Your Villa - Desert Cities - February-March 2022

D E S I G N + B U I L D CVWD continues to encourage water e ciency inside and outside your home. While local water supplies remain stable, reducing water use is the best way help keep our aquifer healthy. CVWD urges residents to take advantage of cooler nighttime temperatures. Visit cvwd.org/drought for local updates. January sits in the middle of the Coachella Valley’s three-month cold season with pleasant days and cool nights. Temperature highs linger in the low 70s with lows in the mid-40s. While it is unusual, you might see frost, particularly in the Eastern Valley. It is an ideal month to make additions or changes in the garden. It is the last opportunity to plant bare-root roses, grapes, and deciduous fruit trees. They need to establish roots before temperatures rise. Now is the time to transplant cold hardy plants, including perennials. Check your tree stakes and ties. Trees may have grown over the summer and ties might be too tight on trunks. Thinking of the strong winds coming soon be sure the stakes are secure. Here are some tasks for your garden: • Prepare your garden soil for spring planting by mixing in 2 inches of organic material (compost, manure). • Hand weed before weedy species go to seed. • Prune established deciduous fruit trees before they leaf out. • Prune your roses. In February, warming trends set the stage to fertilize citrus trees. Water annuals and perennials diligently. For more ideas use CVWD’s book “Lush and E cient: Desert-Friendly Landscaping in the Coachella Valley.” It lists more than 300 plants with over 800 photos. Purchase the 160-page book at cvwd.org/store for $10 with free shipping. You can also look at a PDF of the book at cvwd.org/conservation . Visit cvwd.org/rebates for information on water e ciency rebate s. Make changes in your garden while temperatures are cool CVWD Outdoor Water E ciency Rebates & Discounts Facebook “ f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “ f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Visit www.cvwd.org/rebates for program details and requirements. Or call us at (760) 398-2651. Programs require pre-approval. Smart Irrigation Controller Landscape Conversion Sprinkler Nozzle Replacement 60 | YourVilla Magazine