Northern Nevada backyards and gardens: landscape tips and chores
I noticed a couple of landscape techniques on my walk today. One was a good example, and one had me gritting my teeth. The positive one was that someone had set up drip irrigation for a new tree perfectly. They had laid out a circle of drip hose within a nice wide well around the newly planted tree.
The hose had six emitters evenly spaced out around the well. I was pleasantly surprised because most people plant a tree with one emitter, maybe two if they are generous. A single emitter only waters right underneath it, rather than providing water to the entire root ball, all the way around, which is necessary for a tree not only to survive, but to thrive.
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.carsonnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/80429-jskelly.jpg?fit=141%2C175&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.carsonnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/80429-jskelly.jpg?fit=141%2C175&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.carsonnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/80429-jskelly.jpg?resize=141%2C175&ssl=1″ alt=”JoAnne Skelly” class=”wp-image-106587″ style=”width:148px;height:auto” srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.carsonnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/80429-jskelly.jpg?w=141&ssl=1 141w, https://i0.wp.com/www.carsonnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/80429-jskelly.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w, https://i0.wp.com/www.carsonnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/80429-jskelly.jpg?w=400&ssl=1 400w” sizes=”auto, (max-width: 141px) 100vw, 141px” />
Unfortunately, the other thing I saw was one of my pet peeves. A tree being strangled by a stake taped too tightly. It wasn’t even providing any real support but rather looked like the tree was supporting the stake. Too often people leave trees staked as they bought them from the nursery or home improvement center.
These initial stakes are designed to support the tree in its container while it’s growing in a row at the wholesale nursery, or while it’s being shipped to or standing at a retail nursery. These stakes should be removed when the tree goes in the ground and replaced with appropriate root ball stabilizing staking.
All stakes should be removed after one year, maybe two in really windy locations. See the link here for the University of Minnesota Extension site with good pictures and information on proper staking.
It’s time to cut off dead lilac flowers to encourage abundant flower production next year. This is true for other spring flowering shrubs, which develop flower buds on this year’s growth for next year. If you prune in mid-summer or later, you will cut off all the flower buds and have no flowers next spring. Cut back to a set of leaves growing in a direction you think will look good. Don’t leave a stub. Shape the bush as you go.
Also remove the finished flower stalks of irises now to prevent seed production. When irises grow from seed, they may be a different color from the parent. Cut the flower stem back to the ground. A month after bloom, fertilize with a 10-10-10 or a 5-10-10 fertilizer, according to the American Iris Society.
Enjoy being out in your yard!
— JoAnne Skelly is Associate Professor & Extension Educator, Emerita at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension skellyj@unr.edu.
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