There are natural products that you can apply for controlling grubs of June beetles, including insect-devouring — but plant-friendly — nematodes.
Local Columns
Migratory species by the dozens make annual treks to shores, limestone columns of salty lake east of Yosemite National Park.
Rose of Sharon is a hardy and fun deciduous shrub for our climate. It’s considered mesic in its water use and not meant for desert landscapes.
If young trees are given a lot of nitrogen fertilizer then new growth will be pushed at the expense of flowering.
Spectacular vistas, wildlife sightings and tranquil settings make for a perfect vacation spot.
Desert climates are notoriously low in humidity, particularly as the day gets warmer, so we enjoy fewer plant diseases and worry about them less than in places with humidity.
Without flowering it’s impossible for a fruit tree to produce fruit. If the tree flowered in previous years but not this year, then it is either something you did that contributed to its lack of flowering or something inherent to those varieties of fruit trees.
Lincoln County’s Kershaw-Ryan State Park has a wading pool, camping for tents and RVs, hiking and birds aplenty.
Plants like mesquite, palo verde and acacia are xeric in their water use. They use less water than alternative trees and shrubs and are controlled with applications of water.
The park, along with Kings Canyon National Park, is a haven for campers, hikers and lovers of beautiful vistas.
Once a landscape design is finished, the amount of water it needs is fixed. You won’t be able to change the amount it needs, by much, without removing plants or changing them.
A two-hour drive from Las Vegas, Hualapai Mountain Park also features cozy cabins for getting away from it all.
Weed control is the No. 1 pest problem for farmers. Pests include insects, diseases and weeds, not just insects.
Stunning area of Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a gorgeous hike with riparian vegetation flanking the streambed.
The three worst weeds to control in home landscapes are common Bermuda grass, nutgrass and palm seedlings. Controlling common Bermuda grass and nutgrass organically requires persistence — knocking them back as soon as they appear until they finally start surrendering around late summer.
Dormant oil sprays are applied on warm, windless days during the winter to trees and shrubs after they are pruned. That’s when insects susceptible to these sprays are most vulnerable.
Lees Ferry is a good destination for a night or two beneath the stars in a remote area along the Colorado River at the eastern base of the stunning Vermilion Cliffs.