Dos and Don'ts of Summer For Commercial Property

There is always something to be done for commercial property landscaping, but summer can be one of the most trying times to keep plants alive and thriving in the parching heat of the desert sun. Here are just a few considerations for what must be done to keep your commercial property gorgeous and healthy.

Grass

Now is the time to plant Bermuda grass, during the active growing season, May through August. Fertilize Bermuda grass landscapes with Nitrogen each month beginning late April or early May according to the directions on the fertilizer package. Iron should be applied once a month according to the type of fertilizer used. Apply one inch of water per week to Bermuda lawns to keep it healthy. Once every two or three years Bermuda grass should be dethatched if necessary. Only dethatch during the active growing season, May through August. This enables the turf to quickly recover.

Roses

Cut back on fertilizing established roses to encourage plants to slow down for the hot summer. Roses must be watered deeply as temperatures climb. Hose off plants in the early morning to increase humidity and control spider mites.

Landscape Plants

Increase water application as the weather warms, make note that June is the driest month. You should pay close attention to irrigation needs of plants and adapt accordingly. Mulch can be applied to the ground around heat sensitive plants to keep the roots cooler and prevent evaporation. Apply chelated iron to bottle brush, pyracantha, silk oak, and other plants with iron deficiency symptoms. Prune palms when flower spathes show or delay pruning until after the palm has finished flowering to prevent infestation of Palm Flower caterpillars. If palms are pruned in the spring, leave the top five rows of peels so the caterpillars have a place to hide. Cut off spent blooms to stimulate rebloom. Native and imported heat tolerant plants can be planted right through the summer months. They will need to be watered on a regular basis until fall. Transplant palms in the heat of the summer for best results. If you have previously had a problem with an Agave Weevil, a pesticide labeled for use on grubs can be applied around the base of Agaves in order to kill the grubs of the Agave Weevil.

The Don’t List . . . Do Not expose citrus and other sun sensitive plants to sunburn by pruning during the summer. 

Keep in mind that Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance can Help!  Please contact us at; Sales: 623-848-8277. 

We serve businesses like yours throughout the entire Phoenix Metro Area.

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Greens Keeper Landscape Maintenance, LLC
623-848-8277
http://www.commerciallandscapecare.com
greenskeeperllc@cox.net