Tips to keep your trees looking great this fall in Arizona

It’s Labor Day weekend and that’s one of three times of year we urge homeowners to fertilize their citrus to ensure a juicy crop.

Most of the time, granular fertilizers work best for an applied slow release. If there’s rain in the forecast, try timing your application ahead of the storm and let nature help slowly release the nutrients into the soil.

So, what about your other trees? Well, it just so happens that September and October are also good months to fertilize other trees in your yard. Stored nutrients from a fall feeding will help produce strong growth in the spring.

You might also apply a two- to three-inch layer of finished compost around the base of trees and shrubs. This relatively inexpensive treat for trees does more to improve the growth of desert plants than many other treatments, including commercial fertilizer. Compost can reduce soil temperatures and improve soil microbiology the natural way.

When it comes to pruning, you can trim mesquites and eucalyptus now if you haven’t yet. Because their spring and summer growth has slowed down, they’ll now hold their shape for the rest of the year.

Whatever you do, don’t hack away at those lemons, limes and oranges in the fall. Doing so can encourage a growth spurt that could be damaged when it cools off in late autumn. In fact, the less you prune your citrus the better. Or as our tree expert from Integrity Tree Service, John Eisenhower, advises…”No recreational pruning!”

In nature, citrus trees really want to be shrubs; they only take the shape of a tree when we prune them. So limit your cutting to removing dead or damaged wood as well as suckers. Prune to keep citrus healthy, attractive and within bounds.

For more tips, help and information on all your home improvement projects, visit Arizona’s largest collection of homeowner DIY advice and information at RosieontheHouse.com.

And if you are in need of a contractor you can trust, visit our list of Arizona’s very best contractors or service providers for your home improvement projects at RosieontheHouse.com, Arizona’s most trusted referral network.

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