The Fascinating Journey of Citrus.

The story of citrus is one of exploration, trade, and discovery. Around 300 BC, citrus first reached Europe through the travels of Alexander the Great. Centuries later, Arab traders spread sour oranges and lemons throughout North Africa and Spain, while Portuguese explorers introduced sweet oranges from India during the 16th century. In Asia, mandarins traveled from China to Japan as early as the 12th century. Citrus eventually crossed the Atlantic with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493, where it flourished in the New World and became one of the world’s most important fruit crops.

Today, citrus trees remain a favorite for home gardeners, especially those with limited space. Many varieties—including lemons, limes, and mandarins—thrive in containers, making it easy to enjoy fresh, homegrown fruit on a patio, porch, or sunny indoor space.

If you’ve been thinking about growing your own citrus, Payne’s Nursery offers one of the most beloved varieties: the Meyer Lemon. This heirloom dwarf tree produces abundant golden-yellow fruit with a sweeter, more complex flavor than traditional lemons, making it a favorite among home cooks and professional chefs alike. Exceptionally well-suited for containers, Meyer Lemons bloom and produce fruit throughout the year and begin bearing at a young age. Originally brought to the United States from China in the early 1900s, the Meyer Lemon is believed to be a natural hybrid between a lemon and a sweet orange, combining beauty, fragrance, and delicious flavor in one easy-to-grow tree.

CLICK HERE  to download Payne’s CITRUS TREE Gardening Tip!

SALE ON ALL ANNUALS

Choose from:
potato vines
california poppy
cosmos
portulaca
nastrustiums
coleus
canna lily
begonia
lantana
morning glory
bachelors button
pink and black petunias
snapdragon and more!

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CHECK OUT OUR PERENNIALS!

BUGLEWEED GROUNDCOVER

BARBERRY BUSH

PHLOX

ECHINACEA

PHLOX

JOIN THE GREEN TEAM!

PAYNE’S NORTH:

Cashiers – We’re looking for friendly, reliable cashiers to help greet customers, run the register, and keep the checkout area running smoothly. Perfect for someone who enjoys plants, people, and a lively garden center environment.

Tropical Greenhouse Associates – Assisting with watering, care of houseplants, up-potting services and great customer service. Hours are flexible – and part-time.

Nursery Yard and Greenhouse Associates – Assisting with the day-to-day plant care activities including watering and planting.

Friendly faces wanted—download the application HERE and drop it off at Payne’s North on 304 Camino Alire.

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PAYNE’S ORGANIC SOIL YARD:

Soil Yard Equipment Operator: operates machinery to transport and distribute soil and mulch as well as loading customers’ trucks

and more. 

Dump Truck Driver: transports materials to and from various sites, loading and unloading goods safely and efficiently. Clean NM Driver’s License (non CDL) is required. 

Apply at the POSY Office 6037 Agua Fria Street near San Felipe Road

CAN WE REALLY GROW HEALTHY ASPEN TREES HERE IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO?

ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION!

In this week’s archived show from previous years, the Garden Guru talked about how Aspen are able to grow in Santa Fe. Of course you need to simulate conditions that are prime for growing Aspen in higher elevations, such as good soil, more moisture than other trees and of course a cooler area in your yard. Aspen like cool temperatures, moist soil … supplemental water on a regular basis. Good soil is very important and you can make your own. All you need is … well, listen to Lynn’s tip to find out how to make good, rich soil! 

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE GARDEN GURU’S ARCHIVED RADIO SHOW ON THIS TOPIC.

HAPPY GARDENING!

Aphids Are Everywhere This Time of Year

Don’t let their tiny size fool you—aphids can cause major damage in a short amount of time.

These sap-sucking insects are less than ¼-inch long and come in a variety of colors, including green, yellow, black, brown, gray, white, and even pink. Some have a waxy or woolly appearance. Aphids have soft, pear-shaped bodies with long antennae, and most species have two small tubes (called cornicles) extending from their rear. Both adult aphids and nymphs feed by sucking plant juices from leaves, stems, flower buds, blooms, fruit, and even roots. They especially love tender new growth, where they multiply quickly.

Signs You Have Aphids:


Curled or Distorted Leaves

Look for leaves that are curled, yellowing, stunted, or misshapen. Be sure to inspect the undersides of leaves—aphids love to hide there.

Sticky Residue (Honeydew)

Aphids leave behind a sugary substance called honeydew as they feed. This sticky coating can attract ants and may drip onto cars, patios, outdoor furniture, and sidewalks beneath infested plants.

Black Sooty Mold

Honeydew often leads to the growth of sooty mold, a black fungus that coats leaves and stems, reducing the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.

Damaged Flowers & Fruit

Heavy feeding can cause flowers and fruit to become distorted, deformed, or fail to develop properly.

Leaf Galls

Some aphid species trigger unusual swellings, or galls, on leaves or roots.

Disease Spread

Aphids can transmit plant viruses from one plant to another, making infestations even more damaging.

Protect Your Garden Before Aphids Take Over

The sooner you catch an aphid infestation, the easier it is to control. Regular inspections—especially on new growth—can help prevent serious damage.

Stop by Payne’s North and talk with our gardening experts. We’ll help you identify the problem and recommend the best insecticide or treatment to get your plants healthy again.

Want to know a great way to reduce your need for watering your trees and shrubs?

One of the most important secrets to successful gardening in New Mexico is MULCH, MULCH, MULCH! Especially in the heat of the summer. The mulch acts as a barrier against the heat of the day and keeps in the moisture. A great way to save on watering, especially since this JULY heat is so dry and the monsoons are rolling in! A 4″ layer of mulch is a good depth for inhibiting soil moisture evaporation and protecting soaker hoses from biodegrading under our UV.

Composts make the best mulches because they improve the soil they cover. Bark mulches are used for decorative reasons or to hold compost mulch in place, but may interfere with nutrient cycling if directly in contact with the soil surface.

Come by and ask Sam McCarthy, the manager of Payne’s Organic Soil Yard (POSY), all about top quality soils and various mulches he has. He’ll let you know why POSY is the best choice for all your yard and garden needs. Bring your pick-up or dump truck or we’ll deliver.

CLICK HERE to learn more.

Copyright Mark Parisi