Our Las Vegas landscapes have just endured a grueling summer. Plants face significant challenges during extreme heat, but they are also remarkably resilient. Today, we’ll equip you with the knowledge to support their recovery and help them thrive again.
The “Snip-tember” Strategy
We’re coining September “Snip-tember“—a month for focused, purposeful care that’s all about rejuvenation! This is the perfect time to begin your post-summer refresh.
Start by assessing each of your plants to determine if they need a simple snip or if severe damage warrants replacement. For a targeted “refresh & restore” approach, check your trees for heat stress and disease. Perform light pruning to shape them, snip any damaged twigs, and remove diseased branches. If you suspect disease, be diligent to sterilize your pruning tools between each cut. For shrubs and roses, give them a light trim, snipping away any burnt foliage. To encourage a beautiful fall flush of healthy flowers, give your roses a boost with Dr. Q’s Rose & Flower Food.
Caution: Avoid shearing summer-stressed plants. This practice removes too much foliage, tears the leaves, and exposes new, tender growth, leaving plants vulnerable to stress and damage. Instead, use hand pruners or loppers to carefully remove crispy, burnt leaves. This light pruning promotes healthy new growth, helping plants quickly recover from summer’s stress.
September is a time of transition, perfect for preparing your beds to move from tired summer annuals to a vibrant fall color display. It’s also an excellent time to start planning for your cool-season vegetable garden. For fescue lawns, now is the time to over-seed for a lush winter lawn. Be sure to check your sprinkler coverage to support all that new growth.
Sun-loving Samantha asks: “Summer is over and my landscape looks exhausted. I know I need to fertilize and adjust my watering, but I’m not sure how.”
A: “Following the summer’s toll on the soil, it’s time to replenish! Improve soil health by amending it with appropriate fertilizers and soil amendments like one from our extensive Dr. Q’s line. September is the perfect time for a final application of Palm Food or Desert Plant Food for the year. This last application will give your sun-loving plants the nourishment they need to thrive through the cooler months.
As temperatures decline, adjust the frequency of your irrigation according to SNWA fall restrictions, but not the duration. Maintain soil moisture with deep, long watering each time to ensure efficient watering. Check your soil for moisture and inspect your drip emitters for clogs to ensure efficient water delivery.”
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry—our local Star Nursery experts are here to help. For comprehensive, in-person instruction, be sure to register for our free “Refresh & Restore” seminar.
Visit StarNursery.com to register for the seminar on September 27th at select locations.
Star Nursery, Your Garden’s Partner for Every Bloomin’ Thing. I’m Joey Lynn and I’ll see you again next month.