Gardening in Las Vegas comes with its own rules. Between compacted caliche soil, extreme summer heat, and mandatory watering restrictions, the basics you’d use anywhere else need a few adjustments here. Keep reading for the essential maintenance tips you’ll need, including weed control.
Having the Necessary Tools
Your hands are not the only tools you need for garden maintenance, but you don’t have to buy many tools at once. Instead, focus on the basic tools that will assist you in gardening.
- Gloves: Without the right pair of gloves, you might have to deal with a splintery hassle. Do not buy bulky gloves because they are hard to use. Also, be sure to keep yours away from insects and water while storing them.
- Hand trowel: They’re perfect for digging around and planting herbs.
- Spade: It makes the digging for holes and moving dirt mounds from one place to another easier.
- Rake: It is an essential tool if you want to keep your garden clean from debris and leaves.
- Hoe: Choose a hoe based on the garden type you have. If your garden is perennial, you may need a thinner hoe.
- Loppers: you will need a pair of it if there is something that has to be lopped in your garden.
- Long hose: Pick one with a rain wand and an adjustable nozzle.
- Wheelbarrow: You need it if you use compost or have a backyard that has more soil. One can help you haul pounds and pounds of soil.
In Las Vegas, a sturdier spade is worth the extra cost since compacted caliche soil sits just below the surface on most properties and makes digging harder than in other climates.
Pruning
Pruning is the process of cutting away overgrown or dead stems and branches, and it’s a basic task that keeps your plants free of infection and disease. Many shrubs, trees, and other garden plants, including roses, need regular pruning.
Tip: Never remove more than 30 percent of a tree’s foliage at once. Removing too much at a time stresses the plant and leaves it more vulnerable to Las Vegas heat and drought conditions. You can also consult a landscaping pro to determine the right pruning method for your specific plants.
In Las Vegas, prune damaged shrubs and trees in late winter, before new growth starts and before summer heat sets in. Avoid pruning during peak summer heat here, since fresh cuts are more vulnerable to sun and heat stress in our climate than in milder ones. It’s still better to handle tree pruning or trimming of broken limbs early, even though winter storms can occasionally cause additional damage.
Planting
For planting maintenance, there are several things to keep in mind. Watch out for bugs and insects, since they provide entry points for bacteria and viruses to get into your plants. Some insects also carry and spread these problems from one plant to another.
You’ll also need to use the right kind and amount of fertilizer. Too much can burn a plant’s roots, limiting its ability to absorb water and making it more prone to damage during drought, which matters even more in a hot, dry climate like ours.
Choosing the right plants for the right location is part of successful gardening too. In Las Vegas, that means sticking to desert-adapted species. Plants like lantana, desert marigold, and trailing rosemary handle our sun and heat well, while shade-tolerant options should still be chosen from desert-appropriate species rather than plants built for wetter, cooler climates. Using the wrong plant for the wrong spot leads to stress, disease, and a shorter lifespan no matter how well you maintain it otherwise.
Water your garden regularly, but use methods that avoid putting too much moisture on plant foliage. If you’re watering by hand, hold the leaves out of the way and water the roots directly. Deep, infrequent watering works better here than daily shallow watering, since it encourages roots to grow past the compacted soil layer common throughout the valley.
Weed control
There are basic things to remember when weeding. As a general rule of thumb, you should not leave any roots behind, so do not just yank the leaves only or the weeds will grow back.
- Make sure to grab them very close to the ground before pulling them straight up.
- Also, you can use a hoe if the weeds are very small and if the soil is dry.
- If using mulch, you may want to pick one that is mixed with weed preventer.
But for the best results in weed control, you may want to consult the weed removing pros in your area. They have the vast knowledge and updated skills on how to deal with any weed problem, including getting rid of the worst garden weeds.
Hope you picked up something from the above tips for garden maintenance (having the right tools, pruning, weed control, etc). If you think we missed a tip or two, let us know in the comment section. Finally, spread the word and help others by sharing this post on Facebook today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What tools do I need to start a garden in Las Vegas?
The basics are the same anywhere: gloves, a hand trowel, spade, rake, hoe, loppers, a hose, and a wheelbarrow. In Las Vegas, a sturdier spade helps since compacted caliche soil is common just below the surface.
When should I prune shrubs and trees in the desert?
Late winter is generally best, before new spring growth starts. Avoid pruning during peak summer heat in Las Vegas, since fresh cuts are more vulnerable to sun and heat stress here than in milder climates.
How much should I prune at once?
Never remove more than 30 percent of a tree’s foliage in a single pruning. Removing too much at once stresses the plant and can leave it more vulnerable to Las Vegas heat and drought conditions.
What’s the right way to water my garden without damaging plants?
Water at the base near the roots rather than over the leaves, and water deeply rather than daily. This is especially important in Las Vegas, where daily shallow watering doesn’t reach past compacted soil layers.
Do I need to remove weeds by the root?
Yes. Pulling only the leaves leaves the root behind, and the weed grows back. Grip weeds close to the ground and pull straight up, or use a hoe when the soil is dry and weeds are small.
