The Vegas Voice 9-20

Five Tasks for October
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening
Greetings and welcome to the busy month
of October for desert gardeners. This is the
month when we can accomplish many tasks to
prepare our gardens for the cooler days ahead.
There are five tasks that we can tackle before we go out to Trick
or Treat at month’s end. They are: pruning, water adjustment,
fertilizing, mulching, and planting.
If you have not done so, it is time to prune all palm trees before the
cold weather appears. This will give the newer fronds time to acclimate
so that they will be more resistant to frost.
Roses, as well as all other flowering plants and bushes can pruned to
stimulate fall growth and to strengthen new foliage. It is also time to
prune off “suckers” from fruit trees as well.
If your trees are deciduous, wait until the leaves fall off before pruning.
If you are planning to prune pine trees, wait until late November.
October is the final month to fertilize all plants. This will replenish
nutrients and strengthen root systems.
Because of our extremely high summer temperatures this year and
the lack of rainfall, this is the time to add both sulfur and iron to lower
soil pH levels and aid plants suffering from chlorosis.
Remember to adjust irrigation schedules as we transition into cooler
months and decreased sunlight. Now is a good time to check drip
emitters for clogs and damage. Remember to adjust both frequency
and duration for your watering schedules.
October is a good time to add both rock and organic mulch to your
landscapes. The organic mulch will keep your soil and plant root
systems moist (conserving water) and warm during the late fall and
winter. Rock mulch can be added now since it is easier to do when the
temperatures are cooler, and landscapers are less busy.
October is also the best month to add new additions (but not palms)
to your garden. The daytime temperatures are mild and there is still
sufficient sunlight to foster both plant and root growth.
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.
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