Skip to main content

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.

BENEFITS OF AN OUTDOOR FIRE PIT

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Fire Pits, Landscaping.

Tucson’s cool desert nights make it the perfect place to enjoy a fire pit.  Adding a fire pit to your outdoor living space offers the perfect place to relax or enjoy the company of family and friends during social gatherings. We can help you design and install the perfect outdoor fire pit for added home value and enjoyment.

Outdoor Comfort and Enjoyment

Fire pits are designed to improve your outdoor comfort, especially at night. A fire pit will allow you to continue enjoying time spent outdoors by providing heat as well as light for your patio, deck, or yard once the sun has set and temperatures start to cool. A fire pit can also serve as the perfect place to BBQ meals, host parties, family gatherings, or simply just relax after the day’s activities are done providing a warm, safe, and welcoming environment.

Visual Appeal for Your Property

Fire pits add increased visual appeal to your property. Whether you want your fire pit to blend in with existing features or stand out as the centerpiece of your yard, there is a wide range of styles available for you to choose from. Installing a fire pit will increase the value of your home whether you plan to remain in place or are considering selling your property in the near future.

At Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc., we specialize in both landscaping and hardscaping to help you create a beautiful and appealing home or commercial property. You can reach an experienced landscaping expert in Tucson today by calling (520) 623-0421, or visit our website to check out our past projects, landscaping blog, and complete landscaping services.