This Month in Your Southwest Yard – August
August Garden Tasks Good month to sit back and enjoy your garden— there are few chores besides watering & grooming ~ Deadhead spent flowers, trim off dead flowering stems (save any seeds for replanting). ~ Walk irrigation lines to check for clogs, leaks, and breaks. ~ Continue deep-watering trees & shrubs once a month. If you water by hand, leave a dripping hose at the drip-line of trees and shrubs (at the outer […]
This Month in Your Southwest Yard – May
May Garden Tasks Rising temperatures cause changes in plants…prepare for summer! ~ Change watering schedule from mid-day to early morning or evening as weather heats up to minimize loss through evaporation. ~ Maintain a good mulch of organic matter (such as leaves, bark, or chipped wood) covering garden soil throughout the summer to hold in moisture, moderate soil temperatures for optimum root growth, improve the soil as it decomposes, and prevent weeds from germinating. Mulch allows you […]
This Month in Your Southwest Yard – April
April Garden Tasks Color season is reaching its peak—spend time outside enjoying it! ~ Reset irrigation schedules and increase watering time as temperatures rise ~ Plant cold-tender perennials, preferably in pots so winter protection is easier ~ Transplant Joshua trees and yuccas from March to mid-April ~ Work compost or soil amendments into planting beds to improve moisture retention as summer approaches ~ Keep mulch on the soil–especially with organic matter such as leaves, bark, or chipped […]
