The secret life of cactus

I really love most plants. There are a few exceptions, but that will remain for another post. And I do love cactus. They are quite remarkable plants, little water storage units really. Their spines are there to shade the cactus and protect them from water loving desert dwellers.

I have the privlidge of helping some of my clients care for their gardens. One home today has lots of cactus. Unfortunately, the drip tubing was chewed in half by a sneaky little rabbit and I had to repair it. I had to lay on my stomach and dig under the cactus to get to the tubing to repair it.  I am now (still) literally covered with the fine little spines of the cactus. Sigh... I am loving the cactus today  but not so much!

The Real Secret to Creating a Low-Maintenance Landscape

Low-Maintenance. Nobody ever asks for a landscape that takes a lot of time to maintain. So when someone says that they want a low maintenance landscape, I’m thinking… well, yeah. Very few people in this world do not care how long or how much it takes to care for their landscape. If they don’t, then they can, and do usually afford to have someone do it for them.

That’s not most of us. The real key to getting a low maintenance (or Easy-Care as I call it) landscape is all in the planning. At that stage, you will know how much time and money you want to invest in the care of your new landscape. Right then, BOOM! is where most landscapes are successful or not.

You gotta understand plants to landscape properly. One plant might work just great for your neighbor, but be soooo not right for you. Or not right for THAT place in your yard. ONLY if you know your client, plants, climate, and location can you select the right landscaping. And if you have the wrong plants in the wrong places matched with the wrong maintenance skills or budget, you, my friend have just wasted your money on landscaping. It’s as simple as that!

Picture a cute little evergreen bought at the nursery 2 feet high by 1 ft wide. Plant 20 of those suckers 1 foot away from the front sidewalk in a row every 5 feet. Cute when planted. However, did I mention that those little cuties are arborvitae? Now when you know that, you know that they will reach 10 feet wide and 15 feet tall within 10 years, they don’t look so cute. When you know that they could ultimately reach 30 feet wide and 45 feet tall. They are downright monsters. Think of trying to make them stay small and all the effort that will go into that for the first few years and the time an expense that it will take to take them out when they get too big. That is the big secret… Plant only what works for the space both now and ultimately

I just want to hide inside..

The heat is opressive. I make my living outdoors every day, but I'm not a fan of the heat. As the saying goes..you can only take so much off.  The humidity was terrible yesterday, and we had to turn on the air conditioner for the first time this year.  The water cooler wasnt doing it. We had a tremendous thunder shower last evening. In just over half an hour we got nearly an inch of rain! I was content to watch from inside. The plants at least got some advantage.

I really need to dig up and divide my iris. I have too many and plan to ditch some and gift some. Now is the time, but I have too much to do this weekend. I am bustling about making sure everything gets plenty of water here, checking the sprinklers and drip for "issues". I only found a few problems of clogged heads and some emitters that had gone cattywampus and had to be adjusted.

I am getting ready to head to the Home Improvement Expo at the Victorville fairgrounds this weekend.There were so many businesses there setting up today. It looks like it will be a big hit to have a July show. I saw several vendors that I have not seen at the show before. Looks like an intersting weekend.

I WAS looking forward to relaxing this weekend with a good book my hubby bought me. He said I havent read anything fun lately and got me The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo. I have just barely started it. It will have to wait til next week as the Home Show will take center stage this weekend. Come by and see me.

Cash for Grass not Dead Yet!

Just received an email from the Mojave Water Agency in which, they report the Daily Press article stating the Cash For Grass" program's death was a bit premature. In fact, the CFG's program is a resounding success in saving water and they are "re-working" it to be better this fall. So they are only going on hiatus, sort of like your favorite TV programs. 
If you need any more information contact talaniz@mojavewater.org

Get ready for the bug invasion!

A doctor must diagnose the problem before he/she can prescribe a cure. Bug problems are no different.  You have to know what (or who) the problem is before you can select the proper control (if any) to use for that bug.

Pests of the West is a fabulous resource book for just that. I just discovered it and it has tremendous pictures of lots of common pests and suggested plan of attack to mitigate the problems.  I love the pictures! I have been trying of late to get better up close pictures so I can document the pest issues I come across on my yard and clients yards.

Most of the time, identifying the pest is the hardest task. Once that is done, you are all set to decide how and IF to apply controls.

Check out the section on Grubs.  They will be an issue for you with lovely pretty scarob-like beetles by next month if you havent applied some control by now.  Do it before it is too late and the beetles start flying.

Cash for Grass Program Ending Soon...

Well, the local paper announced that the Mojave Water Agency is suspending their "cash for grass" program at the end of the month due to massive budget cuts.

For the un-initiated, that's a program where they, through your local city's water department pay you a rebate if you remove your grass and replace it with a drought tolerant landscape and a drip irrigation system. You have til June 30 to qualify, so if you are considering it you'd better get right on the ball NOW.

You must be pre-approved for the program and the rebate is paid after the landscaping is done and a final inspection. They pay in most cities 50 cents per square foot. That's not enough to pay for the whole job, even if you do it yourself. However, it can amount to a nice add in to your budget for garden lovelies like pots and benches.

Again with the Crazy Busy!

I'm not sure what time it is except late, late, late! I have so many things to do to get ready for the Home Show for this weekend. You can be sure that 1pm Friday is approaching fast. I hope to talk to you there. Come by and see me. Bring photos and measurements and I will be dispensing lots of advice ( if you want it).

Here is something to soothe if you are as frazzled as I am.

Free Ride is Over!

OK folks, your free ride from all the recent rains is over. You will have to start up the irrigation system now. The soil moisture is really depleted from the warmer temps we have had lately, and with no rain on the horizion, you better get crackin on tweaking up the sprinkler clock.

I would reccommend in our little High Desert Valley to be watering the planters and shrubs once to a couple of times a week for established plants and maybe a couple of times a week for the lawns.

Remember to check your drip emitters on your plants to see that they are working properly. Replace them if they are clogged or broken. Clean the Drip Y-Filter out. Just un-screw it, and wash it out and re-assemble snugly. Oh yeah, make sure you do this when the valve is not operating or you will get quite wet.



We will be really busy this week in preparation for the High Desert Home Show in Victorville at the fairgrounds. Thats this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Stop by and see me.

Busy Busy and Busy some more!

Ok. The last 30 days have been just filled with work. A lot of weed spraying work. I love helping people get a handle on their problems! The soil temperatures have risen enough to germinate lots of weeds with more to follow. Hard as I try to get people to plan ahead for the weeds, they mostly wait until they start to pop up. Human nature I guess! I shouldnt point fingers. I am a procrastinator toooooo.

Did I tell you I am now on the Board of Directors for the High Desert Contractor's association? The association is a group of licensed contractors, ya know.. electricians, painters, window people and such, from the valley that want to promote professionalism and ethical business pratices here in our little high desert valley. Our mission is to educate the contractors and consumers alike in fair and ethical business pratices so everyone can benefit.

Well, that happened in January and I got stu....uh er awarded the priveledge of writing the association newsletter. So 2 newsletters down and only 10 more to go for the year. That actually has been fun 'cause I get to do what I want because no one else is silly enough to complain or else they get the job. Although I do try to make it informative for all and I have actually had a few compliments.

Getting ready for the surge in business coming later this month when people realize spring has hit and they want to be a part of it. The Home Show will boost the mood and I'll be there to meet and greet and offer advice if you want to stop by. March 26th, 27th and 28th at the Victorville Fairgrounds. More on this later.

Desperately Seeking Landscape Perfection!

Ok, I'm officially sick of the rain.

I know that it is good for the plants. I love not having to turn on my sprinkler clocks ( all 5 of them). They just replaced our water meter today, with a "new and improved" version that is supposed to be super efficient at tracking even the littlest flow of water so our water company doesnt miss out on ANY revenue. (Does it matter that the rates have quadrupled since 1992 when I moved here!) I need to go and check it out, because they did a sloppy job of putting things back and it is my opinion that if they are sloppy in one area of work, whats to say that they are not sloppy in installing the meter? It's ust a little leak, wont hurt.... I just think that they should be neater thats all. I mean, our name IS Perfection Landscape, after all.

It appeared that they just used some guy off the street. I dont know who they "contracted" to do it, but I didn't see any logo, uniform, or anything official. The guy looked like someone they would pick up in a park. After a recent conversation I had with a local water department guy advising me how I could get around the "regulations" so I could bid on a project coming up, I am a little dubious of anything they do.