It’s early February, but across much of Nevada, it feels like early spring. In Las Vegas, temperatures are already in the low 70s. And while there is still plenty of time for winter to reassert itself, there’s also a lot you can be doing in your yard or garden right now to prepare for the warmer months.
So, it felt like time to check in with KNPR’s resident horticulturist, Norm Schilling, to learn more about what we should and shouldn’t be doing in the garden this time of year.
"Everything is pushing bud and bursting into bloom earlier this year," he told State of Nevada. "Basically the whole schedule has moved up."
That means there are several things you can be doing to prepare your lawn and garden for the months ahead, including:
- Fertilizing. Mid-to-late February is the best time to apply the first round of lawn fertilizer. Follow up about six weeks later.
- Consider replacing traditional high-water lawns with lower-water alternatives such as kurapia or micro-clover.
- Plant new trees now, especially fruit trees (e.g., citrus, pomegranates, figs, stone fruits). Just make sure the root ball stays moist after planting so the roots can establish.
- When planting trees, ensure the root flare is at or above soil level. Remove excess potting soil from the trunk, plant slightly raised for good drainage, and avoid burying the trunk to prevent rot and suffocation.
Guests: Norm Schilling, owner, Mojave Bloom Nursery and Shilling Horticulture Group
