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Thursday Is Weekly Garden Tip Day-Got Water?

May 17, 2012 By Jay Harper

With a few very warm days this week the telephone and emails have been lively with questions about: what’s happening to this plant, how much do I water this, is it too hot for that…..Well it is time to adjust your watering system, hopefully. I say hopefully for a couple of reasons. One, the Harper Boys hope you adjusted your system for cooler weather this winter! So that would mean you need to increase the frequency of your watering now. One of the best tools for determining how and how often to water is the “watering by the numbers” guide put our by AMWUA and “Water Use It Wisely”! Click on the link to our website where you’ll find this brochure or you can pick up a copy FREE at either of our locations.

Other ways to improve your plant’s health and save water are:

  • Be sure your sprinkler heads are working properly
  • Adjust and or change to low flow sprinkler heads
  • Be sure your sprinkler timer is set to correct time and date and the back up battery has been replaced
  • Mulch,Mulch,and Mulch some more!

Using bark mulch or organic compost to insulate and keep moisture in the ground longer around your plant is perhaps the single most underused gardening technique here in the valley. Perhaps it is because of the decorative rock nature of our landscapes and folks are hesitant to put “litter” around the base of plants , we’re not sure. If you want better looking plants, less weeds,and you want to use less water, than apply 2-6″ of bark,mulch,clippings…any type of organic material ( it doesn’t have to be composted to use this way) at the base of your plants and I guarantee you’ll see the difference!! This is especially effective around rose bushes, fruit trees, flower beds and vegetable gardens. Low water use plants will benefit also. Go into the desert and see how native plants grow. They are branched clear to the ground and under neath is a layer of “litter” or leaf drop that “mulches” the plants and helps them get through long hot summers! If Mother Nature pruned her desert trees and shrubs off the ground and vacumed away all the leaf litter-I’d venture to say most of even the toughest of these would be severely stressed out by Summers End!

Click on the “Rosie On The House” coupon to save 20% on any Grow Well soil or bark product this weekend!!

Good Growin’ and stay tuned to 92.3fm KTAR Saturday at 8am for more great garden information from the Harper Boys!

Since 1945-Harper’s Home Grown…It’s What We Do & Who We Are!

Filed Under: Harper's General News, Rosie On The House, What's Growing On?, Xeriscape, weekly tip

And Tuesday’s Winner(s) Are!

September 27, 2011 By Jay Harper

Jo and Lola are our simultaneous winners this week. They both correctly guessed Texas Sage. Join me in the “please stop pruning the Texas Sage” movement!! Congratulations Jo and Lola!! You both have earned a Free Texas Sage Plant! Stop by and pick one up at your convenience. Good Growin’.

Filed Under: What's Growing On?, Xeriscape, winners

Harper’s Weekly Newsletter

August 25, 2011 By Jay Harper
Hooray-The Last Newsletter Of August!!
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I’m sure everyone is as tired of Summer and heat as we are. This is always an interesting newsletter to put out because you can finally really start talking about getting ready for Fall gardening! As we are writing this, a fork lift is unloading a truck load of mulch, compost, garden soil, rye grass seed, fertilizer , and all the goodies you’d need to get a Fall garden started. Some of our new garden seeds have arrived, and bulbs and onion sets will be here the week of the 12th-not that far away. We hope your Summer was enjoyable, and you were able to get out of the heat for a bit, but now it is time to start getting ready for that glorious Fall garden season. We are and we hope you will be soon. See you in the garden-Good Growin’.

LATE SUMMER GARDEN CHECKLIST

    • Great Fall gardens begin with proper soil preparation. It is time to start turning the soil, adding organic compost,fertilizer,gypsum,etc. We have a free garden recipe if you’d like come on in and pick it up. Please don’t plant until you’ve prepared the soil!
    • If you have prepared: start planting beans,corn,cucumber,melons,and squash seeds.
    • The list above triples in two weeks and some starts will be available as well.
    • Fertilize citrus,and  tropicals like hibiscus and bougainvillea while the weather is still warm.
    • Fertilize your lawn for the last time if you overseed for the winter. If you don’t plant a winter lawn, continue to fertilize monthly until October or November.
    • Be on the watch for critters. Caterpillars, mealy bugs, spider mites, and yes even some aphids are very present on ornamentals, grape vines, and your remaining summer veggies like squash. If you cant i.d. or want a suggested treatment, please catch a few and bring them in!
    • Control weeds and unwanted grass while it is young and growing fast. If you want to convert your grass lawn to xeriscape or rock, now is the best time to kill bermudagrasses. Weeds will start going to seed as the weather cools so get rid of them now! Again bring them in for proper i.d. and treatment.
    • The Monsoon is probably not quite over yet so take a look at your trees and make sure they are pruned properly and there are no precarious limbs that could cause a problem in the next storm. Young trees should be properly double staked to prevent wind damage as well.

Plant Something!
Plant Something If your utility bills are too high, you need a fresh look or better curb appeal, or a place to hang that hammock or swing for the grand kids-now is the time to plant something. Harper’s can help you plan an entire yard, or place a single tree in the correct spot to make sure that you get the full impact and value of each plant,vine or tree! Fall is the absolute best time to plant in our part of the state. Whether you need shade or impact or a nice secluded quite spot-Call us and We’ll Plant Something Together!! You can call Jerry Harper direct at 602 659 5994 or come by and visit us at either location. Remember Harper’s offers a LIFETIME PLANT GUARANTEE if we plant or install or if you do it yourself and purchase all the necessary planting amendments!!

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Fall shipments are arriving and we’re looking forward to seeing all of you soon. We hope we can help make your fall gardening season successful, fun, and enjoyable!!
Sincerely,

The Harper Boys

HARPER’S NURSERY & LANDSCAPE CO.inc.
Filed Under: August Gardening, Facebook, Harper's, Harper's General News, Lifetime Guarantee, Newsletter, Plant Something, Shade Trees, Tree planting, What's Growing On?, Xeriscape, coupon, fall garden preparation, garden seed, good news, landscaping, new arrivals, radio show, weekly Specials, weekly tip

Know Why It Is Spring?

April 19, 2011 By Jay Harper

There are many old folkish tales from old timers here in the desert about how to know when winter is finally over. Remember last weekends record cold? One of the signs is if it is a late Easter we’ll have a late winter-seems to be correct. Another is when the Mesquite trees bloom (not leaf out), well they started to bloom this last week. Lastly, that I know of is when the White Wing Doves show up from Mexico-saw my first one yesterday! So according to all my sources Old Man Winter is gone and it is Spring! Do you have any old wives tales about how to tell the weather? If so, let us hear about them! Enjoy this week-Holy Week for Christians, Passover for Jews, and Earth Day is Friday as well. Need any more excuses to get some yard work done-I’ll bet we can come with a few-Great Growing!!

Filed Under: Easter, Harper's General News, Holy Week, Passover, What's Growing On?, Xeriscape, spring gardening

Weekly Newsletter and Specials

August 19, 2010 By Jay Harper
Third Saturday of the Month Edition

 Since this is the 3rd week of the month you’ll notice the longer format. And next month we’ll be back to our 3rd Saturday Events: The Garden Club Meeting @ 10am at both locations, an Open Air Market at Scottsdale, and who knows what else we may come up with! We at Harpers hope your Summer has been a good one, and as it winds down we also hope we’ll be seeing more of you. As we speak, our Geranium and Poinsettia crops have been started, new packaged seed has arrived, and in the next week or two vegetable bedding plants will start arriving. So in spite of the heat we’re getting ready for an exciting Fall and I’m sure you’re more than ready too!
 
Harper’s Specials

We promised you for the summer we’d offer special pricing on plants. For this week we have some great 5 gallon plants for $5 ea! Mexicana Bird of Paradise, Fan Palms,Canary Isle Date Palms,Desert Ruellia,Oaks, and Willow Acacias.

 

                                                                PLUS                                                                       

  • FREE Planting on purchases of $350 or more at regular price and from in stock merchandise!
  • FREE on site Evaluation of your landscape
  • Double Loyalty Points thru 8/31
  • Landscape Contest-You have till Labor Day to Enter! Email or Facebook us your entry!
  • Groupons-Remember if you purchased a groupon they expire 8/31
 Remember as part of our 3rd Saturday Activities The Guys from The Pond Gnome will be at both Harper locations to answer questions about ponds, pond plants, and anything related to ponds, water features, and what to do when the Heron shows up!!!
Weekly Landscape Tip:xeriscape

How have you water bills been this summer? I have actually had one month that it exceeded my electric bill! Wow! If you have ever considered converting from turf to xeriscape or low water use landscaping, August and September might actually be the best months to do it. The most difficult part of the process is killing  the existing grass. It can only be done effectively when it is most actively growing.The late summer and early fall months are the most active for bermudagrasses plus as we get into September the grass starts trying to store up nutrients for winter and that makes the uptake of herbicides even more effective.  The use of “glyphosate”,Hi Yield Killzall  type herbicides is a must as they kill the entire plant, root and all. Don’t try to kill the grass by just not watering it. It doesn’t work- and as soon as it rains or you water any of the new plants, you’ll have bermudagrass coming up.  If we can be of any help with any phase of your “conversion” experience-please let us know! Jerry Harper and his team have done many- of all shapes,sizes,and budgets. Give Jerry a call 602 659 5994 to set up a time for a FREE on site evaluation.
 

Remember to join us every Saturday at 8am on 92.3 fm KTAR for the Garden Segment of Rosie on the House. You can call in and ask a question or just join in on the fun! The tip of the week can also be heard at the beginning of the show and there is a coupon for the product mentioned! Click on the coupon icon and print it out-and you get %20 off!  Also “LIKE” us on Facebook and get daily updates and tips!  Here is to Good Gardening!!!
 

Find us on FacebookThe Harper Boys
HARPER’S NURSERY & LANDSCAPE CO.

Filed Under: 3rd saturday event, Harper's General News, Loyalty Points, Newsletter, Summer Specials, Xeriscape, groupon, labor day double points vegatable seeds, landscaping, radio show, sale, weekly Specials

Bermuda Grass Conversion

August 21, 2009 By Jay Harper

Late August and in to September is a great time to convert from a turf type landscape to a low water use xeriscape theme. The reason is that grasses become much easier to kill this time a year as their growth is still rapid enough but they are also trying to store up carbs for a long winter rest. In doing this they are “super absorbent” of herbicide and the kill is much more effective. So if you have had any thoughts about taking on this project, especially if you just received your latest water bill, don’t delay. Once the weather cools considerably the rate of kill becomes slow and ineffective and eventually impossible. If you are looking for help in this or any other kind of project be sure to give our landscape department a call 602-659-5994!

They are forecasting for a relatively cool weekend and the possibility of some rain! As fall vegetable season has begun this would be a great week end to at least get the soil prepared. The “Garden Tips” link on our home page has a garden prep guide and a list of what veggies you can plant when! The key to gardening success is the soil preparation. Don’t skimp-you have ample of time take it and do a good job being sure to add all the necessary amendments. You’ll be glad you did!

Filed Under: Conversion to Low Water Landscape, Xeriscape, fall garden preparation

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