The very best time of the year is here. Fall is the winding down of the growing season and that is why it is the very best time to plant. Things are getting slower on top but there is lots of activity down below in the root zone. Plants planted in the fall take off sooner and do better in spring, than plants planted any other time of the year.
This is a great time to build and work your compost pile with all the leaves and twigs and branches you clean up this fall. Or add your homemade compost to your garden to build up the soil for next year’s veggie garden.
Keep watering trees and shrubs, but much less often. Still water deep though. Just space the days between watering more. Some plants may look dead, but they are really just dormant and all that root action is taking place down below. I suggest you not cut back perennials until new spring growth to insulate the core of the plant from winter frosts.
Definitely this is time to check and winterize your sprinkler system if you live in a zone of freezing weather. Thoroughly check your system before winterizing to make sure you don’t wrap up a leak that will be a problem for months. Then wrap pipes with insulation or cover sprinkler valves with an insulated box. A large insulated cooler works well for this and gives easy access. We can help you with winterizing
Plan for winter weed control to eliminate spring weeds. A pre-emergent weed application in the winter will prevent most spring weeds and give you your weekends when warm weather arrives again. We can quote you on your preventative weed control. We get really busy in the winter with applications and timing is preferred before a rainfall to water in the pre-emergent with FREE water from the sky. Call to get on our schedule so we might schedule you at the most optimum time.
Call Us at (760) 868-6104
We Can Help!
Fall is for FOOTBALL!
Football season means Sundays are casual. Have some soup and some chips and dip. Get your onion fix.
Homemade Onion Dip
( no comparison to store bought)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ cups diced yellow onions
¼ tsp kosher salt
1 ½ cups sour cream
¾ cup mayonnaise
¼ tsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)
½ tsp ground pepper
½ tsp kosher salt
Saute oil and onions and salt in a fry pan slowly over medium heat until they are caramelized (not burnt). This will take about 20-30 minutes. Set aside to cool. Mix the rest of the ingredients and then add the cooled onions and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Mix again and serve with your favorite chips.
Redskins and Onion Soup
3 Tbl olive oil
1 ½ lbs of white onions, chopped
¾ lbs of Redskin potatoes diced into ½” chunks
5 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large soup pan add oil and onions and saute on low until translucent but not brown, about 30 minutes.
While onion is cooking, place potato cubes in a steamer and steam potatoes until soft about 10 minutes. When onions are ready, add the steamed potatoes and the chicken broth to the soup pan with the potatoes and heat through. Puree soup in several batches if necessary in a food processor or use a stick blender and blend right in the pan. Add salt and pepper to taste and heat to serving temperature. Ladle in bowls and top with chopped tomato or shredded cheese and serve with warm french bread and butter.
“Eating is a necessity, but cooking is an art”
Task of the Month
By Cindy Poore
Ok, it’s finally chilly outside and who wants to go out there and work in the garden? But there are always tasks to do even when it is chilly and hopefully wet. Oh yeah, don’t forget the wind. There is always the wind. And the task of the month is Prevention. It’s worth a pound of cure. One of the biggest prevention jobs we love to do is to help you keep your trees, lawns and plants in top shape.
If you have problems with some highly valued trees and shrubs, now is the time to apply the pre-spring insect prevention. This is not a foliar spray after the insects have landed. This is a “from the root area application” that gets absorbed into the tree’s vascular system and protects your trees and shrubs from the inside out from unwanted invaders.
Although you can apply anytime the plant is growing, from now until mid spring is the best time to apply as the plants vascular system is starting to move after a sluggish winter season and most plants are getting ready to send out new growth. An application now is perfect for your high value trees and shrubs that typically are under attack during the growing season year after year. Even roses.
This will work for most insects that suck or chew on leaves or branches because the insecticide will move throughout the plant. It takes time for the insecticide to move through the plant though, so that is why we apply late winter so that the new green growth of spring is protected.
This is where the love comes in…. you gotta love your garden all months of the year. Yeah, it needs attention when you don’t necessarily want to go out there. It’s sort of like a baby you have to get up in the night to feed. Your body tells you no, no but your garden tells you yes, yes. You will reap the benefits come this spring. And if you really just can’t face it yourself, well then….
Call us! We LOVE to help! (760) 868-6104
Get Ready! The weeds are coming.
If you have not already, give us a call to help you with your weeds. Pre-emergent applications WITH weed killer will be the norm for the next few months since the little guys are starting to show up now. And they won’t be little forever.
You can prevent more from showing up with the pre-emergent application with your weed spraying. Do all your property, or just your problem areas. Pre-emergent spraying is safe for all your plants and will not harm them, however, we do not apply on or under edible plants.
“Start where you are, Do what you can, Use what you have”
Unknown
Garden tasks February 2014
- There is still time for pruning roses for lush and beautiful spring blooms.
- We are still applying dormant oil treatments after pruning for spring pest control this month IF your tree has not bloomed or leafed out , so call us and we can do it for you. If you wait until March, they likely will be all leafed out and too late to spray dormant oil.
- Plot out your veggie garden. It could just be a few pots on the patio, or a corner of your yard. Raised beds make it more accessible and controllable. You get to choose the soil! (instead of the soil you were dealt). It doesn’t take much space to grow something fun and healthy. Order your seeds. A seed catalogue is just porn for gardeners.! Start your seeds indoors before the end of February and by April you will be ready to put them outdoors (with protection).
- Buy bare-root plants now for the best bargains.
- Cut stems of early blooming trees and shrubs now and bring them inside and place them in water. The warmth of the indoor environment will bring them to bloom for you to enjoy inside!
Garden Coaching?
What is Garden Coaching? Well, it is that little push you need to have the outdoor landscape you want at prices you can afford. We work with clients who have a need for professional guidance in transforming or maintaining their landscape. Some need to know WHAT to do. Some need to know HOW to do it. And some need all that AND to be held accountable for getting it done!
Planning ahead is key. We will coach on a one-time, occasional, quarterly or monthly basis. Whatever fits your need and budget. We can help you get your game plan going.
We can walk your garden and do an inventory of what you have and how to take care of it. We can also tell you what you might add and where to put it. We can show you how and when to prune and fertilize your plants and how to make the most of what you’ve got.
When you are ready, we can coach you, or we can do it all for you. Whatever you need. Give us a call to get your game plan going!
We can do all these services for you if you need help! Call us at (760) 868-6104
My Favorite Recipes
I have wonderful clients! You all have told me you enjoy my recipes and I love sharing. This one is from a fantastic lady and friend, Deanna Carlson. Try it. It’s so easy and likely you have all the ingredients on hand. My hubby LOVES spicy so I added some salsa to ours and he RAVED over this recipe. Unfortunately, it’s not Diet or low cal. Oh well, you can’t have everything.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
cooked and shredded Crushed Tortilla Chips
1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
8 oz. Shredded cheddar Jack cheese 1
8 oz can/jar spicy salsa (Cindy’s Optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Put crushed tortilla chips in greased 9 X 13 casserole dish generously covering the bottom. Top with shredded chicken.
In a separate bowl, combine soups, evaporated milk and Rotel tomatoes and salsa if desired.
Pour over chicken and top with shredded cheese. Cover with foil that has been sprayed with Pam. Bake 45 minutes, uncover the foil and bake 15 minutes more. Serve warm with a salad and cornbread. YUM!
“You will find as you look back on your life that the moments that you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love” Henry Drummond
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!)
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.
- 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 […]