Let’s kick off 2016 with a few tips on taking better care of the material in our landscape. January is a great month to prepare our landscapes for the spring season. Better care now will result in a healthy and full spring landscape. Our nursery pros have compiled a few tips and tasks for your landscape this month.
- It may seem months away, but warmer days are coming and this is why it is so important to plant right now. Trees and plants planted now will have time to establish before the heat shows up. By allowing newly planted trees and plants time to establish, they can focus on root development before they experience spring growth which will provide maximum shade in the summer.
- Switch over to a winter watering schedule for the material in your landscape. Cooler temperatures and less sunlight allows the soil to stay moist for a longer period of time. This cuts down on the amount and frequency that you need to water. Check out our Winter Watering 101 Guide for more info.
- Monitor the weather report for any potential days of frost. If frost is predicted, cover plants and trees that may be susceptible. All of our nurseries sell frost cover to help protect your trees and plants.
- Start to fertilize the materials in your landscape. Root growth is the main focus of trees and plants during the cooler months so fertilizing now will allow the plants to soak up the nutrients and store them for explosive spring top growth. Moon Valley Nursery has developed highly specialized blends of fertilizer like Super Charged Moon Juice and Super Palm Juice which are designed to trigger growth responses and supplement the essential micro and macro nutrients that plants need to thrive in the Western United States. Click here to read more about our fertilizers.
- In the vegetable garden plant or transplant broccoli, buttercrunch lettuce, snow peas, onions, potatoes, spinach, carrots, and artichokes.
Ficus
Without question the most popular tree in our inventory, the Ficus is among the most beautiful and versatile trees for any landscape. Its dark, dense and lush foliage provides a dense canopy of shade. Ficus handles the summer heat very well and can be pruned to any shape. We offer three different Ficus options: Single-trunk, multi-trunk and columns, which are a great choice as a barrier for blocking sun, noise, wind and nosey neighbors. *Ficus not available in Las Vegas.
Read more about the Ficus here
Piru Queen Palm
A fantastic choice that brings a tropical feel to any landscape, the Piru Queen Palm is the benchmark for durability and appearance when it comes to Queen Palms. Compared to other Queen Palms, our Piru Queen Palms feature a thicker trunk, denser and greener fronds, and fuller crowns. Our Piru Queen Palms are acclimated to both hot and cold temperatures and are exclusively available at Moon Valley Nursery.
Mexican Fan Palm
One of the most popular palm varieties we carry, the Mexican Fan Palm can be used formally in straight lines along roads, driveways, or sidewalks and can be used around the pool for a tropical feel. The Mexican Fan Palm gives off a classic resort style feel and they are very durable in cold and warm temperatures.
Shamel Ash
Also known as the ‘Evergreen Ash’, the Shamel Ash is a fast growing tree that provides maximum shade to any landscape. Its canopy is rounded and dense with large and dark green leaves. Its trunk is thick and the Shamel Ash loves full sun.
Raywood Ash
Arguably the most unique of the Ash varieties, the Raywood Ash produces the darkest green foliage of all Ash varieties and in the fall, its leaves produce a stunning show of deep burgundy colors. The Raywood Ash is a very popular choice for landscapes across the Western U.S. Its canopy is rounded and it grows more upright that wide.
Fan Tex Ash
Smaller than most Ash varieties, the Fan Tex Ash is a wonderful deciduous tree for medium to large spaces in your landscape. In the fall, the Fan Tex Ash’s leaves turn gold in color and drop off quickly. They return in the spring for much-needed shade in the summer months, when it’s needed most. Its shape is rounded and it holds a densely layered canopy.
Heavenly Bamboo
This cold hardy shrub is an excellent accent plant that can grow to 7 feet tall with soft draping foliage that literally grows from the ground up. New growth is a striking red shade that turns green as the plant matures. The Heavenly Bamboo produces white flowers in the spring and performs well in full to partial sun.
Japanese Privet
If you're looking for a privacy hedge this winter, the Japanese Privet is a fantastic pick. The Japanese Privet is fast growing and can handle the cold and heat. Its leaves are deep green while producing white blooms in the spring.
Indian Hawthorn
This dark green shrub produces a vibrant display of large clusters of pink flowers in mid spring. The Indian Hawthorn can be trimmed to any height and shape and it can handle the cold and warmer months. They tend to grow very well in full shade and its flowers lead to purple berries in the fall and winter months.
If you have any questions regarding proper maintenance or how one of these awesome trees would fit in your yard make sure to contact one of our nursery pros at any of our nursery locations.
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