June started off pretty warm but is now seasonally where the temperatures normally are for this time of year. And looking at the long range forecast on my weather app, it looks like it will be nice for the next couple of weeks at least.
WATERING
After the hot spell I thought I would write about the best watering practices for trees. When watering trees, be sure to give them a deep soak once or twice a week depending on temperatures. Do not give short daily waterings. 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 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.
FERTILIZING
It’s time for your second fertilizing of the season. Use a balanced fertilizer for most trees and shrubs. We carry 16-16-16 and in organics 4-4-4. 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 fetilizer 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.
CITRUS LEAF MINER
Many people are having problems with citrus leaf miner this year. It was a problem last year as well. This year they showed up as soon as we had the hot spell in the first week of June. It looks a bit like snail tracks in the leaf of the citrus tree and affects primarily the new growth. The new growth curls and looks shriveled with lines looking like snail trails in them. Treat this with Monterey Garden Insect Spray. We carry it. The active ingredient is Spinosad. It is OMRI listed for organic gardening. It is absorbed into the leaf and kills the leaf miner. We spray and then wait a few days and prune out the affected area. Treatment can be done weekly. This will take care of the problem.
MULCH MULCH 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 fine 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. You can use shredded bark or chunk bark or compost or even gravel will work as mulch but gravel will reflect heat onto your plants so it will not be as good as bark or compost. If you aren’t mulching, I would strongly advise that you do. Your plants will get through hot spells with no adverse effect. You can plant any time of the year with no adverse effects. IT REALLY HELPS!
SOME JUNE SPECIALS
ALL CERAMIC AND CLAY POTS IN STOCK 25% OFF
PLANT SKYDD DEER REPELLANT 40% OFF
HANGING BASKETS IN STOCK $10.00 EACH
FRUIT TREES IN 5 GALLON SIZE CONTAINERS $25.00 EACH. PEACHES, PLUMS, APRICOTS, CHERRIES, NECTARINES (DOES NOT INCLUDE CITRUS)
CHECK OUR REDUCED PRICE AREA FOR LIQUIDATION PLANTS. ODDS AND ENDS OR NEEDS TO GET IN THE GROUND. DRASTIC REDUCTIONS.
We are open everyday. Monday through Saturday from 9 to 5 and Sunday from 10 to 4. We are always here at 8 so if you want to get here early we welcome that.
We’ve had a beautiful spring and all the plants are looking really nice and inventory is full. If for some reason we don’t have what you are looking for, we can order it and usually have it here in a week or two.
We hope to see you soon.
Jeff
