Now is the time to get your horse stables, stalls and riding arenas ready for winter. We're having a beautiful Fall season here in Morgan Hill, but things will change soon. Look for the rainy season to begin any minute. Don't let your stalls and arenas get messy and become unsafe for you and your horse.  Prepare for it now, and you'll both be much happier and will be able to ride more.
Tips to Prepare your Stalls & Arena for Winter
1. Determine your problem areas - where did rain collect the most last year? Figure out where you need to add more sand or rearrange mats to keep the area dry. Dig trenches in the problem areas and line with rock. Figure out if a retaining wall will help.
2. Order your sand, base rock and base fines now and schedule delivery. Mention this blog post and get 5% off!
3. Check your gutters and clean them out so water can't accumulate and has somewhere to go.
4. Place rubber mats at entryways to avoid slippery surfaces and decrease risk for falls.
5.  Check your barn and stall windows and doors - are they waterproof? Do they need repair or additional weatherproofing?
6. Add mulch to your stalls for extra traction and easier muck removal.
7. Keep your tack dry. But if it does get wet, here are some tips on how to deal with wet tack.
8. Inspect your roof - it's much easier to get this done in good weather and you can find out if any areas need to be repaired or replaced.
9. Check your fence lines - walk the lines and make sure any posts are stable and strong enough to withstand upcoming storms.
10. Stock up on hay, feed, medications, and other necessary supplies, just in case you can't get out during bad weather.
Following these tips will have you and your horse ready for the winter.
Happy riding!

Bring Your Plants Back to Life After Storm Damage

We’ve been hit by storm after storm with more rainfall in the area since, well, ever. We all know that water is critical to plants, but it can put them into critical condition if there’s too much. And there’s definitely been too much.

Although it may appear that your previously healthy plants are flat as a pancake and damaged beyond repair, don’t worry. They’re probably ok. Take a look at the branches and stems of your plants. If they’re just bent and flattened, they will come back. Even if some of the leaves are torn, they can recover. No need to prop them up - that may damage them further. Give them a week of California sunshine, and they should look like almost normal again.

If your stems have been really damaged, you can help bring them back to life by removing the severely damaged parts within a week after the last downpour. This will help make room for new growth and may help prevent the more browning sections from the beginnings of disease.

Now’s also a good time to take a look at how all the excess water behaved in your yard. Did it stand in one or several places? Did it run downhill or have somewhere else to go? Did it build up around your house, seep in and flood it?

Think about how a retaining wall, raised beds, drainage ditches, and redirecting gutters may help for next time. Stepping stones, ground cover like tanbark, rock or gravel can help prevent your yard from turning into a mud pit. We've got a 5% discount on flagstone this month, so it's a good time to start this project.

Don’t worry too much about your plants - they’ve been handling torrential rains since the beginning of time. They’ll bounce back. But you can help mitigate the damage next time with these preventive and post-storm measures.

Well, we need the rain, and it will be here before we know it. El Nino is coming, and with it, torrential rains which can wreak havoc on your home; unless you do these 5 things:
1.  Clean Out Rain Gutters - the most important thing you can do to protect your home is to clean out the gutters so the water has somewhere to flow, besides down into your walls. While you're up there, make sure there are no tears or breaks in the gutters and that they're right up against the roofline. Think about adding rain barrels to catch the rainwater for future use.
2. Clear storm drains - Leaves and other debris can quickly gather on the ground and block the storm drains as running water flows to the drain. Clearing them out now will save you a lot of headaches, and sandbags.
3. Make sure your yard drains properly - If you've made changes in the materials used in your yard, (pavers and rock instead of lawn) in the last few years, the drainage pattern in your yard may have changed. Water that used to percolate through spongy grass will now flow into different areas. Landscape architect and USC professor Bob Perry advises placing 3-4 inches of organic mulch in beds and areas where water will drain or collect.
4. Loosen compacted soil - Ground that has been allowed to dry out will repel water initially. Tilling in compost and covering with mulch will enable the ground to better absorb rain. We've got some great mulch and compost available to help you out.
5. Cover or put away patio furniture and BBQs - you don't want this stuff flying around during a storm and potentially causing damage to your home.
Doing these five things will help give you some peace of mind. When the rain starts, sit down, relax, and enjoy it.