending any of the subsequest classes during their membership. This organization meets once a month to share their horticultural successes, problems, and questions, plan advanced classes for their group, organize horticultural and botanical field trips, and organize their various community service activities. The agricultural agent gives a short presentation at each meeting on an unusual insect, plant disease, or other agricultural anomaly that has been brought into the extension office that month. The agent also oversees and participates in the organization’s general activities which includes: information tables at the Otero County Fair, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Holloman Air Force Base activities, helping with the set-up of Master Gardeners classes, and responding to incoming horticultural calls, E-mails, and walk-ins to the Otero Extension Office when the Agricultural Agent is on leave or attending extended out-of-county meetings. The Cooperative Extension Service gets a double benefit from this organization by the members attending the full course of classes prior to becoming members and any subsequent classes they wish to attend members of the community (Master Gardeners) receive valuable horticultural information which they not only employ in their home gardens and landscapes but also share on a regular basis with the community through their numerous community service projects.
As in 2008, the 2009 Otero Master Gardener’s Classes began September 8th and will continue every Tuesday for twelve consecutive Tuesdays until November 17th. Twenty two residents of Otero County make up the majority of the new class with three to ten members of the existing Otero Master Gardeners Association attending also. The class participants are acquiring skills and information for growing healthy gardens, fruit trees, berries, lawns and ornamental trees and shrubs resulting in bettering their nutrition and saving them money through home-grown fruits and vegetables, while providing them a healthier environment through the cultivation of ornamentals in and around their homes. The classes, Basic Botany, Trees & Shrubs, Weather, Entomology, Soil, Weeds, Wildlife Damage Management, Fruit and Nut Trees, Berries, Urban Forestry, Turf Grass, Plant Pathology, Pesticides, and Growing Vegetables in Otero County, are being taught by NMDA Wildlife Damage Control, NMSU specialists, and one class by 3 local growers.
The Otero County Agricultural Agent set-up the schedule, secured the speakers, made copies of the speaker’s power point presentations, tests, and other handouts for the class members, oversees and helps with the room set-up and take down, and grades the class tests.
So far, as a result of this training, 100% of the participants responded that all the classes increased their knowledge of the particular subject matter taught, 93% responded that they expected to use the information taught in all of the classes, 89% responded that the overall rating of all the classes was excellent, and 11% responded that the overall rating of all the class was good.
Otero Master Gardeners Association
The Otero Master Gardeners Association is comprised of vegetable, fruit and nut tree, growers and home landscape hobby horticulturists who sell their produce at farmers market, share and trade with their neighbors, or just enjoy the fruits of their labors with their families. All members of this organization have completed the series of Master Gardeners class and have the option of attending any of the subsequest classes during their membership. This organization meets once a month to share their horticultural successes, problems, and questions, plan advanced classes for their group, organize horticultural and botanical field trips, and organize their various community service activities. The agricultural agent gives a short presentation at each meeting on an unusual insect, plant disease, or other agricultural anomaly that has been brought into the extension office that month. The agent also oversees and participates in the organization’s general activities which includes: information tables at the Otero County Fair, Earth Day, Arbor Day, Holloman Air Force Base activities, helping with the set-up of Master Gardeners classes, and responding to incoming horticultural calls, E-mails, and walk-ins to the Otero Extension Office when the Agricultural Agent is on leave or attending extended out-of-county meetings. The Cooperative Extension Service gets a double benefit from this organization by the members attending the full course of classes prior to becoming members and any subsequent classes they wish to attend members of the community (Master Gardeners) receive valuable horticultural information which they not only employ in their home gardens and landscapes but also share on a regular basis with the community through their numerous community service projects.
Otero County Pecan Field Day
As with Pistachios, southern New Mexico’s climate is particularly suited for Pecan trees enabling more and more people to plant a tree in their landscape that not only provides shade and beauty but produces a highly desirable nut. The Otero Cooperative Extension Service office receives a considerable amount of calls from people who have planted pecan trees but need some help in their management. With large orchards being in proximity to home landscape pecan trees it is just as important to educate growers with one or two trees as it is to educate larger growers. To meet this need the Otero County Pecan Growers Field Day was presented and attended by forty-three Otero County pecan growers (25% of which were "backyard growers") where specialists from New Mexico State University and the Agricultural agent spoke on “Soils for Pecan Trees”, “Minerals and Nutrients” for Pecan Trees”, “Irrigation and Water Requirements of Pecan Trees”, “Insects of Pecan Trees”, and “Pruning Pecan Trees” (Otero County CES Agricultural Agent).
Pecan tree growers in Otero County will now know: how to test their soils to find out what type and the nutrient profile of soil they have, when, what type, and how much fertilizer to apply to their pecan trees, what the signs of nutrient deficiencies look like in their pecan trees and how to correct them, when to irrigate and how much water to apply, which insects are beneficial and which are detrimental to pecans and the integrated pest management plans to control damaging pecan tree insects, how to collect, submit, and interpret the results of a soil sample from their orchard or landscape, and how to train and prune young trees, mature trees, and home landscape pecan trees.
As a result of this program, 90% of the participants responding to the evaluation agreed the field day increased or enhanced their knowledge of the topic discussed and 85 % said they expected to use the information presented in their orchards or landscapes.
As with Pistachios, southern New Mexico’s climate is particularly suited for Pecan trees enabling more and more people to plant a tree in their landscape that not only provides shade and beauty but produces a highly desirable nut. The Otero Cooperative Extension Service office receives a considerable amount of calls from people who have planted pecan trees but need some help in their management. With large orchards being in proximity to home landscape pecan trees it is just as important to educate growers with one or two trees as it is to educate larger growers. To meet this need the Otero County Pecan Growers Field Day was presented and attended by forty-three Otero County pecan growers (25% of which were "backyard growers") where specialists from New Mexico State University and the Agricultural agent spoke on “Soils for Pecan Trees”, “Minerals and Nutrients” for Pecan Trees”, “Irrigation and Water Requirements of Pecan Trees”, “Insects of Pecan Trees”, and “Pruning Pecan Trees” (Otero County CES Agricultural Agent).
Pecan tree growers in Otero County will now know: how to test their soils to find out what type and the nutrient profile of soil they have, when, what type, and how much fertilizer to apply to their pecan trees, what the signs of nutrient deficiencies look like in their pecan trees and how to correct them, when to irrigate and how much water to apply, which insects are beneficial and which are detrimental to pecans and the integrated pest management plans to control damaging pecan tree insects, how to collect, submit, and interpret the results of a soil sample from their orchard or landscape, and how to train and prune young trees, mature trees, and home landscape pecan trees.
As a result of this program, 90% of the participants responding to the evaluation agreed the field day increased or enhanced their knowledge of the topic discussed and 85 % said they expected to use the information presented in their orchards or landscapes.
Otero County Pistachio Growers Workshop
With Pistachio trees being especially suited to Otero county’s climate, relatively low in their water requirements, and produced in this county more than any other county in New Mexico, greater numbers of Otero County residents are planting pistachio trees in their landscapes, small orchards, and commercial production orchards. This growing interest in the cultivation of pistachio trees resulted in the Otero Agricultural Agent along with Extension Specialists presenting the Otero Pistachio Growers Workshop. Fifty-five pistachio growers (20% of which were backyard growers)from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas attended this six hour program that provided information on the cultivation and care of pistachios covering: insect pests and integrated pest management, soils, irrigation, pistachio diseases and their management, and the general management of pistachio trees in orchards as well as home landscapes.
Of the participants responding to the workshop evaluation (41 of 55 participants completed an evaluation):
97% of the participants agreed, ‘they expected to use the information presented in their pistachio orchard.’
95% agreed, ‘the workshop increased or enhanced their knowledge of the topics discussed.’
76% agreed ‘they expected to spray their pistachio trees for Septoria Leaf Spot and Alternaria Late Blight’ should Spring conditions so require.’
With Pistachio trees being especially suited to Otero county’s climate, relatively low in their water requirements, and produced in this county more than any other county in New Mexico, greater numbers of Otero County residents are planting pistachio trees in their landscapes, small orchards, and commercial production orchards. This growing interest in the cultivation of pistachio trees resulted in the Otero Agricultural Agent along with Extension Specialists presenting the Otero Pistachio Growers Workshop. Fifty-five pistachio growers (20% of which were backyard growers)from New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas attended this six hour program that provided information on the cultivation and care of pistachios covering: insect pests and integrated pest management, soils, irrigation, pistachio diseases and their management, and the general management of pistachio trees in orchards as well as home landscapes.
Of the participants responding to the workshop evaluation (41 of 55 participants completed an evaluation):
97% of the participants agreed, ‘they expected to use the information presented in their pistachio orchard.’
95% agreed, ‘the workshop increased or enhanced their knowledge of the topics discussed.’
76% agreed ‘they expected to spray their pistachio trees for Septoria Leaf Spot and Alternaria Late Blight’ should Spring conditions so require.’