Beautiful and Tasty Fall Planting-Persimmon Tree

There are so many reasons to consider planting a persimmon tree. First of all, it is a beautiful thing. The leaves look pretty all Spring and Summer and when the landscape is beginning to look bleak and the leaves are falling, it bears bright orange fruit that are great to eat and look like gorgeous ornaments. In fact, they need that first frost to ripen past their tart, lip-puckering stage.
The persimmon tree adapts well to various soils and is almost drought tolerant once established, which is why they are right at home in California. An easy-care tree, it doesn't have many enemies, and requires little trimming, mostly to keep the branches from crossing.
There are mainly two types of fruits, the firm Fuyu type, that is eaten like an apple or sliced thinly and included in an Autumn green salad. The soft Hachiya type, which is used in baking, needs to be almost jelly-like when ripe. There is nothing like persimmon breads or cookies which are soft and sweet. I love walnuts in mine.

If you see that birds have begun to eat a fruit, leave it on the tree so they will continue to eat it and not start on another. Believe me, the birds love persimmons! I would suggest not planting the tree where the fruit may fall on sidewalks or patios and try to harvest when ripe or just before. You can place your fruit on the counter for a few days to finish ripening or place in the refrigerator if in a hurry. I always feel you lose a bit of flavor by chilling them, but many people swear by this technique.

 

I would love to hear other ways to use either type of persimmon and see photos of your trees!

Getting Your Home Ready for El Nino

Are you Ready for the upcoming El Nino?

After the past 4 years of drought, I know I will be happy to see the rain! Before the celebrations begin, however, there are some important things to check around your house.
1.   The first thing might be your roof. Check your roof to see if you can detect lifting shingles, exposed felt, deteriorating composition materials, flashing, etc.

If in doubt, hire an expert to come out and inspect it. Don't wait for the first rain or you may be waiting for weeks to get someone to come out!

 Make sure your gutters don't leak and are clear of any debris. I don't have any overhanging trees, but have found tennis balls and birds nests clogging mine!

Check downspouts and make sure they are clear and that the water is directed away from the foundation. We use a flexible extender at the end of ours, but there are many decorative and permanent ways to direct the flow. See below:

2.   Check trees and large shrubs for weak or overhanging branches. Our trees have suffered from less water and may not be healthy enough to withstand hard rains and strong winds.You may want to consult with an expert.

3.   Think about runoff in and around your house and yard. Most of us in the Valley have clay soil, which holds water and creates wet spots. Check for areas that puddle and consider a solution to drainage.

Check your impermeable areas (solid concrete patios and driveways, for example). Consider ways to direct the water to areas where it can soak in instead of running into the storm drains. It may be possible to make some areas more permeable with pavers, stones, etc. so the water has a chance to percolate into the subsoil.

Consider storing the runoff water for use in other areas of the yard.
Mulch early in the Fall to keep it from washing away with the first rains.

4.   Consider your choice of plantings. Some plants that we have put in during the drought period may not stay healthy with too much rain water.

You may want to move these or remove them completely.
Think about "Summer Shade" and take this opportunity to plant trees and shrubs. They get time to establish themselves before they go dormant. This may also be a good time to put in native plants that are adapted to our climate swings.
Please don't wait until the rains come or it may be too late! If you have any questions, consult with a professional. I would be happy to give some names of reputable companies I have used or go online and check reviews.
Good luck! Come on rain!