Spring officially arrives THIS Friday, and it’s the perfect time to get your garden growing!

Hey there, GREEN THUMBS! We’ve got a fresh batch of gardening supplies ready and waiting for you. From trusty trowels, pruners, and rakes to colorful pottery, seed-starting supplies, and a great selection of starter plants and mature plants, we’ve got what you need to get your garden growing.

Looking to give your plants a boost? We also carry nutrient-rich soils, amendments, and conditioners to help them thrive. And our 2026 seed selection is well stocked!

Let’s just say there’s plenty of variety to inspire your next planting project.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, stop by Payne’s Nursery and see what’s new in stock. We’d love to help you grow something great this season!

FLOWERING & VEGGIE BULBS ARE HERE!

Why is planting flowering and vegetable bulbs a good idea now that Spring is coming?

For the following reasons:

• Timing: Spring is the perfect time to plant bulbs, as the ground has thawed, and temperatures are warm enough for bulbs to sprout.

• Variety: Bulbs offer a wide variety of flowering, fruiting, and vegetable options to choose from. This variety can add color, flavor, and nutrition to your garden and home.

• Low maintenance: Once bulbs are planted, they require very little maintenance. They are low maintenance, making them perfect for busy gardeners.

• Health benefits: Growing your own fruits and vegetables can provide health benefits, as they are often fresher and more nutritious than store-bought produce. Plus, gardening is a great form of exercise and stress relief.

Payne’s sells ONLY the biggest, highest quality bulbs to make sure you get the largest, longest-lasting, most brilliantly colored blooms for Summer!

Onion and garlic sets, shallots, Dahlias, Lilies, Freesia, Gladiolas, Crocosmia, and more!

Stop by PAYNE’S NORTH and check out great selection!

PAYNE’S TIP: Don’t forget to sprinkle bone meal or bulb food — in your dug out hole while you are planting the bulbs and also sprinkle a little more on the soil surface to assure healthy growth.

JOIN THE GREEN TEAM!

Payne’s is looking for a part-time cashier to help our Santa Fe customers with plants, seeds, and garden supplies.

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

Dormant oil is a horticultural oil spray used to control insects and mites that survive the winter on trees and shrubs. It is typically made from highly refined mineral oil or plant-based oils mixed with water and sprayed onto branches, bark, and buds while the plant is still dormant.

Rather than acting as a poison, dormant oil works physically. The oil coats pests such as scale insects, aphid eggs, spider mites, and other overwintering insects, blocking their breathing pores and effectively smothering them. Because of this mechanical action, pests are much less likely to develop resistance compared with chemical pesticides.

Dormant oil is best applied while plants are still in their dormant stage, usually in early spring, before new growth begins. Applying it at this time helps smother overwintering pests and their eggs and can also reduce certain plant diseases.

Avoid applying dormant oil after buds begin to swell or open, as spraying too late can damage tender new growth. For best results, apply it just before bud break, when temperatures are suitable and plants are still dormant.

ASK OUR GARDENING EXPERTS ABOUT DORMANT OIL AND ITS USES!

WHY ARE FRESH HERBS A GREAT IDEA FOR GARDENING INSIDE!

In this week’s archived show from previous years, the Garden Guru said gardeners should never stop gardening – especially during these late winter months. So why not grow your own herbs.

Lynn said that growing herbs indoors is easy! Stop by Payne’s Nursery and ask to see our herb selection. Payne’s has about 15 to 20 different varieties of herbs — the common ones, being Basil, Chives, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme … we’ve all heard that one before! There’s lots of recipes that call for a garnish of fresh Chives, a variety of Mint or fresh Parsley and they’re simple to grow in a sunny window!

Listen to Lynn’s tip to find out how to make your herb garden a success!

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

HAPPY GARDENING!

Compost is a valuable source of nutrients and organic matter for garden soil. When added to soil, compost improves soil structure, which allows for better root growth and water retention. Additionally, compost provides essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, that are necessary for plant growth and development.

Compost also contains beneficial microorganisms that help to break down organic matter and make nutrients more available to plants. These microorganisms can help to suppress harmful plant pathogens and diseases, and improve soil fertility over time.

Using compost in your garden can help to improve soil health, increase plant growth and productivity, and promote overall ecosystem health by reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

ASK SAM – POSY’S Composting Expert: Every yard is different. In addition to ready-to-load composts at POSY, we offer custom blends tailored to your soil. Stop by and ask Sam which compost or mulch is best for your needs or call him at 505-424-0336.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of products offered by POSY.

By Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer

After an interminably long, cold winter, gardeners are anxious to be outside and get their hands in the dirt. As memories of harsh winter storms fade in the warmer days of spring, it’s time to think about waking up the garden for the new growing season. With so much to get done, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed on where to begin. By planning ahead and getting yourself organized, spring chores can be a snap. Here are some tips to get you started:

Seed starting
Start seeds of vegetables and annuals indoors 6-8 weeks before you plan to set them out. Make a planting schedule so that seedlings are mature at the optimal time for your region. Once soil temperature reaches 40 degrees F, crops such as greens, radishes and peas can be directly sown. Wait until soil temperature warms to 50 degrees F to plant cabbage, onions and Swiss chard. Summer vegetables can be sown in late spring. 

Prune shrubs and vines
Now is the time to prune roses, (some) shrubs and perennial vines. Remove dead branches and shape plants once new growth appears. Research proper pruning techniques and timing for each variety, and hold off on pruning spring bloomers until after they flower. 

Prepare ornamental beds
Start with areas where spring blooming bulbs are peeking out of the ground to spiff up early color displays. Rake out surface debris and cut back perennials and ornamental grasses before new growth appears. Top dress with several inches of homemade compost or well-seasoned manure, which will add slow-release nutrients, suppress weeds and conserve water during warm summer months. 

Edible planting
Remove surface debris such as leaves or mulch from vegetable beds to help warm the soil. To avoid compaction, wait until soil has dried out sufficiently before tilling. If soil crumbles when you try to make a ball, then it’s time to work the beds. Add amendments such as aged compost, manure and trace minerals before planting early crops of lettuce, radishes, kale, peas and onions. Protect young plants from late frosts with a cloche or cold frame. 

CLICK HERE to read more.

Copyright Mark Parisi