By Cindy Poore
My youngest granddaughter (so far) is 5. This is the perfect time to teach her where our food comes from. I have plans to plant some actual food you can eat! I want her to know what real food is and where it comes from. I want her to experience the wonderful flavors of food fresh from the garden.
I’m so excited about this. Last year we planted sunflowers from seed. It was fun and we got to see them jump up high and bloom before winter even though we planted them late. I will keep you posted.
Got Weeds?
Even though we have had almost no rain, we still got weeds. Understanding that for the weed preventer to work, it has to be watered in once; most people want to wait until a predicted rain to have us spray. Which I understand completely because the effort to drag the hoses around to water that stuff in is a major pain and in cold weather too.
The water needed to water it in should not be a big issue for you. It takes between $0.75 and $1.50 (depending on rates and tier) per 1,000 square feet in
water costs to water in your pre-emergent equal to half an inch of rain. For a job of say…10,000 square feet that amounts to $7.50 to $15.00 in water costs.
What the main problem is, I can’t know when it is going to rain. And how much. And rain usually comes in right after or with wind. That limits us in when we can spray safely.
So give us a call to have your weeds sprayed right away. Just getting rid of your existing weeds before they get too numerous, or too big, or set seeds will be a prevention tactic all on it’s own. And if you need someone to help you water in your pre-emergent, we will be able to help you with that for an additional charge.
Now offering watering services for your pre-emergent application.
Call us today at (760) 868-6104
March Tasks
¤Now is the time to tidy up your garden by removing dead leaves from your perennials and cutting back your grasses.
¤Just FYI. The Crepe Myrtles and Russian sage will still look dead for another month or so. Don’t go off thinking they are dead. Patience.
¤If you got tulip bulbs, fertilize after blooming with a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 12-10-18. This is when the new bulbs are forming and the best time to fertilize.
¤Feed all your plants and lawns now, and you will be rewarded with lots of great new green growth and blooms.
Why does my rose bush
look wet?
Spring has sprung. Well, we really did not have much of a winter. What? It rained like twice? The plants have been gearing up for a long growing season this year and the roses are no exception. They are putting out new leaves like crazy. Pretty soon you will see flower buds and beautiful blooms. And sometimes, their leaves will look wet.
The lush new growth of spring plants and the warm weather will bring out the aphids. The aphids secrete honeydew a sticky (and I’m told sweet) which makes the leaves look wet. The honeydew also attracts ants. Ants love aphids and often take care of them just to harvest their honeydew. Sorta like us and cows, ha ha.
If you see ants on or near your plants, look for aphids. Aphids come in all colors and their size can vary a lot depending on their growth stage.
Aphids are usually more annoying than dangerous to your plants. A good strong spray from a garden hose a few days in a row should take care of most of the little guys.
If that doesn’t work, give us a call. Now it the best time for us to apply a season long control for your plants that will kill and repel insects that feed on your plants.
We can kill and prevent bug damage to your plants, trees and shrubs for months with one application.
Call us at (760) 868-6104
The magic of deadheading flowers
Most people have heard of deadheading flowers, but don’t really know why it is so important. Consider that the flower plant is trying to reproduce by flowering. When you cut off the blooms, the plant will respond with more flowers!
My Favorite Recipes
Dinner for One (or two)
I have a lot of friends who are singles or couples who don’t want to fix complex meals but still want to eat good food. Since I share that same situation, I look for things to cook that are yummy, but don’t take a lot of time and ingredients. One of my favorite go-to meals is a game hen. Since they are about 1 ½ lbs each, one hen is enough for two. If there is just you, then you have some wonderful bird left for a salad the next day. Try this recipe and its variations for a great meal.
1 1 ½ to 2 lb game hen, rinsed and pat dry
Salt and pepper to taste.
That’s pretty much it. Wrap the hen in a large piece of aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Unwrap foil from the hen ( push to sides) and roast for 15 more minutes to brown.
Then try one of these great variations for the last 15 minutes after unwrapping foil from top of hen.
Baste hen with BBQ sauce.
Baste hen with your favorite flavor of jam.
Mix 2 tbls. Apricot jam mixed with 1 Tbls. Dijon mustard and ½ tsp cracked pepper and baste hen during last 15 minutes of roasting.
But wait! There’s more.
2 small red potatoes, quartered
2 large mushrooms, quartered
4 stalks fresh asparagus, cut in half
1 small zucchini, sliced in coins
¼ red bell pepper sliced
2 Tbls. Italian salad dressing
Place all veggies in a bowl and toss to coat. Place veggies in a large piece of aluminum foil and wrap. Bake veggies in a 375 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Serve with the game hen.
“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not smashing it.” Arnold H. Glasow
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!)
Apple Valley, CA call us to schedule your January rose pruning schedule. Last year, we were not too busy, but this year, we already have quite a few who will have us prune their roses, so call us to get on the schedule, right away.
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 […]