Skip to main content

Time to Change Your Watering Schedule for Fall

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Irrigation Systems, Landscaping.

Can you feel the change in the air? So can your plants! Now that the fall season is here, you will need to adjust the water for your plants to make sure they are not being overwatered.
Our fall season creates sun that is a little less harsh with mornings and evenings providing more coolness in the air. A drip irrigation system provides a wonderful job at giving plants and trees a deep watering that can be regulated to help them adapt to the changing weather.

Just like your home, your landscaping is an investment, and adjusting the watering schedule is one way to help protect your investment in the fall and winter. This is just a general guide on how to adjust the water for your plants.

Below is a suggested watering schedule to use as a guide. Remember though to use it only as a guide because your watering schedule will vary depending on the weather, the soil, the types of plants that you have, and their maturity. It is important to keep a careful watch on your plants any time you change their watering schedule.

Suggested Watering Schedule

For the Fall Season:
Plants in their First Year
Water every other day for 1.5 hours

Plants in their Second Year
Water every third day for 2.5 hours

Established Plants
Water once per week for 3-6 hours

Tired of changing your irrigation controller? Contact us for more information on converting your existing controller to a Smart Controller. Smart Controllers have weather sensors that measure rainfall and temperature and will automatically adjust itself seasonally. You should also see a lower water bill.

If you ever have any questions about watering and maintaining your landscape, feel free to contact us at Santa Rita Landscaping.

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.

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.