2025 Irrigation Shut Off Dates

October marks the end of the irrigation water season, and we wanted to share when several local irrigation districts are concluding their irrigation water season, as well as some tips for your landscape to withstand winter better.

Irrigation Districts
Benton Irrigation District, October 13th
Badger Mountain Irrigation District, October 17th
Columbia Irrigation District October 6th-10th?
City of Pasco Irrigation October 20th
City of Richland Irrigation October 20th
East Columbia Irrigation District, October 20th
Franklin County Irrigation District, October 20th
Kennewick Irrigation District Oct 5th
South Columbia Irrigation District Oct 20th

Before the water goes off
-Ensure everything in the yard gets a good drink; nothing is dry or wilting.
-Deep soak evergreens, and then make a recurring phone/calendar reminder to check the evergreens once a month through March.
-Make a fix list to repair before spring if sprinklers or valves are leaking, broken, or haven’t worked correctly.
-Review this list of plants that do well getting a drink in winter.

After the irrigation, the irrigation water is off.
-Clean your filters. That way, they are good to go in spring.
-Get your sprinkler lines blown out
-Disconnect your hoses from outdoor faucets
-Drain garden hoses when not in use
-Clean your sprinkler screens, inspect the sprinklers for wear and tear like springs, nozzles, or threads repair if needed
-Put your irrigation timer either in standby mode or off, depending on model or brand recommendations for winter storage. There is no need to have your valves turned on and off all winter.
-Consider upgrading your irrigation timer if it’s hard to program for modern smart controllers that use phone apps for programming vs the mystery dial.

March Update for Japanese Beetle in Yakima, Benton and Franklin Counties

In the last several years Japanese Beetle has been detected and spreading in our local area. The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been working on educating the public, trapping and eradicating this pest. Like last year, they are offering free treatments in the identified areas like the above picture of Pasco and Kennewick as well as the Grandview, Wapato and Sunnyside communities.

Why is Japanese Beetle Bad?

Japanese Beetle is a pest with a voracious appetite for agriculture crops like grapes, hops, apples, cherries, peaches, corn and nursery stock. For the home garden they enjoy roses, backyard crops, fruit trees, many shrubs and the lawn. If it establishes itself in farms and nurseries, then those companies will have to do special treatments and get certifications in order to move their products out of the treatment or quarantine areas. This would raise the costs of those items and could lead to higher prices or the closure of those businesses.

What can be done?

1. If you are in a treatment area in Yakima, Benton or Franklin Counties, give consent to let the WSDA have a licensed applicator apply a larvicide to your property. This will kill the larva beetles before they emerge from the soil as adults and begin to multiply.

2. If you see an adult or think you do, report it.

3. Don't remove sod, soil or plants from a treatment area. That's how it spreads to unaffected areas.

If you live in the treatment areas, they should have or will be sending a post card with a PIN number that you use to sign up for treatment. If you lost your PIN, can call 1-800-443-6684 or email pest@agr.wa.gov.

For more info here are some links.

WSDA Treatment Webinar Video

How to Identify Japanese Beetle

WSDA Treatment Info

WSDA Dectections and Trappings

WSDA How to Report Japanese Beetle

Gift Card Companions: Thoughtful Presents for the Landscape Visionary

Gift cards are a great way to help that landscape visionary with their landscape projects because trees and shrubs don’t really fit under the tree. However, gift cards may not present well for most, either, so we came up with a few things that would pair well with a Job’s Nursery Gift Card so your loved one has something to unwrap.

The Plant Alarm will help remind your loved one to water their plants. Green light is good, red light is dry and it’s time to water. The Tall Plant alarms are for big pots and are 14.99 each. The Original Plant alarm is for regular sized houseplant pots and are 11.99 each.

Dramm pruners are colorful, and great quality cutting tools for those who need new pruners for dead heading and light pruning.

DeWit Hand Tools

DeWit hand tools are great gifts for those who like to garden but prefer nice tools to work with when planting, potting or eliminating weeds with. Below is a breakdown of what each tool is used for with their corresponding letter in the photo.

A.       The Japanese Hoe, available in both right- and left-handed styles, is a great way to sever weeds from their roots with a reach to get them out from under shrubs or perennials. The DeWitt line of forged garden tools is meant to be long-lasting and have a comfortable grip for effectively removing weeds.

B.       The DeWitt Dandelion Weeder, also known as the Asparagus Harvester, is a classic stress reducer for manually removing dandelions from lawns or flower beds. This solid tool helps apply the force needed to sever the weed from its roots.

C.      The DeWit Patio Knife is designed to remove weeds growing in hard-to-reach sidewalk cracks and paver gaps. Its sharp edges on multiple sides allow for the best angle to reach that stubborn weed.

D.      The Triangle Patio Knife is another tool for removing relentless weeds that grow through paver bevels (gaps) of various sizes and sidewalk cracks. Its three blades fit in different-sized gaps where weeds insist on growing.

E.        The Three Tine Cultivator is great for soil aeration and working fertilizers and composts into the soil around your plants. Its reach is handy for reaching those hard-to-reach spots under shrubs.

F.      A tried and true trowel to dig in pots and in the ground to plant small plants or bulbs. Alex has used this brand of trowel for several years and enjoys it because it can get in there and dig so he can plant his flowers without bending the blade or the handle.

G.        The Potting Trowel is excellent for filling pots with potting soil.

The Japanese Hoes are 32.99 each, and all other DeWit Tools are 29.99 each.

Insulated and Waterproof Gloves are a great gift for those who like to get their hands dirty and believe gardening/landscaping is a year round endeavor. This brand of glove works well to keep your loved ones hands warm as well as dry as they work in the yard in the cold weather months. We carry small, medium, large sizes because hands just don’t come in one size. 14.99 each.

2023 Irrigation Shut Off Dates for the Area and End of Season Watering Tips

October brings the end to the irrigation water season, and we wanted to share when several of the local irrigation districts are ending the irrigation water season and some tips for your landscape to make it through winter better.

Irrigation Districts
Benton Irrigation District Oct 13th
Badger Mountain Irrigation District Oct 20th
Columbia Irrigation District Oct 13th
City of Pasco Irrigation Oct 16th
City of Richland Irrigation Oct 16th
East Columbia Irrigation District Oct 23rd
Franklin County Irrigation District Oct 23rd
Kennewick Irrigation District Oct 11th
South Columbia Irrigation District Oct 23rd

Before the water goes off
-Ensure everything in the yard gets a good drink; nothing is dry or wilting.
-Deep soak evergreens, and then make a recurring phone/calendar reminder to check the evergreens once a month through March.
-Make a fix list to repair before spring if sprinklers or valves are leaking, broken, or haven’t worked correctly.
-Review this list of plants that do well getting a drink in winter.

After the irrigation, the irrigation water is off.
-Clean your filters. That way, they are good to go in spring.
-Get your sprinkler lines blown out
-Disconnect your hoses from outdoor faucets
-Drain garden hoses when not in use
-Clean your sprinkler screens, inspect the sprinklers for wear and tear like springs, nozzles, or threads repair if needed
-Put your irrigation timer either in standby mode or off, depending on model or brand recommendations for winter storage. There is no need to have your valves turned on and off all winter.
-Consider upgrading your irrigation timer if it’s hard to program for modern smart controllers that use phone apps for programming vs the mystery dial.

Featured Garden Supply Plant for April 6th 2020

The Bayer BioAdvanced Bermudagrass Control for Lawns is a growth inhibitor that helps beat back Bermuda Grass. What you do is apply the Bermudagrass Control when the Bermuda Grass is just waking up for spring. The chemical triggers it to halt growing and weaken it. Then from there you apply it again on a monthly regiment until the surrounding grass chokes it out. Timing is everything with this product, so be organized and vigilant. It’s easy to apply by just hooking the bottle up to the hose and measuring out your area to make sure you apply the correct amount per square foot.

Here is a link to read more about Bermudagrass Control for Lawns and the product.

Plant of the Week for April 6th 2020

The Burkwood Viburnum is simply stunning this year in my yard! My plant stands about 7 feet tall and is loaded with fragrant, white snowball shaped clusters of blooms. The fragrance is sweet and reminds me of Jasimine. It will top out at about 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The dark green leaves contrast the flowers very well. The Burkwood Viburnum enjoys full sun to part shade. Like other Viburnums, even Burkwood’s cousin The Common Snowball Bush that blooms later in spring, they handle our area and a variety of soil conditions. A truly easy care plant.

Plant of the Week for March 20th 2020 The Black Tulip Magnolia

The Black Tulip Magnolia is just so fun this time of year with it’s large, dark purple flowers! They flower one bloom per branch while creating a sense of wonder when people walk by. They enjoy full sun but need some wind protection from hot summer winds. They grow to about 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide. After it’s done blooming it has large medium green leaves.

Featured Garden Product for March 20th 2020

The Rapitest Digital Soil Thermometer is this week's feature because it easily tells you what the soil temp is. Why is this important? Because it helps guide you on when it is time to plant or transplant your veggies plants. Most seeds germinate best when the soil is at optimum temps. Transplants take off faster when they have their feet at the right temp. Most seed packets will have the soil temps needed for a specific variety on them. If not, a quick google search of what you are planting and the soil temp will bring up that pertinent info. Help eliminate the guessing game of knowing when is it the right to plant with a digital soil thermometer!

Featured Garden Supplies-Florel

Florel is a growth regulator that when applied just as a plant begins to flower that sterilizes the bloom, which leads to no undesired fruit or seeds. It is advised to plan on spraying just before the flowers open and soon after. Timing is the critical factor.

Plant of the Week of March 9th 2020

This week’s featured plant is the Leonard Messel Magnolia just before flowering. As the flowers begin to swell in February they resemble a pussywillow bloom. The added bonus is that unlike the pussywillow blooms, the Magnolias open up to a light pink flower! Extending the seasonal interest from February to the end of March depending on the weather. At the 2020 Regional Home and Garden show this Magnolia was one of the most touched plants that brought on memories being shared with us of past adventures or family in the garden. The Leonard Messel can get to about 15 to 20 feet tall and wide. This week they should be opening their flowers for the pink show.

Plant of the Week for February 23rd 2020

The Arnold’s Promise Witch Hazel is a welcomed site at the nursery because it shows us that spring is around the corner. It started flowering this year about Feb 5th in the greenhouse. It will remain in bloom for another week or so. While not a fast grower, it does eventually get 15 to 20 feet tall and wide.

Plant for the Week of October 15th 2019

The Sun Valley Maple is not only very colorful in the fall but is also sterile (no helicopters)! Sun Valley grows to about 40 feet tall and 35 feet tall. This is a good sized shade tree for city lots. In summer they are a medium green. To keep it’s vibrant colors in fall and summer fertilize the tree in spring and late summer. It’s shape is rounded. It colors up in our area from early to mid October.