Monthly Gardening Tasks – August August 1st, 2016

August Gardening Checklist Feed, water (especially on hot days), weed, and mulch. Remove faded blooms to encourage new blooms on ever-blooming shrubs To eliminate aphids and spider mites from roses, spray plants with water, then apply insecticidal soap. Clean up fallen leaves. If they’re diseased, discard them (don’t compost them). Put out ant bait (ants … Continue reading Monthly Gardening Tasks – August →

Monthly Gardening Tasks – July July 1st, 2016

July Garden Checklist Water: July is the month of peak water requirement. Ensure plants are watered deeply. After this month irrigation times and durations can be reduced. Avoid planting in the heat of the summer plants will require extra water and care to survive. if needed chose days where overcast and cooler temps forecasted. Harvest … Continue reading Monthly Gardening Tasks – July →

Monthly Gardening Tasks – June June 1st, 2016

Irrigation controller seasonal adjustment should be set to 100% Feed roses. To encourage growth and repeat blooming, feed plants with a complete fertilizer (one containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium); if leaves are mostly yellow and veins remain green (indicating chlorosis), also give plants iron. Water thoroughly before applying any kind of fertilizer and water again … Continue reading Monthly Gardening Tasks – June →

Monthly Gardening Tasks – May May 1st, 2016

Irrigation controller seasonal adjustment should be set to 85% Plant summer and fall blooming perennials as well as shrub, tree, or vine. When shopping at the nursery, look for plants that have good leaf color (green leaves should be a deep green, not pale and yellowish) and attractive form. Check container bottoms to make sure … Continue reading Monthly Gardening Tasks – May →

Monthly Gardening Tasks – April April 1st, 2016

Irrigation controller seasonal adjustment should be set to 75% Roses: Apply mulch to save water, smother weeds, and keep soil cooler. Spread 1 to 3 inches (depending on size of plant) of bark chips, compost, wood shavings, or other organic material. Leave a circle of bare soil around the plant’s base. Blast aphids off plants … Continue reading Monthly Gardening Tasks – April →

Monthly Gardening Tasks – March March 1st, 2016

Turn off irrigation if rain more than 2” over 2 weeks otherwise the irrigation controller should be set to 45% – in normal years controller should be turned on by mid month Check irrigation system- make sure sprinklers working efficiently and that drippers /driplines are not clogged by insect, debris or hard water deposits. Flush … Continue reading Monthly Gardening Tasks – March →

Monthly Gardening Tasks for the month of January December 29th, 2015

Turn off irrigation if rain more than 1” over 2 weeks otherwise the seasonal adjustment on the irrigation controller should be set to 15-20% Prune Roses to three main canes approximately 18” in height. Clean up all dropped leaves from around the roses. Prune fruit trees, and other leafless trees and shrubs from December through … Continue reading Monthly Gardening Tasks for the month of January →

Protect Your Tender Plants from Frost December 29th, 2015

Here are some ways to help your frost tender plants weather the seasonal cold: If there’s room indoors, bring in small potted porch or patio plants choosing an area that provides bright light. Avoid pruning tender plants within 6 weeks of the average first hard frost date. Pruning sometimes will stimulate new budding which may … Continue reading Protect Your Tender Plants from Frost →