It has been a beautiful spring this year and June weather is very nice as well. The long range forecast shows very nice temperatures with 80’s and some low 90’s over the next ten days. Nice cool weather. The plants are loving this spring.
Watering
Even though we have been cool and that is continuing, it’s time to pay close attention to watering. Deep soaking and watering early are the best practices. When watering trees, be sure to give established trees a deep soak once or twice a week depending on temperatures. Newly planted trees should be watered daily for the first week or so then cut back to about two or three times per week. Do not give short daily watering. Give good deep soaks. A good rule to use is to give 10 gallons of water per week for every inch of trunk diameter and be sure to soak to a depth of at least 12 inches. On larger trees you’ll want to soak to a depth of 2 to 3 feet. Use slow drip and let it run long enough to soak deep. Add 3″ of mulch around your trees and shrubs to hold the moisture in the ground and not allow it to evaporate. Mulching garden beds and vegetable gardens should also be done. Deep soaking and mulching encourages a deep healthy root system so that trees and shrubs and new plantings can go through hot spells with no adverse effects on the plant and you will use less water. For example, I am watering the new nursery orchard once a week. The trees have 3″ of mulch around them and are getting 12 gallons of water a week. When I check under the mulch, the day before watering I am still finding moisture. So I can extend the watering to every 10 days I think and still have no problems and use less water. Mulching really helps your plants.
Fertilizing
It’s time for your second fertilizing of the season if you have not done it already. Use a balanced fertilizer for most trees and shrubs. Be sure to water your plants well the day before you are going to fertilize and then fertilize and water the fertilizer in well. DO NOT fertilize on a very hot day. It is very easy to burn plants with fertilizer if you fertilize on a very hot day. Nitrogen portion of the fertilizer moves with water and plants are moving lots of water in the heat. Fertilize in the evening and look for temperatures in low to mid 90’s as a high or less for fertilizing. Fertilize citrus trees monthly through the growing season. Use a citrus and avocado fertilizer. Rhododendrons azaleas and camellias are about due for their third and final fertilizing. They are fertilized 3 times, each 30 days apart, after they are done blooming.
Mulch
Be sure to mulch all new plantings and re-mulch older plants. Use 3″ of mulch around your plants. Keep the mulch away from the immediate base of the plant. Mulching keeps the ground and roots of your plants cooler and holds the moisture in the soil. New plantings will do much better, no matter what the temperature, if they are watered well and mulch is used. You can cut your water use by up to 50% by mulching and your plants will do so much better. If you aren’t mulching, I would strongly advise that you do. Your plants will get through hot spells with no adverse effects, you will use less water and still have healthy happy plants. With mulching, you can plant any time of the year with no adverse effects. IT REALLY HELPS!
Aphids and Fungus Problems
For control of aphids, Neem Oil works well and is an organic pesticide. It also works as a fungicide so it does double duty. Use it every two weeks on roses and control aphids and fungus such as powdery mildew, rust and blackspot. It will also control aphids and powdery mildew on Crape Myrtles. We also have a product called Monterey Take Down Garden Spray. It is not organic but it works very well for controlling aphids and other insects. It is pyrethrin and canola oil. With all insecticides, be careful not to spray when bees are present. Better to spray late evening or very early morning when bees are not active, to avoid injuring bees.
HOURS ARE 9 TO 5 MONDAY – SATURDAY, 10-4 SUNDAY.
We are open every day. Monday through Saturday from 9 to 5 and Sunday from 10 to 4.
We’ve had a very nice spring this year which the plants really like it. The inventory is full and looking good. The nursery looks beautiful. All of our plants are fully acclimated to our climate. We don’t protect them under shade cloth so they can go into your landscape and not miss a beat because they are used to the weather. We do keep shade loving plants in the shade here at the nursery.
This time of year here at the nursery we start doing lots of cleaning and maintenance in our growing ground. We shift plants from smaller pots to larger pots to grow. We will be cleaning mats and we will have many one of a kind or overstock items going into the parking lot reduced price area over the next few weeks. Be sure to check it out when you come in. You may find a great price on a plant you could use.
PERENNIALS ON SALE, $6.95 each
Perennials we started in March are now full and blooming. Nice selection in #1 gallon size pots on sale for $6.95. Perennials give color to your landscape all summer. They come back every year and many are deer resistant and drought tolerant.
Enjoy spending time in your garden and yard. It’s such a nice way to relax and forget about things for a while.
We hope to see you soon.
530-743-4856
Jeff
