WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING NOW IN LATE AUGUST?

ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION!

In one of our seasonal archived Garden Guru Shows, the Garden Guru last week said that late August is the perfect time to sit back and relax in your garden and enjoy the “fruits” of your labor from the Spring and Summer! Then of course … you have to start looking at your plants and making sure everything is “growing” perfectly…and make a list of things that you need to do to prepare for the Fall!

Lynn said that one thing that you have to think about is to check and see if there are any insects developing … which you know they’re always are … whenever there’s plants there’s going to be insects … that’s just the way Mother Nature intended it to be! If they get to be too many and start doing too much damage to everything that we worked so hard to build … then it’s time to take care of them. That’s easily done with organic pesticides. This time of year there’s also a little powdery mildew in my garden. I’ve noticed it on Lilacs and roses. Listen to Lynn’s tip on how to get rid of these little pests easily!

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CLICK HERE to listen to the GARDEN GURU’s archived show regarding Indian Market and what to do now in the garden!

Enjoy your weekend and HAPPY GARDENING!

HAPPY GARDENING!

Fall may still be a little way off, but our homegrown mums are already beginning to bud! They’re thriving in the greenhouse and developing into full, beautiful plants that will soon be bursting with autumn color.

Perfect for porches, patios, containers, and garden beds, our mums will be ready to welcome Santa Fe’s fall season in style.

Stay tuned—the blooms are coming, and they’re ready to TAKE HOME!

STOP BY TODAY!

IT’S A GREAT TIME TO PLANT!

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Our homegrown poinsettias are already growing at Payne’s Nursery! While summer is still in full swing, we’re busy nurturing these holiday favorites, giving them plenty of time to grow full, lush, and vibrant for the season ahead.

Grown right here in Santa Fe, our poinsettias are fresh, healthy, and available in a beautiful variety of holiday colors. Choosing locally grown plants also means supporting local jobs and our Santa Fe community.

The holidays will be here before we know it—stay tuned as our poinsettias grow into something beautiful!

We are well into our monsoon season … and some areas of Santa Fe have been getting a substantial amount of rain … however … we still need to keep an eye on watering. You need to continue watering your trees, shrubs, flowers and ground-covers to keep them healthy.

Don’t assume that the recent rain storms we’ve had will take care of your watering needs. Sometimes the leaves of shrubs and trees shield the plant so that rain runs off the exterior area of the plant and not immediately around the root zone. There is an art to watering and getting to know your plants on a more personal level. This way you will know when to water them.

* WATER LESS FREQUENTLY, MORE DEEPLY: Water thoroughly 1-2 times per week instead of a light application every day, in other words, soak the entire root zone.

* WATER EARLY IN THE DAY before heat and drying winds cause evaporation. Watering is best performed in the cool of the morning or evening. Remember, plants need 1.5-2 inches of water per week during hot weather, so get a rain gauge or listen to your weather report daily to figure out if the monsoons have given you enough precipitation to meet your plants’ needs. Window boxes, and other containers, which rain does not moisten effectively, will need regular watering even during the monsoons.

PAYNE’S TIP: 

Check your plants on a regular basis – look at them, check the soil and then water accordingly. If something is wilting, it may not be lack of water, it could be too much water or simply too much heat, so check your soil. If the soil is damp don”t water, wait until late in the afternoon or evening. If the plant perks up when it cools off, then it does not need water.

• Keeps soil moist: Mulch acts like a protective blanket over the soil. It slows down water evaporation, which helps plants stay hydrated for longer. This can also reduce how often you need to water your garden.

• Prevents weeds: A thick layer of mulch blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds in the soil. Without enough sunlight, many weeds have a harder time growing. This means less time spent pulling weeds and more room for your plants to grow.

• Improves and protects the soil: Mulch helps protect soil from heavy rain, wind, and extreme temperatures. Organic mulch, such as wood chips or leaves, also breaks down over time and adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil, helping plants grow healthier.

CLICK here for Payne’s Organic Soil Yard!

Cedar mulch: Cedar mulch helps keep the soil moist, reduces weed growth, and protects plant roots from extreme temperatures. It also has a natural, attractive appearance that works well around trees, flowers, and garden beds.

Cypress mulch: Cypress mulch helps the soil hold moisture and can reduce the amount of watering needed. It also helps control weeds and gives garden areas a clean, natural look.

Pathway Groundcover: Pathway groundcover can be used between stepping stones or along walkways to create an attractive, natural path. It helps reduce bare soil, control erosion, and can give pathways a softer, more finished appearance.

Copyright Mark Parisi