Happy Spaces

November Thanks!!

2009-10-31T12:54:00.001-07:00

Just participated in the Desert Aids Walk on this glorious Hallowe'en day- how fabulous is our weather!?! We strolled through the old "Movie Colony", winding around charming streets, and gawking at the beautiful estates discretely hidden by tall ficus hedges. I'm always amazed at the variety of plants that we can grow here, considering the extreme temperatures. Like October, November is a great month to tend to your landscape. Still plenty of time to plant annual color, vegetables, bulbs, and perennials. For permanent or perennial plants, planting them now gives them at least six months to get established before the heat (oh nooooo!) of summer. Overseed your Bermuda lawns now with the winter ryegrass. Let's talk Nasturtiums! November is the best month to plant these enthusiastic bloomers. Originally from South America, these colorful flowers will come back yearly. Simply toss them on a north-facing hillside, or poke them in some pots- and stand back! Remember to adjust your irrigation- depending on the plant material. Usually once a day is plenty now, especially if your overseeded lawns are in. First frosts are possible by mid-month. Bring tender pots close to house and have an old sheet to throw over sensitive shrubs. Hopefully we all can take a moment, breathe deeply, and spend some quiet time in our own "happy space", and be grateful. Garden on!!

Rocktober!!

2009-10-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Ah....what's that strange feeling? Is that fresh air?? October is the gift humans, plants and gritters receive after enduring The Summer. There are always mixed reviews regarding how dreadful the heat was. I never get used to it, even after 16 or so summers working outside. (whining and complaining always help) Every summer, I'm bummed by the damage on plant material caused by the heat, sun scorch, and humidity. It's time to prune, feed, and nuture our green friends. October is the busiest gardening time of the year. It's a perfect time to plant permanent additions to your landscape, as well as all the diverse annual color. So, clean out all the summer flowers (vincas can be cut back and treated as a perennial, but are slightly wimpy in cold weather), remove all old summer veggies, switch bermuda lawns to rye, and hose off all your plants to discourage aphids and whiteflies. (insect pests multiply when the temp. drops...also use insecticidal soap on leaves) Remove dead palm fronds and fertilize roses early in the month for the last time. Enjoy this spectacular month...we are so lucky to live in this beautiful desert! Garden on!!

Did you say "Fall"?

2009-09-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, fellow garden fans, fall is approaching. Technically, "fall" in the desert depends on the humidity decreasing in late summer and low nighttime temperatures. Remember to decrease your watering to once a day, early in the am. If you see green scum,(yikes!) you've got too much moisture. Watch succulents, as they can get soaked and rot out. It's time to prepare areas for color, herb and vegetable planting: weed, turn the soil, add mulch or compost,and check irrigation coverage. All annual color should be in the ground by the middle of October while the ground is warm enough to promote fast root growth. Smaller flowers that are available in "six-packs" or 4" can be planted early and do well if given time to get established, especially impatiens. A good tip for annual color is "go big". Buy large one-gallon blooming plants, especially if you have a special party or a short time in the desert. Garden on!

Greetings Summer Survivors!

2009-09-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

We've almost made it through another sizzling summer, with just a few ( ! ) more blistering days left. Fall begins officially Sept. 22.......but may take a few more weeks until I really believe it! Sun, wind, heat ( ambient air temperature ) , soil, and water all play major factors in the success of our plants. As the temperature finally drops below 100 degrees consistently, start cutting back on your irrigation to once a day, early in the morning. Put on your big sun hat and bravely venture out to your garden to check for summer casualties. It's a good time to lightly prune, weed, check irrigation, and begin fantasizing about your annual color. More about that soon. Some plants, like people, may not tolerate the heat even in shaded or protected areas, and sadly experience the dreaded "meltdown". The plant's cells disintegrate and collaspe from the heat. ( I can relate to that! ) Unfortunately, some drought-tolerant plants that perform well outside of our desert area often fail here because of our ridiculously-crazy heat and extreme cold. Ah, life and gardening on Mars........

Tips for August/September

2009-08-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

Greetings landscape lovers! Well, we're almost through this lovely heat and humidity....if one more out-of-towner says " sure it's hot, but it's a dry heat", I'm gonna pop 'em one. It's hard on us and our plants, but fall is in sight. But right now, in this blistering moment, the intense heat continues to make huge demands on your irrigation system. Irrigation clocks should be set to come on late in the evening (around 9 or 10 pm.), and again early in the morning ( around 6 or 7 am.) for approximately 6 minutes, depending on the plant material and water volume. Plant roots can be damaged by hot water if watering is done in the heat of the day. All bubblers, sprays, and drip heads should be checked for good coverage. Basins around plants should be repaired.

Birth of a blog....2!!

2009-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Let's try this again....think I lost my last attempt to cyber-space.....Having been inspired by "Julia and Julie", I decided to embark on this bloggy thing. Being a landscaper, I want to share timely tips and silly observations for your amusement and edification. Stay tuned!