The new growing season is upon us! We are finally starting to come out of the hot summer weather and into fall. We will greatly appreciate the cooler weather and our landscapes will, too. Fall is the time when our trees and plants can effectively establish themselves into their environment. With the changing of the season, there are a few things we need to remember so that our landscapes and gardens can thrive.
Watering: With the cooler nights and warm days, it’s important to change our watering routine. For fall, we need to water less often than we do during the hot summer. Typically, once our daytime temperatures reach 85-100 degrees, we move away from our summer watering schedule. There are factors that play into how much you need to water; those factors are the type of tree or plant, and the planting location. Check out our watering guide to see what we recommend. If you would like more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our nursery pros at your nearest Moon Valley Nursery location. Now’s a great time to help cut the amount of water we use by reducing the frequency that we water our lawns. With cooler weather, our lawns will retain more moisture longer, cutting back on our usage.
Fertilizing: It’s growing season, so it’s also time to fertilize! Fertilizing will help your trees, palms, and other plants grow to their full potential. This is the perfect time for the additional help with the growing process, fertilizers will allow trees and plants to intake more nutrients and water along with making nutrients more readily available. Moon Valley Nurseries has a line of custom developed fertilizers that can be used on a variety of landscape materials – turf, grass, palms, shade trees, flowers, hedges, and so much more. Click here to see our fertilizers.
Tree Care: Make way for new growth! Trim off the dead or damaged branches so that new growth has the room needed. Fall is the time to use proper tree care to ensure that your trees and plants are ready for the new growth. Cut back any excessive branches and clean all your citrus and fruit trees of unwanted suckers. Mulch any area where the sun is shining directly on the dirt; this will allow the roots to keep cool and moist.
What to Plant
Crape Myrtle – If you want color, this is the tree for you! Blooming large clusters of flowers throughout all seasons, the Crape Myrtle will deliver year-round interest of vibrant color. We custom grow our Crape Myrtles to be mildew resistant, making them the strongest Crape Myrtles you can find. With low maintenance needs, low water use, and the variety of colors of flowers, it is easy to see why the Crape Myrtle is one of the most popular flowering trees. This drought tolerant tree grows in a vase shape, with vibrant flowers popping against shiny, bright green leaves. The multi-trunk looks impressive with nighttime lighting.
Tipu – This fast-growing shade tree is the solution for adding shade and beauty to any yard. Its large canopy is created with feathery, bright bluish-green foliage. The Tipu tree features a fissured bark texture and, in the spring, lovely golden blooms appear. These shade trees are water-wise, drought tolerant, and grow well in many soil conditions. Tipus require little maintenance and fit in with any style of landscape. The nectar of the Tipu attracts butterflies and other pollinators to your yard or garden, creating a magical scene.
Chinese Elm – The Chinese Elm, also known as the “Evergreen Elm,” is a favorite staple in many parks. And is one of our top performing shade trees. In very mild winters, Chinese Elms can retain their leaves throughout the season. The foliage is dark green and creates an umbrella-shaped canopy that produces mass amounts of shade. The Chinese Elm is ideal for use as a picnic spot, for climbing, or for attaching a tire swing for the kids to enjoy. This tree thrives in full sun and is very tolerant of poor soil and weather.
Ficus Columns – Indian Laurel Columns are an excellent choice for creating a living wall to give you some privacy. These Ficus Columns have dense evergreen foliage that works well for blocking unwanted sights and noises, while creating shade. It’s not a surprise that these beautiful trees are also known as the Hollywood Hedge! Once established, Indian Laurel Columns are drought tolerant and water-wise. They are easy to prune, so you can keep them small and narrow or tall and majestic – whichever fits your style.
Piru Queen Palm – Our Piru Queen Palms feature thicker and harder trunks, denser and greener fronds, and fuller crowns. These evergreen palms thrive in full sun and can handle heat or cold exposure. Very low water requirements make this an ideal palm for anyone trying to conserve water while having a lovely landscape. Our Piru Queen palms will bring the feel of the tropics straight to your yard. These beautiful palms can grow up to heights of 35 feet and can have 10-15-foot fronds; plant in your front yard for a focal point and use nighttime lighting to pump up the wow factor!
Pygmy Date Palm – Its versatility and dwarf growth pattern allow the Pygmy Date palm to be planted in tight spaces; perfect around pools, patios, courtyards, and in pots. It can be grown in shade, is slow growing, and its roots are non-invasive. This allows it to be a fantastic option for planting under larger palms or trees, in between palms, or in a cluster. This stunning palm features multiple trunks of varying height or it can be grown with just a single trunk. Moon Valley Nurseries custom grows our Pygmy Date Palms, at our local farms, to ensure that the palms generate thicker trunks and fuller crowns; giving you the greatest quality palm.
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