Star Nursery Garden Center's Spring Green Pages 2020

GREEN pages Spring 2020

Discover the many varieties of peppers we carry here at Star Nursery!

Your #1 Source for

DECORATIVE ROCK & HARDSCAPES • Pavers • Flagstone • Wall Block • Stepping Stones • River Rock • Boulders • Bulk Soil • Bulk Sand

•Create a Maintainable and Drought Tolerant Landscape •Use Flagstone for a Beautiful and Unique Walkway

Decorative Rock Yards Nevada

Arizona

Utah

Las Vegas

Kingman

Dixie

2600 West Ann Rd. (702) 216-STAR (7827)

4140 Stockton Hill Road (928) 757-STAR (7827)

1335 South Dixie Dr. (435) 414-5893

5380 Blue Diamond Rd. (702) 382-ROCK (7625)

Fort Mohave

8725 South Eastern Ave. (702) 407-2470

6325 Hwy 95 (928) 788-STAR (7827)

Pahrump

Lake Havasu

911 Buol Rd. (775) 727-5300

1141 N. Lake Havasu Ave. (928) 505-ROCK (7625)

St. George 1145 West Sunset Blvd.

(435) 688-STAR (7827)

DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE

Our Staff Editor-in-Chief Art/Design

Contributing Writers

Mackenzie Vesp Doug Ryan Taylor White Paul Noe (Dr Q) Terry Newcomb MS Joey Lynn Watt Mackenzie Vesp Christine MacRae

Garden Calendar Growing a Pollinator Garden UNLV Rodeo Peppers

For a FREE copy of Green Pages subscribe @ www.starnursery.com Community Partners

Bloody Mary All About Roses Benifical Bugs Sooty Canker Desert Climates

Please help us set the record straight.

If you are receiving the GREEN PAGES under the wrong name, getting two copies, you’ve moved, or if you wish to be removed from our mailing list, please email: marketing@StarNursery.com and we will fix it.

Store Spotlight Employee Spotlight

Garden Centers Las Vegas, NV Ann Road & Simmons 2600 W. Ann Rd. North Las Vegas, NV 89031 (702) 216-STAR (7827) West Cheyenne & Tenaya 7330 W. Cheyenne Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89129 (702) 253-STAR (7827) W. Charleston Blvd. & Cimarron 8170 W. Charleston Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89117 (702) 360-STAR (7827) W. Tropicana & Fort Apache 9480 W. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89147 (702) 278-STAR (7827) Boulder Hwy. & E. Tropicana 5340 Boulder Highway Las Vegas, NV 89122 (702) 435-STAR (7827) S. Eastern & Pebble 8725 S. Eastern Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89123 (702) 333-STAR (7827) Blue Diamond & Lindell 5380 Blue Diamond Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89139 (702) 444-STAR (7827)

Pahrump, NV Buol Rd. & Hwy. 372 911 Buol Rd. Pahrump, NV 89048 (775) 727-5300

Star Nursery has been privately owned and operated for 36 years. We are proud to be the premier garden center for all your landscaping needs. Currently, we operate in Southern Nevada, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona with a total of 16 Garden Centers and 9 Decorative Rock Yards. We cater to both residential and commercial clientele.

Star Nursery offers the best in garden supplies. From a large assortment of trees to shrubbery, drought tolerant plants, succulents and houseplants, we have landscape material to suit anyone’s lifestyle. We offer the largest and most complete line of products that include irrigation supplies, gardening accessories, yard tools, succulents, houseplants, pottery and our very own exclusive line of Dr. Q’s Garden Products. This line of products consists of soils and fertilizers that are specifically formulated to help you succeed with your gardening efforts in the Southwest Region. We also carry a selection of hardscape products ranging from flagstone to pavers to decorative rock and bulk soils.

Find everything you need to maintain a beautiful landscape or garden space. We pride ourselves in giving our customers the right price and best advice.

Star Nursery -Your Garden’s Partner for Every Bloomin’ Thing Since 1983.

Lake Havasu, AZ Lake Havasu Ave. & College Dr. 1141 N. Lake Havasu Ave. Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 505-ROCK (7625)

Kingman, AZ Stockton Hill Rd. & Gordon Dr. 4140 Stockton Hill Rd. Kingman, AZ 86409 (928) 757-STAR (7827)

Fort Mohave, AZ Hwy. 95 & Boundary Cone Rd. 6325 Hwy. 95 Fort Mohave, AZ 86426 (928) 788-STAR (7827)

Mesquite, NV

Bullhead City, AZ

Commerce Cir. & Pioneer 549 Commerce Cir. Mesquite, NV 89027 (702) 613-4770

Mohave Dr. & Miracle Mile 1579 Mohave Dr. Bullhead City, AZ 86442 (928) 758-STAR (7827)

St. George, UT Sunset Blvd. & Bluff St. 1145 W. Sunset Blvd.

St. George, UT 84770 (435) 688-STAR (7827) Dixie Dr. & Gubler Ln. 1335 S. Dixie Dr. St. George, UT 84770 (435) 674-STAR (7827)

Washington, UT Telegraph Rd. & 500 W. 385 W. Telegraph Rd. Washington, UT 84780 (435) 986-0820

February: - Feb 20th: Star 150 Race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Early spring is a great time to prepare your vegetable and flower beds for planting. For each 100 square feet of soil, sprinkle in four pounds of 16-20-0 Ammonium Phosphate and treat soil with Dr.Q’s Ironworker. Top this off with three inches of Dr.Q’s Paydirt Planting Mix & Mulch or other organic mulch. Mix soils together well and heavily water.

- Plant your early spring flower seeds: African Daisy, Alyssum, Carnation, Delphinium, Gaillardia, Gloriosa

Daisy, Hollyhock, Larkspur, Lupines, Nasturtium, Phlox, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Sweet William and Verbena.

- Powdery mildew may appear on new plant growth, take a walk around your yard and look for it on your plants. You can prevent this by keeping sprinkler overspray off your shrubs. Treat infected plants with copper-based fungicide like Daconil.

- Pep up your houseplants and get them ready for spring by repotting them into larger containers. Use a high-quality potting soil like Dr. Q’s Filthy Rich Gold Potting Soil and a good indoor plant food like Dr. Q’s Plant Tonic.

- Warmer weather that turns into an early false spring can be expected, this doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods for

possible freezes. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and be prepared to cover those frost-tender plants when the warnings come.

- February is fertilizing time for deciduous fruit and shade trees. Use Dr. Q’s Tree, Shrub & Vine Food per bag instructions.

- Fruit trees, including pecan trees and grape vines need extra zinc. To help them produce their best, use Dr. Q’s

Fruit & Nut Tree Food.

March: - March 13–15th: FREE Tomatoes at all Star Nursery locations - Fertilize now! Your evergreen and desert shrubs will be needing these nutrients through the summer to keep them healthy and hardy. Use Dr. Q’s Tree Shrub & Vine designed for our desert southwest soil.

- Brighten up your landscape with annual and perennial flowers for spring and summer color. Plant ground covers like Gazania, Ice-plant, Hearts & Flowers, Ivy, Verbena, Sedum and Australian Racer. After planting, use a pre-emergent weed preventer like Amaze.

- It is finally time to plant tomatoes. An early start ensures a good crop since many varieties will not set fruit in the heat of summer. Plant different types for a continuous supply as harvest dates vary. Some good choices are Early Girl, Patio, Cherry, Roma and Better Boy. - Get your herb gardens started in pots or in the garden. Now is the time to amend your soil.

- Adjust your sprinkler timer for spring.

April: - April 3rd–5th : FREE Lady bugs will be given out at all Star Nursery locations. Get there early!

- Fertilize your container plants. Pay attention to the plants water supply and carefully adjust as temperatures rise.

- Skeletonizer Caterpillars love to chew on grape leaves. They will strip all the green from the leaves. Allow them to go unchallenged and they may severely weaken or kill your vines. Treat with BT Worm Killer.

- Apply Cedar Mulch to the surface of your vegetable gardens and flowerbeds as well as around trees and shrubs. This product keeps the soil cool, repels insects, and insulates roots.

- Plant warm season vegetable like melons, cucumbers, peppers and beans. Planting these as the soil warms up is the perfect recipe for success.

- Paint fruit tree trunks with watered down, water based tree paint mixture. Painting will protect from sunburn,

reduce stress and help prevent borer infestation.

May: - Reset your sprinkler clocks. Increase watering frequency to 3 days a week for trees and shrubs. The best time to water is in the early morning before sunrise (night watering can cause fungus).

- Prepare your lawn for summer and use Dr. Q’s Royal Flush to get the lawn off to a great start. This superb lawn fertilizer lasts up to 12 weeks, and conditions your soil while feeding the turf.

- Refresh your potted plants with summer flowers. Add new potting soil or transplant overgrown house and patio plants into larger containers with fresh soil. Use a long, slow outdoor watering system to drain buildup of fertilizer and other salts from the soil.

- Prune desert plants lightly to reduce stress from overgrown foliage and seed pods. Be careful not to expose tender trunks and branches to full sun if they have been well-shaded previously.

- Be picky about your fertilizer. Dr. Q’s Foods are fortified with all the micro nutrients missing in our desert soils. Without this balance many of the nutrients will not be available to your plants.

- Fertilize lawns before the end of the month to get them through the first heat wave. Renew mulches as necessary.

Growing A Pollinator Garden One of the easiest and most important gardens to plant is one that will attract pollinators throughout the year. These are horticulturally diverse and colorful zones within your yard specifically designed to attract and lure the birds and the bees. It can be created easily with just a few guidelines.

First, use plants native to the Mojave Desert and plant in groups or clumps vs. individual plants. Abelia, Autumn Sage, Blanket Flower, Butterfly Bush, Desert Lilac, Penstemon, Honeysuckle, Lavendar, Yarrow and Zinnia, to name just a few, will get you started. Remember, hummingbirds look for any trumpet-shaped flower in search of nectar. They love Bush Morning Glory, Hollyhock, Salvia and Trumpet Vines. Night-blooming flowers will support moths and bats which are pollinators too.

Plan to eliminate pesticides from this area of your yard. If you must, use the least toxic product such as Insecticidal Soap or Horticultural Oil. Harsher products can harm bees so please read the labels carefully. Spray at night when most pollinators are inactive.

Adding a nectar resource such as a hummingbird feeder early in the season, before a lot of plants have bloomed will call the birds to your yard and let them know there’s more where this came from! Pollinators also benefit from a water source such as a bird bath, pond or fountain. Mixing a small bit of sea salt or wood ash into the soil near the water source will aid in hydration for both bees and butterflies.

In Southern Nevada, we can specifically help support the beautiful Monarch butterfly with one of these special gardens. Did you know its only food source is milkweed? This essential plant is growing rare in the wild and is a perfect addition to your garden.

Milkweed doesn’t go dormant and is very drought tolerant. It also blooms throughout most of the year.

The Monarch caterpillar munches on the flowers, pods and an occasional mature stem, but doesn’t kill the plant! Although milkweed is rare in commercial nurseries, you can contact the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (702-257-5555) and ask to participate in the Native Milkweed Seed Project.

Create a colorful pollinator garden this Spring and then sit back, relax and watch your garden come alive with activity.

UNLV Rodeo Continues to WOW Their Fans Thanks to Head Coach Ric Griffith

UNLV has an athletic team that has won more National and Regional championships than all the other athletics combined.

This hidden gem is the UNLV Rodeo team. Coach Ric Griffith has led this team to over 40 National and Regional titles.

Coach Griffith was born in London, Ontario and moved to the United States when he was only five years old. In 1996, he officially became a legal citizen, marking this one of his proudest moments as an adult. He spent most of his life in Nevada, rodeoing in all the youth associations and then became a Professional PBR Rodeo Cowboy. He was successful in calf roping and steer wrestling. He still holds the arena record for steer wrestling at the convention center with a 3.3 seconds.

Since 1990, Ric has been coaching the UNLV Rodeo team and continues to set records and holds regional, as well as national titles. Grades and academic success come first and Ric makes sure all his students are performing well on campus. From the beginning, Coach Griffith has put an emphasis on helping his students be successful both in the classroom and on the dirt.

Ric has trained and helped shape the rodeo careers for some of the “greats.” His most famous alumni include Ross Coleman and Justin McBride who pioneered the PBR, as well as Zane Davis the MCHA Million Dollar Horse Trainer. He has also trained many of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association world champions and many others who hold prestigious titles. Ric continues to grow the UNLV Rodeo team and tirelessly strives to ensure that the program gets better each year. UNLV says they are lucky to have a leader like Ric Griffith.

In 2015, Ric was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame. This is just one of his many accomplishments and we are sure he will continue to WOW his followers, fans, and students.

Star Nursery has been a sponsor of the UNLV rodeo for countless years and we’ve enjoyed watching Ric grow this program into what it is today. Come support the Running Rebels at the UNLV Rodeo, at the South Point on May 3rd and 4th.

The desert Southwest is the perfect place for growing all types of peppers.

Plant peppers in the early spring and you’ll have some early summer peppers. They stop producing in the 100+ degree weather and require some shade (use a shade cloth). Peppers will fruit again in September and October. Most varieties will freeze when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants need a lot of sunlight and require the soil to dry out between waterings. Star Nursery will be carrying over 50 varieties of peppers this spring. Whether you enjoy a crispy sweet pepper or like to indulge in a pepper that is ranked the highest on the Scoville (hot) scale, we will have something for you. Here are a few of our favorite and most unique varieties of peppers. Don’t worry we will have all your classic favorites like bell peppers and jalapenos.

Carolina Reaper

This is one of the hottest peppers. It is a small but mighty pepper with a little pointed tail. One bite of this and your mouth will be on fire. It is ranked as 1.5 million on the Scoville scale of hotness.

Cascabella

This pepper is famous at In-N-Out Burger. It is the tiny pepper served on the side or added to some “secret menu” items. It is also widely used in Italian kitchens.

Chile de Arbol

This is a small and potent Mexican chili pepper. It has a smoky flavor that is perfect for salsa and authentic Mexican dishes.

Chili Pie Bell

These peppers start out sweet when they are green and get hot as their color turns red. They are an improved variety of bell peppers and a perfect addition to any garden.

Chiltepin

Snackabelle Red

Hatch Green Chile

Sriracha

Manzano

Tabasco

Shishito

Trinidad Scorpion

This is a tiny, round, or oval shaped pepper that grows wild throughout the United States and Mexico. It is full of spice, so be prepared for the heat in just one bite.

This variety of peppers is native to New Mexico. They are medium in heat and used in most queso dips. Every year New Mexico has their own Hatch Green Chili festival in March and August.

Also know as the apple pepper because of its shape and size.

It is a sweeter pepper that is yellow when completely ripe. This pepper is very cold tolerant.

This unique pepper has tons of flavor and is pretty mild, until it isn’t. One in every fifteen to twenty peppers can be surprising hot! Grower beware!

These are considered mini bell peppers that range in color from a dark green to a bright red. This variety is more successful than regular bell peppers and ripen earlier for a good summer harvest.

This is the main ingredient in Sriracha sauce. It is very similar to a chili pepper in that it is very hot and most of the time used to cook with.

This famous pepper was found in Louisiana in the mid 1800’s and is the main ingredient in Tabasco sauce.

Although this pepper strongly resembles a Habanero, it is literally a million times hotter.

If you can take the heat, they are loaded with antioxidant and considered a true superfood.

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From March 13th -15th we’re giving away a Star Nursery Favorite 4” potted Early Girl Tomato.

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Garden Fresh Bloody Mary's Ingredients: 8 large tomatoes 2 tbsp. pickle juice 1 tbsp. worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp. horseradish 1-1/2 tbsp. hot sauce 2 tsp. celery salt 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. fresh black pepper 6 ounces vodka Garnish: celery, pearl onions, olives, bacon, asparagus, lemon, peperoncini

Instructions: 1. Rinse and cut your tomatoes into quarters. Place in pot with pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, hot sauce, black pepper, celery and kosher salts. Simmer for 12-15 minutes over a medium-low heat until tomatoes are tender.

2. Tomatoes will begin to resemble a somewhat soupy consistency, once this happens blend with immersion blender or food processor until mixture becomes smooth. Chill in refrigerator.

3. Once mixture has cooled, combine your homemade mixture with vodka in a glass with ice.

Now add your garnish and enjoy!

Annual

Rose Show

South Valley

Rose Society

Horticulture, Arrangements and Photography Show!

May 2, 2020 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension 8050 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89123

Accepting rose entries from 6:30 am -9:45AM Open to the public from 1pm -4pm

Recycling is SMART! Do your part and be rewarded! Bring in your empty black plant pots and receive IN-STORE CREDIT toward future garden purchases.

We accept the following sizes: • 1 Gallon..........................5¢ per pot • 3 Gallon........................10¢ per pot • 5 Gallon........................25¢ per pot • 15 Gallon.......................60¢ per pot

Products that Work!

For Dormant Disease and Insect Control... ol....

Spray Trees Now!

with Liqui-Cop® & Monterey Horticultural Oil For healthy new leaves in spring and d summer, apply Liqui-Cop® three times a year: 1 New Year’s Day 2 Valentine’s Day (or at bud swell) 3 Arbor Day (March 7-14) • Combine with Monterey Horticultural Oil to kill insects wintering on the tree.

• Liqui-Cop® is the only copper treatment you can mix with oil.

• Liqui-Cop® will NOT wash off in rain like other copper treatments.

Mix Liqui-Cop® for dormant disease control (Peach leaf curl) at 4 to 6 tsp per gallon.

Mix Monterey Horticultural Oil with Liqui-Cop® or separately to kill wintering insects at 4 tbsp per gallon.

Always read and follow directions on label.

Reminder! Liqui-Cop® and Monterey Horticultural Oil can be used any season on ornamentals, citrus, vegetables, and flowers.

A great spray combo!

For more information call: 559.499.2100 • www.montereylawngarden.com

All about I Roses

t’s that time of year again to have a quick overview of roses. For some, roses are considered the ultimate gardener’s treasure. Rose horticulturists and certified Rosarians will tell you there is an art to growing and producing award-winning roses and they are right. However, there are many types and varieties of the modern rose that produce healthy, beautiful roses, whose uses include anything from wild flower arrangements to the classic long-stemmed cutting rose. Whether the desire is to grow roses that are the envy of the neighborhood or just beautiful flowers that adorn an entryway, here’s a simple guide to assist in the decision making.

Shrub Roses are probably the most common and easy to identify. They are a natural choice for flower beds and shrub borders.

Given the proper climate and growing conditions, shrubs can grow well above five feet in every direction. These bushes are trained to be patio roses that are usually 18-24 inches tall. Shrub roses can be categorized by how and what they are hybrids of. Categories include Floribunda, Grandiflora and Hybrid Tea roses. Within those categories, the plant could either be patented or non-patented.

“Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snows Life’s the seed, that with the sun’s love In the spring becomes the rose” Amanda McBroom, The Rose

Patented and Non-patented. Patented roses are roses that have been registered with breeders/hybridizers and usually are more expensive. Typically, they have successfully crossed popular rose varieties to produce a trait that is unique and impressive.

These breeders hold and maintain the rights to reproduce or duplicate the plant. As long as the patent is valid, it is illegal to clone or propagate that plant.

Eventually, the patent expires, allowing other growers the ability to reproduce and sell the plant by its patented name and characteristics.

For instance, the “Mister Lincoln” was introduced in 1964 and by 1965

won an All-American award by the American Rose Society. It became a favorite because of its dark red color and its ability to remain fragrant for a long time. In 1964, only Swim and Weeks, the creators of this hybrid, were able to reproduce the “Mister Lincoln”, making it a patented rose. Now, many years later, it is a non-patented rose because the patent expired. The same consistent character traits and quality can be reproduced by other breeders/hybridizers legally calling it the “Mister Lincoln.”

Non-patented rose prices are considerably less expensive than their patented counterpart, making them an excellent option.

Floribunda Roses are vigorous and bushy plants that produce numerous open clusters of large roses. They have the ability to bloom continually with colorful long lasting displays.

Hybrid Teas are the most popular of all varieties. They are recognized for their long stems and slim, elegant buds. The bushes range from two - six feet tall and come in endless color options.

Grandiflora Roses are bush roses that are a cross between Floribunda and Hybrid Teas, which produce large flowers and could have both clusters and single blossoms on the same plant.

Groundcover Roses are low-growing or trailing plants used to carpet the ground.

One plant can grow to be eight feet wide and typically stay below knee height.

Groundcovers also make good container plants.

Climbing Roses have long, arching canes which give them the ability to be trained to climb. They can be trained to climb over walls, up fences, through trellises, as well as completely cover structures up to 15 feet high and wide, if properly supported. The key to climbing roses reaching those impressive heights and widths is implementing an anchor system that works with the type of structure the roses are growing on. Many of the Floribunda Roses can be trained to become Climbing Roses.

The decision to plant a rose doesn’t have to be a difficult one. There are so many characteristics and options that are sure to satisfy.

Take a chance, try something new, or simply follow a color scheme. Either way, there’s a rose for everyone.

Ladybug

Launch

April 3rd-5th

Free ladybugs with any purchase. * Avaliable at all locations while supplies last

Proud Partner of the Vegas Golden Knights

BENEFICIAL BUGS 5 I N

I N S E C T S Y O U R

T H A T

G E T

T O

W O R K

G A R D E N .

BEES If you have flowers, you will also have bees! Vibrant colors and sweetsmelling nectar are what attract the bees so that they may aid in pollination which produces seeds for fruit. While some may be afraid of bees, it may be helpful to remember, they are focused more on pollinating than they are on stinging a human.

BRACONID WASPS Braconid Wasps are small insects with black heads and red bodies with long black wings and what appears to be a long stinger. The stinger is actually an ovipositor or tube used to disperse the insect’s eggs into other insects. When the wasp larvae hatch, they consume the unwanted insect from the inside out. These insects benefit the garden by acting as a parasite to many unwanted pests, including aphids, beetles, caterpillars, grubs and more.

PRAYING MANTIS Praying Mantis are infamous for their unique appearance. They are also wonderful garden companions with voracious appetites for just about any other pest you may find buzzing about.

LADYBUGS These little insects are as helpful as they are adorable. A single ladybug can eat as many as 5 dozen aphids per day! They also feed on mealy worms, mites as well as other plant-harming pests. [You can get yours FREE at your local Star Nursery from April 3th-5th, 2020.]

GARDEN SPIDERSÂ Garden Spiders are an outstanding ally to the organic gardener as they keep pests away and reduce the need for harsh pesticides. However, not every spider that wanders into your garden is a true Garden Spider which are black with yellow patterns on the abdomen. Garden Spiders are enthusiastic eaters of unwanted insects such as beetles, flies, mosquitoes and wasps.

Sooty Canker

A

s the season changes and our trees and shrubs wake up from their winter slumber, the spring winds will blow.

For parts of the southwest the windiest four months of the year are March through July. These windy days are not just an inconvenience, they are means for transportation of a potentially fatal plant disease called Sooty Canker. Sooty Canker attacks smooth-barked trees and shrubs, causing wilt and dieback of branches and limbs. If not treated early, the disease will eventually infect the main trunk killing the plant. The disease is caused by a fungus called Hendersonula toruloides and thought to infect plants during moist, mild winters and spread by winds carrying the spores from infected plants to healthy ones. As the temperatures rise and the climate becomes dry, the fungus will germinate, grow and reproduce. The winds are not the only culprit, the spores can be carried by spring rain, pollinators, animals and improper pruning habits. It is important to ensure plants receive proper irrigation, nutrition and especially proper maintenance to ensure no damage happens to the bark. Sun scorch is also a condition which makes the plant vulnerable. Fungal spores enter through cracks in the bark of smooth-barked plants that do not have the defense mechanisms to fight them off. Fluctuating water conditions contribute to the susceptibility of plants, causing moisture to build up and then suddenly dry out. This fluctuation creates cracks in the bark where spores will accumulate, the bark will peal back and crumble like dust, this is described as black soot.

The infected plant’s leaves will droop, referred to as wilt, have visible areas on the stems and trunks that are shrunken and/or discolored. These areas are where the disease has occurred, known as cankers. Infected branches will dieback, usually beginning in late summer. With deciduous trees, it may appear the plant is going into dormancy early, when the tree is actually experiencing dieback.

Taking the time in spring to observe plants while they are budding and producing leaves will help identify affected branches or twigs, as infected branches will not leaf out.

It is possible to control the disease, by preventing it from infecting the main trunk. Proper pruning is essential. Always use sharp, sanitized pruning tools to remove the smaller infected branches as soon as they become evident. Be especially careful if the area is vulnerable because of sun scorch. Heavy pruning will only expose the area to direct sunlight, making the plant even more vulnerable. If possible, prune during the plants dormant season.

Cut back infected branch at least one foot below the visible site

of infection. Be diligent when cleaning pruning tools by spraying them with household 70% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol after each cut to prevent manually spreading the disease. It is also advised to spray the fresh cut directly with the same alcohol used to disinfect the pruning tools. All infected twigs and branches must be bagged and sent to the landfill, eliminating the possibility of them finding their way into a compost.

With many circumstances in plant vitality, it comes back to proper nutrition and irrigation practices. A healthy plant has better odds combating disease and insect infestation. Fertilizing on schedule, according to the needs of the plant and deep root irrigation, gives the plant what it needs to stay strong and healthy. If Sooty Canker is suspected, adding an extra deep-water soaking will aid in keeping the plant’s vigor, especially during the hot, dry summer months.

During spring and fall, add an additional soaking once a week, and once a month during winter. Notable Sooty Canker wounds may be treated with a copper fungicide. A good choice is Bonide® Copper Fungicide, available in ready-to-use or concentrate. Be careful and read the label for application instructions.

Here are a few plants that are commonly planted in the southwest that are especially vulnerable to Sooty Canker: Ash, Cottonwoods, Carob, Sycamores, Poplars, Chinaberry and Mulberry. Keep a close eye on fruit trees including: Apple, Apricot, Peach, Grapes and Plum. Also keep an eye on nut trees including Almond and Walnut.

As with any plant health questions, our experienced staff can assist. When seeking in-store consultation, it is advised to bring multiple pictures of affected trees and shrubs. Don’t forget, Dr. Q makes house calls. To set up an appointment, email- housecalls@ starnursery.com or visit your local Star Nursery location.

When people hear the term “desert”, their mental image is often an intensely hot and dry area, but I’d say those dramatically cold temperatures that recently seized Southern Nevada have demonstrated otherwise. When an area’s considered a desert, you can be certain only that the environment is dry, but not necessarily hot. Antarctica, for instance, is one of the driest climates on earth, and indeed – technically – it’s the largest desert on the planet. Southern Nevada might have felt like an ice box, but it couldn’t compare with that.

For some local landscape plants, though, the weather might as well have been artic. Since freezing temperatures are relatively uncommon in the Las Vegas valley and its environs, it can be tempting to risk using plants that aren’t well suited for the extreme conditions here.

When temperatures are lower than 40 degrees fahrenheit, the most tender plants, edible and ornamental, can develop something called “chilling injury.” These are poorly adapted to this area; They’d survive better in regions further south, like the Sonora Desert of Southern Arizona.

A large number of specimens aren’t quite that fragile, but they’re not exactly “hardy” either. They may not suffer chilling injury, but they can’t tolerate freezing temperature. They’re definitely going to experience harm on those rare occasions when it drops much below 30 degrees fahrenheit. It’s a pity to see the damage that’s occurred in local landscapes already and it’s going to be more pronounced come spring time.

Marginal plants can be killed in the desert cold, but even some of our most reliable ones can become damaged.

Oleanders, for instance, are tough. Most of the time, they can tolerate our conditions very well. Even in the hottest summer sun, it’ll thrive and flower merrily. When temperatures get well below freezing on the other hand, the leaves become damaged and might appear to be diseased. The root system may be perfectly ok, but above ground, it looks pretty forlorn. Fortunately, when the shrub produces new foliage in the spring, it’ll more than likely look fine.

We all try to skirt around Mother Nature; including those of us who should know better.

Written by: Angela O’Callaghan, Ph.D. Associate Professor Social Horticulture Specialist

STORE SPOTLIGHT Ann Road & Simmons 2600 W. Ann Rd. North Las Vegas, NV 89031

For the past five years, Star Nursery has participated in Walker Furniture’s Home for the Holidays Community Event. This program gives back to families in the Las Vegas valley who need a little extra holiday cheer. Walker Furniture fully furnishes all 36 homes, while Star Nursery donates a Christmas tree, Christmas decorations, and gives each family a monetary gift. We hope that through this campaign we can help each family have a happy and stress-free holiday season. We rely on our Las Vegas stores to collect monetary donations that are distributed to each family equally. 100% of the donations collected go directly to the chosen families. This year our Ann Road location collected over $4,000 in donations. This makes up over one third of our total donation’s valley wide. With the help of everyone who donated, we were able to give each family $350.

We want to give an extra thank you to our Ann Road store manager, Jeremy Cannon. Each year Jeremy strives to bring holiday cheer into his store. He decorates the store in preparation for the donation collection and gives his employees Santa hats to help get the customers in the Christmas spirit. When we asked Jeremy why he loves this season and what motivates him to give back, he said “it’s about the people who need our help; It’s about giving back, it isn’t about me or anyone here at Star.” Jeremy is an exceptional manager and Star Nursery is lucky to have him. His work ethic and leadership skills are exactly what a large company needs to be successful. Not only does Jeremy work hard to give back to others in the stores, he works hard to motivate his employees to give back as well. He leads his team by example and constantly wants to improve the store.

Every employee at the Ann road store will tell you that giving back, especially during the holidays, is crucial.

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tar Nursery’s Director of Human Resources, Laureen Iannucci is motivated by helping others and giving back to the community. Growing up in Tennessee, she began her service as a children’s choir singer for her local church. It was at her home in Kingston, Tennessee that she and her seven siblings worked out in the garden and mowed the two acres on which their home was built. After moving to Las Vegas, for her husband’s job, she quickly joined the Star Nursery team and has loved every moment of working for such an incredible family run business. She loves the people at Star and is driven by how much the owner gives back to both the community and his employees.

Laureen helps people both at her job and outside of work. In her free-time, she volunteers for a the United Service Organization, which is an organization that assists active duty military members and their families. She is constantly looking for ways to serve others and is the best person to go to if you want to get involved in non-profit work. She is proud to say that she has helped over 300 people receive their GED and looks forward to continuing to help those that need it.

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rittanie Pulsipher, a Utah native works at our historic Cotton Mill location. From a young age she found joy in helping people live happier, more positive lives. She first realized her passion for service when she worked at an assistant living facility and a troubled youth facility. It wasn’t until she moved to Washington, UT that she first entered a Star Nursery. From the abundance of clean air, to the beautiful house plants, she knew this was going to be her next move.

As a Commercial Sales Representitive, she loves working with her coworkers and learning more about horticulture. This is her first time in retail, but she is loving the aspect of helping others and growing her communication skills. When she isn’t at work, she is, you guessed it, gardening. She also loves taking care of her pets, being outdoors, playing the ukulele, and ice fishing. Brittanie will continue to shape the lives of the people around her and we are so lucky she is a part of the Star Nursery team.

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asey Dailey is the Assistant Manger at our Kingman, AZ store. Since her start with us she has been a wonderful addition to the Star Nursery Team. From her upbringing in California, Casey has always had a love for being outdoors. She grew up raising horses, cattle and pigs.

This lead her to growing her own hay for both her horses and her cattle. After her move to Arizona, she found it fascinating to learn about what can grow and thrive in the Kingman environment.

Since beginning her career at Star, she has found greater interest in things such as operating heavy machinery, the importance of irrigation and learning about different plant species. When Casey isn’t at work, she is working on her yard, hanging out with her favorite people and most importantly, being a musician. A lot of people don’t know this, but Casey loves reading and playing music.

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ing R ll u B e th n o y a w d e e p S r to o M s At the Las Vega S.COM M LV @ S ET K C TI R U O Y ET G 0 2 0 2 , February 20th