Arizona Planting Zone Chart

Arizona consists of Zone 7, 8, and 9. The low desert of the Phoenix valley is zone 9 and the outlying desert areas are zone 8/9. The mountains are zone 7.

Featured Tree: Desert Willow

The Desert Willow tree grows to be 15' - 25' feet in height and has a spread of about 10' at full maturity. This tree grows at a medium growth rate. (13-24" of growth per year) and does well in full sun. The Desert Willow grows in acidic, alkaline, drought tolerant, loamy, sandy, well drained, wide range, clay soils(perfect for Arizona desert trees) and cannot grow in wet or heavy soils. The Desert Willow has a rounded, spreading or horizontal shape. The leaves are long dark green leaves. The blooms are fragrant and pink and it flowers from late spring into fall through the summer. It produces a ten-inch long seed-pod that persist throughout the winter. The Desert-willow requires little maintenance and produces flowers at peak season. It should be grown in full sun and is extremely drought-tolerant. While the trees will grow better with adequate moisture, they will not tolerate over-watering. The multi-trunked, well branched habit of growth and thick growth make Desert-Willow well suited for a wide screen or tall hedge. Groups can be planted in a large-scale landscape for a splash of color. The seeds of the Desert Willow are eaten by wildlife and the flowers often attract hummingbirds. It can provide a nesting site for desert birds and ground cover for other animals. The branches of the Desert-willow have been used to make thatch roofs. This tree resembles a willow in appearance, but is not related.

Winter freezing temps means frostbitten plants

Winter is upon us - even in Arizona. We usually have several nights of below freezing temperatures here in the Phoenix valley. Those of us further out in the outlying areas get even colder. Remember, our desert plants need to be protected from the freezing nights. Most cacti will manage just fine but the more tropical plants need to be covered to protect them. Any new plantings should also be covered. These are too delicate to make it through a major frost. Plants like Hibiscus, Aloe, Morning Glory, some Palms, Bougainvillia, Lantana and most flowering plants are susceptible to frost bite and can die.
When covering your plants, just put an old sheet or towels over the plants. Make sure you cover them to the ground to keep the frost out. Trees are obviously harder to cover but get as much of the leaves as possible. You can even wrap the trunk if you like but this is not usually necessary. Don't forget to remove the covers in the morning so they can get the sun of the day then recover again at night if it calls for frost.

Fall Lawn Care

If you are not planning on winter overseeding your Arizona lawn, then you need to fertilize well. Your lawn needs plenty of nutrients to help it come back in the spring. Mow often and take off less to help your lawn stay green and healthy longer. You still need to water in the fall but you should be able to cut down on the water as the weather cools. In Arizona, the fall weather comes a little later than other climates so remember to keep watering during the heat but be prepared to cut it back in October/November. If you are overseeding, check out our article on fall overseeding. You can also check out http://www.landscapearizona.com/ for some great prices and the fall special.

Winter 2008 special

Check out our Internet Special for Sept. and Oct. 2008! Mention this ad and get 10% off our already low landscape package prices. Winter is coming and it is time to get that firepit or outdoor fireplace installed in your backyard.

Arizona Fall Overseeding

It is almost time to start thinking about overseeding your lawn with winter Rye grass in the Arizona desert. Overseeding is usually done in early October. We plant winter Rye grass in Arizona because our summer Bermuda grass goes dormant with the colder winter nights. If you plan to overseed, do not fertilize this fall. The idea is to let the Bermuda grass start to go dormant so we can cut it back and plant the new Rye grass. If you fertilize, then the Bermuda will continue to grow and won't take to overseeding very well. The lawn will need to be mowed very short prior to planting. The Rye grass seed needs to be put down and then covered with a mulch or seed cover. The seeds need to be kept wet in order to germinate and within a few weeks, you will have a beautiful lawn for the rest of the winter. Contact Aquatic Landscaping for fall overseeding rates. 480-390-4477.

Plant & Landscape Trends for 2009

Yes, it is time to start looking ahead to next year. Below are some of the planting trends that you will see in 2009.
1. Big, Bold Flowers. The small, dainty flowers will be replaced with large bold flowers for a greater visual impact. Some examples are Gazania, Osteospermum, Arctotis, Geraniums, Impatiens and of course our favorite - Hibiscus.
2. Bright, vibrant colors. What better way to make an impact in your yard then with vibrant flowers. Again, you can plant Geraniums, New Guinea Impatiens, Hibiscus, Vinca, Lantana, and Petunia. In Arizona the Lantana is seen all over the landscape and the colors are brighter then ever this year.
3. Architectural plants, pots & accessories. The use of high-end containers and combination planters are very hot! You can plant your cacti, succulents, palms, orchids in these planters. Dress your entrance way with a large pot or several varied layers of pots for a dramatic effect. This is also popular indoors.
4. Vertical Gardening - Use window boxes, tiered pots, hills or mounds around the edges for depth in your yard. Move the plants to a more visible level and bring impact in the garden. Add trailing plants like ivy or other vines like Cats Claw, Snail Vine, etc for a more tropical look.
5. Outdoor rooms - Of course this is the hottest trend. Expand your living space to your yard. What a better place to do this then in Arizona. You can add hard-scapes such as a built in BBQ, Custom fire pit or custom fireplace, and misting systems around your patio or mistscape around your pool. The ideas are endless. Check out these pictures of Built-in BBQ and custom fire pits.