Okay, you may have to go for your morning walk at 5:00 to feel that hint of fall in the air. Still, summer is winding down and soon high temperatures will plummet to 80 or 90 degrees along the river, and possibly as low as 70 degrees in Kingman. So, perhaps, it’s time to consider making arrangements with the professionals at Baron Services to prepare the pool, the landscaping, and sprinkler system for cooler temperatures.
Proper care of the yard and garden during the time of fall will save time and money next spring. It might even avoid a few headaches this winter. The first step is to clear fallen leaves, branches, or assorted debris. These materials can be used for compost but in an urban setting it is often best to discard them. Weeding the yard now will prevent the spread of seed and make life a bit easier come next spring. Fall is also an ideal time to fertilize plants or lawns.
Speaking of lawns, two fall feedings. Fertilizing in early fall will go a long way to assisting the lawn as it recovers from the baking summer heat. As fall is an ideal time for weeding, a professional can apply a “weed and feed” mix. When you call for a free estimate from Barons Services, ask about this process and materials used. This is also an ideal time to repair or address thin or bald patches in your lawn. Contrary to popular belief, grass needs even more attention in the fall than it does in the summer. So, give it the attention today and come spring you be glad that you did. For trees and shrubs September and early fall are the ideal time to fertilize with ammonium sulfate and to trim back dead wood. You will also want to continue a deep water schedule about once a week for shrubs and every two weeks for trees into October.
Other thoughts to consider during the months of late summer and early fall are changes that you may be contemplating. This is an ideal time for the planting of non-frost sensitive trees and shrubs, especially from containers. Soil temperatures will be warm enough to help roots establish quickly, especially in the lower desert. Flower beds and vegetable plots should be prepared in mid to late October. Service and evaluation of the drip watering system is also best performed in the fall.
One more point to ponder. We in the desert may not be able to enjoy awe inspiring fall foliage such as is experienced in the mountains of Tennessee and Missouri, but with a bit of forethought an planning you too can enjoy a bit of color. As an example, counted among the easiest to grow and most reliable fruit trees in desert environments are figs and pomegranates. Either one produces bright yellow foliage in the late fall that will often linger on the tree through December. There are also two shade trees to consider and both produce outstanding color during the months of fall in the low desert. One is the Arizona ash that is a native riparian species in the desert. For a more colorful orange/red foliage consider adding the Chinese pistache.
Fall is in the air, and its the perfect time to all Barons Services for an estimate and evaluation.
Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America