Don’t forget your trees this winter

We hope everyone had a joyous holiday season. I certainly enjoyed it, but I was a little sad not to have a white Christmas at my house.

It has been quite warm here in Valencia County during the “winter” months, and while we may be enjoying not having to bundle up, this weather can be worrisome for our vegetation.

I have heard from several people they experienced a longer garden harvest than usual. We have also not had adequate moisture over the past few months, which leaves our trees thirsty for water.

Even though it is winter, warmer weather and low moisture levels put our trees at risk for damage. I am also hoping we do not see early blooms followed by late frost dates for our fruit trees.

Watering your trees in the winter is extremely important in our area, especially when temperatures remain above 40 degrees. Water your trees once a month when temperatures are at or above 40 degrees.

If your soil is frozen, however, do not water. Many of us have cottonwood trees, and I have heard a lot of discussion about not needing to water cottonwoods because of their taproots. Unfortunately, that is untrue.

Cottonwood trees perform best when there is consistent moisture in their root zone. Our extension horticulture specialist Dr. Marisa Thompson explains the cottonwood root zones extend outward to at least four times the height of the tree. Their roots absorb the most moisture under the drip line and some distance beyond, depending on the height of the tree.

These trees also compete with grasses for water, so providing a deep watering (2–3 feet) will supply adequate moisture during the winter. In the summer, a deep watering (2–3 feet) every two weeks is sufficient.

While cottonwood trees can survive without ideal irrigation, they thrive when properly cared for. I suspect that many trees may show damage this summer if this warm, dry winter continues and trees are not adequately watered.

We have experienced some frosts, and late frosts are the number one challenge in fruit tree production in central New Mexico. Extension fruit specialist Dr. Shengrui Yao explains that buds in the tight bud or balloon stage are less vulnerable to frost damage than flower buds that are fully in bloom. As flower buds develop, their hardiness decreases.

We will see what Mother Nature has in store for us as the rest of the winter season unfolds. If you are interested in learning more about pruning, upcoming pruning workshops will be offered in the coming months. Be sure to join our newsletter to receive the most up-to-date program and event information.

Program announcements

To register for an upcoming program or to join our Valencia County Extension Newsletter, call the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service at 505-565-3002. For more information, visit valenciaextension.nmsu.edu.

Join our newsletter! Call the office and provide your email address to receive monthly updates and programming opportunities from the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service. Call 505-565-3002.

• Join the Valencia County 4-H Program! Enrollment for the upcoming Valencia County 4-H year is officially open. The enrollment window runs through Jan. 31. No late enrollments will be accepted. Contact Jamy Proctor at 505-565-3002 or jamyp@nmsu.edu.

• Healthy Hands, Happy Heart: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Rio Communities Maker’s Space, 360 Rio Communities Blvd., Rio Communities. Come discover the fun of making Valentine’s Day door wreaths at the Rio Communities Maker’s Space. This program is part of a series, designed to encourage community well-being through simple, hands-on activities that help participants keep their hands active and their minds engaged. This is a free workshop, but space is limited. Call the Valencia County CES Office to register at 505-565-3002 by Friday, Jan. 30.

• Financial Literacy Workshop: 4-5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Los Lunas Library, 460 Main St. NE, Los Lunas. This educational session is designed to help participants build confidence and skills for managing their financial future. Participants will explore practical strategies related to money management, basic investing concepts, and long-term wealth-building. This is a free workshop, but space is limited. Call the Valencia County CES Office to register at 505-565-3002 by Monday, Feb. 9.

• The Valencia County Seed Library: Looking for free seeds? The seed library is open. Check out seed packets for your garden. To obtain seeds, you can schedule an appointment with Sierra Cain at sierragh@nmsu.edu or 505-565-3002. Thank you to the Valencia County Master Gardeners for help in sorting and placement of seeds for the library.

• Agriculture School Enrichment Programs: School is back in action! Harvest and fall programs related to the science of agriculture are offered to elementary and middle school-aged students. Contact Sierra Cain for program offerings and scheduling at sierragh@nmsu.edu or 505-565-3002.

• Family and Consumer Science Community and School Enrichment Programs: School enrichment programs offer hands-on learning in areas such as food safety, nutrition, personal finance, and life skills. Educators can contact Crystal Garcia-Anaya at anayacry@nmsu.edu or 505-565-3002.

If you are an individual with a disability who requires auxiliary aid or service to participate in a program, please contact the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service Office at 505-565-3002 two weeks in advance of the event.

(Sierra Cain is the Valencia County Agriculture agent and 4-H/Youth Development agent for the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service.)