3.19March

The Growing Season Begins
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening
March brings us the start of our growing
season. It is also the time when desert
gardeners begin to spruce up the appearance of
their yards.
Since we no longer grow “real” grass in our yards, we use instead
“inorganic (rock) mulch, synthetic grass or a combination of both.
Each choice presents us with both positives and negatives. Before
making this decision, we should fully understand these options.
Most homes in Southern Nevada use varieties of rock mulch. Let
us look at the choices presented when using this form of landscaping
material.
Rock mulch comes in varying sizes and shapes. The best material
is crushed granite rocks. This material can be found in sizes ranging
from 1/8” or 1/4” pieces used as a base to larger chucky rocks (2” to
4”) to augment or contrast areas of your yard.
These rocks are usually sold by the ton and come in various muted
colors (the most common being Rebel Red or Vista Gold). Large
“boulder sized” rocks can also be used to focus attention to specific
parts of your landscaping.
The small crushed rocks cost between $25 to $40 a ton depending
on the size, shape and coloring and it lasts between 5-10 years before
augmenting. Larger rocks and boulders are priced by the pound at the
point of purchase.
It is important to get a “weigh receipt” from the landscaping supplier.
This is obtained by weighing the truck before and after being loaded at
the facility.
How much do you need? One ton will replenish 1” depth for 240
square feet; 2” depth for 120 square feet, etc. The drawback of rock
mulch is that the rocks are hard to rake clean and the rocks get
extremely hot in the summer sun reaching over 160 degrees!
Synthetic grass is another alternative. It ranges in price from $1.25
to $3.00 a square foot plus installation. The more expensive “grass”
reflects the sun’s heat well while the cheaper brands do not (heating up
into the mid 100 degrees during the hot summer afternoons).
Have a gardening question? Contact me at: ThePlantWhisperer28@
gmail.com.
Howard Galin, a/k/a: “The Plant Whisperer” is a retired NYC
school administrator, transplanted in Las Vegas who devotes his
time to communicating with and lecturing about our native
plants.
30
March 2019