David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Gardening can be an excellent way to relax, connect with nature, and grow food for your family and flowers to decorate your home and share with others. Unfortunately, seasonal temperature changes, unpredictable weather and other issues can make growing plants outdoors a challenge. With a greenhouse, you can avoid these problems. Grow What You Want, When You Want Most plants only grow well under specific conditions and therefore can only be raised outdoors at certain times of the year. A greenhouse can allow you to control the temperature and amount of humidity so your vegetables, flowers and herbs will have the optimal growing conditions in any season. Too much or too little rain, temperature fluctuations and unexpected frost can ruin crops you’ve worked on raising for months. With a greenhouse, you won’t need to worry about any of that. Your plants will be protected from extreme weather in a carefully controlled environment with consiste...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Nothing is more frustrating to gardeners than having their hard work and investment ruined by deer, rabbits and other creatures. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to help prevent or minimize damage from animals, without resorting to harsh and environmentally damaging chemicals. Consider the following strategies to start prepping your garden this fall.  Identify the culprit.  To prevent damage from critters, you must first know who you’re dealing with. Neatly clipped stems and twigs are usually a sign of rabbits, but if you’re seeing ragged and torn leaves, that’s most likely deer. If you have security cameras installed on your property or a Ring doorbell system, you might be able to catch the intruder in the act. Plant strategically.  Get to know the plants native to your area that are resistant to animals. Your landscaper or local plant and garden store can help you select the right ones for your yard. Plant ...

  David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com Heat waves are becoming more commonplace, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and extreme summer heat, which can be tough enough on people, is tough on our outdoor landscaping, too.  While there’s not much we can do to control the weather, gardening experts suggest taking these steps to help your outdoor greenery survive the heat: Water Early  - Watering on cool mornings ensures that more water will make it to the plants' roots before evaporating. Watering by hand or with a spray-nozzle hose can help direct the water where it's needed. Watch Potted Plants -  When the mercury levels rise, keep an extra close eye on your container plants. Potted plants are the first to suffer in a heat wave and will need more water than in-ground greenery. Mulch Those Beds -  Adding mulch to your garden is one of the best things you can do to protect plants from hot summer weather, as it conserves moisture and keeps th...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By John Voket If this is the year you start growing your own food, it should be comforting to know there are many ways a first time gardener can reap a successful harvest - whether its a crop of tomatoes from a balcony flower box or a few rows of tasty fresh veggies straight from the back yard. We've said it before - the most important thing you'll need if you're digging outside is a soil test. A basic soil test assesses the levels of major plant nutrients, soil pH and micronutrients, according to gardeningproductsreview.com. Based on that, you can get recommendations on the amounts of limestone, fertilizer or compost, and other amendments you should add to your soil to best meet your growing needs. Next, the University of Illinois Extension says follow these steps: - Choose a garden site. - Plan the arrangement of crops in the garden. - Sketch a map of your garden area showing the location of each vegetable, s...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By Brooke Chaplan Getting rid of dead trees is more complex than many people realize, and you could run into an array of issues if you aren't careful. Luckily, with the right equipment and a solid plan, you should be able to get that dead foliage off your property before you know it. Here are three things to keep in mind when removing dead trees from your property: Don't Start During Inclement Weather Removing dead trees is extremely hazardous during certain times of the year. If there are high winds or the tree is covered in snow, then you should probably put this project off for at least a few weeks. That being said, a little bit of rain could actually help you out. The rainwater is going to saturate all of the soil around the tree, and that'll make it much easier to pull out the roots. You can also soak the ground with a garden hose if you're carrying out this project during the dry season. Always Use the Pr...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com You might be spending your weekend raking and bagging leaves, maybe planting some spring bulbs, too. But there are actually a wide variety of important - and time- and money-saving - gardening tasks you could be embarking on this seasons as well. Check out the following ideas before you roll up your sleeves and head out into the yard: Put down mulch. The fall is a great time to spread a layer of mulch as many plants get ready to go dormant and hibernate for the winter. This will make the job easier as you won’t have to worry about damaging young plants as you’re spreading mulch around. Also use this time to dig out new beds you’re planning to plant in the spring and cover those with mulch as well. Collect seeds. Save some money on next year’s annuals’ bill by collecting seeds to start inside over the winter and plant in the spring. Look for seeds from sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos and any other fall plants still blooming in your yar...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By Rae Steinbach Just because you've harvested the last of your crops doesn't mean that your work out in the vegetable garden is done. With the season drawing to a close, you need to do some work to prepare your garden for winter. By doing a little bit of work in the fall, you can protect your garden from some of the effects of the cold weather approaching and prepare your garden beds for a productive spring. Here are some tips for getting your garden ready for next year: Clean Your Garden Beds The first step is to clean your garden beds. Start by moving all of the old mulch aside. Pull up any remaining weeds and remove any dead plant material or rotten vegetables. Some pests and plant diseases can live through the winter in any vegetation that is left behind, so it's important to clean the beds and dispose of the weeds and other plant material properly. Add Some Mulch Once you've cleared out all of the weed...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com It's no secret that more and more people are looking for ways to stretch their dollars, so this may be the year to consider planting a vegetable garden. "Planting a productive and relatively fuss-free garden may be easier than you think," said Howard Rossiter, a garden department manager in Fullerton, Calif, "And you'll likely be rewarded with armloads of vegetables from spring through early fall." The trick, said Rossiter, is careful planning and making the best use of space. For beginners or veterans, he offers the following tips for successful vegetable gardening: Sunshine is essential for healthy veggies. Locate your garden where it will get at least six hours of sunlight a day/ In partially shady locations, you'll probably have more luck with leaf crops like lettuce and spinach than with sun-loving tomatoes and melons. Till the soil and improve it with generous amounts of compost, sphag...

David Deem 714-997-3486 Dave@DeemTeam.com By John Voket During this part of spring landscaping season, property owners should resist the urge to prune everything in sight, because improper or unnecessary pruning can damage plants, shrubs, and trees, and end up producing the opposite results than you might be seeking. Experts at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension believe proper pruning is both a science and an art. The science involves recognizing plant flaws and eliminating defects. The artistic end involves removing expired plant pieces without someone knowing the plant has even been touched. Improper pruning or pruning at the wrong time of the year can result in unsightly plants, reduced flowering, or plants that are more likely to be damaged by diseases, insects or winter cold, according to the extension experts. Lisa Tadewaldt's blog at urbanforestprofessionals.com says avoid these common pruning mistakes: Using dull tools. Old or overused tools may ...