Del Mar Neighborhoods United

Outdoor & Gardening Smarts

CONTENTS:

Sprinkle yourself in savings with a free irrigation audit.
Get out the Pruners. 05/05/2009

Get out the pruners, USA Weekend, Lisa Jaffe Hubbell, 4/4-6/08

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Sprinkle yourself in savings with a free irrigation audit.

Most of your summer water usage occurs outside when you water your lawn and garden, so efficient
irrigation can save you money and help conserve.

In partnership with the Center for ReSource Conservation, Aurora Water is offering free sprinkler system audits to Aurora Water customers. A trained irrigation specialist will evaluate your system for efficiency, list
any items that need to be repaired, and identify a customized watering schedule that will meet your individual needs. The program is part
of the CRCÂ?’s Slow the Flow program, which works with residents to reduce outdoor water usage through Xeriscape landscaping and efficient
irrigation.

CRC is an environmental non-profit organization that provides assistance to residents, businesses, professionals and policymakers about resource conservation issues.

For more information, visit us on the web at aurorawater.org or call 303-999-3820, extension 217.

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Get out the pruners, USA Weekend, Lisa Jaffe Hubbell, 4/4-6/08

Pruning lets light and air into mature trees.

It's spring thinning for trees.

Not every tree needs pruning -- natural growth can be beautiful -- but if you're going to trim, now may be the time.

Some expert pointers:

Pruning encourages growth, so the best time to prune is in late winter or early spring, says Matthew Whiting, Washington State University horticulturist. Exception: To slow down a fast-growing tree, prune in June or July.

Make thinning cuts, which remove a branch at the base of the V where it originates. Don't merely remove the tip: "That only begets more pruning," Whiting says.

Know your tree. Some have a compact, upright growth habit, and others are weeping. You can't change one type into the other, Whiting says.

Apples, pears and stone fruits (peaches, plums) vary in how frequently they can use pruning, says Lee Reich, author of "The Pruning Book." He notes that peach trees need new growth, stimulated by pruning, to fruit well; apple trees can fruit on older wood.

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