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.

Take a Look at Your Landscape Needs Now

In today’s housing market selling your home may not be an option, so it might be a great time to take stock of your property and make some improvements that will pay off in the future.  Winter is a great time to evaluate your landscape and plan for anything from some refreshed plantings to masonry, rock installation, a new water feature or an improved irrigation system.  Not only will an improved landscape add value to your property, it is something you and your family can enjoy every day.

Landscape design and installation professionals are accustomed to working with homeowners who may not know exactly what they want –providing creative ideas for your outdoor space based on their own knowledge and experience.  On the other hand, you can spend some time this winter familiarizing yourself with the various types of plants, shrubs and trees that thrive in our desert environment.  Browse through magazines and tear out pictures of backyard landscapes and features that appeal to you.  Now that the weather is gorgeous, get out and walk the neighborhood to look at plantings or visit the Desert Botanical Garden or one of the teaching gardens in the area.  Even if everything you like is not feasible for your space, a good landscape designer should be able to incorporate some key elements into your new design.  You may even come up with your own design to discuss with a landscaper who can add their professional input.  Take a look at your landscape now to enjoy a beautiful yard this spring.

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.