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Getting Ready for Growing Season<br />
By: Howard Galin / Happy Gardening<br />
In <strong>April</strong>, we see our gardens blossoming and<br />
branching out with new leaves and flowers.<br />
We’ll also observe the first stages of fruit and<br />
vegetable developing in preparation for harvesting later this season.<br />
If you purchase new fruit trees and/or<br />
vegetables, they must have a location that<br />
will have at least 6-8 hours of daily sunlight<br />
for your crops to develop and ripen. Therefore:<br />
plan before planting.<br />
<strong>April</strong> is ideal for adding additions to your<br />
landscape since temperatures are moderate,<br />
soil is warming, and the sun is not intense.<br />
This permits new plants to develop strong and<br />
expansive root systems needed to survive in the<br />
hotter months ahead.<br />
Ensure that your soil is properly aerated so<br />
that oxygen reaches the roots and there is proper water drainage. Check<br />
that drip emitters are strategically placed and functioning.<br />
Follow the water authority’s watering days schedule; having your<br />
morning sessions begin at 7:00 am so that water does not remain on<br />
your plantings during the hottest time of the day. Droplets magnify the<br />
sun’s rays causing leaf and flower burns!<br />
Evening irrigation should take place at dusk to prevent surface water<br />
from remaining on the ground at night. This will prevent root rot and<br />
inhibit insect and fungus damage.<br />
Fertilize your plants (except palms) at least once a month now<br />
through mid-June. This will encourage strong roots and leaf growth by<br />
replenishing soil nutrients absorbed in the early growing process.<br />
Flowers, fruits and vegetables should be treated with a high<br />
phosphorous fertilizer, while green bushes<br />
should be treated with high nitrogen products.<br />
Roses will benefit from applying Epsom Salt<br />
(magnesium sulfate) as a granular or solution<br />
to encourage flowering.<br />
In addition, adding bone meal will increase<br />
the calcium and phosphorous levels in the soil<br />
helping succulents to grow. Palm trees should<br />
not be fertilized until the soil reaches at least 70<br />
degrees (from late May-August).<br />
This month it is important to treat the soil<br />
surrounding agaves and yuccas with a systemic<br />
insecticide to prevent root-eating weevil larvae from attacking and<br />
killing these plants!<br />
Have questions? Contact me: Theplantwhisperer28@gmail.com.<br />
Howard Galin is a University of Nevada certified Master<br />
Gardener who lectures on, and writes about native plants and<br />
desert landscaping<br />
38 March <strong>2024</strong>
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