Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message was recorded on Monday, February 9, 2009.

Dormant oil treatments are one of the best things we can do for the health of our fruit trees and ornamentals. Dormant oil, which is available at nurseries and garden centers, is applied before the plant leafs out, but as late as possible before then. It should be done after pruning, the oil smother the overwintering forms of mites, aphids and scale insects, greatly reducing their numbers in the coming season. These insects will be much harder to treat later on. Spraying dormant oil too soon darkens the buds and can heat them up, making them break dormancy too early. Spraying green tissue damages it, so watching the buds carefully for the best time to spray is important.

Information on fruit tree care throughout the season, beginning with dormant oil applications, is available from the Mesa County Extension office at 244-1836 or from the TRA website at westernslopefruit.org. There is a fact sheet on treating apples and pears at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02800.html and another for stone fruits, which require a different series of treatments at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02804.html; pruning information is available as well. Homeowners with fruit trees have a responsbility to take care of them properly, so they don't become a problem for the fruit industry, and those who reside in the Upper Grand Valley Pest Control District (approximately east of 30 Road) have a legal obligation to do so. If you're not sure if you live in this district, a map is available at www.mesacounty.us/pest/pestcontrol/pestcontrolmap.htm.

Many vegetables can be started indoors during the winter. The timing for starting them depends on the recommended age they should be at the time of transplanting, and on the average last killing frost date for your area. For information on starting and transplanting vegetables, and on early season varieties that can be seeded directly in the garden well before the last frost, please visit our website at http://westernslopevegetables.org or give the Master Gardeners a call at 244-1836.

Warmer locations will be seeing the greening up of the winter annual weeds as soon as the snow cover recedes. These weeds germinated last fall and have been dormant through the coldest part of the winter. Common winter annuals include cheatgrass, annual wheat grass, redstem filaree, and the early mustards. Although the sight of any green is welcome at this time, remember that the object with any annual weeds is to prevent seed formation. The winter annuals seed quite early in the year, so don’t put the task off too long.

You can still reach the Master Gardeners with your yard and garden questions; give us a call at 244-1836. We are not staffing the help desk all the time, but leave a message and we will be glad to return your call. Please be sure to speak clearly when leaving your number!

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