By Nick Boulton, SunWest’s Landscaping Whisperer You want your trees, shrubs and plants to grow large, live long, and look the absolute best that they can. For that to happen, they need TLC throughout the entire year. In addition to providing water, your plants may need more nutrients and minerals than the soil can provide. Fertilization provides these important nutrients, supports growth, and contributes to the overall health of the plants. Forests have nutrients present in the soil from the leaves, twigs and bark that slowly break down into mulch and nutrients. But in yards, that’s not often the case. The desert climate creates less plant debris, and modern landscaping methods remove any plant debris that accumulates to maintain a clean and cared for appearance.
As we sweep and blow away leaves, twigs and fallen bark, it removes the potential recycling of nutrients that otherwise would go back into the soil. Additionally, the grass around our trees is unnatural and often competes with plants and trees for available nutrients and water. That is why it’s important to fertilize plants, trees and shrubs with a slow-release fertilizer, such as a granule. This will help mimic nature and is part of a holistic approach to help keep your plants in a healthier state. Liquid fertilizers are typically quick release and some of the fertilizer gets lost in the soil from wash out. The type of plant and your specific conditions will determine which fertilizer type is best for each plant. Each plant can have different fertilization needs, so watching for signs that your plants are possibly lacking nutrients is important.
When Nick Boulton joined SunWest Management as our Landscape Coordinator he brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. He is a great resource to have in your back pocket. If you would like help with your yard or have questions about plants, Nick would love to connect with you. You can reach Nick at services@swmlife.com or 435-773-6456. 6 l www.swmlife.com
