Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture

Master Gardener’s Program

In New Mexico, most urban residents are increasingly interested in home gardening and landscape gardening, but have few opportunities to gain research-based information in these areas. To assist in meeting this need, the Chaves County Master Gardener Program was coordinated by the agent. The 12 week-long program met three hours each week to address pertinent topics for the Chaves County area. Various specialists, agents, and local individuals taught the programs. Twenty-seven individuals, including personnel from the City of Roswell Parks and Recreation Division attended the programs to gain knowledge of southwestern gardening, for a total of 261 contacts during classes. Eight of the 27 individuals agreed to donate volunteer hours to assist the Extension Office after the gardening classes were finished. Four individuals assisted the agent in disseminating NMSU Cooperative Extension Service publications on horticulture and related topics at the Farmers’ Market in downtown Roswell. Another individual has assisted the agent with the “South Roswell Community Garden Project,” giving gardening advice to the organizing group that is developing a community garden for youth involved in Teen Court and 4-H School Enrichment Gardening Programs. The SRC Garden Project is ongoing. Participants of the Master Gardener Program are more knowledgeable about gardening in the Pecos Valley and are more successful, saving time and dollars. The community has gained gardening information from the Master Gardener volunteers, as well.

Sandra Key Barraza has signed on to support Plant Management Systems: Urban Horticulture within Chaves County.

The agent responded to approximately 300 calls and office walk-ins on insects for Sierra County residents. Various questions on insects were asked to the agent as well as control, identification, and treatment recommendations by the agent. Insect pests on crops, orchards, and urban horticulture can contribute to losses of millions of dollars for area producers and the Extension offices access to information is essential in assisting producers in identifying these pests.

Impact: During the growing season an abundant number of calls were sought requesting horticultural information from the Lea County office. Information requested was on a variety of subjects concerning trees and shrubs, pest management, turf/lawn management, soil analysis, and noxious weed management. Each sitituation is dealt with accordingly pending time and input resources of the clientale. Seventy-five percent of all visits resulted in improper timing of irrigation practices. With this being the major problem of the home gardener any problem that persisted resulted with repeat customers along with neighbors beginning to phone in with lawn and garden concerns of thier own.

Impact: The Master Gardener course is a 16 week course that begins in mid-January and finishes with a nursery tour on the first Saturday of May. We had 17 participants in this year course. With these individual we were able to assits with the landscaping of two projects 2) The Waittes house which obtained Historicall Status and 3) The Lea County Museum. These projects assited in the beautification of the City of Lovington. Additionally, a irrigation workshop was was held for residents of Lea County which was also used as a recruiting tool to aquire more membershipfor the 2008 Master Gardener classes. Certified Master Gardeners grew by three more members to increase Lea County's enrollment to 38 certified gardeners. These gardeners helped host the annual flower and garden show at the 2007 Lea County Fair. Also, the agent conducted four presentations to local clubs and to local leaders of the county. The groups that were involved were the Llano Estacodo group which is a womens organization in Lovington, the Green Thumb ladies group that meets in Hobbs, the Kiwanins Club of Lovington and the Hobbs Rotary group. These presentation were conducted in May and June with the primary emphasis being on lawn and tree care. Many contacts were made which also resulted in many calls coming to the office because of these presentations.