In brief: June tips from El Paso Master Gardeners

June tips from El Paso Master Gardeners. Have a question? Call their hotline at 566-1276 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. most weekdays. If a Master Gardener is not available when you call, leave a message, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

There is still time to plant heat-tolerant summer annuals. Just be sure to water transplants as needed until roots become established.

Remove faded flowers from plants before they set seed; this will encourage them to continue flowering.

Frequent mowing (every four to five days) is best for your grass and helps to reduce weeds by preventing seed heads from forming.

A light application of fertilizer every four to six weeks will help keep annual flowers healthy and blooming.

Gardening workshops

El Paso Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a series of free “Gardening 101” workshops. The next, “Integrated Pest Management: Common Garden Insects,” will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Multipurpose Recreation Center (Dance Room), 9031 Viscount.

The focus will be on the basics of home gardening in the El Paso region with Denise Rodriguez, Texas AM AgriLife Extension horticulturist, and members of the El Paso County Master Gardeners.

No previous gardening experience is necessary to attend. Workshops are suitable for new or experienced gardeners. Other workshops:

“Plant Propagation,” 4-5:30 p.m. July 12.

“Getting Ready for Fall Gardening,” 4-5:30 p.m. Sept. 13.

An RSVP is required for each workshop. Seating is limited to the first 30 participants. Registration deadline for the next workshop is Wednesday.

Information: Register by calling Marci Tuck at 541-4020 or email tuckmj@elpasotexas.gov.

‘SunScape’ class

Water conservation is important in the desert Southwest, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful garden. Learn how to garden with gorgeous native plants and find out which plants work best for your space at the annual “SunScape: Gardening the Sensible Way” workshop. The all-day class will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 22 at the UTEP Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. Area professionals, including botanical curator John White and Oscar Mestas, a West Texas regional forester with the Texas Forest Service, will lead the workshop.

The cost is $25. It’s limited to the first 25 participants.

Information: To register, call the museum at 747-8994.