Designer's Notebook--A Beautiful Garden Starts Here!

When is the best time to put in my garden? 

If you want the best chance for a successful garden, summer is probably the least optimum time to put in your plants. A few exceptions include heat-lovers such as bougainvillea, orange bells, and bird of paradise.

Even cacti and succulents—when newly-planted during the summer months—need some afternoon shade to avoid sunscald.

Planting in spring and fall yields the best results. Fall planting allows plants to establish healthy root systems over the cool winter months. Trees, shrubs and perennials all benefit from going into the garden September through November (depending upon the weather!), and once established, they better withstand  summertime heat and dry conditions. 

Planning ahead is key for a beautiful , thriving landscape. Now is the time to have your yard professionally evaluated if you've been thinking of making changes to your yard!

Will plants really grow in this dirt? 

(Also see the Designer's Notebook Blog to learn how to plant for success: https://perennialgardenconsultants.com/blog-1/f/plant-for-success )

Plants grown in Las Vegas require soil preparation to look their best. Working in compost increases the amount of organic matter in the soil but as it decomposes and plants use up the nutrients, replenishment at least once a year is recommended. The addition of good quality top soil can make a big difference.

If your soil has been the victim of compaction (most yards are), it needs to be loosened to a minimum depth of  at least 8 inches before planting with larger rocks removed. 

Ammonium sulfate is often added before planting time to temporarily lower the pH and provide nitrogen. However, remember that working with the soil by using plants already adapted to alkaline soil and high summer temperatures will save money, time, and effort in the long run.

When preparing the soil be aware that unhealthy plants can result when amendments are mixed into backfill soil or put only into the planting hole. You want your plants to develop an extensive network of roots into the surrounding soil, not remain in a sort of “comfort zone.” (This can be particularly detrimental to trees.) Thus, compost and any other amendments should be mixed in throughout the entire planting area.

A vegetable and herb garden does best in a raised bed, where, once constructed, you can fill it with purchased soil and either your own fabulous homemade compost or store bought works well too.  

Quick word regarding fertilizer: Indiscriminately spreading chemical fertilizer around does not benefit the environment or home garden. The type of plant, the time of year, and other factors determine what kind of fertilizer to use and when to apply it.  

Even if you've never had your poolside umbrella snap like toothpick during a storm here in Southern Nevada, you know that we experience some very high winds from time to time. 

The good news is, when selecting varieties of trees that stand up to the wind, it's not so much the kind of tree as it is how it's planted and cared for. 

Avoiding the most commonly made mistakes, such as improper planting, staking, and watering, is fairly simple.  

Preparation-- The recommendation is to dig the planting hole no deeper than the container the tree comes in and 2 to 3 times as wide. Why? This practice encourages roots to spread out as the tree grows and allows it to better anchor itself.  

Staking-- Remove the stakes the tree came with. These stakes are only meant to support the tree while it's in the container.  Here's a link that details proper staking technique: 

http://www.amwua.org/landscape/landscape_staking.html
 

Please note, trees aren't meant to be staked forever. Remove the stakes within one year so the trunk becomes strong on its own.  Movement is essential for strength as the tree grows.
 

Watering-- Desert trees in particular benefit from deep and infrequent watering once established to encourage roots to grow down into the soil and help anchor the tree. Too much frequent, shallow irrigation causes rapid growth, and the resulting weak wood is more susceptible to wind damage.  
 

Pruning-- Hiring a certified arborist to thin out the crown as needed helps prevent heavy top growth from breakage or causing wind throw during gusty wind events.