Text From a Listener:

• Dan – He wants to move a mesquite tree, but with the heat surge, is it too late to move it?

Recommendation – It’s not too late, but Jay thinks it’s more economical and a lot less work to just buy a new tree. Mesquite’s grow very fast, so starting over makes sense to us.

Caller:

• Barb – She has grubs in her flower bed and can’t get rid of them.

Recommendation – She could try “solarizing” the bed. Jay describes the process and this should get rid of them.

Callers:

• Richard was listening to us talking about getting rid of the pack rats. He used it to keep them out of his car and it worked great.

• John – He has several fruit trees and he’s wondering when he should fertilize and how often?

Recommendation – “Not fertilizing during the 1st year” is outdated and he can start right now. Jay talks through his steps to strart and the overall dates he recommends.

Listener Text:

• What can they plant to keep misquitos away?

Recommendation – Citronella plants are the most common plant used and Jay has  few more suggestions for containers, including lavender, rosemary, etc.

Caller:

• James – He planted 12 trees last year and all have died because of the ground squirrels have been eating the roots away. What can he do?

Recommendation – He can put a barrier in the hole around the root system to keep them from burrowing into the root system. He could try to trap them and remove them from his yard. Bonide has products that can work and he can pick it up at Summer Winds Nursery.

Listener Letters:

• Ele – She’s been away and wants to know if it’s too late to trim her apricot tree?

Recommendation – She can still trim it back, but if it truly needs it she can just trim it less. The best option would be to let it go this year if she can.

• Sharon – Her orange bells didn’t have any frost damage this year. Is it okay to trim them back still?

Recommendation – No, it’s not too late and actually that plant is better to be trimmed after the frost danger. She could wait a few weeks at her elevation and get to work!

• John – He received mulch through the city from his christmas tree. Is it okay to use the christmas tree as a mulch? If it’s mulch, yes. If it’s to be mixed into the soil, it would need to be in a mulch pile and broke down.

*Jay talks about mulching at his home.

• Tips on lawncare for this time of year.

Caller:

• Mandy – She has a west facing wall and wants a vine recommendation for shade during the summer heat?

Recommendation – Jay thinks Queen’s Wreath Vine would be good. She could try a grape vine. They are deciduous and would drop the leaves in the winter and to provide shade during the summer. Arizona Trellis can provide the structure and can be found at Marvel Masonry locations.

• Temps are perfect for basically anything in the outdoors at your home….get to work!

Remember, you can always reach Jay during the week at Harper’s Nursery & Landscaping Company in Scottsdale!