Star Nursery's Green Pages - Summer 2022 by Star Nursery

GREEN pages Summer 2022

Dr. Q’s Local Garden Spotlight

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Your #1 Source for

DECORATIVE ROCK & HARDSCAPES • Pavers • Flagstone • Wall Block • Stepping Stones • River Rock • Boulders • Bulk Soil • Bulk Sand

•Create a Maintainable and Drought Tolerant Landscape •Use Flagstone for a Beautiful and Unique Walkway

Decorative Rock Yards Nevada

Arizona

Utah

Las Vegas

Kingman

Dixie

2600 West Ann Rd. (702) 216-STAR (7827)

4140 Stockton Hill Road (928) 757-STAR (7827)

1335 South Dixie Dr. (435) 414-5893

5380 Blue Diamond Rd. (702) 382-ROCK (7625)

Fort Mohave

8725 South Eastern Ave. (702) 251-ROCK (7625)

6325 Hwy 95 (928) 788-STAR (7827)

Pahrump

Lake Havasu

911 Buol Rd. (775) 727-5300

1141 N. Lake Havasu Ave. (928) 505-ROCK (7625)

St. George 1145 West Sunset Blvd. (435) 688-STAR (7827)

DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE

Our Staff

Contents

Editor-in-Chief

Stephanie Robinson

Art/Design

Doug Ryan Taylor White Paul Noe (Dr. Q) Joey Lynn Watt Stephanie Robinson SNWA

Contributing Writers

Community Partners

12 ATHLETICS

RODEO

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Summer Gardeners Calendar Gardening Holidays Conserving Water SNWA Dr. Q’s Season Pick Dr. Q’s Local Garden Spotlight Dr. Q’s Housecalls Our Garden Friends Store Spotlight Employee Spotlight

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Garden Centers Las Vegas, NV Ann Road & Simmons 2600 W. Ann Rd. North Las Vegas, NV 89031 (702) 216-STAR (7827) West Cheyenne & Tenaya 7330 W. Cheyenne Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89129 (702) 253-STAR (7827) W. Charleston Blvd. & Cimmaron 8170 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89117 (702) 360-STAR (7827) W. Tropicana & Fort Apache 9480 W. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89147 (702) 278-STAR (7827) Boulder Hwy. & E. Tropicana 5340 Boulder Highway Las Vegas, NV 89122 (702) 435-STAR (7827) S. Eastern & Pebble 8725 S. Eastern Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89123 (702) 333-STAR (7827) Blue Diamond & Lindell 5380 Blue Diamond Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89139 (702) 444-STAR (7827)

Pahrump, NV Buol Rd. & Hwy. 372 911 Buol Rd. Pahrump, NV 89048 (775) 727-5300

Star Nursery has been privately owned and operated for 39 years. We are proud to be the premier garden center for all your landscaping needs. Currently, we operate in Southern Nevada, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona with a total of 16 Garden Centers and 9 Decorative Rock Yards. We cater to both residential and commercial clientele. Star Nursery offers the best in garden supplies. From a large assortment of trees to shrubbery, drought tolerant plants, succulents and houseplants, we have landscape material to suit anyone’s lifestyle. We offer the largest and most complete line of products that include irrigation supplies, gardening accessories, yard tools, succulents, houseplants, pottery and our very own exclusive line of Dr. Q’s Garden Products. This line of products consists of soils and fertilizers that are specifically formulated to help you succeed with your gardening efforts in the Southwest Region. We also carry a selection of hardscape products ranging from flagstone and pavers to decorative rock and bulk soils. Find everything you need to maintain a beautiful landscape or garden space. We pride ourselves in giving our customers the right price and best advice.

Star Nursery -Your Garden’s Partner for Every Bloomin’ Thing Since 1983.

Lake Havasu, AZ Lake Havasu Ave. & College Dr. 1141 N. Lake Havasu Ave. Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 505-ROCK (7625)

Kingman, AZ Stockton Hill Rd. & Gordon Dr. 4140 Stockton Hill Rd. Kingman, AZ 86409 (928) 757-STAR (7827)

Fort Mohave, AZ Hwy. 95 & Boundary Cone Rd. 6325 Hwy. 95 Fort Mohave, AZ 86426 (928) 788-STAR (7827)

Mesquite, NV

Bullhead City, AZ

Commerce Cir. & Pioneer 549 Commerce Cir. Mesquite, NV 89027 (702) 613-4770

Mohave Dr. & Miracle Mile 1579 Mohave Dr. Bullhead City, AZ 86442 (928) 758-STAR (7827)

St. George, UT Sunset Blvd. & Bluff St. 1145 W. Sunset Blvd. St. George, UT 84770 (435) 688-STAR (7827) Dixie Dr. & Gubler Ln. 1335 S. Dixie Dr. St. George, UT 84770 (435) 674-STAR (7827)

Washington, UT Telegraph Rd. & 500 W. 385 W. Telegraph Rd. Washington, UT 84780 (435) 986-0820

Summer

Garden Calendar

June Mulch: June is a great time to replenish mulch layers in the garden! By doing so, you’ll help to cool the soil, suppress weeds, and retain soil moisture. An especially important area to mulch is around your vegetables, as they will require extra cool, moist soil during the hot summer months. When choosing what product to use, consider cedar mulch, as it can help keep insects away from your herbs and vegetables without the use of a pesticide. Another great option is Dr. Q’s Premium Paydirt Planting Mix, a premium grade, fully composted garden mulch. Once you have chosen your mulch, add a layer that is about 2-3” thick. When doing so, avoid placing the mulch close to flower stems, as it could cause stem rot. Similarly, avoid placing the mulch close to trunks, as it could cause crown or root rot. Thinning Trees: If you were not able to prune your trees during the winter months, you can still thin out your desert type trees that have grown too thick. It is especially important to do so if you are concerned that they may be damaged by summer winds or if they inhibit access to parts of your yard. Acacias, Mesquites, Fruitless Olives, Sumacs, and other evergreens can benefit from selective thinning of crossing/dropping branches. Do not perform heading cuts during the hot summer season, as this encourages new growth which is too stressful in the heat. Burnt Leaves: As temperatures get warmer, your leaves could experience leaf burn, caused by a lack of water within the plant. Without enough water to allow for evaporation, the leaf will overheat and burn. Other causes of leaf burn may be soil that is lacking sufficient oxygen, wind, and heat. If you find leaf burn in the middle of the leaf, check that the irrigation system is functioning properly and make necessary repairs. You may also consider covering exposed and/or damaged plants until there are cooler temperatures in the fall.

Grub Treatment: Similar to March, June is another month where grubs will actively lay and grow eggs. During this time, use a granular insect killer, such as BioADVANCED Grub Control. When using, carefully spread at the base of plants that are susceptible or known to be infected. *NOTE: Be sure to read the label and instructions before using any chemical garden product. Planting: June is an excellent month to plant sunflower seeds and gourd seeds! Sunflowers will take 90-110 days to harvest, making them perfect additions to fall decorations. Members of the gourd (Cucurbit) family – melons, pumpkins, and squash – should be planted in June for an optimal fall harvest.

July Watering: Because of the hot, dry weather, many will make the mistake of overwatering their plants. While it might make sense to give your plants an abundance of water, you should avoid overwatering because our clay soils have poor drainage. Because the soil does not drain and remains wet for long periods of time, overwatering will ultimately drown the root system. If a drip irrigation system is installed, make sure you water no more than every other day (unless you have sandy, rapid draining soil). A drip irrigation system will allow for deep, infrequent watering, which is beneficial to building strong roots and controlling weeds. If you have container plants, be sure to water them daily and as early in the day as possible. Water long enough that the water flows out of the bottom of the pot. Disease and Pest Control: When it comes to roses in the southwest, you’ll want to watch out for spider mites. If your roses are dealing with pests and nutrition issues, try BioAdvanced Rose and Flower Care. This product will deal with insects, disease, and can safely fertilize your plants all at once. If you find squash bugs, treat with Sevin® Dust. Avoid top watering of vegetables to reduce the chance for disease. Pines and Ash Trees: During the summer months, it is common for pine trees to have browning and dropping needles from deep within the branches due to extended periods of increasingly high summer temperatures and dry winds. To reduce late summer stress, lay a soaker hose in a spiral shape around the base of the trees, extending just outside the drip line (the area directly under the outer edge of a tree’s canopy) and soak on low for 2-4 hours, once a week. In addition to deep soaking your pines, be sure to soak your ash trees. It is important to keep your ash trees hydrated to better ward off Hendersonula toruloides (AKA sooty canker), a fungus that causes wilting and death to branches. Arborvitaes, Cypress, Junipers, and Pines: July is an ideal time to clean out the inside branches of arborvitaes, cypress, junipers, and pines to help prevent spider mites from establishing webbing in the branches. If a spider mite infestation goes untreated, the mites will suck on the needles and the tree will experience a loss of dark green leaf color, stunted growth and eventually death. To prevent this, clean out the inside branches by attaching a high-powered spray nozzle to a hose and spray all dead needles from within the canopy. Repeat this once a week during the summer months. Planting: Late July to early August, is an excellent month to plant celery, green beans, eggplant, melons, peppers, squash, and tomato seeds for an ideal fall crop! If you are planting in a full sun area, consider using a shade cloth with 50% UV protection to prevent the hot, afternoon sun from burning tiny leaves.

August Harvest Produce: During the month of August, keep on top of harvesting summer squash and tomatoes. If early picking is missed, you’ll have woody, overgrown squash and mushy tomatoes. Depending on varieties, some apples, pears, grapes, peaches and figs may be ready for harvest. Continue to harvest zucchini and other summer vegetables. Prune Summer Stressed Tomato Plants: Cut them down to one foot tall. They will eventually branch out and start producing fruit once temperatures drop below 90 degrees. Maintain Roses: The hot summer months are the roughest time for roses, but with proper care they will come back in the fall. Keep faded flowers cut, provide the roses with a cooling layer of mulch, and give them a mild fertilizer such as Dr. Q’s Rose & Flower Food. Watch Lawn Weeds: Keep an eye on broadleaf lawn weeds, (unwanted tough plants that grow in lawns like dandelion, clover, crabgrass, etc.). Be sure to remove them by hand or with a broadleaf weed killer. When it comes to lawn weeds, practice preventative maintenance year-round. If allowed to set seed, they will cause trouble for years to come. For more information on this topic see Star Note #625 - Weed Identification and Control. Fungus: Powdery Mildew is a common fungus that can infect all types of landscape plants. This type of fungus has white/gray “powdery” spores that grow on the outside of the leaf. It is important to treat powdery mildew early to prevent it from spreading to other plants. Use a copper or sulfur fungicide and repeat treatment every 10-14 days. *NOTE: Be sure to read the label and instructions before using any chemical garden product. Pest Control for Cacti: Cochineal “Crimson” Scale are small insects that cover themselves in a white cotton looking protective covering. When crushed, these insects yield a red dye, which have been used in textiles dating back to 1521. These insects feed on cactus pads. While the colony is small, a high-power blast of water from a power nozzle weekly is enough to control them, during the late summer months when they are most active.

Summer Gardening Holidays June

National Perennial Garden Month National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month Birth Flowers - Rose and Honeysuckle 5th -11th National Garden Week 6th National Gardening Exercise Day 10th National Herbs and Spices Day 11th National Corn on the Cob Day 12th National Red Rose Day 13th National Weed Your Garden Day 17th National Fresh Vegetables Day 20th-26th National Pollinator Week 23rd National Pink Flamingo Day 27th National Orange Blossom Day

July National Blueberry Month Birth Flowers - Larkspur and Water Lily 3rd National Build a Scarecrow Day 7th National Father Daughter Take a Walk Day 10th National Pick Blueberries Day 10th National Don’t Step on a Bee Day 16th National Cherry Day

August National Peach Month Birthday Flowers - Gladiolus and Poppy 3rd National Watermelon Day 7th- 13th National Farmer’s Market Week 8th National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day 19th National Potato Day 20th World Honeybee Day 23rd – Sept 1st World Water Week 29th More Herbs, Less Salt Day

WE’RE NOT PLAYING

AROUND USELESS GRASS has got to go. REPLACE GRASS with water-smart landscaping

GET CASH INCENTIVES WHILE THEY LAST

start today at snwa.com

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2/23/22 5:04 PM

Conserving Water

with Desert-Native and Drought-Tolerant Plants

ince the federal government declared a water shortage on the Colorado River, Southern Nevada’s water supply has been reduced, making it more important than ever to conserve our water. Additionally, our water supply predicament is further affected by the increasing desert temperatures and decreasing amounts of rainfall.

Landscape irrigation is one of the largest categories of water consumption, so it is a great place to begin conserving water. When talking about desert landscape, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is a landscape full of dirt and rock; however, the Southwest desert is home to many beautiful plant species that thrive in the desert environment and require little water consumption. If you look at the undeveloped desert around us, especially areas such as Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, or Death Valley, you will find many attractive desert-native plants that thrive with only the care of Mother Nature. When taking a closer look, you’ll find a few factors that allow these native plants to thrive. To begin, let’s examine cactus and succulent varieties that are native to the Southwest desert area such as the Hedgehog, Beavertail, Prickly Pear, and Cholla cactus varieties, as well as many agave and yucca varieties. In their native environment, these plants receive water infrequently and can store water in their leaves and stems for long periods of time. Due to infrequent rainfall, their roots have evolved to become ‘pumps’ that activate when water is available. Once the roots receive water, they will activate and pump water to the leaves and stems to store for future use. Additionally, these plants have a thick, waxy outer skin that can reflect the heat of the sun and helps to prevent moisture loss. As a result of this natural process, desert native cactus, agave, and yucca should not be watered frequently when placed in a landscape. If the roots have too much moisture around them, the leaves and stems will run out of storage room, causing the roots to rot and the plant to die. Because these plants require minimal water, they are a wonderful solution to keeping your landscape beautiful and water conservation low. In fact, cactus, agave, and yucca will produce some of the most colorful flowers you can find in the desert! Other than cactus and succulents, there are many desert native perennials, shrubs, and trees that can make your yard beautiful without requiring too much water. If you’re looking to add hardy, colorful perennials to your landscape, consider plants such as the Desert Marigold, Desert Daisy, Globe Mallow, Perky Sue, Apache Plume, and Red Bird of Paradise. Examples of great native shrubs include the Brittlebush, Turpentine Bush, and Creosote, while excellent native trees include varieties of Mesquite, Palo Verde, and Desert Willow. When looking closely at these plants, you’ll notice that they all have small leaves in common! Smaller leaves can tolerate sun much better than large leaves because their small surface area helps to prevent sunburn. They also require less water storage to sufficiently cool off the leaf, meaning the entire plant does not require as much water as sub-tropical plants. Reduced water requirements make small-leaf plants excellent choices for water conservation. A few more plants that are excellent for water conservation include those in the grass and ground cover families! For example, grasses varieties such as Deer Grass, Regal Mist Grass, and Feather Grass are considered low-water-use plants. Further, there are great ground covers that are drought tolerant such as the Ice Plant, Australian Racer, and Gopher Plant. To conserve your water usage, you do not have to sacrifice having a beautiful yard! There are plenty of beautiful desert-native plants that can add greenery and color to your yard. By adding native plants to your landscape, you will be saving on money, water, and maintenance! For more native plant recommendations, speak with a member of our sales team at the Star Nursery location nearest to you!

Help protect our water supply by watering smart!

ue to a decades-long drought in the Colorado River basin and declining water levels at Lake Mead, the federal government declared a water shortage on the Colorado River, reducing Southern Nevada’s water supply by 7 billion gallons this year. It’s more important than ever that everyone be water smart and help conserve our water supply. Residents can do their part with three simple actions: 1. Follow the mandatory seasonal watering restrictions 2. Prevent or stop water waste 3. Replace “useless grass” in your yard that no one uses The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) offers cash rebates and coupons to help you save water, including the Water Smart Landscapes (WSL) rebate. SNWA provides a cash incentive of up to $3 a square foot to property owners who replace water-thirsty grass with drip-irrigated plants and trees. (Some restrictions apply.) You can find your assigned watering days, how-to videos and even a search tool to discover water-smart plants, trees and shrubs for your yard on snwa.com. Summer Watering Restrictions Until Sept. 1, landscape watering is prohibited from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. when temperatures soar and winds are stronger. Sunday watering is never allowed. Southern Nevadans can save billions of gallons of water a year simply by following the mandatory seasonal watering restrictions. To find your assigned watering days, visit the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) website at snwa.com.

Lighten up on plants, trees and shrubs Running drip irrigation for too many days is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make. Plants don’t need as much water as grass, so lighten up! In the summer, run drip irrigation three days a week for one, long cycle depending upon how much water your emitters drip. High-flow emitters tend to stream water while lowflow emitters drip water slowly. Follow this guide: High-flow emitter 5-20 gph* 1 cycle 20-40 minutes per cycle Low-flow emitter Up to 4 gph* 1 cycle 30-90 minutes per cycle *Most drip emitters have the gallons per hour (gph) printed on them. The higher the gph, the less time you need to run your drip irrigation system.

Water grass in shorter sips Sprinklers should run for three short cycles each watering day to irrigate grass. Run the short cycles about an hour apart so the water soaks down into the soil, reaching deeper roots while helping prevent wasteful water runoff. SNWA recommends the following “cycle and soak” schedule for summer, fall and spring: Watering 1: Watering 2: Watering 3:

5 a.m. for 4 minutes 6 a.m. for 4 minutes 7 a.m. for 4 minutes

*Hand water brown spots to avoid water waste. Replace unused grass with a water-smart landscape and earn a cash incentive from the Water Authority. Apply online at snwa.com.

Don’t fear your clock! Irrigation controllers (also known as sprinkler clocks) can be intimidating, but a simple internet search of the make and model of your controller will likely result in plenty of helpful videos to get you on your way. Keep an eye on your yard and adjust your watering as needed. Sprinklers and drip need to run on different PROGRAMS of your clock because they require different types of watering. Set Program A for sprinklers and grass areas, which run in short cycles on your assigned watering days. Set Program B for drip irrigation, which runs in longer cycles, but on fewer days each week. Remember to adjust your watering days and times to comply with the seasonal watering restrictions and to avoid a water waste fine. Find your watering days at snwa.com. Get a smart irrigation controller Keep landscape irrigation simple - upgrade to a smart irrigation controller, which can automatically adjust to weather conditions and is easily programmed via your mobile device. SNWA offers a rebate of 50 percent off the purchase price up to $100. Visit snwa. com for details. Other watering tips: Warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda, require about one-third less water. If you have high-efficiency rotating sprinklers, water for 12 minutes each watering, rather than 4 minutes. Don’t water when it’s windy or rainy. Check your sprinkler system for malfunctions monthly. Modify spray patterns from sprinkler heads by re-adjusting for better direction or installing variable arc nozzles.

Dr. Q’s Summer Season Picks Bush Common name: Heavenly Cloud Texas Sage Botanical name: Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Heavenly Cloud’ Note: Can grow to 4 x 4 feet, easily trimmed to smaller size. The Heavenly Cloud Texas Sage is a wonderful plant to add to your landscape because of its lovely purple blooms. Fun fact: Texas Sage is nicknamed the “barometer plant” because its purple blooms are responsive to increased humidity, so if you see purple blooms on your Texas Sage, you might get rain soon!

Flower Common name: Flower Carpet Rose Botanical name: Rosa Carpet Note: Highly disease resistant. Can grow 2 x 3 feet. Does great in containers or in the ground. The Flower Carpet Rose is an incredibly prolific bloomer that provides vivid color from spring until winter. Out of all rose varieties, the Flower Carpet Rose is the most sun tolerant and longest blooming. This rose variety is perfect to plant in large sections or small containers!

Tree Common name: Red Push Pistache Botanical name: Pistacia ‘Red Push’ Note: Drought tolerant once established. Disease resistant. Can grow to 25 x 20 feet. The Red Push Pistache is the perfect combination of beauty and resilience. Adding this tree to your yard will enhance your environment and provide plenty of shade. New leaf growth appears red, then changes to beautiful red, orange, and yellow colors in the fall before losing its leaves in the winter.

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One stop shop for residential bird control! Humane and effective products that work! Protect your fruits and vegetables from pest birds! Keep pest birds away and the diseases they carry! R

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Recycling is SMART! Do your part and be rewarded! Bring in your empty black plant pots and receive IN-STORE CREDIT toward future garden purchases.

We accept the following sizes: • 1 Gallon..........................5¢ per pot • 3 Gallon........................10¢ per pot • 5 Gallon........................25¢ per pot • 15 Gallon.......................60¢ per pot

Dr. Q’s

Local Garden Spotlight

Unlike other areas of the country, gardeners in the southwest region must be informed gardeners, as the desert environment can impose many gardening challenges. With the right information, desert gardens can thrive! Though desert gardening is achievable for all, there are many gardening experts in the Las Vegas valley who have gone above and beyond in their gardening efforts! One such gardener is named Brandy Simper, a Las Vegas gardener of over twenty years! Not only are her front and backyard gardens notable, but Brandy has also achieved expert gardening status while managing a home and homeschooling her nine children.

Brandy was inspired to learn about gardening in many ways throughout her childhood, including walking local gardens, taking note of her favorite flowers at the houses of family friends, and visiting the Chateau de Villandry – a grand country garden in France. When she first started gardening, Brandy took classes through the Extension Service and at the Springs Preserve, while reading all of Star Nursery’s Star Notes. By doing so, Brandy was able to learn from local gardening experts who had years of experience in the area. Currently, both of Brandy’s gardens are water-smart! In fact, Brandy recently redesigned her backyard garden and is now consuming 33% less water than before. She was able to do so by getting rid of grass and replacing it with other plants that require only drip irrigation. Not only is her backyard notable because it is water-smart, but it is also admirable because of its handmade rose arbor, pergolas, and play items such as a merry-go-round and swing set! Additionally, Brandy’s entire backyard is covered with a plethora of flowers and edible items. In addition to her backyard, Brandy also has a magnificent front garden, called “The White Garden”. Not only is this garden also water-smart, but it is an artistic piece covered in white-blooming plants including Iceberg White Roses, Star Jasmine, Halls Honeysuckle, White Drift Roses, and white Million Bells, Bacopa, and Snapdragons. If you’re interested in creating a desert garden as impressive as Brandy’s, check out her best advice below! 1. No matter how experienced you are as a gardener, there will always be plants that decide to die on you. 2. Learn about warm and cool season vegetable and herbs. 3. Invest in fruit trees! 4. Utilize trellises and semi-dwarf trees if planting in a small area. 5. Be patient when planting and keep in mind that the first year is always the hardest. 6. Invest in drip irrigation, as it will save water and money! You can also find Brandy on Facebook and Instagram by searching @ThePrudentHomemaker.

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Dr. Q’s House Calls Are your plants struggling with disease, insect infestations, malnutrition, dehydration, growth delay, seasonal stress, or other issues? If you’ve been experiencing problems in your yard and can’t seem to find a solution, call Dr. Q! There are several factors that affect a plant’s health, including obvious factors such as sunlight, soil, water, fertilizer, and insects and less obvious factors such as disease, wind patterns, drainage, soil compaction, and irrigation. Often, gardeners will visit Star Nursey with an issue, speak with a plant expert, and leave with a solution. However, there are times that diagnosing an issue is more complex and requires one of our experts to be on site, examining the issue. When you schedule a house call with Dr. Q, you’ll be receiving one-on-one advice from a Star Nursery expert! Able to provide you with superior knowledge, Star Nursery’s most known experts are Paul Noe, a Certified Horticultural Advisor, and Joey Lynn, an ISA Certified Arborist® and Certified Nevada Nurseryman. Dr. Q’s House Calls are not just available in the Las Vegas Valley but are also available in all areas where there is a Star Nursery location! Star Nursery has a plethora of knowledgeable staff who are trained to give advice that is unique to each area. For a service fee of $90, you will receive a up to one hour of consultation in your yard. To set up an appointment, email housecalls@starnursery.com or visit the Star Nursery location nearest to you!

Our Garden

Exploring Below, Above, and Beyond

Have you ever found yourself wishing you had more help in the garden? Someone to turn the soil, clean up the leaves, and keep unwanted pests to a minimum? Lucky for us, there is a network of small garden friends that love to help maintain a healthy garden.

To maintain a healthy number of earthworms in your garden, you’ll want to make sure that there is enough moisture and air in the soil. If there is too much moisture, there will not be enough air and the earthworms will come to the surface and won’t survive long. Oppositely, if there is not enough moisture, the earthworms will die in the dry soil. You may encourage earthworms to stay in your garden by adding layers of organic mulches and matter. Not only will this provide the earthworms with organic matter to consume, but it will also help maintain moisture levels and regulate the soil temperature. Let’s explore above –

Let’s dig below – Earthworms are the building blocks of soil formation because of the castings they excrete. Full of beneficial microbes and organic matter, castings are what remain after an earthworm has digested organic matter such as leaves and garden debris. The process of an earthworm’s digestion and excretion is beneficial to your garden because it speeds up the composting process and provides more nutrients to the soil. Further, having earthworms in your garden is beneficial because they allow for a greater amount of soil aeration when they dig their burrows. Capable of burrowing three feet deep, earthworms are natural soil tillers and can redistribute micronutrients as they move between layers of soil.

Now that you understand how our friends below help maintain our garden, let’s look above to the surface of the soil where there are lizards, whiptails, and geckos. While you may have seen these garden friends scurrying around your yard, you might not have known that they benefit your garden by keeping unwanted bugs to a minimum. Serving as a natural pest control, these small reptiles will eat insects such spiders, beetles (cockroaches), ants, termites, flies, and even scorpions! To encourage a diverse population of small reptiles in your garden, you will want to provide a nice habitat consisting of shelter and areas to sunbathe.

Looking beyond the soil and garden floor, you’ll find several flying garden friends including ladybugs, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Similar to lizards, whiptails, and geckos; ladybugs also help to keep unwanted bugs at a minimum. Ladybugs will flock to gardens that have plant-eating insects, such as aphids, then leave once there are no more insects to eat. If you look in your garden and find that you don’t have any lady bugs, it could be that the lady bugs were already present, did their job, and left again. However, if you find that there aren’t ladybugs in your garden, but you are experiencing an issue with plant-eating insects, you might consider releasing a container of ladybugs into your yard, just as the sun sets. Be sure to release the ladybugs when it is dark, as there is an increased chance for the ladybugs to settle into their new habitat. On the other hand, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are helpful to our gardens because they play vital roles in the pollination process. While all our pollinator friends do a great job, they each have unique talents that contribute to the overall health of the garden. For example, the bee can carry more pollen on its body than a butterfly, but a butterfly can fly a longer distance which allows pollen to travel further. Additionally, the hummingbird’s small body and large beak allow pollination to occur in places that are unreachable by the bees and butterflies. The next time you step outside into your garden, look beyond the flowers, veggies, shrubs, and trees to find our garden friends hard at work. If you look carefully enough, you might discover a diverse ecosystem in your own backyard!

STORE SPOTLIGHT Bullhead Location 1579 Mohave Dr. Bullhead City, AZ 86442

Several years ago, Star Nursery’s Fort Mohave location (previously only a rock yard) began carrying a selection of plants and other garden supplies. As the new plant products proved to be a hit, Star Nursery recognized the opportunity to expand and provide the area with a local garden center. In 2017, Star Nursery purchased a Dollar General store in the center of Bullhead City with dreams of turning it into Star Nursery’s newest location. On Wednesday, April 25, 2018, this dream became reality when the Bullhead location opened for business! Star Nursery is proud to provide Bullhead City with a local garden center that offers the best in garden supplies. Our focus is always customeroriented, and nobody knows that better than Bullhead’s store manager, Cassandra Britton, who has worked with Star Nursery since 2015. Not only has Cassandra worked at the Bullhead location since its opening, but she has worked her way up through all levels of store-level management. Her favorite part of the location is the peace that comes as she works to organize and maintain the plants in the yard. Since it’s opening, the Bullhead location has become the biggest irrigation center with the largest selection in all of Bullhead City! Not only has this store become a leader in irrigation supply, but it is also home to a large houseplant and pottery selection, providing customers with a plethora of home or office decoration options! Moreover, this location has continued to provide its community with low prices and local gardening advice. If you live near Bullhead City, be sure to stop by and find everything you need to maintain a beautiful landscape or garden space!

Enrique Rodriquez is the Assistant Manager at Star Nursey’s Ann Road location in Las Vegas. Originally from San Diego, California, Enrique moved to Las Vegas with his best friend to experience new adventures, challenges, and experiences in both his personal and professional life. In high school, Enrique was received a full ride scholarship to play baseball at Louisiana State University. After playing college baseball for three years, he was given the opportunity to pitch professionally in the minor leagues for the San Diego Padres and the Miami Marlins, but was injured and had to retire from playing baseball. Before working at Star Nursery, Enrique worked for numerous landscaping companies in Las Vegas and was a superintendent in Arizona for six years. Since working at Star Nursery, Enrique has grown as a manager and mentor, while making meaningful connections with employees and gardeners. In his future, Enrique looks forward to continuing his hard work and dedication to grow in both his personal and professional life. Outside of work, Enrique enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as watching and attending sporting events.

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Tyson Kohler is the Rock Yard Manager at Star Nursery’s Dixie location in St. George. Originally from Preston, Idaho, Tyson and his family have relocated to St. George, Utah. Prior to working at Star Nursery, Tyson did not have experience working with plants, landscaping supplies, or rock, but worked hard to learn all that he could and excel in his position. Though Tyson has learned a lot, he has committed to being a consistent learner and absorbs new knowledge every day! A memorable experience for Tyson was when he was promoted from Rock Yard Sales to Rock Yard Manager because he was happy to be a trusted member of the team. Outside of work, Tyson enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as participating in R2R riding, boating, and cookouts. In his future, Tyson is looking forward to purchasing his own home and anticipates doing so in about one year!

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Jeffrey Rands is the Floor Supervisor at Star Nursery’s Bullhead City location. Originally from Jerseyville, Illinois, Jeffrey relocated to Bullhead City, Arizona after starting a relationship and finding a job opportunity at Star Nursery. Since becoming a team member, Jeffrey has found an appreciation for plants, often finds peace while watering in the yard, and enjoys having a great team to work with. Jeffrey is especially proud of his personal growth and accomplishments, stating that he no longer takes things for granted, has found a new respect for himself and others, and has grown to be a working member within his community. Outside of work, Jeffrey enjoys spending time with his children and riding his motorcycle. In his future, Jeffrey looks forward to buying a house and watching his kids grow up. While doing so, he also has made it his goal to become the best possible version of himself.

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