The rising daytime temperatures we’re experiencing around the Valley can mean only one thing: summer has returned! During this time, the Marley Park crew proceeds to work through your community, tending to the needs of your plants, trees and turf as they adapt to the seasonal heat.

As your crew continues working in cycle, we’re reviewing sightlines, trimming elms and monitoring for low-hanging branches. Seasonal rejuvenation pruning in the Sweetwater area will be complete in June. The near-completed seasonal pruning throughout your community will allow your crew to begin focusing in on some of the detail work that makes your community shine.

While we have been experiencing warmer weather lately, it’s been inconsistent for this time of year. The nights have been cooler which is affecting the rate at which your summer Bermuda grass is able to emerge from dormancy and begin to grow. To prepare for the Bermuda, our crew continues to lower mow heights on the Ryegrass. During this time, we’ll continue to monitor and make necessary adjustments to your turf irrigation.

Throughout June, our crews will continue to address the various challenges that arise from the changing seasons and summer heat. In addition to landscape upkeep, our crew will proceed to treat weeds in your turf and other areas as we encounter them.

Watering for our summer heat

Summer has arrived in the Valley, and June is generally the hottest and driest month of the year.

Just like us, plants and trees get thirsty when temperatures begin to rise. When summer monsoons arrive and the humidity increases, plants actually require less water. Ensure your home landscape is getting the water it needs now and you won’t be playing catch up later.

To minimize waste and to get more water to the roots, we recommend watering at night whenever possible. Now is also a good time to provide supplemental water to cactus and other succulents if they are not already on a drip water system. Take special care to not overwater saguaros.

Here are some helpful tips to assist you in getting the right amount of water where it needs to go:

1. Check that your water delivery system is functioning correctly by turning the system on and walking around your yard. Check your emitters to make sure they are watering what they are supposed to and where they are supposed to.
2. Check your irrigation controller to see if the watering schedule meets the needs of your landscape during the hot summer months. Sometimes the controller can default to a general schedule if you recently lost power.
3. Use a long screwdriver or piece of rebar to test the depth of how far your water is soaking into the ground. A screwdriver will move easily through most soil when it is wet, but will stop when it reaches dry soil. The roots of most shrubs are not more than 6” to 18” deep and even a large tree will have most of its roots within the first 24” of soil. For turf, getting moisture to a depth of 6” should be sufficient.

For additional tips on how to use your irrigation system to manage your landscapes watering needs, continue reading on the DLC website.

Get ready for monsoon season

With summer temperatures creeping into the triple digits, monsoon season is just around the corner. Summer monsoon storms offer much needed rain to our desert environment but also pose the biggest weather related risk for trees. If not pruned and thinned properly, your trees are more susceptible to the strong monsoon winds.

Continue reading about how to prepare your trees for monsoon season on the DLC website.