El Paso Master Gardeners

Plan ahead! Pencil the upcoming events to your calendar. We hope to see you there!

Ready to beat the heat with a thriving garden? ☀️🌿
Join GROWS for a FREE Community Workshop: "Top Summer Superstars You Can Grow in the Heat!". 🌸🌳
Learn how to grow beautiful, water-wise, and low-maintenance desert plants unique to our region with Master Gardener and educator Robin Scofield. Discover the native flowers and trees (including fruit trees!) that flower from spring through fall.
🗓 June 13, 2026
⏰ 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
🏠 Westside Library Branch
Let's make this your most successful and colorful gardening season yet! 🌸🌵

Today! Don’t forget to join us today at the Ascarate Teaching and Demonstration Garden.

Ready to make your garden pop this summer? ☀️🌿
Join the Texas Master Gardeners for a morning full of inspiration at the Ascarate Teaching & Demonstration Garden! Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your backyard journey, there's something for everyone.
What’s happening:
🚶 Garden Tours: Explore summer crops, perennials, and learn about amending your garden beds.
💡 Expert Advice: Stop by the Garden Information Table or join the Q&A session at 10:00 AM!
🧒 Family Fun: Special gardening activities just for the kids.
Mark your calendars:
📅 When: June 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Where: 301 Manny Martinez Senior Drive, El Paso, TX (Across the parking lot)
Come get your hands dirty and find some "Summer Superstar" inspiration! See you in the garden! 🌸🥕

Great news! Registration is NOW open to become a certified Master Gardener!

Join other gardeners for this 12-week volunteer training program. Class topics include:

Xeriscaping principles
Lawn care
Trees & pruning
Soils
Identifying pests
Vegetables & herbs
Propagation methods
Hydroponics and more!

Complete the in-person classroom requirement, then use your new knowledge by volunteering 62 hours at approved sites in order to become a certified Texas Master Gardener.

For more info go to: https://txmg.org/elpaso

To register go to: https://evs.tamu.edu/application/master-gardener

Here's an interesting question that came into the Help Desk: why is my fig tree dying?

There are at least two possibilities why your fig tree is dying: Fig Rust; Transplant shock.

The greatest disease threat to fig production in Texas is fig rust (Cerotelium fici). Fig rust is more severe in rainy areas and seasons. Infected leaves turn brown and develop orange fruiting structures on the lower part of the leaf (Fig. 12). Severely affected leaves fall prematurely, leaving the tree weakened and unable to adequately ripen the crop. To control the disease, rake and destroy the infected leaves. No conventional fungicides are approved to control fig rust. Organic materials containing copper are generally effective at controlling fig rust if applied at the onset of the disease.

Another disease is fig mosaic virus, which is thought to be caused by a complex of viruses that invade fig trees. The disease first appeared in California but has now spread to most areas in the United States where figs are grown. The leaves on infected fig trees become mottled, usually in the heat of midsummer. The trees bear fewer, smaller, misshapen fruit."

AggieHorticulture.edu; https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu

Irrigation :

Consistent irrigation will increase fruit quality and quantity; adequate water during the hot summer months is very important. Provide water every 3-5 days during normal summer temperatures, and more often during periods of extreme heat. During the winter, trees may need to be watered every 2 weeks. Determine the duration of irrigation by using a soil probe. These simple tools can be purchased online, at garden centers, or at the local county extension office. Water all trees to a depth of 3 feet at each irrigation event. The amount of water it will take to get to 3 feet depends on your soil type and its water-holding capacity. Water depth will depend on the tree size. Small newly planted trees should be watered down to one foot. Medium sized (Shrub size) should be watered down to two feet, and large established trees should always be watered down to three feet. Providing mulch around the base of trees can reduce water requirements and w**d pressure while also enriching the soil. Apply 2 – 3 inches of mulch to the drip line of the tree canopy, but not directly around the trunk.

Planting If you choose to plant a fig tree directly in the ground, the optimal time for planting is in fall (September or October), after the heat of summer subsides, or early spring. This will give the roots time to become established before the arrival of cold winter temperatures or harsh summer heat. To plant, simply dig the hole at least twice as wide and no deeper than the root ball.

Arizona.Edu

Ready to transform your home garden and conquer the unique challenges of the El Paso climate? 🌵🌻
"Home Gardening in El Paso," is an EPCC non-credit course taught by none other than our certified Master Gardeners! 🛠️☀️ This is your opportunity to gain invaluable local knowledge, learn practical techniques, and discover the secrets to cultivating a beautiful and thriving garden right here in our challenging desert environment.

Class Details:
Dates (Corrected): June 6 to August 1, 2026
Time: Sat 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Valle Verde B-150
Cost: $100 for 16 hours of total instruction
Note: No class on July 4th

CORRECTED COURSE INFO TO REGISTER:

Course #: PIA 477 | CRN: 36908 | Home Gardening in El Paso | VV B150 | Sat | 10:30am-12:30pm | 6/6/26 - 8/1/26

Why you should join:
🌿 Learn techniques for successful home gardening in our unique desert conditions.
🎓 Benefit from the combined expertise of multiple Master Gardeners.
Master Gardeners share their expertise in topics such as soil improvement, turf grass, vegetable gardening, native and adapted plants, xeriscaping, herb and container gardening, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Register now! Spaces are limited for this valuable community class! 📞 To register and get your questions answered, call EPCC at (915) 831-7721, register in person at any campus or visit our website for more details, at https://txmg.org/elpaso/
https://txmg.org/elpaso/event/home-gardening-in-el-paso-1st-day-at-epcc-summer-2026/
Registration Instructions: https://txmg.org/elpaso/outreach2/epcc-class/
Let's make this your most successful and enjoyable gardening season yet! 🌸🥕

Our Youth Outreach Committee had a fantastic time at the Fort Bliss Mickelson Library! Families jumped into hands‑on fun with 2‑cup seedling greenhouses, the Seed Memory Challenge, and a lively pollinator station.

The library kicked off its monthly Family Day with the summer theme Plant a Seed, Read! A wonderful way to welcome military families new to El Paso area and children inquisitive about gardening and reading.