Turf Conversion

As we await the Fall weather to blow in, Green By Design is preparing and gearing up for the conversion of the Bermuda grass to Ryegrass for the cold season lawns.  This year, Ryegrass seed will be installed in all turf areas to provide beautiful lawns for the community through the winter. 

The process of overseeding the Bermuda grass has already begun.  Green By Design has been incrementally reducing the turf irrigation and will be dramatically reducing the water to the turf beginning the first week of October.  The intention in reducing the water is to gently stress the Bermuda grass ahead of mow down to help force it into dormancy.  We expect some incremental color change over the next two to three weeks.   

The height of the mowers is raised slightly each week to help stretch the height of the Bermuda grass.  In mid-October, the grass is then mowed down in-order to remove the green foliage and expose the soil below.  This process will be very dramatic and is quite a messy process.  

Once the seed is installed, we engage the irrigation to run every day, multiple times per day, for about 2 weeks.  The water is then incrementally reduced to prepare for the first mow.  The first mow is anticipated 3 to 4 weeks after installation.

The Invasive Roots of the Dalbergia Sissoo

The Dalbergia sissoo (Indian Rosewood) is presently a very popular semi-evergreen shade tree in Phoenix and is a fast growing and attractive drought tolerant tree.  Indian rose wood will produce some litter throughout the year, especially during fall.

The Dalbergia sissoo is known to send up sprouts long distances from the parent tree. As noted by Dr. Ed Gilman, the Sissoo has become a serious problem in his home state Florida.  It is considered by many horticulturists to be a nuisance tree because of its aggressive rooting and sprouting. 

Root encroachment is another common problem with Dalbergia sissoo. Roots can threaten sidewalks, pavers, curbing, block walls and other landscape elements including lawns. The sprouts that spontaneously emerge from Dalbergia roots can also destroy the beauty and functionality of surrounding landscaping. These satellite sprouts not only grow in unwanted areas; they can also grow to become new trees.

When you have decided to remove a Dalbergia sissoo tree because of aggressive roots and/or sprouting you will find that the roots continue to sprout after the tree is removed.  The most cost effective method of controlling the roots and sprouts after removal is to treat the stump and sprouts with a systemic herbicide over an extended period of time.  Removing the root ball and root system included the soil will be the most effective method but is quite costly.  

Pruning Shrubs in the Fall

​Shrubs and ground covers often react to the Fall as if it were a second Spring.  The sages burst out in vibrant violet blossoms, gold mound lantanas become a blanket of yellow.

As the night time temperatures drop the blossoms fall off of the sages and plants start to grow more slowly or even go into dormancy.

It is important to use the Fall to “prepare” your plants for potential freezing during the winter.  Plants that are selectively pruned and that have sufficient foliage will weather frosts much better then sheared or sparsely leafed plants.

Selective pruning is achieved by removing the branches above the desired height at the first “V” that is at or lower then the desired height.  Leave all branches that are at the desired height untouched. Begin by identifying those branches that give the plants most of their height and width.

Once you’ve identified those branches giving your plants too much height or spread, follow them to the first “V” or lower and remove them with loppers or a pruning saw.  The ideal time to prune is immediately after the plant’s flowers start to fade. 

When a plant is frost damaged the branches will brown and the plant may appear to be dead.  It is important to not remove the frost damaged branches until after freezing temperatures are no longer probable. The damaged branches are protecting the rest of the plant.  If you remove the branches that have been damaged by the frost before the last freeze, you are exposing the remaining plant and will increase the likelihood of permanent damage to the plant

In the Spring is it beneficial to cut most desert adapted flowering shrubs to approximately 1 to 1.5 feet above the ground and ground covers to 8 to 10 inches above the ground.  The plant in most cases will recover and grow to the desired height very quickly. Some plants such as a natal plums and mock oranges should not be cut back unless to remove dead or damaged branches.