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 (Sierra County)
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Plan Goal
Increase, enhance, and sustain New Mexico urban and rural lifestyles by teaching proper landscape plant selection and management, efficient water use, common diseases and deficiencies, and further aid in the diagnosis of poor plant performance.
Situation Statement
New residents, beginning gardeners, and New Mexico natives confront challenges due to unique soils, climate, and limited water supplies. Successful development and maintenance of landscapes and gardens require understanding of these unique challenges and appropriate techniques for adapting to them. While over three-fourths of New Mexicans live in urban areas, both urban and rural gardeners face the same challenges. Approximately 60 percent of residential water consumption is used to maintain landscapes. As New Mexico’s population increases the limited availability of water becomes a limiting factor, even in years with normal precipitation. Proper plant selection and management reduce water deficit problems. Failure to adapt to the challenges of gardening in New Mexico will result in declining quality of life and will increase competition for limited water. New Mexico State University’s Extension Service has taught gardeners to adapt to challenges offered by soil, climate, and drought. These efforts must continue applying new technology and science to New Mexico’s gardening challenges. Evidence of successful Extension Horticulture teaching will result in gardeners changing their landscapes without loss of beauty or livability. Individual landscape water use will be decreased. Residential, commercial, and institutional landscapes will employ a variety of water conserving practices, and soil preparation. Appropriate planting, pruning, and plant maintenance practices will be employed in New Mexico landscapes.
Target Audience and Actions
The target audiences are the gardening public and horticultural professionals throughout Sierra County who will be provided research based information necessary for successful gardening in the varied and challenging New Mexico environment.
Short-Term Objectives
The gardening public and horticultural professionals who are currently using gardening techniques practiced in other regions of the country will become aware of efficient means to solve their common gardening problems through means of mass media and direct contact programs. They will learn more appropriate gardening techniques for Sierra County.
Medium-Term Objectives
The gardening public and horticultural professionals will adopt more appropriate, water conserving landscape practices. They will employ better plant management systems and utilize better adapted plant material in their landscapes.
Long-Term Objectives
Visible changes in landscapes will be apparent as more appropriate, water efficient plant material and landscape designs are employed by the gardening public and landscape professionals. Water conservation measures will enhance landscape beauty and survivability while reducing cost of water required for maintaining the landscapes. Improved landscape management practices will also be observed as inappropriate techniques, such as tree-topping, are reduced.
Evaluation Plan
Urban plant keepers will complete surveys and questionnaires after classes and participate in group and individual discussions regarding the materials they have received and used in teaching programs. Their input will be utilized in continued development of materials and programs.