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Author: csDevTeam

Time to Fertilize your Shrubs

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Fertilizer, Fertilizing Trees, Landscaping.

Shrubs add new life to your home’s landscape. Fertilization will get you the most vibrant looking shrubs around your home. The guidelines below can help you nourish these diverse and resilient plants with the right fertilization techniques.

WHEN TO FERTILIZE

A good fertilization schedule falls around the major holidays of the warmer months. Mark your calendar to fertilize on Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, and your shrubs will look great all year round.

CHOOSING A FERTILIZER

Following the holiday fertilization method above, it is important to select a good general-purpose fertilizer. At Santa Rita Landscaping, we recommend a granular fertilizer for regular use which is easy to use and does not require mixing.

When choosing a general-purpose granular fertilizer, look for one that contains around 10% Nitrogen(N), 10% Phosphorus(P), and 10% Potassium(K), (10-10-10). Note that Granular Fertilizer can be very concentrated, so follow the directions on the brand you buy to apply properly.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply the fertilizer evenly around the plant. If you pile the fertilizer up in one spot, it will become too concentrated. Spread the fertilizer around the plant evenly from the trunk to the outer edge of the plant’s canopy. Since Granular Fertilizer is intended to dissolve slowly over time, you will need to give the plant a good watering before and after application.

If your shrubs do not look their best using a general-purpose fertilizer, you might need to invest in a fertilizer designed to address certain nutritional needs for your plants. Consulting a landscaping professional can help you determine which fertilizer will be the right fit for your yard.

SIGNS OF POOR FERTILIZATION

If you have yellowing leaves on the plant, your shrubs are not being properly fertilized. Other signs may be the absence of blooms on flowering shrubs, thinning of leaves, and weakened branches. To resolve these issues, you should change your pruning routine for your shrubs and adjust watering in addition to selecting a new fertilizer.

For more tips on caring for your Tucson, Green Valley, or Oro Valley home’s landscape, consult Santa Rita Landscaping today. You can explore our custom residential design and commercial maintenance services by visiting our website or calling us at (520) 623-0421.

Which Paver Type is Right for Your Landscape?

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Paver Walkways.

Pavers offer a beautiful, versatile, and low-maintenance solution when designing a new driveway or patio. Many homeowners are choosing paving stones when adding or replacing their existing driveways and patios. Here is an overview at some popular pavers used in Tucson for you to consider:

Seville-Catalina Pavers

These pavers are cleanly-shaped into square and rectangular shapes. Seville-Catalina pavers can also be laid in different patterns and are easily interlocked for easy installation. They come in a variety of natural colors that complement each other when paved together. This softly-textured paver provides a comfortable surface to drive or walk on.

MegaArbel Pavers

For the homeowner who loves the look of flagstone, these natural-looking pavers are a popular choice. Like flagstone, MegaArbel pavers come in a variety of irregular shapes and textures. MegaArbel pavers come in a few different colors and are easily interlocked to create a beautiful and cohesive-looking design for a driveway or patio.

Turfstone-Permeable Pavers

If you are looking for pavers for several different areas of their home, such as the driveway, patio, or a vehicle storage area, you should consider Turfstone-Permeable pavers.  These pavers are grey stones that allow for rainwater seepage and surrounding landscape to permeate the surface. These pavers are attractive and eco-friendly for the homeowners interested in incorporating greenery with their hardscape landscaping.

Non-Tumbled Catalina Valencia Pavers

Non-Tumbled Catalina Valencia pavers have rounded edges that provide a smoother look and give a patio or driveway a more cobblestone look than other pavers. Non-Tumbled Catalina Valencia pavers come in a variety of colors and can be laid into beautiful patterns that will add visual appeal to any area.

Trust the accomplished Tucson landscapers of Santa Rita Landscaping to help with the design and installation of pavers and other landscape features. We have over 30 years of experience serving the good people of Tucson, AZ, and that will always remain one of our priorities. Please call us at (520) 623-0421 to learn more about our pavers and other services.

Do you have mushrooms in your yard? What you need to know.

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Landscaping, Wild Mushrooms.

Wild mushrooms growing in your backyard can be a serious problem. Many mushrooms are poisonous and can cause bodily harm to your child and/or pets. By learning more about the presence of wild mushrooms in your yard, you can protect your family from poisoning.

The Basics

Mushrooms are produced by a variety of fungi types during rainy time periods when spores can germinate. These mushrooms can grow in your yard with some being toxic. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell the difference between poisonous mushrooms and non- poisonous ones unless you are an expert. Therefore, it is important to remove all mushrooms growing in your yard to decrease the likelihood that your child or pet is poisoned.

Symptoms of Poisoning

In order to determine whether your child or pet has mushroom poisoning, here are some common symptoms. The most common symptoms of minor exposure include vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, and diarrhea. However, highly toxic mushrooms see symptoms like agitation, excessive salivation, hallucination, and/or death resulting from liver failure. In dogs, the early symptoms of liver failure will be yellow gums.

Poisoning Treatment

In the event that your child has been poisoned by mushrooms, call a health care provider or take them to the hospital emergency room. Be sure to collect samples of the mushroom your child ate before leaving for the hospital and give the mushrooms to the appropriate healthcare official. Your child’s healthcare provider will be able to determine the nature and extent of the poisoning so treatment can be administered.

If you believe that your dog has been subjected to mushroom poisoning, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Make sure to collect samples of the mushrooms that your dog ate for the vet.  Doing so can provide the vet with important information regarding what type of poisoning has transpired. To prevent your pet from further illness, the vet can have him or her drink milk or water mixed with a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide for every 15 pounds of weight.

Weed Tips for Monsoon Season

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Landscaping, Monsoons, Pre-Emergent Spray, Weeds.

Tucson receives an average of 14 inches of rain annually and over half of that rainfall transpires during monsoon season. The term monsoon describes an overall weather pattern that occurs over the course of several weeks.  The official start of the season begins around mid-June and continues through September.

Many Tucsonans welcome the monsoon rains which help their plants thrive and bloom. However, monsoons can also contribute to the growth of unwanted, pesky weeds.  We recommend the following tips to prevent weeds from taking over your landscaping during the summer:

Weed Before the Rains Arrive

It is best to remove existing weeds before the monsoon rains arrive. Weeding now will prevent unwanted plants from growing rapidly during the rainy season. Waiting to weed until after the rains begin creates more mature and stubborn weeds that become difficult to remove. You may need to enlist the help of a landscape professional to help eradicate.

Pull Weeds When They Are Young

When weeds are young, they are tender and have less established root systems making them easier to pull. If you wait until weeds are mature, the weeds will be difficult to pull up and may start to crowd and damage neighboring plants.

Use Herbicides Sparingly and with Caution

Pre-emergent herbicides should be sprayed in the 1st part of July and in December.  These spray formulas stop weeds before they germinate.  There are also post-emergent herbicides that offer a similar solution for killing existing unwanted plants. Make sure you follow the directions or contact a professional when using these products.  If unused incorrectly, they may harm surrounding plants and negatively impact the soil in your garden.

If your home or business needs help with weed control, contact Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421.

Using Pre-Emergent Spray for Weed Control

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Landscaping, Pre-Emergent Spray, Weeds.

Summer is here and it is time to turn your attention to weed control. Unfortunately, the combination of hotter temperatures and monsoon rain brings weeds back to life here in the desert. Prevention is the key to controlling weed growth and pre-emergent spray can help stop weeds before they even start taking over your landscape.

What Is Pre-Emergent Spray?

The pre-emergent spray is used to kill the seeds of weeds before they can start growing. Our Southwest climate is very inviting to a variety of weed species which can cause irritating allergic symptoms as well as an eyesore in your landscaping. As the weather keeps heating up, seeds start to germinate and poke out of the ground. The pre-emergent spray contains an herbicide that creates a barrier around the seed that prevents it from sprouting. Pre-Emergent is safe to use around your existing plants since it only stops the germination of seeds.  July is a great month to use pre-emergent since the monsoon rains will help to soak the pre-emergent into the ground

The Benefits of Pre-Emergent Spray

You don’t want to spend your free time pulling weeds out of your garden. Using a pre-emergent spray solves that problem by decreasing the time you have to spend doing landscape maintenance. Your Tucson landscapers can use a pre-emergent spray so you avoid having to see unappealing and sometimes hazardous weeds take over your custom landscape. Many types of weeds are notoriously hard to get rid of, with roots that extend deep below the surface. Pre-emergent spray prevents these weeds from growing and may minimize your weed growth in the coming seasons as well.

Do you want to keep your property weed-free? Don’t wait until it’s too late! Contact Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421 or visit us online to learn more about our residential and commercial landscaping services.