THE LANDSCAPE REPORTER

JUNE 2012
JUNE WEATHER SUMMARY The average monthly rainfall for June is .09 inches. The average high is 104 degrees and the average low is 75 degrees. June is typically the hottest, dryest month in the Valley, leading up to monsoon season which is our wettest time, so theres a lot you can do to prepare your landscape for the rain.

DID YOU KNOW? WEED CONTROL

TURF TALK
with Jay Pock, ValleyCrest Turf & Irrigation Manager BERMUDA GRASS/OVERSEEDED WITH RYE GRASS If you avoided transitioning to stretch out the life of your winter Rye grass, the heat should cause it to transition this month and your winter grass should be gone by the end of June. Fertilize your summer grass after the winter grass has died. Applying fertilizer while winter grass is still alive will cause it to compete for the nutrients. Rhizomes are the underground stems of Bermuda grass that produce roots and have shoots that develop into new plants. Bermuda needs approximately 100 days of growth to produce rhizomes, which will help you have a strong, healthy transition next year. Water should run 9-12 minutes per night, each night for spray pop-ups. NON-OVERSEEDED BERMUDA GRASS Water the same as overseeded grass: 9-12 minutes every night for spray pop-ups.

Pre-emergent herbicide creates a temporary barrier on top of the soil that helps prevent new seeds from germinating. It is only e ective in helping prevent weeds and will not a ect those that are already visible. Pre-emergent can be applied in a granular or liquid form in granite, ower beds or turf and needs to be watered in within 30 to 90 days (depending on product), to be most e ective. This can be done either by applying herbicide before a predicted rain or by using a garden hose. Applying half an inch of water helps the product to absorb into the soil. The longer the product sits on top of the soil without being watered in, the less e ective it will be. The continued use of pre-emergent can build up the barrier in the soil so that fewer weeds slip through each year. Rain causes weeds to grow, so one application of pre-emergent should be applied prior to the summer monsoon season (July through September) and one prior to the winter rainy season (December through March). December and July are the best months to apply pre-emergent in ower beds or granite. You can apply pre-emergent to areas of dormant Bermuda grass or established Ryegrass in the winter and to growing Bermuda in late spring.

fun fact: Water during dark hours so you wont lose as much water due to evaporation, transpiration, or wind.

Applying a balanced fertilizer in June will aid new growth and root growth to help ll in bare spots by July/August.

PLANT CARE
Avoid rejuvenating or hard pruning shrubs this month; plants may not recover due to the high temperatures. Faster growing plants or vines you may have already rejuvenated in the spring can quickly outgrow their space (e.g., bougainvillea). Selectively prune these plants by removing o shoots or vigorous growth at the base of the plant or cut branches and stems back to buds or laterals. For ground cover (e.g., lantana, prostrate acacia, yellow dot) outgrowing its space, dont shear with a power hedge trimmer as this will create an unnatural look. Instead, cut a stem as near as possible to a junction of two branches about 2-3 feet back and cut the stems level and close to the ground. This eliminates unsightly, bare stems and encourages a more bushy, natural appearance.

TREE TALK

with Nick Gaitano, ValleyCrest Tree Care Services Manager ISA Certied Arborist June is the best time to start preparing for monsoon season, which begins in July. Monsoons can cause serious damage to trees if they are not properly maintained ahead of time. Prepare for monsoon season by thinning out heavy crowns and heavy branches on any type of tree, to prevent loss of limbs or entire trees. The crown or canopy of a tree will act as a wind sail if not properly thinned to allow for air ow through the canopy. Monsoon season brings Palo Verde Borer Beetles, which feed on the root systems of the Palo Verde. Beetles attack unhealthy trees, so keep your trees watered and fertilized to prevent damage. For more information visit http://cals.arizona.edu/ maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/bugs/palo-bor.htm June is a great time to prune Desert trees: Mesquite, Palo Verde, and Sissoo. Increase watering as weather warms.

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Hard pruning ground cover gives it an unsightly, woody, straight edge. Selectively prune instead, to achieve a natural appearance.

Additional Resources:
http://www.amwua.org/landscape_watering_brochure.html http://extension.arizona.edu/maricopa

Overgrown lantana needs to be selectively pruned to keep from growing over the sidewalk.

2902 E. Illini St. Phoenix, AZ 85040 P: (602) 276-5900 | F: (602) 276-8191 www.Facebook.com/ValleyCrestArizona www.TreeCareServices.com/Phoenix

The Landscape Reporter is published monthly to help property managers educate residents on sustainable and horticulturally sound landscape practices.