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Love or hate this tree? π³, plant sticker shock π€, spring planting tips, & more ππ΅
Published 10 days agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Hi, Desert Gardener,
I'm as bummed as you are about this heat wave, but I'm trying not to freak out over it. After noting a few things yesterday, I realized the heat may not be as hard on plants as I feared. Here are a few "positive" things I noticed yesterday. First, only a few hours were over 100. By the time I finished dinner, the temperature had dropped to 85. This morning was a pleasantly cool 60.
Second, compared to a 100 degree day in the summer, the sun is less intense (lower UV index), and the days are shorter. And all of these factors are good news for our plants.
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By the way, it's not your imagination that there are more 100 degree days than there used to be, and that they're occurring sooner. I found this history of Tucson's 100+ degree days eye-opening.
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Many fragrant flowering plants are blooming now, and you may have noticed delightful scents wafting through the air. One of the sources is sweet acacia. When I researched this tree, I was taken aback at how many people actively dislike it. So today I take a look at what people love, and don't love, about this tree.
In this week's newsletter, we cover:
Featured plant: Sweet acacia
Steps for successful spring planting
Garden center sticker shock
Weed or wildflower?
What to do in the garden in March
Upcoming gardening events
and more!
Sweet Acacia: Love It or Leave It?
This tree arouses strong feelings -- people either love it or hate it. Hereβs a look at its various attributes and drawbacks so you can decide for yourself whether this Chihuahuan Desert native sounds right for your garden.
"A popular nursery tried to sell me a huge century plant. I had sticker shock from the price (it was a few thousand dollars!), but I'm still tempted. It would be the showpiece of my yard. Is it worth it? Or should I start small?"
This really burns my burrito. What the nursery didn't tell you is that a century plant only lives around 25 years and if it's that large, it would be close to the end of its life. Like all agaves, it sends up a magnificent flower stalk and then dies. Once the process has begun, there is no stopping it.
I'm sure they would love to sell this plant, but I would look for a succulent that grows fast and has a relatively long lifespan. You can browse through the plant profiles in the Succulent category of our Desert Plant Library here.
7 Steps for Successful Spring Planting
In the desert southwest, spring planting can be surprisingly stressful on plants. Here are the steps you can take to minimize their stress and get your plants off to the best possible start.
There's always more to learn about gardening! Here are a few of the events and classes coming up soon. * Spring Garden Fair @ Tucson Organic Gardeners * Composting 101 @ Harlow Gardens * Ladies Night Out @ Four Arrows Garden Center
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 deep green, fern-like leaves tinged with red, it's a Baja fairy duster. This evergreen shrub is native to parts of the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. It blooms year round and bees and hummingbirds can't resist its red "fairy duster" flowers.
Gardening Humor β"If you plant it, water it, and feed it and it dies, it's a flower. If you pull it out and it grows back, it's a weed." β Gallagher, comedian
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.
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
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