Tag: horticulture
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Dealing with the Unpredictability of Arizona Weather when Designing Gardens
Low desert gardens in USDA zones 9b and 10a can count on one thing – during the summer it’s going to be hot. But beyond this fact of life in Phoenix, there is actually a lot of variability from year to year. How early the heat starts, how long it lasts, how much monsoon rain…
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Why it’s Nice to Have a Personalized Guide for the Yard
I’ve met a lot of people in the Phoenix area who feel like they’re flying blind when it comes to their front yard and backyard landscaping. The Sonoran desert is a unique and challenging ecosystem to plant in, though it is also very rewarding to maintain gardens of these lovely plants we have in southern…
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Bring the Bajada to Your Yard
The Sonoran desert is beautiful and draws many people to the Phoenix area. Without our iconic desert, Phoenix is just like any other concrete parking lot but much, much hotter. Luckily our desert trees provide shade without asking for much upkeep. Our desert flowers bloom effortlessly where other plants struggle. Drive out to the trails…
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Summer Threats to Plants in the Low Desert Part 2: How Much Sun?
The harshest learning curve in desert gardening is probably the realization that beloved full-sun plants from other parts of the world like lavenders and roses just can’t handle afternoon sun during the summer months here in the low desert. Plants limping through June, July, and August suffer from sunburn, dieback, and attacks from pests when…
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Summer Challenges of landscaping in the low desert
introduction to hot weather thinking Put very simply, the key is “Right Plant, Right Place”. The start of my career in horticulture came when I was hired at a plant nursery down the street in Fountain Hills AZ. I was a nursery tech and customer service employee primarily, because without plants and customers there is…
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Flowers to Look forward to – march
Spring in Arizona transforms the landscape. Flowers of all kinds are blooming – some plants for the only time all year. Make time for the botanical garden, a drive to the desert, or a visit to the arboretum this March to catch some of these flowers in bloom. Native PENSTEMON Penstemon parryi is our stalwart neon…
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Arabian Lilac
Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’ is an interesting small tree that could be used more often in the Phoenix area. Drought tolerant and fast growing, the arabian lilac looks nice in a wide range of situations. It has white bark and noticeably purple undersides to light green leaves. The leaves smell peppery when crushed. The visual effect…
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Spotlight: The Splendid Argentine Giant Cactus
If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will go its whole life believing it is stupid. So the saying goes. It means that different creatures have their own abilities and certain environments where they can thrive. Just like one person might excel in one situation and struggle very much…
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Spotlight: Tangerine Crossvine – vigorous, colorful, dependable
I’ve been using a fair amount of tangerine cross vine in my plantings, and it’s not a mystery why. I can make a compelling argument for planting it in Phoenix gardens with only a few basic facts. Dense, dark green foliage all year long. An explosion of bright orange color in the spring with lingering…
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Common Saguaro Problems
This has been a terrible year for saguaro in the Phoenix area, which is unfortunate because this grand cactus is a proud and unforgettable symbol of our desert home. There are many reasons to want a saguaro in your landscape. They are striking, they require very little maintenance, they provide a vertical accent, and they…
