Desert garden worth the effort

Here is a great article from Kath Babcock from the Desert Botanical Garden. She talks about Arizona gardening and how it differs from the midwest gardening. In Arizona we have two seasons for vegetable gardening: Fall and Spring. In other parts of the country everything is planted in for the summer garden. We are not able to plant everything we need for a salad at one time because different plants are planted at different time, depending on their heat tolerance. She also talks about our drip irrigation systems. Due to the little amount of rain we get here in the Arizona desert, everything is on a drip system to meet the watering needs of the plants. For help with your Arizona Desert Garden call a local licensed landscape contractor. Arizona Living Landscape & Design 480-390-4477. If you would like help installing, designing or repairing your irrigation system, we can also help you.
Read the article below.
Desert garden worth the effort

Arizona Summer Planting Tips

Extreme temperatures during summer in the Arizona desert make it a challenge for gardeners. June through August are the most extreme months for heat. Your plants may start to yellow or look droopy. Do not add more water to planters if the leaves start to look droopy at the end of the day. Take a look at them in the morning and if they are still drooping, then it is time to increase your watering. Otherwise, the sun, heat and salt in the soil are causing the drooping leaves. You want to water deeply enough for the salt to wash away from the soil but too much water will cause root rot. To help the plants look their best and keep the ground cool and moist, try adding some mulch. Be careful to keep the mulch away from the stems of the plants as much as possible and water your plants in the evening or early morning during the summer.
Another great idea for your plants is to install a patio misting system or greenhouse misting system. Plants on the patio will love the moist air from your patio misting system and it will keep your patio 10-20 degrees cooler. Call Arizona Living Landscape for your next misting system. 480-390-4477
Try these ideas for color around your flower bed from Home Depot. Annuals for summer heat

Organic Gardening: Plants that repel insects for your garden

Are you planning your vegetable or flower garden for spring. You might want to consider planting various plants that will actually repel those pesky bugs. In turn, you can use less chemicals and make your yard safer. Here are a few plants to consider in your organic garden in Arizona.

Basil: repels flies, caterpillars and mosquitoes.
Bay: repels ants, caterpillars and moths.
Chives: repels aphids, borers, and crickets.
Garlic: repels aphids, crickets, and grasshoppers. This is a great plant to plant around your roses, fruit trees and in your vegetable garden.
Marigold: repels aphids, caterpillars, crickets, grasshoppers, nematodes, slugs, and whiteflies
Onions: repels ants, aphids, borers, moths, crickets, and grasshoppers.
Rosemary: deters many insects including moths, beetles, crickets, fleas, grasshoppers, and mosquitoes.
Sage: deters mice and repels circkets, moths, and grasshoppers.
Thyme: deters cabbage worms, flies, and whiteflies.

Call a licensed landscape contractor for organic gardening ideas.

Arizona Desert December Gardening Ideas

It is getting colder but you can still plant in the desert southwest.

1. It is time to plant bare root roses. Soak the roots in a bucket of water a few hours before planting. Dig a hole that is larger than the root, plant the roses and fill the hole with a mixture of organic material and soil.

2. The rains have also started so be ready for those weeds that are bound to start popping up as soon as we have a warm day. Pull them when they are small so they don't have time to spread. Also, spread pre-emergent down now to help keep the seeds from germinating. Remember, do not put down pre-emergent anywhere you plant to plant seeds.

3. It's time to plant deciduous fruit trees such as apples, apricots, peaches and plums. Look for the low-chill varieties adapted to the Arizona desert climate.

4. You can continue to sow winter vegetables such as carrots, radishes, turnips, beets and kale. Germination may be slower in the cooler soil.

5. It's time for oranges. Harvest your oranges, tangelo, and mandarins. Taste for sweetness before harvest. Go to the local farmers markets for some great local oranges.

6. It's not too late to get your back yard ready for the winter parties. Call Arizona Living Landscape & Design for a custom quote and free design. They can install a fire pit, built in BBQ, concrete patio, paver patio, sod, plants and much more. If you need a yard clean-up before the relatives come over, call them 480-390-4477.

Freezing temps in Arizona mean dead plants

It is near freezing this month so make sure you cover your tropical plants or new plantings to keep them from getting frost bitten. Some examples are any annuals, bougainvillea, Bird of Paradise, tropical vines, Lantana, Hibiscus, orange trees, grapefruit trees, or any plant that is not an Arizona desert plant to be safe.

Check out Arizona Living Landscape & Design winter specials. Get 10% off your landscape installation. Call now for a free quote or Landscape Design. 480-390-4477.
www.LandscapeArizona.com

Eremophila Maculata Valentine Bush

Eremophila Maculata Valentine or Emu Bush.

This is an evergreen shrub with lush, green foliage. It will gro to 4' high by 5' wide and produces red tubular flowers from winter to early spring. The leaves are tinged red in winter. This is an excellent choice for gardens needing some winter color. It has showy red-rose blooms that cover the foliage, is hardy to 15 degrees, and is extremely drought tolerant and does well in full sun.
Plant in well drained soil and allow to dry out between waterings. Shear after blooming, usually in March to encourage bushiness. Plant in a space that needs winter color. It will be a striking contrast to other desert plants.

Arizona Desert Fall Planting Guide

It's fall out there and the weather is finally starting to cool off some. As the southwest desert cools down we need to make some changes in our garden for a winter planting season. Below are some guidelines taken from Home Depot for fall:

1. Get the garden ready for fall crops by adding organic matter such as compost and digging it into the soil to a depth of 12–18 inches.

2. Start watering less often as temperatures begin to drop. Add a rain barrel to collect water from fall monsoons to use in the garden.

3. Evaluate your landscape and make a list of plants that add color, shade or other desired features. October is prime planting time in the desert.

4. Sow wildflower seeds. Buy a seed mixture or choose individual kinds that will thrive in desert conditions. Prepare the soil before planting by removing all weeds and grasses.

5. Prune trees and shrubs that get damaged during the fall monsoon season. Remove broken limbs, cutting them back to the next side branch so you don't leave an unsightly stub.

For all of your Arizona Landscaping needs call a licensed contractor. Arizona Living Landscape & Design 480-390-4477

Christmas Cactus Bloom Preparation

Time to think about your Christmas Cactus Blooms. Christmas Cacti (Schlumbergera russelliana) will start setting buds to flower in time for the holidays. Apply a phosphorus fertilizer in September to promote the bud development and water well. Each evening place the plant in total darkness for 12-14 hours until early October, if possible. Move the plant in bright light but not direct sun during the day. Water when the top inch of soil dries out. It may take 4-8 weeks to bud.

Germinating Seeds Video

Check out this video on how to germinate seeds.

What to plant in June in Arizona

It is hot and only getting hotter. What do we plant that can make it through the summer? Warm-season vegetables can be planted in your vegetable garden. These include sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, Watermelon, Okra, Corn, Basil, Garlic chives, and lemongrass. sunflowers, (Chocolate Cherry, Cinnamon sun, or Van Gogh for some color variety). It is also time to plant Bermuda seed or sod. Contact a local landscaper for any suggestions or help.

May Arizona Gardening Guide

It's spring in the Arizona low desert. The temps are near 100 if not over already. Your Bermuda grass should be in and green and the winter Rye should be gone. You need to check your watering schedule. Bermuda grass does better if it is watered deeply 8-10 inches. You can check this by putting a screwdriver or something long in the grass and it should go in 8-10" easily after you water. If it doesn't then you need to increase your watering time. If you are experiencing run-off from too much water then change your timer to water several times throughout the day to get the depth without loosing the water. If you do this, you should be able to water every 2, maybe 3 days. Check your lawn and use good judgment. If it is turning brown, increase your water, if your lawn is sopping wet and getting mushrooms, cut back your water or water less days.

Your plants, especially flowers, will benefit from some organic mulch. You can add about a 3" layer to the soil around the plants to maintain moisture, prevent weeds, and lower your soil temperature. As the mulch decomposes during the summer, it will at much needed nutrients to the soil.
Contact a licensed Landscape Contractor for your landscape maintenance

Oakleaf Hydrangea - quercifolia

The Oakleaf Hydrangeas will grow best in Arizona's Hot Desert. This picture is called the "Snow Queen". It will grow in sun or shade, but the blooms last longer if they get a little afternoon shade in hot climates. It does need sun and shade. In Arizona, it should be planted in a place that gets a little morning sun and protected from the heat if possible. Make sure it gets plenty of water but do not let it sit in water. It must have well drained soil. The leaves on the Oakleaf hydrangeas will "color up" best in the fall if they receive some sun. Do not plant it under a tree because the tree will take all of the nutrients and moisture from the Hydrangea. Other forms of Hydrangeas will not do as well as the Oakleaf in the hot and dry Arizona desert. This plant will do great in a large pot that can be moved with the season.
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade - In the hot Arizona desert it should be planted in more shade.

Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested

Bloom Color: White/Near White

Bloom Time: Mid Summer, Late Summer/Early Fall

Foliage: Grown for foliage, Deciduous, Bronze-Green

Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds

Arizona Low Desert Spring Crops Planting Guide

Ever wonder what crops to plant when here in the Arizona desert? Our planting guide is very different from everywhere else in the United States. Fortunately, for us we have 2 or even 3 planting cycles. We haver our spring crop, summer crop, and fall/winter crop. It is April in the Arizona low desert and time to get your vegetable garden going before the real heat hits. Below is a guide of what to plant in April in Arizona.

Beans - Blackeye. These perform well in the full summer heat.
Corn - Flour, Ornamental, Popcorn, and Sweet. These need to be planted in April and again in July/August. The supersweet variety needs very war soil to sprout.
Cucumber - Armenian and Standard. Plant in April and again in AugustThe Armenian withstands the heat better then the standard. The standard must be harvested frequently for best quality.
Eggplant - Plant now for best production in the fall.
Melons - Get these in early April. They need rich soil, lots of water and lots of room. Harvest in late July, Aug., and Sept.
Okra - Pick frequently to maintian production.
Peppers - Start indoors in winter for best harvest in fall.
Squash - summer, winter. Pick the summer variety frequently to maintain production. The longer the winter variety is left on the vine, the sweeter.
Sunflowers - Very drought tolerant.
Watermelon - Needs rich soil, lots of water, and lots of room.