Whether you are spacing plants from each other or from structures the distance is figured from its mature height. Learn how to do this and more on this episode of Desert Horticulture.
Determine Spacing of Plants from Structures and Each Other from its Mature Height Read More »
Grub numbers can be critical in a successful landscape. Learn what this number might be and how to treat for them in this episode of Desert Horticulture.
Grubs and What to Do About Them Read More »
Kurapia has worked well in covering highway and freeway shoulders, rooftops, public utility areas, commercial properties, and solar farm landscapes. Not much is known about how it performs in a desert climate. Is it ready to replace a lawn? There is a lot of mixed information out there regarding Kurapia and how successful its been in replacing lawn grasses. Below are some pictures of it growing in southern Nevada and Valley Sod’s email to me regarding their trials with it in Sandy Valley, Nevada. Kurapia can be mowed to remove the flowers so from a distance it looks more like grass. It is not a total replacement for functional turfgrass like sports fields. Remember that visual replacement for lawn grasses does not infer tolerance to wear and play. How much “wear” your lawn receives should be considered when replacing it with a groundcover of any type. Valley Sods picture of Kurapia grown in Southern Nevada. We at Valley Sod started investigating Kurapia about two years ago and planted an acre of the material at our farm in Sandy Valley. During this time, we have learned how the plant grows and responds to different temperatures and soil conditions. The plants were exposed to temperatures as low as 18 F to 116 degrees F at the farm. The plants did not go dormant (or turn brown) within any of those extremes. In fact, it prefers the heat over the cold and has an active growing season from March till the end of October. It does handle some shade. In full sun it has a very small leaf whereby in shade the leaf is larger. Kurapia can be mowed, occasionally if wished, to remove the flowers to make it appear more like a turfgrass rather than a (flowering) ground cover. Valley Sod became a licensed grower of Kurapia two years ago. We foresee Kurapia as a great replacement for natural turf because of its drought tolerance and preference for sub-surface irrigation. If this kind of turfgrass replacement interests you contact [email protected]
Is Kurapia a Replacement for Lawns in Las Vegas? Read More »
This episode of Desert Horticulture insists they do the logical thing to do…accept responsibility for your landscape water use. When occasional water is wanted for a plant then watering it with a hose instead of a controller is a better idea.
Plants Don’t Use Water. People Do. Read More »
I have been asked by many. There is only one place I know about in Las Vegas that has nutrient “rich” compost; Viragrow. What I mean by “rich” compost is that it will fertilize your fruit trees and landscape plants for at least two years. By my calculations, one cubic yard of Viragrow Compost has about $150 worth of fertilizer. That’s alot! You cont want to plant directly into it or apply it a few inches from your plants or it can damage them….it is that rich! Thats where the soil mixes come in. Viragrow’s “Organic” compost. Previously called Viragrow’s “Vegan” compost. Nothing animal or human used to make it. Just sawdust from lumber mills and tree trimmings. Compost vs Soil Mix. What’s the Difference? Compost is made to mix in soil. Soil Mixes are already mixed! Soil mixes are “Hamburger Helper” of the landscape supply world, if you will. Any of the Viragrow composts should be mixed with a soil by about one bucket for three buckets of soil….about 25% by volume. Tractor and bucket filling a pickup bed with soil mix. A small small pickup like the one shown can carry up to about one cubic yard of a heavy soil mix. A standard sized pickup will carry safely about 1 1/2 cubic yards of material. There are four composts sold at Viragrow: Viragrow Compost (aka, 166) is made by composting municipal solid waste (MSW) and screening this compost fine enough for use as a topdressing for turfgrass and lawns. It contains a small percentage of composted human biosolids found in the MSW. Viragrow Compost, aka 166, is a rich compost made and screened at the Inland Empire Composting Facility in southern California. “Organic” Compost (aka, Vegan compost) is made from waste from sawmills composted with mineral fertilizers. No animal or human waste is used. GS Compost is made mostly from yard waste that is finely ground and screened. It could be classified as a “natural” compost but contains no composted biosolids or MSW (municipal solid waste). Premium Compost is the same as Viragrow Compost (so it contains composted biosolids) but it is not as finely screened as 166. it is screened so the larger pieces of wood are permitted. Soil Mixes Soil Mixes are made by mixing compost with a special type of sand only available from Viragrow…a screened sand. Other places use inexpensive Reject Sand or fill sand in the soil mixes but Viragrow doesn’t. It costs more but it produces a better backfill for plants.
Only Place in Las Vegas with Rich Compost Read More »
Podocarpus is sometimes called “Yew pine” or “Budha pine”. They can get big but the dwarf versions like ‘Maki’ are dwarf and remain small. Or is it just because the grow so slowly? Learn when and how to fertilize landscape plants like Podocarpus ‘Maki’ when growing in the desert.
Learn When to Fertilize Landscape Plants Like Podocarpus ‘Maki’ Read More »
Trees and shrubs can be damaged at planting time. One disease is particularly worrisome. Learn what it is and what you can do about this. All this and more in this episode of Desert Horticulture.
Damaged Tree at Planting. What to do? Read More »