Tree help is out there — if you know where to look

Q: I want to go “all in” this year and subsequent years, protecting my evergreen trees, especially my piñon tree. Please advise, along with a timeline, what to use and what to do to ensure their health. — J.W., Rio Rancho

A: Oh to be far more informed than I am. I don’t feel comfortable, nor competent, to offer you the in-depth information you’re asking for. I do have several suggestions on ways for you to find the info though.

First, go to one of our full-service nurseries and ask if there is anyone on staff that could guide you. I can think of four nurseries right off the bat that just might offer this in-depth knowledge you’re wanting: Rehm’s, Plants of the Southwest, Osuna or Jericho nurseries just could be the ticket. If they aren’t forthcoming, ask if they’d be able to recommend a tree professional service for you, finding someone to offer the wanted info.

I typed “arborists — Albuquerque’’ into my search engine and was offered a listing of at least ten different companies that could guide you long term, yes there will be fees involved, but your trees’ health is probably worth it.

You might give your county agricultural agent a call too. In Sandoval County, try the Cooperative Extension Service at 505-867-2582; or in Bernalillo County the Cooperative Extension Service at 505-243-1386. The agricultural agent, although remarkably busy, just might be able to guide you.

Also, don’t forget the Master Gardener Program here in Albuquerque. I don’t believe they come to the property but hopefully could offer some pertinent info. The Master Gardeners can be reached at the Bernalillo County phone number.

You could also try asking your neighbors, fellow churchgoers, coworkers, whoever you can, for recommendations on great services they’ve gotten from their landscape services.

Forgive me, but I am not knowledgeable enough to give you all you’re asking for. Your answers are out there, and I wish you good information hunting.

Q: Several years ago, we spread weed fabric and then lava rock in a couple of areas that we didn’t want to garden. Now they are full of small, but rapidly growing, clumps of weedy grasses and some wild mustard plants. How can we end this invasion? — L.P., Albuquerque

A: I’m going to suggest that you get down and pull all the offenders out by the roots, and the sooner you do this the better. If you spray the beds with a good wetting, the clumps will be easier to pull and you’ll be less likely to leave any root behind. Pitch the whole collection and then consider sprinkling the spaces with a weed preventative preemergent.

You didn’t say how long the areas have been rocked but it sounds like they’ve been there awhile and all manner of sand, silt and soil has blown in giving the seed a way to grow. So you could take up the lava rock, give it a good rinsing off, offer fresh weed fabric to the spaces and start from scratch. That way you’d have a pristine place and be guaranteed no interlopers, perhaps for a season or two.

Either way, you can win the war with the clumps, just remember that you need to do this project soon or these villains will set seed of their own and you’ll have gobs of weedy grasses and more infiltrating the spaces.

Good luck and remember to wear gloves to protect your hands from goat heads or sandbur seed.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.