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The Vegas Voice 9-20

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A Very Busy Month

By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening

September is a very busy and important

month for desert gardeners. As we move into

more moderate temperatures and decreased direct

sunshine, many of our plants in our gardens emerge from their heat

induced “summer dormancy” and begin to grow once again, bringing

about a second surge of growth.

We should begin to prune away

sun/heat damaged foliage from our

landscape. This will stimulate new and

hardy growth and flowering of roses

and fruiting plants.

Many varieties of tomatoes and

peppers can be heavily pruned leaving

approximately 3”-5” of stem remaining. This will promote new flowers

and fruits forming during the coming months, giving you a second

crop right around Thanksgiving!

September is also an ideal time to fertilize the soil again. This will

stimulate new foliage and strengthen your plants for the winter months

by making them more resistant during the oncoming cold and windy

seasons.

In addition, September is a good time to use “systemic” insecticide

around agave, yucca and aloe to “kill off” weevil eggs that have been

buried underground that would hatch in the early spring months

feasting on the plant roots and killing off your desert landscaping.

At this time sulphur can be added to the soil in order to lower the pH.

This will reduce alkali levels that have built up during the hot and dry

summer months.

Rock Mulch usually lasts about five years before it needs to be

supplemented. The end of September will be a good time to add rock

mulch to freshen up your landscape’s appearance. Keep in mind that

rock mulch costs about $25-$30 per

ton, so budget accordingly.

September begins our second

planting season, so nurseries will

have fresh supplies of plants, trees and

shrubs. And seasonal plants such as

“Winter Decorative Cabbage” and root

vegetables become available after Labor Day.

During September, the temperature is moderate while the soil

remains warm. These are the perfect conditions for new plants to take

root and establish themselves for life in our desert neighborhoods.

Have any questions? 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.

ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020

VOTE FOR:

Experience

Compassion

Fair

Decisive

F O L L O W :

@ A D R I A N A 4 J U D G E

W W W. A D R I A N A 4 J U D G E . C O M

D E P A R T M E N T W

Pa i d f o r by t h e C o m m i t t e e t o E l e c t A d r i a n a R i n c o n W h i t e

ENDORSED BY VETERANS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

32

September 2020

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