Far West Texas Tri-Community Horticulture Program slated for March 3

MARFA – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the Tri-Community Horticulture Program from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. March 3 in the Hotel Paisano Ballroom, 207 N. Highland St. in Marfa.

“With the temperatures bouncing from the 70s one day, then plunging into the 30s the next, even our landscape plants are having trouble deciding what season it is,” said Jesse Lea Schneider, AgriLife Extension agent in Presidio County. “But as crazy as this winter has been weather-wise, one thing’s for sure, and that’s spring will be here before you know it. With that in mind, the goal of this program is to ready our gardeners to take full advantage of what’s shaping up to be a wonderful gardening year.”

The tri-county effort is being conducted by the AgriLife Extension offices in Presidio and Brewster/Jeff Davis counties. Individual registration is $10 due upon arrival. RSVP by Feb. 26 by calling either the AgriLife Extension office in Presidio County at 432-729-4746, or in Brewster/Jeff Davis counties at 432-837-6207. More information is also available by calling those numbers.

Topics and their presenters will include:

– Garden Protection: Spring Frost, April Wind, and May Heat!, Mark Foster, the “Dirt Farmer,” professional gardener, Alpine.

– Common Garden Pests: Whiteflies, Flea Beetles, Aphids, Earworms, OH MY!, Dr. Mark Muegge, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Fort Stockton.

– Tomato 101, Selection and Type, and Earth-Kind Practices, Denise Rodriguez, AgriLife Extension horticulturist, El Paso County.

– Ice Storm Tree Damage and Repair, and Trans Pecos Champion Trees, Oscar Mestas, Texas A&M Forest Service, regional urban forester, El Paso.

– Marfa Rainfall Regime and Estimating Wetting Depth and Moisture for a Given Rainstorm, Dr. Alyson McDonald, AgriLife Extension range specialist, Fort Stockton.

“We’ll end the day with an evaluation of the day’s proceedings,” Schneider said. “But for those who are interested, Oscar Mestas will present a live demonstration on how the Texas A&M Forest Service measures a champion tree, a practice they use when adding a tree to their Big Tree Registry program. The program locates and recognizes the largest known species of its kind that grows in Texas.”

Source: Agrilife