Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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Well, it's time to let people know about the care of living Christmas trees! A living Christmas tree is a live tree which comes in a container planted in soil. People like them because they are beautiful inside and after the holiday, you don't throw them away, you plant it in your own yard. So, it saves you money! Living trees have a good chance of surviving the move from indoors to the landscape. Unsure how to care for a living Christmas tree? Here are a few tips: 1. The tree should not be kept...
I'm writing this article to let everyone know of some new and unusual plants that grow well here in Tehachapi. First of all, it's always better to plant spring-blooming plants in the fall. They establish better and you get a longer bloom time! Some perennials to consider are: Echinacea, we have eight different varieties and we just received a beautiful load, and hardy geraniums, in six or seven varieties. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed. Another option is Saponaria, a beautiful pink f...
There are many things that can threaten the life of your trees and plants. But with our help, we can keep them growing strong. I have had some customers tell me that removing mistletoe is illegal. Thankfully, an online search has proven that to not be true. Proper removal is important for your plant's health. What about fruit tree pests? Borers on cherries, aphids on peach, nectarine and apricot wooly aphids on apples and pears and frost damage. This year, that's what happened to a lot of the fr...
I had several expensive trees taken, early morning on May 5 (possibly late evening on May 4). The big trees were Vanderwolf Pine, Oriental Spruce and Bakeri Spruce, all in 20 gallon pots. They didn’t take the pots, just the trees. If anyone in your neighborhood has just planted trees, or is in the process of landscaping, please check it out. Contact Tehachapi Police Department, (661) 822-2222 with any information. They have a record of the theft. Please help!...
Hi, I am Rick Gillies and I have been in business in Tehachapi for over 44 years at Mountain Gardens Nursery! We sell trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, soil, fish (both tropical and coldwater), garden worms, mealworms, superworms, waxworms, crickets, rats, mice, garden art, fertilizer and items to control pests in plants. In March, April and May, we also sell baby chicks, ladybugs, praying mantis, and this year, red worms arrived on March 20. It's been a long winter and now it's time to plant...
For home fruit growers, it is time to apply annual dormant oil application on selected fruit trees. This is probably one of the most important sprays for fruit trees and least toxic of all spray materials for the homeowner to handle. Dormant oil is a refined petroleum product formulated for orchard tree use. It has been in use for well over a century in commercial orchards and is still regularly used today. It is classified as an insecticide, and acts by coating overwintering insects hiding in...
Well, it's time to let people know about the care of living Christmas trees! A living Christmas tree is a live tree which comes in a container planted in soil. People like them because they are beautiful inside and after the holiday, you don't throw them away, you plant it in your own yard. So it saves you money! How to care for a living Christmas tree... here are a few tips! Living trees have a good chance of surviving the move from indoors to the landscape. 1. The tree should not be kept in...
I just wanted to make people aware of some new and unusual plants that grow here in Tehachapi. It's always better to plant spring blooming plants in the fall or summer months. They get better established and you get the benefits of a longer bloom time! Let's start with trees Now's the time to plant Crepe Myrtle. There is a relatively new type out now, Delta Eclipse. It has purple foliage and pink flowers. We had it at Mountain Gardens Nursery & Pet all winter and it did great. Crepe Myrtles...
So far this year, we have published articles on pest control, as well as pre and post-emergent herbicides. Today will be a little more general. As I head down streets in Tehachapi and Golden Hills, I see work that needs to be done in the yards. Either dead trees or shrubs, trimming, bug problems, trash, etc. This would be a good year to get that yard in shape like it used to be, and it's always nice to have something new to look at! Consider planting perennials such as Asiatic Lilies (blooming...
At least the calendar says it is! We have some damage here from a late frost but the trees will come back. Mother's Day should be 70 – 75 degrees or so and warming up, but it will be cooler the week after! So, the freezes should be over now, but not necessarily. So, make this the year you get your landscape back in shape. Trees, flowers, shrubs, ground cover, bedding plants and more weeds because of the rain we have had. Yes, there is always a negative. Anyway, I wrote last article on post e...
Last year I talked about the damage to trees because of the near zero temperatures in March 2022. Thanks to those of you who took my advice and saved those trees. This year's winter is totally different, cold and soggy. I know people who couldn't get out of their house for a couple of weeks because of the snow. The drought is over. What does that mean? No water rationing. You can have a yard again and garden, get your landscape back in shape. Trees, flowers, shrubs, trees and ground cover! You...
First, I would like to address a recent problem with trees and shrubs in the area. Tehachapi is typically USDA Zone 8, which means the winter lows are in the upper teens, but this year we were 10 degrees Fahrenheit in town and some areas recorded -2 degrees. Some of the trees suffered frost burn. I get people in every day that ask, "What is wrong with my Cedar and Pine trees?" Thinking they have a disease or they didn't take care of them right. Well, I don't believe any of them actually died...
You can tell when people are just moving to Tehachapi by what they ask for. I have been asked several times just this past week for citrus and avocado trees. I had to tell them I'm sorry, but they don't grow up here in the mountains. Why not? Citrus is damaged when the temperature is 25-27 degrees F for three to four hours during the night. This year our low so far has been around 20 degrees F, which could kill a citrus tree, at least the flowers, for the coming season. They grow great in...
When planting a tree, shrub, perennial, bulb or bedding plant, always dig a square hole. (Everyone calls me a square when I tell them that!) Also, dig a hole about two feet deep or as deep as it takes to break through any decomposed granite (DG) or hard pan soil. These days, a plant is almost always grown in a round pot. So if you plant it in a round hole, what will happen? Of course, it will grow in the direction of the roots. It is like putting the plant in a bigger round container where it...
By now you all are aware of the fruit tree shortage. It's happening all over America. Apple, peach, nectarine, apricot, cherry and pear trees are hard to find this spring for a couple of reasons. First, two of the three bare root companies have closed for good! These three companies sold to all 50 states and Canada. You can see what a dent it has made in nursery stock. Second, the pandemic. How can this affect the nursery business, you ask. Well, everyone has been home looking for something to...
I have been asked several times just this past week for citrus and avocado trees. You can tell when people are just moving to Tehachapi by what they ask for. I had to tell them I'm sorry, but they don't grow up here in the mountains. Why not? Citrus is damaged when the temperature is 25-27 degrees for three to four hours during the night. This year our low so far has been around 16 degrees, which could kill a citrus tree, at least the flowers, for the coming season. They grow great in...
Well, it is the holiday season and time to start thinking about Christmas and time to let people know something about the care of living Christmas trees. Getting a live tree should save you a lot of money because you should be able to use it as a Christmas tree for a few years as long as you keep it alive. Here are a few points to help you make a decision: • Most potted Christmas trees have a good chance of surviving the move from indoors to the landscape; • The tree should not be kept in the ho...
Most anything can be planted at any time of the year in Tehachapi, but I am often asked what is the best time to plant. Well, for trees, it is fall. Why is this? If you plant before November, or when there are still leaves on the trees, the roots will grow after the leaves fall. Depending on the tree, it can grow 25 percent faster when planted in the fall. I have done this experiment before with Liquid Ambar trees. Use the same size tree and plant one and leave the other in the pot. Guess what?...
Well, its the holiday season and time to start thinking about Christmas again! I am writing this article to let people know how to care for a living Christmas tree and how easy it is. Here are some tips. (1) Use a large saucer to catch drips and save the carpet. 2) Water and let dry before bringing inside. 3) Bring in approximately 10-14 days before Christmas. 4) Place in a cool location, away from heater vents. 5) Water the tree with ice cubes in the pot about every other day while inside....
I have been asked several times just this past week for citrus and avocado trees. You can tell when people are just moving to Tehachapi by what they ask for. I had to tell them I'm sorry, but they don't grow up here in the mountains. Why not? Citrus is damaged when the temperature is 25-27 degrees for 3 to 4 hours during the night. This year our low so far has been around 16 degrees, which could kill a citrus tree, at least the flowers, for the coming season. They grow great in Bakersfield, but...
Pre emergent or post emergent A pre emergent herbicide is a product that prevents seed germination. So if you are trying to prevent weeds from growing, put down a product like "Amaze" or "Weed Impede" which will nullify weed growth. Early in the season right after you have weeded an area would be the ideal time to apply. It will not kill anything that is already germinated, so it is great around plants and saves so much money. Figure what it would cost to pay someone to weed that for you. It's...
The bareroot season will be short this year due to mild weather. I encourage you to plant soon! Fruit and shade trees, flowering trees and shrubs, lilacs, berries are available now at great savings over canned prices! 25% to 50% savings are standard and even greater on the giant shade trees. For those of you who may not be familiar with the term bareroot, I will attempt an explanation. Bareroot plants are those that come to the nursery without soil around the roots, hence saving money on cans,...
If you are planting a new landscape, drought tolerant plants are a viable option! I have many different Sedums to choose from, they are very low growing to 3' tall. One of the most drought tolerant plants in the nursery are sempervivum or "hen and chicks". Watering once a week or less would be plenty for this succulent. Just remember "drought tolerant" does not mean NO water. Some other good choices are Manzanita. I have several varieties, Ceanothus, Artemisia tridentata ("mountain sage"), coffe...
Well bare root planting time is full swing right now till the end of February! Fruit and shade trees, flowering trees and shrubs, lilacs, berries and grapes are available now at great savings over canned prices! 25 to 50% Savings are standard and even greater on the giant shade trees. For those of you who may not be familiar with the term bare root, I will attempt an explanation. Bare root plants are those that come to the nursery without soil around the roots, hence saving money on cans, soil, amendments and labor. This can only be...
Here it is, the holiday season and time to start thinking about Christmas and Christmas trees. I decided to write this article to let people know some things about the care of living Christmas trees. Getting a live tree should save you a lot of money because you are able to use it as a Christmas tree for a few years – as long as you can keep it alive. Then when it grows too big to be a Christmas tree, you could either plant it in the yard or in the community. But how easy is it to keep it alive? Here are a few points to help you made a d...
