Comments for Southern California Landscaping http://wcgminc.wordpress.com Thoughts from a Southern California Landscape Pro Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:33:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Didn’t You See It the First Time Around? by Great Sprinkler Repair Article | Sprinkler Systems & Lawn Irrigation DIY http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/didnt-you-see-it-the-first-time-around/#comment-23 Great Sprinkler Repair Article | Sprinkler Systems & Lawn Irrigation DIY Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:33:51 +0000 http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-23 [...] can’t always see every sprinkler problem at first. Check out the article here written by a Southern California landscaper. Subscribe to [...] [...] can’t always see every sprinkler problem at first. Check out the article here written by a Southern California landscaper. Subscribe to [...]

]]> Comment on Why are my Myoporums dying? by Luis Vasquez http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/why-are-my-myoporums-dying/#comment-19 Luis Vasquez Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:19:31 +0000 http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/?p=36#comment-19 No, drastically cutting the trees back will encourage rapid new growth, which is what the thrip feed on. I would lightly prune out some of the tips, make sure you are watering properly, and withhold fertilizing. Applications of Imidacloprid seem to provide some measure of control. <a href="http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/Tree-Shrub-Insect-Control/concentrate.html" rel="nofollow">Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate</a> contains Imidacloprid and can be purchased at a local garden center. Always follow the label directions. The fact of the matter is, unless a biological control for Myoporum thrips is found, you will be fighting an uphill battle. Proper cultural care and applications of Imidacloprid will only control the pest, not eradicate it. Also, it's important to note that Imidacloprid may kill off some natural predators, so apply sparingly. Hope that helps! No, drastically cutting the trees back will encourage rapid new growth, which is what the thrip feed on. I would lightly prune out some of the tips, make sure you are watering properly, and withhold fertilizing. Applications of Imidacloprid seem to provide some measure of control. Bayer Advanced™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate contains Imidacloprid and can be purchased at a local garden center. Always follow the label directions. The fact of the matter is, unless a biological control for Myoporum thrips is found, you will be fighting an uphill battle. Proper cultural care and applications of Imidacloprid will only control the pest, not eradicate it. Also, it’s important to note that Imidacloprid may kill off some natural predators, so apply sparingly. Hope that helps!

]]> Comment on Why are my Myoporums dying? by M. Ficarra http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/why-are-my-myoporums-dying/#comment-18 M. Ficarra Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:48:49 +0000 http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/?p=36#comment-18 I live in San Mateo Co. and the thrip has now rampant here. My trees have been infected for 2 or 3 years. This year( 2209) it has been particularly bad. Will drastically cutting them back help? HELP! I live in San Mateo Co. and the thrip has now rampant here. My trees have been infected for 2 or 3 years. This year( 2209) it has been particularly bad. Will drastically cutting them back help? HELP!

]]> Comment on About by Pat http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/about/#comment-16 Pat Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:42:24 +0000 #comment-16 Thanks for the reply. I real don't water them that much -- usually only when the leaves start showing stress and drooping. I'll stop watering and see how it goes next few weeks. Thanks for the reply. I real don’t water them that much — usually only when the leaves start showing stress and drooping.

I’ll stop watering and see how it goes next few weeks.

]]> Comment on About by Luis Vasquez http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/about/#comment-15 Luis Vasquez Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:43:21 +0000 #comment-15 There are many possible reasons that your trees may not be doing well and without seeing them it might be impossible to diagnose. I will mention that the number one reason that plants fail in general, is due to over or under-watering. Crape Myrtles have low water requirements and thrive on the heat. My first recommendation would be to cut back on the water, especially this time of year. Water deeply and infrequently. I like Crape Myrtles because of the color they bring to the landscape. I hope that you can save them. If you need any further assistance, feel free to send me an email at the address above. There are many possible reasons that your trees may not be doing well and without seeing them it might be impossible to diagnose. I will mention that the number one reason that plants fail in general, is due to over or under-watering. Crape Myrtles have low water requirements and thrive on the heat. My first recommendation would be to cut back on the water, especially this time of year. Water deeply and infrequently. I like Crape Myrtles because of the color they bring to the landscape. I hope that you can save them. If you need any further assistance, feel free to send me an email at the address above.

]]> Comment on About by Pat http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/about/#comment-14 Pat Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:57:45 +0000 #comment-14 I planted two crepe myrtle trees (about 7 feet tall) in my front yard two years ago. They get full sun exposure, so I make sure they get extra water. They have not done well. Very little growth, leaves fall off after 2-3 months, branches are weak, etc. I'm tempted to take them out and start over with something else. Crepe Myrtle is a common landscape tree in my area (La Crescenta), so I'm not sure what the problem is. Any ideas? I'm looking for trees that will grow 15-20 ft. with enough canopy to create a little shade. I planted two crepe myrtle trees (about 7 feet tall) in my front yard two years ago. They get full sun exposure, so I make sure they get extra water.

They have not done well. Very little growth, leaves fall off after 2-3 months, branches are weak, etc. I’m tempted to take them out and start over with something else.

Crepe Myrtle is a common landscape tree in my area (La Crescenta), so I’m not sure what the problem is.

Any ideas? I’m looking for trees that will grow 15-20 ft. with enough canopy to create a little shade.

]]> Comment on Top 10 Water Conservation Tips for Landscapes by wcgminc http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/top-10-water-conservation-tips-for-landscapes/#comment-13 wcgminc Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:04:50 +0000 http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-13 That's a great link, thanks for the comment Mike. That’s a great link, thanks for the comment Mike.

]]> Comment on Top 10 Water Conservation Tips for Landscapes by Mike http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/top-10-water-conservation-tips-for-landscapes/#comment-12 Mike Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:57:58 +0000 http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/?p=73#comment-12 Good article and so pertinent to our times. I first learned about Xeriscaping at eartheasy.com, so i think all of this is so key. I also want to share a few more ideas on water conservation outdoors, that i found here: http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm If we all do a little bit, it'll add up to a LOT! Good article and so pertinent to our times. I first learned about Xeriscaping at eartheasy.com, so i think all of this is so key. I also want to share a few more ideas on water conservation outdoors, that i found here: http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

If we all do a little bit, it’ll add up to a LOT!

]]> Comment on Didn’t You See It the First Time Around? by Craig http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/didnt-you-see-it-the-first-time-around/#comment-8 Craig Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:24:30 +0000 http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-8 Great article! I've been using the same analogy equating car repair to irrigation repair for many years. For some reason people understand that a car starter can fail after 5 years, but are suspicious that a sprinkler valve can fail after 20. I have also heard "you worked on the system only three months ago and the controller was functioning fine before you got here". Nice blog. I'll add it to my RSS. Great article!

I’ve been using the same analogy equating car repair to irrigation repair for many years. For some reason people understand that a car starter can fail after 5 years, but are suspicious that a sprinkler valve can fail after 20.

I have also heard “you worked on the system only three months ago and the controller was functioning fine before you got here”.

Nice blog. I’ll add it to my RSS.

]]> Comment on Call us Before, Not After by wcgminc http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/call-us-before-not-after/#comment-7 wcgminc Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:05:21 +0000 http://wcgminc.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-7 Hello Don. I'm not sure exactly what the job market is like for certified testers since we do not provide in-house backflow testing and repair services. Sorry. The landscape industry itself seems to have slowed down a bit. You don't see as many people at the supply houses as before. I feel that it's mostly due to the slow down in the housing market, but since we only provide commercial services it hasn't affected us as much as others. Hope that helps. Hello Don. I’m not sure exactly what the job market is like for certified testers since we do not provide in-house backflow testing and repair services. Sorry. The landscape industry itself seems to have slowed down a bit. You don’t see as many people at the supply houses as before. I feel that it’s mostly due to the slow down in the housing market, but since we only provide commercial services it hasn’t affected us as much as others. Hope that helps.

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