Keven Pauling
Weed Control
Weeds are popping up everywhere. If you only see a few, try pouring boiling water on the top of it and it will be dead by the end of the day. If you have more weeds than time to boil gallons of water, Roundup works great, but you can improve your odds at winning the battle over spring weeds with these tips (scan code to watch a video on this):
1. Add an equal amount of dish soap to the weed killer. This helps the chemical stick to the plant for better absorption. For example, if the directions say 1-1/2 oz. of Roundup per gallon of water, add 1-1/2 oz. of liquid dish soap.
2. Store unused Roundup in a dark place, never out in the heat.
3. Roundup works only when applied to the leaves of the plant, not the soil.
4. Roundup is a non-selective herbicide, which means it will kill everything you spray it on, so be cautious of even a little breeze that might drift onto desired plants.
It’s Time to Plant
In the low desert we garden all year; however, there is little doubt that March is the best time to plant tomatoes and summer vegetables so they are well established before the summer. If you have plants and trees that you have been waiting to replace or plant, now is the time for that as well.
Trimming and Pruning
Spring is a great time to prune back plants that have gotten a bit out of control, such as lantana. I’ve seen a cute little four-inch lantana become a monster, creeping out well over six feet in as little as two seasons. When this happens it becomes woody, doesn’t bloom as much and the inside is dead wood and home to six generations of bunnies. I’ve been known to cut lantana back so much my customer thinks I’ve killed it, but by reducing the plant to 8 to 10 inches, leaving little if any green on the plant, I can clean up accumulated dead leaves and branches from inside and within a couple of weeks it will start to come back. Within a month, it will be full of blooms and fresh, new growth. This works on many desert shrubs like sages, bougainvillea and oleanders. This month is also time to properly trim trees. If you have doubts about your abilities, call a professional. What they charge will be worth it in the long run. Clean dead branches out from inside citrus trees. This isn’t necessary but makes picking easier.