Fertilizing in Southern Utah

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. • Shorter than normal annual twig or leaf growth • Undersized leaves that are fewer in number • Dead branches and branch tips • Leaf veins darker than leaf margins • Leaves other than dark green, such as yellow, black, purple, or spotted • After pruning, very little growth or no growth at all. Pruning will generally promote healthy plant growth

With our summer temperatures so high, fertilizing right now could potentially burn your plants, or kill them. It is best to wait to fertilize until temperatures begin to cool down. The hot summer is the perfect time to do your research to learn what your specific plants will need. Then when the cooler temperatures come, you will be ready to give your plants the nutrients that will help them through the winter and look beautiful in the spring.

Exploring Duck Creek

By Casey Ritter, SunWest’s Events Superstar

In June, my family and many of our friends decided to get out of the St. George heat, but we didn’t want to travel too far. We agreed on camping at Duck Creek, which is only an hour and forty-five-minute drive from St. George. To get there, take the Cedar City exit to Highway 14, which will take you up the canyon, with an elevation climb up to 10,000 feet. As we went through Cedar Canyon, we felt the temperature drop, rolled down our windows, and inhaled the fresh, crisp mountain air. We had escaped the scorching St. George heat. Temperatures at Duck Creek range from around 70 to 80 degrees during the day and 45 degrees at night. I recommend wearing layers for those cooler nights.

At mile marker 29, you will find Duck Creek Village. There is a delicious pizza place, coffee shop, gas station, ATV rental and Visitor Center. For stunning views and an easy hike, go to Cascade Falls. The wellmaintained trail leads you to a 100-foot waterfall. You can also visit Mammoth Caves. The caves were formed by lava and stretch over 2200 feet. There are times you will be crawling in the cave, so it is a good idea to take good shoes, gloves, and a flashlight to help you on your adventure. My kids had a blast exploring all the tunnels in Mammoth Caves. Another cave to visit is the Ice cave near Cascade Falls. It is more like a hole in the ground but has snow and icicles year-round.

As the Event Coordinator for SunWest Management, Casey infuses her creativuty into the activities and events she plans for our communities. Some of you might also know her from the St George Senior Center, where she taught fitness classes. She is a former dancer with the Rocky Mountain Repertory Ballet, and loves meeting people and creating friendships. casey@swmlife.com There are some fabulous places to fish and kayak, but the water is a bit too chilly to swim. The first lake you will drive by on your way to Duck Creek is Navajo Lake. Personally, this is my favorite lake because I catch more fish at this lake than my husband. The rainbow trout at Navajo Lake are not the biggest, but they are fun to catch. The next body of water on the highway you will come to is Duck Creek Pond. This pond is small and stocked with small trout and can also be fun for fishing. The next lake you come to is Panguitch Lake which is about 30 minutes from Duck Creek. Panguitch Lake is my husband’s favorite place to fish in southern Utah. You can fish off the shore, or you can rent a boat. If you decided to fish here, you will be fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and tiger trout.

Duck Creek is excellent for just a day trip or several days camping. There are many campsite locations you can reserve. I recommend booking weeks in advance as the campsites fill up fast. Some campgrounds have power hookups, a place to fill water jugs, a dump station for trailers, and bathrooms. If you choose not to camp at a fee site, remember to get a spot big enough for your party that provides shade and a semiflat area for your trailer or tent.

If you are planning on camping, check the fire restrictions. At the time of our trip, fires were not allowed. Even though we couldn’t have a wood fire, that did not stop us from creating a campfire atmosphere. My friend brought a propane fire stand that provided warmth and did not make us smell like smoke. We liked it so much we might do it every year.

Without city lights, the stars shine brighter at Duck Creek. To enhance your stargazing experience, bring a telescope. My kids enjoyed sleeping in hammocks while pointing out constellations. However, their favorite night activity was a glow stick dance party. We played tunes on a portable speaker and taped glow sticks to their bodies. They looked like dancing skeletons.

To ensure we can all enjoy camping, please remember to leave the campground as if you were never there. If you have camping neighbors, be considerate of their space and the noise. Be respectful of wildlife, dispose of waste properly, minimizing your camping footprint, and practice campfire safety.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out and explore Duck Creek!