|
Hi, Desert Gardener,
I had to do a quick pivot on this week's newsletter once I realized that it's very likely we'll be having our first 100+ degree days next week. π₯΅ As of today's forecast, it looks like there will be several days in a row of record breaking heat.
I wasn't expecting to include my "heat wave" post in this newsletter so soon, but here we are, having our first heat wave in March.
I hope you will spend your gardening time this weekend getting your plants ready for the upcoming heat wave. It is NOT the time to be planting new plants.
Of course, the best way to get your plants through a heat wave is to make sure they are healthy and well tended before they're blasted by extreme heat. But there are some tips that can help your plants cope during a heat wave.
βοΈ π΅βοΈ
In this week's newsletter, we cover:
- Heat wave survival tips
- Featured plant: Parry's penstemon
- Weed or wildflower?
- What to do in the garden in March
- Upcoming gardening events
- and more!
|
Important Bird-Saving Tip! πͺΊπ£
While you are doing your spring clean-up, be sure to check (or have your landscaper check) for bird nests before you prune trees, shrubs, or other large plants. Tucson Wildlife Center is inundated this time of year and suggests delaying trimming for just a few weeks to allow young birds to safely fledge.
|
|
|
Heat Wave Survival Tips for Desert Gardens
Extreme heat, sun, and wind are to be expected during the summer in the desert southwest. But sometimes, we experience even βworse than usualβ conditions that further stress already stressed plants. Here are 10 tips for helping your plants survive the next heat wave.
βRead more ββ
|
A Reader Asks:
"I usually cut my lantanas way back in the spring, but they didn't freeze this year. Should I prune them now anyway?"
I would remove any dead or damaged branches, but whether you give them a hard prune is a matter of personal choice. Are you happy with their current health, shape, and size? Then pruning is optional.
β
Last year I did an experiment with 3 trailing lantanas that grow in a row. I cut one back to the ground, cut one back by half, and lightly trimmed the third. Within a short time, all 3 were back to their original size and there was no noticeable difference in appearance or performance the rest of the year. So that's a routine maintenance task I've crossed off my list! π
|
|
|
Parryβs Penstemon: Harbinger of Spring
Every spring, this native desert wildflower sends up 3 to 5-foot flower stalks lined with dozens of bright rose tubular flowers that hummingbirds love. They provide a striking contrast to the abundance of yellow flowers that bloom in the desert spring.
βRead more ββ
|
Upcoming Garden Events & Classes
There's always more to learn about gardening! Here are a few of the events and classes coming up soon.
* How to Keep Your Trees Happy @ Tucson Botanical Garden
* Spring Plant Sale @ Tohono Chul
* Propagating Plants @ Pima Co. Master Gardeners
Get the details and find more events in our Tucson Gardening Events Calendar β
Not in Tucson? Look for online classes denoted with this icon. π» Anyone can participate in these.
|
|
|
Weed or Wildflower?
If you see a seedling with fuzzy, scalloped leaves that look like this, it's a Goodding's verbena. This tough groundcover is native to parts of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. Much of the year it's covered with fragrant flowers that are a particularly lovely shade of lavender.
βLearn more about Goodding's verbena here ββ
|
Gardening Quote
β"An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life." β Cora Lea Bell, gardener
|
|
|
March Gardening Guide
March is one of the busiest months in desert gardens. Itβs officially spring, wildflowers are blooming, and plants are pushing out new growth. Hereβs a look at what you can plant, what you should prune, how to adjust your watering schedule, and more.
βGet the details here ββ
|
Before You Go...
Do you have a gardening question you'd like to see answered here? Send it to ask@swgardener.com.
If you found this information helpful or interesting, please share it with friends! They can sign up for this newsletter here.
And stop by the Southwest Gardener Facebook page where you can comment on this week's articles. Then please "like", "follow", or "share"!
Keep growing and learning,
βDesert Dee
|
113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
|
|
β