It is officially February, which means it's pretty much spring in California! The last month brought us some cold temperatures, but the days are getting warmer as the sun stays out a bit longer each day. There is no better time than now to start getting your landscape ready for spring growth. This is also the beginning of another excellent planting season for new additions to your yard. Taking care of your yard now with weeding, pruning, and fertilizing will ensure a healthy and full landscape for the rest of the year. Our nursery experts have shared a few tips and tasks for your landscape this month. Continue reading below…
Luckily, we live in an area where it is planting season all year, depending on what you indent to plant! Winter is often a slower time of year for landscapes as most things go dormant. Over this time, many homeowners start to think about how to improve their yard. Those landscape plans you have been saving for the spring can finally happen! Planting in early spring is ideal because it will give your trees and shrubs plenty of time to establish their root system and still give you plenty of top growth through summer. Right now is the best time to plant palms, hedges, shade trees, fruit trees, and so much more! Ask your local nursery pro which trees would be best for your area.
With everything in the landscape about to enter back into the growing season, this is the right time to give those trees, shrubs, palms, and other plants a boost with an all-purpose supplement from Moon Valley Nurseries, like our SUPERCHARGED Moon Juice. We recommend using our custom blended fertilizers and supplements for your landscape needs as they are specifically formatted for tough soil and weather conditions throughout California.
Our fertilizers and other supplemental products are formulated to promote vigorous growth and can help your landscape recover from any stresses that may have occurred over the winter season. You can purchase Moon Juice and other products, such as our Soil and Water Conditioner (to loosen tough soil) and Moon Royale Turf Fertilizer (for your lawn) at any of our nurseries.
As the temperature starts to get higher slowly, it is essential to monitor your landscape for proper water usage. In the winter, cooler temperatures and less sunlight allow the soil to stay moist for a more extended period, so watering schedules were stretched out by a few days. Now that the sun is out longer, your soil may dry out faster, which means you will need to update your watering schedule. Check for signs of underwatering through February.
Good Rule of Thumb: Check the soil up to 3 inches deep. If it is dry, then it is time to water.
With grass and plants starting to come back to life, it also means that weeds are going to start popping up. The sooner you can handle any weed infestation, the better. As weeds grow, they drop more seeds that will turn into their own weeds within days. We recommend taking care of them before they are even an issue. Using pre-emergents now will keep your yard free of weeds. Preventing weeds from showing up is essential so that you aren't spending the next few months pulling weeds and, instead, relaxing in your private oasis.
Ficus Columns, or Indian Laurel Columns, are an excellent choice for creating a living wall no matter the reason. Need privacy or shade? Look no further. The Ficus Columns have dense evergreen foliage that works well for blocking unwanted sights and sounds. They also help to keep your yard and home cooler, thanks to their fast growth. They are easy to prune, so you can keep them on the smaller side for topiary purposes or tall and majestic – whichever fits your style and landscape needs. Grown to thrive in desert environments, the drought-tolerant Ficus Nitida Columns are sure to add greenery to your landscape and get attention from your neighbors.
Specially grown at our tree farms, the Piru Queen palm is unlike other Queen palms around. Our Piru Queen palms feature thicker and stronger trunks, denser and greener fronds, and produce fuller crowns. Our Queen palms can handle hot summers, cold winters, and windy days. The palm is supported by a thick trunk, which makes it ideal in tight spaces around your pool, but it does require overhead space as the palm grows to statuesque heights.
The Carolina Cherry is native to the Southwestern area and thrives when grown in our region. This evergreen can be grown and used as a large shrub or as a small tree, whatever your needs might be. It grows easily in full sun exposure and requires little upkeep for it to grow and thrive. The Carolina Cherry has become a popular choice for its overall minimal maintenance, natural upright cone-like shape, and ability to tolerate heat, drought, and wind. These features make it great to be used as a weather barrier as well as for privacy purposes!
Moon Valley Nurseries is your one-stop shop for all your landscape needs. Our experts have decades worth of experience and they will be able to assist you with any projects or questions you may have regarding trees, shrubs, design, and more! Come by and check out the amazing trees and deals we have to offer our California community.
For the best trees on Earth, Go straight to the Moon.