A new year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. Have you established your resolution?  Most of us set resolutions for personal care, like beginning an exercise program, eating cleaner, or even saving money (especially after a pricey holiday season). But you can apply these goals to your landscape or property as well. This is a great time of year to start fresh with plant growth and plant health care programs and even improve water conservation measures for your property.  Here are few ideas to help get the ball rolling on maintaining a beautiful and efficient landscape:

• Many shrubs and groundcovers benefit from renovation pruning before spring warm-up. Hard cutbacks of oleander, Texas sage and lantana are important not only for size management, but also to help eliminate woody growth from past seasons. More to come next month on pruning scheduling.
• As water rates continue to increase, an irrigation audit may be helpful to make sure you are watering plants efficiently. 
• Upgrading your irrigation system to operate on a smart controller, which uses local weather data to water plants appropriately, can be a great way to reduce water wastage.
• Schedule annual tree pruning with your tree care professional to assure ideal pruning periods for tree species on your property.
• Take an inventory of plant replacements that are needed and discuss the ideal replanting time with your landscape contractor.
• Have you had past pest or weed issues on your site?  Discuss preventative treatment options with your landscape contractor or pest management professional to develop an action plan for management.
• If your turfgrass is being taken over by undesirable weed growth, discuss creating a customized fertility program with your landscaping professional. Healthy turf will often out-compete weeds that germinate, helping to keep your lawn.
• Don’t forget to replenish bare or sparse areas of decomposed granite.  Maintaining 2” of dg helps reduce evaporation from soil, reduces erosion and suppresses weed germination. It also provides a ‘finished’ background for plants in the landscape.

ALCA wishes you and your family a very happy New Year. May the next few months be a period of beautiful transformation in your landscape.