SOIL IMPROVEMENTS   Most low water use plants thrive naturally in our desert soils, so amendments such as fertilizers and soil supplements are usually not necessary. They do prefer good drainage, and soil should be loosened at planting time to encourage healthy root growth. Soil amendments most likely will be needed for turf areas and areas where more water thirsty …

EFFICIENT IRRIGATION In the Sonoran Desert, almost all new plants should be watered regularly to get them established; and most plants, low water use or not, need some kind of irrigation even after they become mature. The trick is to find out how much water your plants require and to apply only that much. When you design your irrigation system, …

Appropriate Turf Areas Although turf generally requires more water and more maintenance than low water use plants, sometimes only grass will do, especially if you are sports-minded or if there are children or pets at home. Small turf areas can be incorporated successfully into a Xeriscape if they are properly planned, installed and maintained. Don’t forget to consider artifical turf …

Low Water Use Plants There are hundreds of water thrifty native or desert adapted plant species available at local nurseries. Some varieties have been available for many years, while others are new on the market. They come in all shapes and sizes and serve a variety of purposes from shade to seasonal color to screening unsightly areas. Many low water …

Xeriscaping is a landscaping philosophy that uses as many native, drought-resistant plants as possible and arranges them in efficient, water-saving ways. PART 1: Good Landscape Planning and Design Creating a plan will help you get the most out of your landscape while considering issues like cost, function, aesthetic preferences, maintenance requirements, water efficiency and energy efficiency. You can tailor the plan …

Gardenia shrubs are hugely popular with gardeners because of their wonderfully fragrant flowers and glossy, bright, evergreen foliage which is attractive all year long. The gardenia is a heat loving shrub and will grow very well when planted and cared for properly. Growing gardenias in Arizona is one of the more successful landscaping shrubs you can choose. It takes preparation …

The ocotillo plant (Fouquieria splendens) is desert shrub that produces a spectacle of bright red/orange flowers on whip-like canes. It is often called ocotillo cactus, but is not truly a cactus, although it grows in similar conditions. The plant is native to the Sonoron and Chihuahuan deserts. The canes may grow up to 20 feet long in nature but are …

Gopher Plant also called Silver Spurge is an upright growing small shrub that is a beautiful tint of blue green that blooms a bright yellow bloom in late winter to early spring. These succulent euphorbia species have tight spirals of thick leaves that go up the stems of the plant almost creating arm like outreachers that spread in the planting …

NEW GUINEA IMPATIENS(Impatiens ‘New Guinea’ hybrids) Best traits—A good choice for a summer bloomer, the New Guinea variety of impatiens is more sun-loving than other types of impatiens. Flowers range from pink to red and orange to white. Its lush-looking foliage offers exotic appeal in the garden.  Growing tips—This low-maintenance annual does best with morning sun and afternoon shade. Avoid fertilizing the …

We’ve all seen them, those little purple boxes and balls that line the streets and sidewalks of our valley. You may know them as Texas Sage or Texas Rangers and a surprising number of folks seem to be operating under the assumption that they actually grow that way naturally. They do not grow that way and now that we’ve got that firmly …