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All about Texas rangers 💜, fertilizing palms 🌴, desert heat warning 🥵 & more 🌵😎
Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi, Desert Gardener!
It's August, which means we're nearly half-way through the monsoon. And a new month brings new gardening tasks. Compared to July, there is more to do in the garden this month.
One of my favorite things about this time of year is seeing Texas rangers (also called Texas sage) in bloom. I'm suddenly seeing explosions of purple flowers all around town. So I thought it would be a good time to focus on these beautiful, resilient desert shrubs.
One of the biggest problems with Texas rangers is due to "human error." They're planted where they don't have room to grow unfettered. Then most landscapers do a hack job, destroying their shape and beauty, and ultimately destroying their health. That's why I'm so excited about a relatively new cultivar that stays small and flowers more frequently -- 'Little Lynn'. I planted one last fall, and it's been in bloom almost continuously this summer.
It looks like we're in for a scorching week, so be sure to check out heat wave tips here.
What you'll find in this week's newsletter:
What to do in the garden in August
Featured Plant: 'Little Lynn' Texas ranger
Fertilizing palm trees
Desert heat -- it's no joke
Upcoming gardening classes & events
and more!
August: What to Do in the Garden This Month
August is a somewhat busier month in the garden than July. There are more plants to be pruned and fertilized, but there are more pests and problems to watch out for, too.
Texas rangers are often called Texas sage, but are not botanically related to true sages, which are members of the Salvia genus.
Did you know that not all Texas rangers belong to the same species?
‘Little Lynn’ and ‘Lynn’s Legacy’ are cultivars of Leucophyllum langmaniae, a native of northeastern Mexico that goes by the common name Rio Bravo sage.
‘Heavenly Cloud‘, ‘Convent’, or ‘Green Cloud’, are cultivars of Leucophyllum frutescens.
‘Thunder Cloud’ or ‘Silver Cloud’, are cultivars of Leucophyllum candidum.
Texas rangers vary by size, leaf shape, foliage color, and flower color. Some have been bred to be less dependent on rain and humidity to flower. Wish you could tell one Texas ranger from another? Check out this rundown of Texas Ranger Varieties so you can learn to tell them apart.
‘Little Lynn’: Compact, Prolific Texas Ranger
'Little Lynn' is unique among the Texas rangers. It stays compact, requires little-to-no pruning, and blooms prolifically throughout the summer, regardless of rain or humidity. Read more here →
Tucson Garden Events & Classes
There's always more to learn about gardening! Check out these classes and events coming up soon. * Heat Mitigation Strategies @ Green Things * Monsoon Plant Sale @ Desert Survivors * Composting in the Sonoran Desert @ Pima County Master Gardeners
Check out $5 Fridays at Tucson Botanical Gardens (now through September). What a great deal! 🤩
Not in Tucson? Look for classes for everyone offered via Zoom.
How & When to Fertilize Desert Palms
How and when should you fertilize desert landscape palms? Do you really need a special palm fertilizer? Discover why fertilizing is recommended, what to look for in a palm fertilizer, and why August is an ideal time to fertilize your palms. Read more here →
Irreverent Look at Desert Heat (& a warning)
For an irreverent look at our brutal heat, check out the Phoenix New Times' article A Die Heat: 9 Ways the Arizona Summer Will Kill You. The tone is both funny and deadly serious. (Adult language warning!) But it makes an important point...
Our heat is no joke. Your top priority when working in your garden is should be taking care of you. If you start to feel unwell, take a break.
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
