By Cindy Poore
Love, love, love April. The flowers in our landscapes are bustin’ out all over with blooms and reminding us that everyday is another chance at a more colorful life.
Hope you are making the most of yours.
My tulips under my bedroom window are a riot of reds and yellows. They don’t usually show their colors until mid- to late April but have been blooming since middle of March. This past winter of warmer than expected weather has given all the plants (and weeds) a jump start.
The warmer weather and nice days inspire people to get out in their yards and enjoy the landscape. Or if the landscape isn’t what you want, now is the perfect time to plan what changes you want to make.
We get really busy this time of year with oodles of calls for landscape designs, installations and sometimes just consulting for people who want to do the work themselves and aren’t sure how to get started.
Even if you aren’t sure where and what to do, you can get started on improving your yard and scratching that landscaping itch with some plants in pots. Pots are great for people who want to try their hand at gardening or growing vegetables, but are afraid to make a mistake. Plant
something in a few pots and set them out on the patio and enjoy them for a while. You can plant them in the ground later.
I like to get really big pots of various shapes and size and put some nice drainage in the bottom. Use some shipping peanuts topped with landscape fabric and then really great soil. Make sure you use the regular peanuts and not the biodegradable kind or they will melt under the soil and your plants will sink.
When planting pots for color, I like to put in a foundation shrub, preferably evergreen. Plant it off center and put some single color annual or perennial plants and at least one “spiller” near the edge to fill the bare spots. A spiller is a ground cover or plant that will drape over the side of the pot.
Think in contrasting colors. Use a tall heavenly bamboo with the sharp orange of a Gallardia and a nice gray foliage of Snow-in-Summer for the spiller. This would look stunning in a deep blue pot. Practically a whole landscape in a pot…
Keep your color scheme to only three main colors. Any more and the whole effect is diffused and distracting. Keep in mind, that freezes are still possible, so protect your new plants for at least another month from freezing, by covering at night or keeping in an area close to the house and with overhead protection.
Call us today
For help with your landscape
at (760) 868-6104
Spring is nature’s way of saying “Let’s Party!”
Robin Williams
April Tasks
¤April is when, near the end of the month, you will be safe to trim back your perennials and frost damaged plants. Some of your perennials look a little sad from winter weather (or what little we have had) and I’m sure you have been itching to get going on this.
¤Those of you that have fruit trees, now is the time to thin out some of the fruit while it is still marble sized. Take out about 1/3 to ½ of the fruit and you will get larger fruit in return.
¤Check your small plants for rabbit damage. Rabbits will eat anything except chain link. Put wire cages or fences around susceptible plants or planters to protect them, at least while they are small.
¤ Spray your weeds in your lawns while they are still young. Dandelions are crazy early this year! We can do it for you. Call us! 760 868-6104
¤ Time to prune back your butterfly bush (buddeladia) but leave the lilacs alone until after blooming unless you have ignored them in the past, then a renewal pruning is ok you will just get less blooms.
¤ Sow vegetable seeds like Swiss chard, carrots, peas and leeks in the ground and sow seeds for warm weather vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, squash indoors for later transplanting.
Let Us Help You With All Your Landscape Needs
(760)868-6104
Ssssssssst! Watch out for snakes.
The local paper is reporting that the first snakebite of the season has already happened. Another marker of our early warm weather and short winter. REMEMBER: Constriction injuries are often the most serious part of a snake bite. Loosen or remove the clothing in the affected area of the snake bite, remove ALL jewelry. You will puff up and the damage that the tight clothing or jewelry causes, could result in loosing a finger or even a limb!
Don’t stick your hand into a bush or debris pile without looking first so you can stay out of trouble altogether.
My Favorite Recipes
April means Easter is not far off and lots of BBQs and parties coming up. If you want a really easy cookie to serve, try these. From my friend Annabel. I’ve eaten these baked by her hand and they are heavenly.
Really Easy Pecan Puffs
From Annabel O’Leary
½ cup real butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp. Sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup ground pecans
½ tsp vanilla
Dash of salt
Powdered sugar
Combine all ingredients and roll in 1 inch balls. Bake in 300 degree oven for 45 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while hot and again when cold.
Chick Salad
By Cindy Poore
I love to find new ways to put healthy, but tasty in my diet. Try this salad for your next BBQ with grilled fish, chicken, beef or Portabellas.
Salad:
1 15 oz can Chick peas drained
1 15 oz can black beans rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 yellow or orange sweet pepper, chopped
2 or 3 chopped Kale leaves
Dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tbs sugar or Stevia to taste
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground pepper
Put all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
Mix all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and pour over salad. Mix well and serve alone or over a bed of shredded lettuce.
By Cindy Poore
There is nothing quite like a fresh new calendar or the first, blank page in a journal. The possibilities are endless! And unless your time is up sooner, you are going to get 365 new fresh starts this year. What will you do with them? Better yet, what would you do with them if you knew you weren’t gonna get all 365? The same thing I hope.
I’ve always wanted to learn a second language. I have been traveling on my treadmill (courtesy Google earth and Ifit technology) and exploring so many places I will never go in real life. I marvel at how much the world looks the same and at how much it is different at the same time. And I realized that I really do speak a second language.
The language of plants! I see the strange and faraway places and then I see the familiar in all that. I see and smell the heady aroma of the orange blossoms in Florida. I hear the crunch of fallen maple leaves and smell just a hint of fireplace smoke in Connecticut. I revel in the color explosion of the papery blooms of the Bougainvillea and the scent of the sea in Greece. I’ve never been to any of those places, but my plants take me there. They translate these places to me. And I am a world traveler without having ever left home.
My 2014 resolution: Visit someplace I never thought I could. Really.
I guess we will check back in December and see how I did.
Holy Moley Have We Got Challenges!
Winter/water/warm equals weeds! We’ve had enough rain followed by warm weather to germinate some major weeds.
Don’t have any now? Want to keep it that way? Have I got a plan for you….
By now you know I am all about planning and preparation. I may be impulsive, but not when it comes to the landscape. Thinking and planning ahead is the turtle that will win the race for you.
Now is the time to put down your weed pre-emergent applications. Which, of course we would love to do for you! One spray application will last for months and most likely get you all the way through the spring rains to prevent nearly all the big bad weeds that are waiting to eat up your spring and summer weekends. We can spray some or all of your problem areas to make it affordable for you.
Small Print. Oh, there is always the small print. Once an application of weed pre-emergent (preventer) has been made, it requires water to get it off the top of the soil, gravel, or plants to wash it into the soil where it can perform it’s duty. So, it needs to rain. 1 day after we apply or up to 21 days after we apply. You have a 3 week window. Since I cannot predict when it will rain with certainty, SOMEONE has got to water. Only ONCE though. Equal to half an inch of rain. A pain for sure but necessary for the pre-emergent. OR you can just wait until the weeds come in and we can spray to kill them. But they may need additional sprays if you can’t water in the pre-emergent. So give us a call and we will schedule you in!
Garden tasks January 2014
January is prime time for pruning roses. A little time and expertise now will deliver some fabulous blooms come spring time. Remember to remove all foliage from the canes. This will force the plant into a kind of dormancy that puts the growth energy back into the canes and roots for a healthier plant.
Now is also the time to prune your deciduous fruit trees. Foliage has dropped and it is easy to see where to make the cuts. Different types of fruit need different types of pruning, so get a good pruning book like Cass Turnbull’s ”Guide to Pruning”. One of my favorite books on pruning and a great refresher course for those of us that do this all the time.
Apply dormant oil treatments after pruning to smother any potential pests. January and February are prime months for this.
You may be able to find bare-root lilacs to plant now in some nurseries. The old-fashioned lilacs (syringa vulgaris) are the best smelling and easiest to grow here in the high desert and worth looking for. The French varieties are pretty in bloom, but I have not found them to smell as good. The only way to tell the color or intensity of the bloom is to buy them when they are in bloom in the spring. Do little or no pruning to your lilacs the first two seasons and thereafter, prune to maintain shape. Lilacs bloom on old (second year or more) wood so prune just after blooming.
Yes, you can plant in the winter. Unless the ground is frozen, here in California you pretty much can plant year-round. Some times are better than others, but with care, you can plant all year long. Some of the best types of plants to plant in January are bare-root anything and natives. They will adapt very well to being planted now and the wetter spring weather will help establish a good root system before summer’s heat.
Pansies will give you color all through the winter. Put some in pots! Also you can start seeds of onions indoors in a sunny window to plant in March. Garlic is a good bet for planting now along with cabbage-like plants such as kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
We can do all these services for you if you need help!
Call us at (760) 868-6104
For whatever new start you are planning in this new year keep in mind this quote and Get Growing!
“The beginning is the most important part of the work”
Plato
My Favorite Recipes
Broccoli/Spinach Soup
Serves 4 220 calories each serving
I love to find quick, tasty healthy things to eat. And if they warm you up while they fill you up even better. A bonus is, I get to use my immersion blender with this one, but you can use your regular blender if you want.
2 leeks, cut in 2 inch links and washed repeatedly
until sand-free.
2 Tablespoons Butter
6 Cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 bunch broccoli, (about 4 oz) chopped
1 small russet potato, peeled and chopped
5 ounces spinach, washed
Sour Cream and Salt and pepper as needed
Cook the leeks in the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat stirring occasionally until softened, 4-6 minutes.
Add the broth, broccoli and potato. Simmer until tender 18-22 minutes
Stir in the spinach until wilted. Transfer the mixture to the blender or use your immersion blender and puree until smooth. Add salt to taste. Top with a dollop of sour cream and grind some cracked pepper on top and serve with some fresh fruit and a slice of French bread.
MORE!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Serves 4 135 calories each serving
1 1/2 lbs. Brussels sprouts
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Sea Salt and/ or pepper to taste
Rinse Brussels sprouts and cut in half. Toss sprouts into large bowl along with the loose leaves. Sprinkle olive oil over sprouts and add salt and pepper. Toss all sprouts to evenly coat with oil and seasonings.
Place sprouts, cut side down along with loose leaves on foil lined baking sheet. Place in pre-heated 400 degree oven. Roast for 30-40 minutes Sprouts will brown in spots but still have some green, but do not roast until burnt. (you can remove loose leaves sooner as they brown earlier and snack on these while preparing the rest of the meal!)
Closing out the year…
By Cindy Poore
While October is my favorite month in the garden, December is my favorite month inside. Next to the fire. Winter doesn’t officially begin until the 21st. It is starting to get cold and our plants are showing it. The frosts we’ve had, haven’t really hit most of my plants hard here in Phelan as my gazanias are still blooming and looking great. Wrightwood has gotten a few snows already however, and plants are still buried!
Wherever you are, please remember that even though it’s cold, your plants still need occasional watering. Even with the advent of snow. Snow does not have as much water in it as you would think due to the air factor. Of course, you don’t want to water if it is freezing, just keep in mind that plants will need more than just snow to survive the winter.
One other thing that is very important this time of year. PLEASE check your valves and drip filters to see that they are well insulated. If we installed them, the valves (where the water is released into the rest of the system) are insulated on the “constant pressure” side. But the whole unit should also be insulated with an insulating blanket and a cover to keep them dry. Keep in mind, the best defense is PREVENTION. Anywhere there is water is subject to freezing and potential damage.
If you don’t have a box over your valves, you might try to place an upside down ice chest over them. A trick I learned from two clients. Very effective. And oftentimes cheaper than the covers sold for the purpose.
Remember, we will be there for you if you have problems, so keep our number handy and give us a call if you need help.
There are so many things to remember and be thankful for this past year and so many exciting things coming up for my family and I will bet yours as well. When you get together with your friends and loved ones this holiday season, and EVERY day really, remember to tell them how much you love and appreciate them. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Merry Christmas to You and Yours
From All of us at Perfection Landscape!
Gift Suggestions:
The very best gift anyone can give, is a memory. After all, what else will travel through the years with us? So then, do something memorable with your loves. I remember making popcorn balls with my sister. Sticky, hot buttered fingers and tasty fun! In colors! What do you remember? Do it again.
Ok, on my soapbox again. Who wouldn’t want better health? A gift subscription to your (and mine) favorite gym, Kokomo Fitness in Hesperia! It’s a no-brainer. Get a trainer! Call them at (760) 995-3366. (They do not pay for this suggestion, I’m just a raving fan and client!)
The other gift suggestion you can’t beat with a stick is a book! Pick one tailored to your recipient’s tastes. Here are a few
of suggestions:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Timekeeper by Mitch Albom
The Greatest Minds and Ideas of all Time by Will Durant
They are all on my list Santa!
December 2013 Garden Tasks
It is still not too late to plant bulbs and you may still find some bargains from the catalogues or at the nurseries.
December is the very BEST time to sow poppy seeds for a spectacular view come this spring, with just a little encouragement from some rain.
And hey, did you know you can collect seed from your spent flowers?
My granddaughter and I collected seeds and made special seed envelopes to give as gifts. So fun!
Move your tender potted plants to a sheltered space under a patio, or in a sun room if possible to overwinter.
You can protect planted tender shrubs by covering them with a cloth cover on those evenings and mornings when the temps dip near freezing. Just remember to remove coverings during the warm part of the day. Or try a mulch of straw to protect the core of the plant.
Did you remember to change the batteries in your battery operated sprinkler clocks when time changed? If not, do it now. Battery-operated clocks will stick ON if the battery is weak. Only way to turn off the station is to insert a new battery and then use the clock to shut it off.
Remove any fruit still hanging on to branches and clean up all leaf and fruit debris under the tree. This is ESSENTIAL to prevent spread of disease and pests which overwinter.
January and February (or when all the leaves have dropped from your tree) is the best time to apply a dormant oil. Dormant oil is a common, low risk, organic pest control method. We are scheduling preventative weed control and pest control applications now so give us a call soon, because our schedule (which is limited by the weather sometimes) is filling up and we would like to help you have a healthier garden in 2014.
My Favorite Recipes
December, and Christmas especially, brings forth the memories of crazy good food we grew up with. The trend now is to go with healthy, clean eating. You could argue that carrot cake is a vegetable or fruit cake is… well…, fruit. Right?
But sometimes you just gotta give in to a little tradition. And, not everyone is on a diet. I think. Even though this recipe is really LOADED with sugar, it could be a rare occasion sweet treat for some. I mean, it’s flavor is so intense, you really can’t eat a lot of it and it DOES have some actual fruit in it! (wink, wink)
Aunt Ginny’s Candied Orange Peels
3 large oranges
¾ cup of juice from oranges
2 Tbs light corn syrup
2 ¾ cups sugar, divided
Cut the peel on each orange into quarters then remove the peel sections and reserve the actual orange for juicing. Slice peel into ¼” wide strips. You should have about 4 ½ cups. Juice the flesh of the orange and reserve, adding water if needed to make ¾ cup.
Place orange peels in a medium size non-aluminum, sauce pan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook, covered for 15 minutes. Drain the peels in a colander. Boil the reserved ¾ cup orange juice/water, the syrup and 2 cups of the sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add peels. Simmer stirring occasionally, 35 to 55 minutes until translucent and tender.
Remove peels with slotted spoon to a large rack on top of a baking pan lined with wax paper. Let drain 5 minutes. Separate peels and dry about 1 hour. Place the remaining ¾ cup sugar in a large bowl or zip lock bag. Add the peels and toss or shake until evenly coated with sugar. Transfer sugar-coated peels to racks to air dry, about 2 hours. Store in an air tight container for up to 1 month.
“California is a fine place to live – if you happen to be an orange.” – Fred Allen
Another new Composter meeting is scheduled. Just to let folks know about it. It is a fun and interesting “new” way to look at your garden.
Yes, the training is free!
There will be a Master Composter Training Class on Saturday, November 23 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Victorville City Hall, Conference Room D.
During the class, discussion will include backyard composting, vermicomposting (composting with worms), grasscycling, recycling, and becoming a Master Composter Volunteer.
Space is limited, so please RSVP by contacting Don Woo at MC_Coordinator@dnbvisions.com or 951-265-8699 to reserve or if you have any questions.
Gosh! I had so much fun preparing for, and giving a little talk on some options for organic weed and insect control for Lyn Shirley’s Environmental Horticulture class at Victor Valley College this afternoon. In order to be clear-headed, I did some review on materials in preparation for my talk so I could keep my thoughts organized. I got to reminisce about the olden days before Round-up and weedeaters. Yes folks, I really am that old. AND I (as I usually do in these things) learned something new. Actually it is quite old, just new to me. ROCK DUST as a soil amendment. Keep that thought. I plan on researching that and will offer up new info here on this blog real soon.
- Staying Home May 31, 2020Staying home has new meaning since the tragic and crazy world of COVID-19. While most are keeping a low profile at home, Perfection Landscape knows that we are essential for helping our clients care for their home environments. We continue to do maintenance for our regular and new clients keeping with social distancing guidelines for […]
- Weeds are Back! March 10, 2018Is your yard Exploding with weeds ? You may think a few weeds here or there aren’t much to worry about, but did you know most weeds are capable of producing over a thousand seeds each? Rain and the warmer weather that will follow will make conditions just right for hose little land mines […]