KTNV Las Vegas | Looking for desert oasis?

Locals report sustainable landscaping helps the bottom line and environment

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — In neighborhoods across the city, the view from the patio is shifting as more locals embrace sustainable landscaping options.

This is top of mind for many of us after the summer of 2024 left behind defeated trees and scorched backyards across the valley…

norm schilling of mojave bloom nursery landscaping

Norm Schilling of Mojave Bloom Nursery

…To learn more about sustainable landscaping options, one local nursery sells plants that withstand the desert’s challenges. Norm Schilling, a horticulturalist and owner of Mojave Bloom, emphasized the importance of selecting the right plants.

“I want people to have plants that are going to survive and thrive because that’s what makes gardening joyful,” Schilling said.

His nursery, located in North Las Vegas, offers a variety of plants designed to enhance the beauty and biodiversity of local gardens.

“A lot of the desert landscapes that are out there are pretty boring and harsh, frankly. But they can be so full of color and texture,” he explained.

If you want to make your backyard an eco-friendly oasis but don’t know where to start, the Southern Nevada Water Authority is a local resource. Here’s the organization’s webpage that includes a list of desert-adapted plants ready to make their new home in your backyard!

Experts say this time of year (AKA late winter) is a good time to plant, as waiting too late into the spring or summer prevents roots from getting a good grip on the soil beneath it — which is needed to survive Las Vegas’ summers… Read Full Article

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Vegas PBS Norm Schilling | Nevada Week In Person

Nevada Week In Person | Norm Schilling

SEASON 1: EPISODE 64 | Airdate: 4/9/2023
One-on-one interview with desert gardening expert Norm Schilling.

Norm talks about varieties of plants that are sustainable and thriving in the Las Vegas area. How to not see a plant not thriving as a failure and embrace planting even more until you find what works. He also recommends a gardening tool that he has used for a long as well as a new nursery to come.

norm Schilling on Vegas PBS Nevada Week In Person

View the video here on Vegas PBS

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A Primer on Essential Garden Tools: Hand Pruners

February is a busy month in the garden, especially for pruning.  I was browsing a local online gardening forum the other day and somebody was asking about what kind of gardening tools to purchase.  It got me thinking about the tools I carry when I work in the garden.  My hand pruners are the most important of them.

Of all the tools, hand pruners are the most important investment.  Don’t skimp on these, because you’ll likely use them a lot!  A good pair can last a lifetime.  Get by-pass pruners, the type with a scissor type action, where the blades move past each other to make the cut.  Avoid anvil-types, which have a straight blade that comes down on a flat anvil, and stops.  By-pass pruners will give you a much cleaner cut, without “bruising” the wood like the anvil type.

Shop for them, preferably by holding the pair before you buy.  Felco used to be my favorite hand-pruners and I still like them a lot.  They have a wide range of styles, different sizes and lefties to accommodate different size hands. I do a lot of pruning, so I prefer a rotating handle.  I switched to a Bahco hand pruner a couple of years ago, as it fit me well and took less pressure on the handle to make the same cut.

My favorite pair of Bahco Pruners

If you can’t afford Bahco or Felco top-end ($40-50), then Corona makes decent pruners and Felco has a lower-end range ($20-30).

Avoid cheap brands ( less than $15-20).  Your hand will likely hurt, each cut will take more effort and the cuts themselves are less clean and prone to damage the plant you’re trying to help.

In Las Vegas, Rhino’s Turf carries Felco pruners. Western Organics (Gro-Well) 5441 E. Cheyenne (702) 639-0370 has Bahco.

Proper angle to sharpen the cutting blade.

Whichever type you get, keep the blade sharp.   With by-pass pruners, use a fine file to lightly run it across the cutting knife, in line with the face of the blade that is angled-in.  Don’t run it across the back-side of the cutting knife, nor on the other, thicker blade.  Also clean and lube them periodically.

Use hand pruners for cuts up to about ½”.  For larger cuts, use a saw. A pocket saw is light-weight, folds and fits in your pocket, and can easily handle cuts up to 3 or 4”.  I’ll be talking about them in another post soon.

FUTURE POSTS:

Pocket Saw

Loppers

Digging tool

Gloves, glasses and other safety stuff

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