Southwest Gardener
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
What to do in the garden in April π©π»βπΎ, "must have" spring flower πΊ, nursery directory, & more π΅π
Hi, Desert Gardener! I think April is the most beautiful month in the desert. Everywhere you look, there's something in bloom -- trees, shrubs, cactus, and wildflowers. And for desert gardeners, it can be a busy month. Be sure to check out our April Guide for a look at what you can plant, what you should prune, how to adjust your watering schedule, and more. If you're planning on adding any new plants this month, be sure to dig a proper hole. If you don't get this right, nothing else you do...
Reduce spring planting stress β±οΈ, good news (kind of) about a pest, weed or wildflower? π», & more π΅π
Happy Spring! Spring is widely regarded as the best time of year to add new plants... but is it really? This week's temperature swings were a good reminder that spring planting can be surprisingly stressful on plants. Spring can be hot, dry, and windy, and the ideal planting season in the desert is short. (We're still having nights in the 30s, but it's not unusual for the first 100-degree day to occur in April!) No worries, we've got tips to reduce stress and get your new plants off to the...
Stop weeds before they start π±, "last frost date" π₯Ά, gardening & dopamine, & more
Greetings, Desert Gardener! If you live in Tucson, tomorrow (March 15) is the last frost date. The last frost date is a big turning point for gardeners. This means it's now considered "safe" to prune cold-damage and plant cold-sensitive plants. Do you know your last frost date? Are you sure? Finding an accurate last frost date is not as straightforward as you might think. If you do an online search for βlast frost dateβ in your area, youβll come across websites that list the last average...
March !π¦, hi-viz plant πΉ, stinknet β οΈ, what to plant now, (& what to plant later) π΅π΄
Hi, Desert Gardener, Excuse my being trite, but it looks like March is living up to its reputation of coming in like a lion. Today's blustery weather reminds me that 2 years ago, I had 5" of snow in my garden the first week in March! (It flattened most of my shrubs some are still growing wonky. π₯Ί) Every year about this time I see the same question -- "What is that plant with the glowing yellow-green flowers?" So I thought I'd answer that question pre-emptively with this week's featured plant....
What to do in the garden in March π©π»βπΎ, the tree that smells like grape soda π, the "5 Ds" of pruning π§, & more
Hi, Desert Gardener, For many gardeners, March is the busiest month of the year. If you're going to add any new landscape plants this spring, try to do it in March. This gives them the most time to get established before it gets really hot. (There are a few exceptions which are covered in the March Guide.) This week's featured plant, Texas mountain laurel, is in bloom now. If you get the chance, get close to one and take a whiff. Its aroma has been described as "fake grape" and smells like...
Plants that need pruning now, βοΈ why landscape fabric is bad news, donating surplus citrus π, & more
Hi, Desert Gardener, Patience is a much-needed virtue for gardeners now. The warm weather might have you itching to tidy up cold-damaged plants and start planting but it's still too soon. I was at a nursery yesterday and saw lots of colorful annuals both cold-weather and warm-weather. But it's too late for some and too early for others. Sigh. What's a gardener to do? This week's newsletter has a few ideas. In this week's newsletter, we cover: Featured plant: Pink Muhly (it's a dazzler!)...
The desert groundcover that loves shade π, first spring wildflowers πΊ, freezing lemons π, & more
Hi, Desert Gardener, Do you know what today means? For desert gardeners, Valentine's Day means it's time to fertilize citrus. (It's also the anniversary of Arizona's statehood.) The weather forecast has been teasing us with the possibility of much-needed rain. Hopefully, by the time you read this, you will have gotten some. With the lack of rain, this spring's wildflower season is expected to be a bust. So I was surprised to see poppies blooming along Houghton Road south of Valencia...
New citrus calculator π, pruning BOPs, my impulse purchase π, goats helping our aquifiers π, & more
Hi, Desert Gardener, I hope you enjoyed this week's unseasonably warm weather! My local garden center beckoned and I fell in love with a plant I hadn't seen before. π I resisted buying it then, and followed my usual strategy. When I got home I researched it and waited to see if I still wanted it in the morning. I did. In fact, I dreamed about it that night. (Do you ever dream about plants?) This strategy has saved me money, since I often find that a plant that strikes my fancy turns out to be...
π΅π What to do in the garden in February, fertilzing citrus, π cold protection, & more
Hi, Desert Gardener, I'm thrilled for everyone who got rain this week! And I'm especially pleased that Phoenix did not break a record for the most days without rain (albeit just barely). Woot! I've received more questions about pruning cold-damaged plants. I understand your impatience, I really do! But the answer is "not yet." It's better to wait until the chance of frost has passed... and we aren't there yet. February can be a busy month for gardeners with citrus trees since it's time to...
π΅π What you can trim now (and what you shouldn't), desert "wishing stars", & more
Hi, Desert Gardener, I hope you and your plants are staying warm and healthy during these chilly nights. There were a lot of questions this week about cold damage to perennials, vines, succulents, and shrubs, and whether it's OK to prune damaged plants now. I understand the temptation to cut back dead and damaged growth. After all, we want our gardens to look their best at all times! But trimming now encourages new growth, which is very cold-sensitive. It's much better to wait until the...
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.