Schedule of Cultural Practices for Landscape Horticulture
Bakersfield Area
| MONTH |
CULTURAL PRACTICES |
POTENTIAL PEST PROBLEMS |
| January | Prune fruit and shade trees, prune roses Plant bareroot roses Continue with little or no irrigation for turfgrass Clean-up garden Apply pre-emergent herbicides for crabgrass control |
Dormant oil for fruit and shade tree insects if necessary Dormant disease control for fruit trees if necessary |
| February | Plant bareroot trees, roses Plant spring flowers and late spring-flowering bulbs Fertilize cool season grasses Plant vegetables Turn compost |
Snails and slugs |
| March | Fertilize warm season turf such as bermudagrass Fertilize trees & shrubs Fertilize deciduous fruit trees Plant tomatoes Look at wildflowers Adjust irrigation controllers for spring weather |
Codling Moth Bentley Ash Moth Fireblight of pears and apples |
| April | Plant late spring flowers Finish tomato planting Renovate cool season grasses Broadleaf weed control in turf |
Ash Anthracnose Fireblight Mildew |
| May | Plant warm season grasses from seed Renovate warm season grasses |
Crawler stage of scale insects |
| June | Summer flower planting: zinnias, portulaca, vinca Increase irrigation for summer |
Tomato hornworms Root rot favored by excessive water Begin solarization |
| July | Fertilize at full rate for warm season grasses Half rate or no fertilizer for cool season grasses Sufficient irrigation to forestall borers of fruit trees |
Spider mites - wash plants with water Green fruit beetle - no treatment Russet mites on tomatoes - sulfur dust Remove spotted wilt affected tomato plants |
| August | Plant cool season vegetables Lightly prune roses for fall flowers |
|
| September | Bermudagrass renovation Plant mums Plant fall flowers Plant fall vegetables Reduce irrigation |
|
| October | Cool season turfgrass renovation Plant cool season grasses from seed Overseeding of warm season turfgrass Plant spring-flowering bulbs (e.g. daffodil) |
Treat for spring dead spot of bermudagrass if necessary |
| November | Clean-up garden | |
| December | Move houseplants to higher light intensity Reduce or turn off irrigation for winter Prune fruit and shade trees Fertilize cool season turfgrasses |
Dormant spray if necessary Mistletoe control in shade trees Treat overseeded ryegrass for pink snow mold if necessary |