February Yard & Garden Tips

As the weather begins to warm up, don't get too far ahead in your spring gardening - we may still have frost, so be prepared to cover tender plants.  Trees, shrubs and vines can be fertilized at this time.  Fertilize trees away from the trunk; you want to reach the active roots under the outer part of the tree canopy.  Wait to prune any frost-damaged plants after you begin to see new growth.  You can clean out dead wood and remove suckers on trees in your yard.  Remember when pruning any plant to use clean, sharp tools designed for pruning and disinfect them between uses to prevent any spreading of disease.  Never remove more than 25% of the plant when pruning.

Bermuda grass can still be watered just once per month, while rye grass can be watered once or twice per week.  Don’t water grass at night or cut grass when it is wet – both of these actions can encourage growth of fungal diseases.  Don’t fertilize dormant Bermuda grass until later in the spring.

Dealing with weed control is easiest when weeds are small and their roots are weak.  This is a good time to use a pre-emergent weed control in gravel areas.  Remember that if you are planning to plant seeds, don’t use the pre-emergent in that area because it will prevent the seeds from germinating.

These simple tips will help your trees and landscape stay healthy and help prepare for those hot temperatures.

Yes, You can Grow Vegetables in the Desert

Many people move to Arizona and think there is no way they can maintain a successful vegetable garden and
enjoy fresh produce.  The conditions are tough for growing, from the scorching sun to the hard, rocky red soil.  However, there is a gardening method that works well in any climate, takes up very little space and produces a steady stream of seasonal produce to enjoy.

Square foot gardening takes a small space and makes the most of it. Using raised beds or planting boxes allows the home gardener to create a garden with excellent soil and optimum growing conditions.  The gardening space is divided into a grid of squares, each containing a different type of plant.  Using the concept of companion planting allows the gardener to make the most of the space, by placing plants that actually benefit each other in close proximity to one another.  Some squares will contain one plant, others will contain multiple small plants.  Using a sequential planting schedule allows you to harvest small amounts every few weeks during the season, instead of having huge amounts of one vegetable to harvest all at once.

Local Master Gardener, John Chapman, has created a system of box gardening that allows Valley residents to get started with vegetable gardening easily.  Chapman addresses issues such as fertilization, irrigation, and provides many informative links on his website such as planting schedules, a vegetable garden model and books on square foot gardening.  October is a great time for planting and working outdoors, so why not get your green thumb back to growing?

September Landscape and Garden Tips from the Desert Botanical Garden

September brings the hope of fall temperatures in the Valley, even though we’re not quite there yet.  Here are some landscape maintenance tips for homeowners from the Desert Botanical Garden for this transitional month.

Because we are still in Monsoon season and can be experiencing high humidity and rain storms, you should be careful about watering cacti in your yard.  Once things dry out for at least a week, you can begin to water your cacti.  Wait until the end of September and slightly cooler temperature to cut back on watering your trees and shrubs to prepare for winter.  However, if your soil is saturated from heavy rains, be careful about irrigating.  Trees can blow over and cacti can be susceptible to rot.

If the weather has cooled off by the end of the month, take advantage of the ideal planting conditions that encourage root growth and help new plants get established before winter.  Hold back on pruning, as trunks and branches can actually get sunburned if exposed to the still-hot summer sun.    You can give plants their last application of fertilizer before the winter, but you’ll want to use a low nitrogen formula to prevent excessive new growth that could freeze if we get a winter frost.

Finish out the summer with these simple tips for caring for your landscape and prepare for cooler days ahead.

Know Your Landscaper

There are so many landscaping companies to choose from in the Valley – how do you choose?  Many provide basic clean-up and maintenance services, while others focus on landscape design and installation.  There are certain designations available to landscape professionals that can set them apart.  Here are some to look for:

Arizona Certified Landscape Professional – Certified by AZ Landscape Contractors Association after completing a two-month training in 16 content areas and passing a written and practical exam.

Certified Desert Landscaper – Has completed a 30-workshop program over 10 months at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, AZ.

Certified Arborist – Certified by the International society of Arboriculture after passing and exam on tree identification and care.  This certification requires 30 hours of continuing education every 3 years.

Certified Irrigation Specialist – There are four levels of certification, beginning with Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor.  Certified Irrigation Contractor, Certified Irrigation Designer and Certified Irrigation Manager follow.

Landscape Architect – This designation requires a BS in Landscape Architecture, apprenticeship under a licensed Landscape Architect and passing a national exam. A Landscape Architect must hold a state license.  A Landscape Designer, on the other hand, requires no degree, license or certification.

Depending on what you are looking for in your landscape project, one of the above pros could be just what you are looking for.  Anyone can call themselves a landscaper, and no license is required, so there is a wide range of skills and knowledge being offered by landscaping businesses. 

Easy Care for a Healthy Summer Lawn

Maintaining a green lawn isn’t difficult to do, even in the summer heat. On an established grass area, set your irrigation timer to water once every three days to a depth of 8 inches. You can test the water penetration by inserting a long screwdriver into the grass. It should go in easily to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. This deep water penetration allows roots to grow deeper into the ground, creating a more water-efficient and drought tolerant lawn. Set your irrigation timer to water your grass early in the morning to minimize evaporation.

Smart irrigation timers are available if you are concerned about water conservation. A smart irrigation timer, once properly programmed, will adjust the controller on an on-going basis. The controller is programmed to water the lawn and your other landscape plantings to the proper depth, and the smart controller will change the number of days between waterings based on evaporation, plant use and other environmental conditions.

Your lawn needs food as well as water, so you will want to fertilize it monthly with a compete fertilizer. When mowing, sharp mower blades will keep the tips of the grass blades from browning. Keep your grass cut to about 1 ½ inches by cutting only the top one-third of the length at any time. Cutting your grass too short will hinder the photosynthesis process and even cause the deeper roots to die.

Simply providing water, food and the proper cut for your grassy areas will ensure a lush, green space for your family to enjoy all summer.

Spring Weed Control

If you’ve got grass in your yard, it may be dormant and brown, or if you’ve overseeded for the winter you may still be enjoying a lush green lawn. Either way, your lawn will look better this summer if you start your weed control program now. Spring is the best time for weed control, according to Turfgrass Specialist David M. Kopec of University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Summer annuals that we consider weeds like crabgrass, stinkgrass, foxtails and broadleaf weeds germinate in the spring at our low elevation.

To protect your turf from a weed invasion, you can apply one of the pre-emergence herbicides that are sold as granules or powders. They can also be found in “weed and feed” type products. It’s important to read the label and make sure that your turf is tolerant of whatever herbicides are in the product you choose. As a general guideline, the recommended time for application in the Phoenix area is around February 25 – March 5th. It’s important to time your application correctly with your irrigation so that the product soaks into the turf and does its job!

You can also use chemical pre-emergence herbicides on broadleaf weeds, and you can use products designed for weeds in your gravel areas. Most homeowners are familiar with killing existing weeds with products like Round-Up or other herbicides applied directly to the plant. If you’d rather not use potentially harmful chemicals, you can also get creative with your weed control by using salt granules or a propane torch to kill your weeds. Of course, if you’re not that adventurous, there are natural weed-killers available too. Whatever method you choose, start now before the weeds take you by surprise!

Frost and Your Plants

Depending on where you live in Maricopa County, you can expect frost from the end of November until as late as April in certain areas. The record low in Phoenix was set in 1913 at a frigid 16 ° F. Recent low temperatures have resulted in frost damage to plants in our area.

If your plants have already experienced frost damage the most important thing to remember – don’t prune them yet! Pruning may stimulate new growth which could be damaged by a later frost. Wait until danger of frost has passed and the plants have begun their spring growth.

To protect your plants from potential frost, keep them well-watered, and keeping the moisture level in your irrigation system as consistent as possible. Cover plants with cloth or paper (sheets, blankets or frost cloth). Keep plants cozy and fully covered with no gaps for warmth to escape. Don’t gather your covering around the base of the plant, but allow it to extend out to the ground at the drip line. This will trap the heat being radiated from the ground. When covering plants with sheets or blankets, remove the coverings daily so that the plant doesn’t break dormancy and start to actively grow too soon.

You can wrap the trunks of young citrus and other frost sensitive trees with multiple layers of weatherproof paper or cloth. Make sure your wrapping extends from the ground up to the lower limbs to protect the tree’s vital area.

The easiest ways to minimize frost damage to plants is to select frost tolerant plants, and to place frost sensitive plants in sheltered locations.

Desert Gardening

Gardening in the Valley of the Sun can be a challenge, especially to green thumbs transplanted from other parts of the country where gardening seasons, plants and conditions are very different from the desert environment. Luckily, there are many local resources for novice desert gardeners and those who just want to understand the basics of maintaining their yard throughout the year.

There are many knowledgeable landscape maintenance and design services in Arizona that can help plan and maintain your yard and planters, leaving you to enjoy your golf game or lounging poolside. However, for those who want to be more active gardeners, the first place to gather information and get a good look at a variety of desert plants is the Desert Botanical Garden. This 145 acre facility features over 50,000 plant displays in outdoor exhibits, and offers a variety of classes year-round for the casual to serious gardener.

Checking with your local municipality is another option. The City of Scottsdale, for example, is offering free workshops on plant selection, plant care and landscape makeovers this fall. Glendale also has landscaping and water conservation workshops on the calendar, and Gilbert’s schedule features “Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardens” as well as “Drip Irrigation Design and Install” workshops.

As you consider creating a desert-friendly yard or garden, you can also visit one of the beautiful Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens in the area. These gardens provide great examples of plant usage and plant combinations which are sure to generate ideas for transforming your own landscape. Also be on the lookout for the tenth annual “Real Gardens for Real People” garden tour coming up in 2011, sponsored by the University of Arizona’s Master Gardener Program. Visit their website for a wealth of desert gardening resources, from books to classes and other events.

Don’t be intimated by the desert landscape – it can be prickly, but by making the most of local resources you’ll be surrounded by a beautiful landscape in no time.