Gardening in Las Vegas | Bob Morris | Las Vegas Review-Journal

Proper pruning of fruit trees requires know-how, artistry

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 14:00:48 +0000

It’s difficult to find someone to prune several kinds of fruit trees. In fruit-producing areas, such skilled workers are easier to find.

Which garden plants can a desert tortoise safely eat?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:00:17 +0000

I have a garden that I want to let my tortoise roam in. What plants do they like and which ones are bad for them?

Does woody ‘rash’ on cactus indicate a problem?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 14:00:32 +0000

Older streaks are from the accumulation of suber, or corky tissue. These “rashes” also may happen when a cactus is damaged by disease.

Would peat moss work in place of compost?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:00:16 +0000

Compost and peat moss are added to soils for similar reasons, but the addition of compost provides a lot more nutrients to the soil.

Is one plant hardiness zone map preferable to another?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 14:00:20 +0000

I was asked by several people about my reaction to the recent change in the USDA’s plant hardiness zone map.

Want the scoop on your landscape soil? Try the jar test

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 14:00:16 +0000

With the valley’s housing developments, landscape soil can undergo a wide variety of changes that might not relate to the original soil at all.

How to renew organic material in soil that appears worn out

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 14:00:41 +0000

A gardener writes that his raised garden bed just hasn’t been as productive the past five years. What’s the solution?

Which types of fruit trees grow well in Las Vegas Valley?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 14:12:21 +0000

I have been growing fruit trees here since 1996. Watching them grow and produce fruit and maintaining them can be very rewarding.

Some key factors to keep in mind when selecting a tree

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 14:00:19 +0000

A reader asks if he should plant persimmon, Persian mulberry, walnut or pecan. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses.

Paring down a list of pear trees to grow in the desert

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:00:06 +0000

Pear trees can be roughly divided into two types: European and Asian. This distinction is not just about origin but also the fruit they produce.

What time of year is right for pruning bird of paradise?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 14:00:27 +0000

Plus, horticulture expert Bob Morris answers questions on planting hole size, drip irrigation systems and more.

Seeds of confusion: Why is my pomegranate’s fruit so pale?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 14:00:35 +0000

The Wonderful variety of pomegranate should have hard seeds, and the pulp should be dark red throughout and very puckery.

What factors into how much water plants need?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 14:00:36 +0000

Plant roots are lazy. They will expend as little energy as possible to grow as big as possible.

Nevada Garden Clubs hosting free flower show

Bob Morris Gardening — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 20:46:35 +0000

The club welcomes the public, as well as possible entrants, to its free show Saturday on the grounds of Lorenzi Park.

How much water does your landscape need?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 13:30:34 +0000

Their areas of origin and how they have evolved make the watering requirements for mesic plants and xeric plants vastly different.

Humidity from rain can cause lawn diseases

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 15:00:23 +0000

Some lawns experienced disease problems that lingered after we had high humidity because of the rain. That change in our weather encouraged plant diseases to occur.

Saving water in desert requires good irrigation design

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:00:18 +0000

Creating shade that doesn’t use water requires brainwork but may be necessary in the desert. Usually, a home’s hottest areas are the exposed south and west walls and windows.

Event speakers to offer advice on saving water

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 15:00:20 +0000

The Center for Urban Water Conservation in North Las Vegas will host an educational event Oct. 14 for homeowners and HOA members who want to save water on their landscapes.

Las Vegas appoints new state-mandated member of school board

Julie Wootton-Greener — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 18:31:51 +0000

The City Council voted Wednesday to select former charter school leader Adam Johnson as its non-voting member of the Clark County School Board.

Palm trees use negligibly more water as they get taller

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 30 Sep 2023 15:00:12 +0000

It’s expensive to have them trimmed twice a year. If their beauty outweighs their expense, keep them. But if you don’t enjoy them anymore, have them removed.

Worms in apples? Codling moth is common pest

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 15:00:19 +0000

Apples that stay on the tree longest are the most heavily infested by codling moths. Apples harvested early are the least infested. Populations of this pest increase with each generation produced.

Plant problems probably due to irrigation, selection

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 15:00:23 +0000

Soil in the ground stays cooler than containers because extra heat is routed to the surroundings and deeper soil.

Treet roots follow water, so application should be at base

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 15:00:06 +0000

The roots of plants follow water. Where water was applied, you will find roots.

Daytime temperatures too hot to plant desert spoon

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 15:00:20 +0000

Summer is not the best time of year to plant desert spoon, but if you are going to plant them, plant them at a time during the day when it’s cooler and plant in wet soil.

Healthy plants have better tolerance to heat

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 15:00:25 +0000

Plants originally coming from a desert are watered less often than those that don’t come from deserts. This is because desert plants have methods of surviving a longer time between irrigations.

Sago palms turning yellow? Here’s why

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 15:00:20 +0000

There are three reasons why sago palms are yellowing: their location, needed soil amendments and improper watering.

Many plants are water-smart, but owners have to be, too

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 15:00:07 +0000

The SNWA offers a list of water-smart trees that are supposed to use less water than other types. But they still need to be managed.

How can I stop my palm trees from turning yellow?

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 15:00:37 +0000

Iron shortages in plants are notorious for yellow foliage. Try applying an iron chelate to the soil when growth is first starting.

Wet spring conditions can lead to bunch disease on grapes

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:00:22 +0000

Bayer Garden Products tells us, when treating for grape bunch diseases, that about half of the improvement is due to better air circulation and the other half using a copper-based fungicide.

Use fertilizer high in phosphorus to grow jasmine

Bob Morris Gardening — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 15:00:08 +0000

A fertilizer high in the middle number — phosphorus — should be fine for jasmine.