Land Maintenance LLC

ALL ORGANICS Sweet Corn!

2010-07-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my sweet corn grown with All Organics Worm Castings. How do you like them tassels!?
This is the best corn I have ever grown.

Crackdown on pesticide use may loom for U.S. farmers

2010-07-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

What happens when farmers who regularly use pesticides are not allowed by law to use them? We may find out if the nearly 400 pesticides are made illegal due to a lawsuit in the works from the Center for Biologicial Diversity.

For Details see the following article:Crackdown on Pesticide Use

Whatever the opinion on governmental involvement and potential damage to wildlife, more and more people want their food grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers

If these farmers do not find a successful way to manage their crops without pesticides production may drop significantly.

All Organics LLC was formed to help farmers and home gardeners to grow their own food without the need for pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. Our flagship products are All Organics Worm Castings and All Organics Living Extract.

A healthy soil translates into healthy plants. Our Worm Castings provide the microorganisms that colonize the soil and translate nutrients into plant available form. Microorganisms are the link healthy soils need to fight disease and insects. When a plant has nutrients available it can through its own intelligence take these in and use them to prevent and fight disease and insects. Our Living Extract is sprayed on the plants and the soil. It coats the stem and leaf structure with positive microorganisms. The stomata on the plant open under ideal temperatures and let in nutrients in the Living Extract as well.

We at All Organics LLC are comitted to providing solutions for a healthy environment and healthy food network. For more information contact Brian Ezzell and Patrick Wilcox. You will find our booth at the Prescott Farmers Market until mid October (Saturday's 7:30-12:00) and in Scottsdale for the winter. More details to come.....

Patrick Wilcox 928-776-4637

Brian Ezzell 928-227-2539

Farmers Market Worm Compost

2010-06-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

All Organics at the Prescott Farmers Market. We are there every Saturday in the Yavapai College parking lot from 7:30 - 12:00 noon. We are currently selling worm castings and a live extract product. We will be adding more products soon. Stop by and see us! We are also at the farmers market in Prescott Valley on tuesday's and Chino Valley on Thursday's from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Contact Brian or Patrick for more information 928-227-2539 or 928-776-4637.

Gopher Control, Prescott Yard Care

2010-03-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

This is the best gopher trap I have found. I have trapped 5 gophers in our yard over a 3 month period. The great thing about it is that unlike the previous traps I have used, it does not have to be buried. So it is easy to spot and tell if a gopher has set it off. The key to setting it that I have found is to position the hole facing south. This guarantees that light will enter the hole. When the gopher sees the light it wants to close the hole and enters the trap. That is the last light it will see!

We can set these for you.

However, if you want to try it on your own you might check out ebay for these. That is where I bought them, however they aren't easy to find there. Here is a link where you can buy them also:

Redwood Gopher Getter

Patrick Wilcox
Land Maintenance LLC
928-776-4637

Benefits of Worm Castings

2010-03-04T21:05:00.000-08:00

Worm castings are the richest natural fertilizer known to humans. That's right: as little as a tablespoon of pure worm castings provides enough organic plant nutrients to feed a 6" potted plant for more than two months. Worm castings stimulate plant growth more than any other natural product on the market. Unlike animal manure and artificial fertilizers it is absorbed easily and immediately by plants. But Worm Castings don't only stimulate plant growth: they also enhance the ability of your soil to retain water (because of its texture), and it even inhibits root diseases such as root rot.

What Are Worm Castings?
Worm Castings contain a highly active biological mixture of bacteria, enzymes, remnants of plant matter and animal manure, as well as earthworm cocoons (while damp). The castings are rich in water-soluble plant nutrients, and contain more than 50% more humus than what is normally found in topsoil.
Worm Castings are packed with minerals that are essential for plant growth, such as concentrated nitrates, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and calcium. It also contains manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, borax, iron, carbon and nitrogen. However, the best of all is that these minerals are immediately available to the plant, without the risk of ever burning the plant. Remember that animal manure and chemical fertilizers have to be broken down in the soil before the plant can absorb them.

6 Reasons to use Worm Castings

1. The humus in the worm castings extracts toxins and harmful fungi and bacteria from the soil. Worm Castings therefore have the ability to fight off plant diseases.
2. The worm castings have the ability to fix heavymetals in organic waste. This prevents plants from absorbing more of these chemical compounds than they need. These compounds can then be released later when the plants need them.
3. Worm Castings act as a barrier to help plants grow in soil where the pH levels are too high or too low. They prevent extreme pH levels from making it impossible for plants to absorb nutrients from the soil.
4. The humic acid in Worm Castings stimulate plant growth, even in very low concentrations. The humic acid is in an ionically distributed state in which it can easily be absorbed by the plant, over and above any normal mineral nutrients. Humic acid also stimulates the development of micro flora populations in the soil.
5. Worm Castings increase the ability of soil to retain water. The worm castings form aggregates, which are mineral clusters that combine in such a way that they can withstand water erosion and compaction, and also increase water retention.
6. Worm Castings reduce the acid-forming carbon in the soil, and increase the nitrogen levels in a state that the plant can easily use. Organic plant wastes usually have a carbon-nitrogen ratio of more than 20 to 1. Because of this ratio, the nitrogen is unavailable to plants, and the soil around the organic waste becomes acidic.

Yard Care and Irrigation versus xeriscape

2010-02-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

Many claim that we use too much water for our plants here in the southwest and we should not plant non native plants because we of water table shortages. A new study from Northern Illinois University may suggest the opposite. Although this is for crops, there may not be a significant difference to landscape maintenance plants.

Crop Irrigation May Cool Midwest Temperatures
Researchers from Northern Illinois University suggest a
link between agriculture in the American Midwest and
observed declines in summer temperatures and increased
rainfall in the region.
An NIU team of climatologists led by David Changnon
believes that increased production of irrigated row crops and
closer plant spacing — and the resulting growth in water
consumption per acre — are the likely source. Properly applied irrigation water is
used by plants, evaporated and then condensed into clouds, falling as rain,
rather than running off into rivers and streams or soaking back into the ground.
Current climate models fail to take irrigation into account. A future study will
compare simulation results with and without irrigation to try to clarify the
source of increased rainfall on the Great Plains. For more information, visit
www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/55527/title/crop_irrigation_could_be
__cooling_midwest.

3rd Strongest Storm Prescott History -- Snow removal

2010-01-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

After the 3rd Strongest storm in Prescott's History, demand for snow removal was high. Fortunately our low temps were 10 degrees be;pw normal or we may have received 4 - 5 feet of snow. As it was we had wet heavy snow Thursday. It rained during the afternoon over the 6 inches we already had making the shoveling that much more challenging. The storm continued through Saturday. We were at it all day long beginning at 6 a.m. through Sunday at 3pm. Dan Seaman was instrumental in helping us to complete everyones needs. Sunday at 3:00pm he wished me to have a nice weekend. Indeed we felt it was Wednesday when Monday morning came along.

If you have any need for snow removal and want to get on our list fill out the form on this blog. Advanced notice will allow us to schedule the job timely. We provide Landscape Maintenance. Everything to do with Land Maintenance. Monthly service proposals and contracts and FREE ESTIMATES. Call us for your yard care needs. 928-776-4637

2009-09-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here are the before and after of a small flagstone project.
We will be interplanting the flagstone with Thyme.

2009-09-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

Here are the after Pics.

2009-09-21T20:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some before pics of a basic weed clean-up we did.

Bringing the Resort Home.

2009-08-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

This is a waterfall we created

to screen out the 2 story apartment complex next door. Customer requested cattai

ls. He got them and more. This has a bamboo fountain, aquatic plants, mosquito fish, gold fish, We also p

otted bamboo that is 6 feet tall for an instant screen. The cattails will grow up and add a lot of interest. The bambo

o waterfall is very soothing and customer reported falling asleep regularl

y. This was great fun creating and is perfect for small spaces. Could be in ground. Cost to set up as is approx. $795.00 Call us 928-776-4637 and we will set up one for you!

Irrigation Audit

2009-08-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

Water conservation and Irrigation audits.

There are some simple tests we can do to determine how much of your water goes to your irrigation. It is called a water audit. We are in the process of calculating exactly how much water your plants need and adjusting your irrigation accordingly. See the following article for more details. Landscape plants are in categories such as turf, ornamental, tree, native and naturalized, flower, etc... Each plant has different water requirements.
The best landscapers architects and installers will separate the irrigation according to these categories. For example the trees are on one line, the flowers another, and the turf on another etc... However most systems have not been designed with this in mind. We can alter your system for this. It can be somewhat labor intensive, however if you are thinking long term it will pay for itself.

Call 928-776-4637 to schedule your today. Kindest Regards, Patrick

Disease and Insect Control

2009-07-10T18:33:00.001-07:00

We use a variety of treatments for disease and insect control. Spider Mites are prolific in the hot summer dry weather. We use Neem on mites. The best thing about neem oil is that is more than just an insect killer. It will kill spider mites and aphids, but also protect against black spot, powdery mildew and other fungus diseases. For ants and other crawling insect Diatomaceous earth is valuable. We focus on the least invasive treatment first. Most often the best offense is a good defense when it comes to growing plants. The better we can ammend and nourish the soil and fertilize the greater the disease and insect resistance of any plant

2009-07-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

Divide your Iris now.

July-September is the time to divide Iris. It is important to divide Iris as the clumps get denser each year. In order to have beautiful blooms next year we will divide your Iris, select the best rhizomes to replant, and add the fertilizer which is sure to produce fabulous Iris for the following years.

2009-07-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Do you need a soil test?
By Patrick Wilcox

The short answer is not usually. However if you are growing specialty plants that are difficult to grow in any region then it is worth considering. Our soil tests throught the Prescott area have revealed what is generally lacking in our soils. Our custom blend fertilizer adds in these missing nutrients and leaves out the nutrients that are common. We send our soil samples to a custom laboratory which will test more than just NPK. We find out how much calcium, magnesium, iron, etc... as well as the levels of all the macro and micronutrients in the soil. We also test the humic content in the soil and the conductivity of the soil. Conductivity relates to how well the soil can send nutrients to the plants. When the calcium/magnesium ratio and the macro nutrients and micro nutrients are in balance and there is high humus in the soil, almost any plant will grow well. This is really good if you want to grow plants commonly grown back east such as azaeleas and camelias. I will write more later on selecting the right location for your plants.

2009-07-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

land Maintenance LLC P.O. Box 12620 928-776-4637
Prescott, Az. 86304

How plants thrive in the high dessert.

Here in the high dessert both the sun and the wind can be intense making it a challenge for our plants to take in moisture and get it to the leaves and needles quickly enough. Even the "native" plants such as Pinon and Ponderosa Pine are really on the cusp. We barely get enough of annual rainfall for them. This is part of the reason there has been so much die-back in these plants.The most important factor in growing plants here in the dessert is the soil. Our soils are alkaline and either heavy clay or mostly sand. Neither is good for growing plants. We recommend removing the soil and using fresh topsoil/mulch mix when planting new plants or flower beds. All soils benefit from our fertilizer program. Our fertilizer is a custom blend based on soil tests done over the years in our area. We also add supplemental minerals in between fertilization. Next we like to add bed of mulch around all plants. This will help keep the soil moist longer, cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. We have also recently begun applying a anti-transpirant to plant leaves. Because we are at elevation and are typically dry and windy this is a great aid for the retention of moisture to the plant. Flowers will last longer and the plants will be able to resist disease and insect problems better also. Anti-transpirants will also reduce fungus including blackspot and powdery mildew. We also use superthrive for all new planting to reduce stress and actually increase growth through the transition from pot to ground. Another strategy we are transitioning to is the use of in line emitter tubing. The new soaker lines have emitter embedded inside them so they do not clog easily and last a lot longer the old soaker hose. The major benefit to the soaker hose over traditional emitter is we can cover much more of the root zone and use the same amount of water per plant.

Highlands for Natural History plant sale

2008-04-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

The Highlands Center for Natural History plants sale is Saturday April 26.
Come early for the best selection. For more information. Check out this link.

http://www.highlandscenter.org/

March-- Rose Pruning

2008-03-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Here we are in March and spring is peaking around the corner. Already we have had some nice warm weather up to 70 degrees. We can look forward now to the wildflowers and spring blooms.

Roses are pruned in March. For maximum flower producing power we will prune and fertilize your roses. We use a special all in one fertilizer which also can help eliminate most disease and insect problems.

Thanks to all the moisture we have had, we can also look forward to weeds. Weed control and firewise pruning can really help reduce the likelihood of fires. I have been told it is the interior of Prescott that is the biggest fire hazzard here.

We are available for big and small jobs.

Patrick.

Fruit Tree pruning and dormant oil.

2008-02-06T12:41:00.001-08:00

January and February are good months to do your fruit tree pruning. We prune all varieties of fruit trees .

Not all fruit trees are pruned the same way. For example, peaches need the greatest amount of pruning as new fruit is born on the previous years growth. It is important to cut only a portion of the previous years growth off each new growth where fruit is desired. When a peach tree is not pruned it will bear fruit farther and farther down the branch. The branches get heavier and tend to break from the weight of the fruit. When pruned properly this tendency is minimized. Apple trees on the other hand have fruit spurs which can produce fruit every year for up to 17 years. It is not as critical when heading back apple branches from the tips.

All mature fruit trees will benefit from some thinning. Cutting out dead branches and crossing branches is a common technique.

Clink on this link for some basic pruning techniques. http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/2161/17312.pdf

Dormant oil applications can reduce or eliminate disease and insect problems.

Pruning tools should be disinfected after each bush or tree is pruned in the winter. Here is a partial list of what can be used to accomplish this.

denatured methyl alcohol - (shellac thinner)
10% sodium hypochlorite (i.e. bleach) solution - can be quite corrosive on pruning equipment. Use with care!
a general purpose household disinfectant such as Lysol

Winterize Irrigation and fertilization

2007-11-07T05:55:00.000-08:00

Now is the time to think about protecting the irrigation from freezing weather. Although we are experiencing close to record warmth for this time of year, it can change dramatically. Temperatures across the country this week were predicted to decrease by as much as 30 degrees in one day. Last year we had a brief period of unusual low temps. As low as 4-5 degrees fahrenheit. This caused some problems around town. Some irrigation pipes froze. Plants that usually do fine here sufferred casualties. Plants such as Salvia Greggii and Rosemary had partial or complete dieback.

This is also the time to put down fertilizer for the winter.

Let me know at yards@cableone.net if we can be of service.

Thank you,

Patrick.