Overseed lawns through mid-October
Here are some questions I fielded this past week:
Question: When is the best time to overseed my Bermuda lawn?
Answer: Anytime between now and mid-October. The golf courses are overseeding now.
Mow the lawn down to bare soil. If it's an older lawn, de-thatch it first. Golf courses use rye for excellent winter color. Apply a light mulch of steer manure over the seeds to keep them moist. Water frequently until you have a good stand of grass. Begin mowing the lawn when it gets about 3 inches high.
Q: How do I keep the birds from eating all the seeds I applied when planting my lawn?
A: Ideally, if every seed germinated, you'd only need to apply one pound of seed per 1,000 square feet. Since that's not the case, and we need to feed the birds, we need to plant more. It will still come up like hair on a dog's back.
Q: We just moved here and were told it was too late to plant a lawn. When can we plant one?
A: It's an ideal time to plant lawns in Las Vegas. You have until mid-October, but take time to prepare the soil properly. Too many people level the dirt and plant and then the lawn struggles. Mix 3 to 4 inches of organic matter into the top 6 inches of the soil before planting. Level it and plant your desired grass.
For quicker results, use sod and have a functional lawn in two weeks.
Q: What's causing my peach pits to split?
A: It is a signal that your tree is stressing. It also happens to nectarines. After blooming, the pits fully develop and then the flesh you eat swells. If the flesh attempts to grow while pits are maturing, a struggle ensues and pits split.
The cure is good watering and fertilizing practices.
Q: Why won't my cucumbers mature, and why are they bitter?
A: Cucumbers struggle through our heat. Plant them in mid-March and give them plenty of water because they have shallow roots to beat the heat. Harvest them when they reach a good size before they become seedy and bitter.
Q: What is the brown concaved spot on the bottom end of my peppers?
A: It's blossom end rot, which is a calcium deficiency. This results from irregular irrigations. Tomatoes are also susceptible to this problem.
Q: Will carob trees grow here?
A: Yes. They do well here and are handsome trees. Carob seeds are used as a substitute for chocolate. They are pest-free unless under stress from inadequate irrigations or over-pruning.
Q: I found an unusual spider on one of my sunflowers. How can I get rid of it, as I understand most spiders are poisonous?
A: Spiders are good because they feed on insects. I don't worry about one or two bugs. But if you do, wash your plants down to send them packing or use insecticidal soap.
Q: How do I grow a gardenia in Las Vegas?
A: Gardenias need an acid-loving soil. So plant it in a big tub or whiskey barrel with a good potting soil and use an acid-based fertilizer such as Miracle Gro. Keep the plant in partial morning sun for best results.
Q: When is the best time of year to shear my pine tree?
A: Never. Shearing ruins the beauty of plants. You really want natural-looking plants. In the spring, when candles (new growth at the tip of every branch that looks like candles) form and extend, snip off part of the candles. This shortens the internodes and keeps the plant compact.
Believe it or not, the best way to control the size of pines is cutting back irrigations and fertilizing as much as possible.
Q: We want a fast-forming hedge and decided to plant xylosma. How close do we plant them?
A: What a great choice. Plant the dwarf type 3 to 4 feet apart and the standards 6 to 8 feet apart. If you buy them in larger containers, space them out more.
Q: Do you have any suggested trees to plant along the side of a swimming pool that won't be as messy as African sumac?
A: All trees shed at some time, but here are a few suggestions that won't be as bad as your sumac: Chinese date, bay laurel, eastern redbud, Texas mountain laurel, xylosma, Texas ebony and red push Chinese pistachio.
Linn Mills' garden column appears on Sundays. He can be reached at linnmillslv@gmail.com or call him at (702) 526-1495.
