![]() She said they should be allowed to dry between waterings to avoid disease-causing fungi. Hartin said that July will be the highest water-demanding month and that it will be important to deep water these plants. It’s already getting a lot warmer and there are some indications that it could be an average or slightly warmer than average summer, according to Ezcurra.įor trees, he said, that may not mean much yet because there’s still lots of water in deeper layers of soil, but annual plants with shallow root systems will soon need supplemental water from a sprinkler system if they’re not already getting it.Īs the summer progresses, shrubs and trees will start drawing from those lower soil moisture levels. Be aware that your plants will still be thirsty Hartin said gardeners who want to plant a tree should do so in the next two to three weeks, or wait until fall when the weather has begun to cool.Ĥ. They should have about 15 feet of space around where they want to plant the tree, and Hartin recommends climate-resilient species such as desert willows, mesquites and chaste trees. Hartin said she always recommends that people take a look at their yards and consider whether they have space for a tree because of the cooling effects trees have on urban heat islands. It may not only be a good time to plant summer veggies, but also trees. “Just water them because now that we’re getting the heat coming in they will grow and develop,” he said. If those things haven’t been planted yet, they can be planted now.įor those who have planted summer vegetables already and find that they’re a little lackluster, Ezcurra’s advice is to wait. The corn, which would normally be ready by June, is less than two feet tall.īut Ezcurra said there’s still plenty of time to grow summer veggies. He said those things, planted in late February, have not taken off like they normally do. He used the example of a garden that he maintains with his wife that has corn, beans and squash in it. Some spring and summertime veggies may be stunted, too, according to Ezcurra. Even native plants such as the Southern California flannelbush are making blooms later than normal.Įzcurra said that if a tree or shrub that blooms typically around this time of year hasn’t yet, it likely will – just a little later than usual. He said evidence of the cooler weather is visible in trees that are tropical in origin: Trees such as jacarandas, tipuanas and coral trees are not forming blooms as early as they normally do. Don’t be daunted by late blooms or stunted plantsĮxequiel Ezcurra, a professor of Ecology at the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at UC Riverside, said this spring was not only anomalous for all the rain we received but also for the cooler temperatures that persisted through late April and early May. These services are available in all Southern California counties.Ģ. ![]() ![]() Lastly, the University of California Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer questions through free email and phone helplines. This may be a good option for people who have prized trees that are older or larger, Hartin said. The International Society of Arboriculture has a list of certified arborists that can provide expert help with tree problems. Users can search by plant name, type or symptoms. ![]() The University of California Integrated Pest Management Plant Problem Diagnostic tool can help gardeners figure out what’s wrong with their edible and landscape plants. Gardeners who need help diagnosing a pest or disease problem have some options at their fingertips, Hartin said. “The plants have better protection because they’re already healthier,” she said. In other recent years, trees and shrubs were weakened going into spring and summer because of drought conditions, but that’s not the case this year. Hartin said keeping plants healthy and well-cared for will help to stave off disease.īut disease may not even be that much of an issue, Hartin said. In addition to the weeds, there may be more invasive insect and disease pressures that gardeners have to contend with.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |