LANDSCAPE PRACTECES

Fertilizing

The more organic matter (compost) you add to your soil the less fertilizer you need, & the healthier our soil & plants will be. If you are going to fertilize, do it four times a year seasonally. You can use either an organic or conventional granular all purpose fertilizer with all three nutrient ratios being the same, example: 10 10 10. Plants in containers need fertilizer more often to grow healthy. For container grown plants use a liquid all purpose fertilizer with the same nutrient ratio every other month. Many plants have specialty diets so inquire & research. The more you fertilize, the more water the plants need. Over fertilizing leads to inefficient water use.

Planting

There are two planting seasons in the Mojave Desert. The spring planting season, late March until late April. This time is reserved for planting of warm season plants that grow & are “active” during warm weather are best planted in spring. Fall planting season starts late October through December. This time is for planting fruit trees, roses, deciduous plants, bare root & other dormant stock, sowing wildflower seeds, planting evergreens, & other cool season growers. This is also the time to seed lawns. Winter veggies, lettuce, spinach etc. can be planted by seed or transplants during the fall.

PRUNING

Prune four times a year seasonally. This gives you a balance of work and rest. Some plants need a hard pruning once a year either in spring or fall depending on the season of their dormancy. Plants that are warm season growers should be pruned in the spring, before growth starts. Plants that grow in cool season should be pruned in the fall, before growth starts. Deadhead & corrective prune whenever necessary. Make clean cuts with sharp tools. Remember some plants have special pruning needs so research.

PEST CONTROL

Generally desert adapted plants have few pests. Establish a threshold for a low pest population level. Monitor the pests in your garden. Eradicate infestations or pest populations out of control manually at first. Use pesticides as last resort for problem situations. Attract beneficial insects, bats & birds. Aim for prevention. Keep a clean garden remove dead leaves, twigs, fruits, etc. To prevent introducing new pests to your garden quarantine new plants, inspect their leaves, stems, & roots. Use low toxicity pesticides first before using more toxic weapons. There are many good “organic” & inorganic pesticides to choose from.

DISEASE CONTROL

Most plants grown correctly have few disease problems. Chose the right plant for the right location. Know when plants are dormant. They generally need much less water when dormant. Do not crowd plants too close together. Keep tools clean & sharp. Many diseases are caused by improper growing conditions which stress plants. Over watering is the #1 cause of plant death besides lack of water! Avoid incorrect pruning, or pruning at the wrong time of year. Keep lawns away from tree trunks. Remove tree stakes, supports, & ties after trees are well rooted. Feed your soil, healthy soil breeds healthy plants.

Weed Control

Remove weeds often & as soon as they are spotted. Manual pulling often works better than chemical sprays. Intensive weed removal in spring before they set seed, helps control the weed population the following year. Use mulches, when used properly can reduce weeds. Never use plastic weed barriers it is not healthy for soil. Landscape fabric allows for gas & water exchange. Use pre - emergents in fall & spring to prevent weed seeds from germinating. Use post emergents with care. Avoid over watering & check irrigation for leaks & incorrect sprinkler spray paths. Use edging around lawns to keep the grass in its place. Do research & avoid planting potentially weedy & invasive plants in your garden & remove stumps of weedy trees or shrubs.