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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.

sonoran desert monsoon

What to do in July 🌧️ , cause of yellow leaves πŸ‹ , my free plant mishap 😹 , & more 🌡😎

Hi, Desert Gardener! July in the southwest is a month of changes. The monsoon officially started June 15, but the first rains usually arrive in early July. Monsoon storms bring welcome rainfall, humidity, and cloud cover β€” all a great relief for your plants. But it’s not all good news for desert gardeners. Monsoon storms can bring flooding, hail, dust storms, and damaging wind. And an increase in moisture leads to more insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds. All these changes mean there are...
watering cactus

Monsoon is here! 🌩️ , got ants in your plants? 🐜 , LOTS of watering tips πŸ’§ , & more 🌡😎

Hi, Desert Gardener! At the risk of being obvious, this week was brutally HOT. I hope you and your garden are surviving. πŸ₯΅ A lot of plants stop growing and even drop leaves and flowers during extreme heat, even when adequately watered. These are survival mechanisms, so don't be discouraged if your garden doesn't look its best right now. On a positive note, June 15th marked the official start of the monsoon. Typically, we don't get our first rains until July, but at least I now feel hopeful...
heat wave in the desert

Sow for summer wildflowers now 🌻, heat wave survival tips πŸ₯΅ , & more 🌡😎

Hi, Desert Gardener! This weekend's predicted heat wave took me by surprise, although it shouldn't have. I've lived in Tucson long enough to know that mid to late June is our hottest time of year and when heat records are usually broken. In fact, the 10 hottest days on record have all occurred between mid and late June. So I quickly put the finishing touches on my heat wave article. I hope you get this in time to be of help. And if not, you can use these tips for the next heat wave. I'm sure...
madagascar periwinkle

The amazing ways rain is better for plants β›ˆοΈ , #1 desert annual ("last chance" to plant) 🌸 , & more 🌡😎

Hi, Desert Gardener! The month of June kicked off with a delightful surprise -- rain and much cooler temperatures! Southern Arizona hasn't had that much rain on June 1st since 1914! Isn't it great to break weather records in a good way for a change? I'm overjoyed that my previously empty rain barrel is full again. I was pondering why plants always look so good after a rain. So I delved into the benefits of rain water over tap water, and what I learned turned out to be more interesting and...
golden glow on saguaros

What to do in the garden in June, Happy "Arid Foresummer" πŸ‰πŸ–οΈπŸ˜Ž , & more 🌡

Hi, Desert Gardener! In many ways, Memorial Day weekend signals the start of summer. A lot of people think that the desert southwest has two seasons -- hot and hotter. But in fact, we have 5 seasons because we have two "summers" -- arid foresummer and monsoon season. So let me wish you a "Happy Arid Foresummer"! πŸ˜ŽπŸ–οΈπŸ‰ While the number of outdoor garden events and classes tapers off in June, those of us in Tucson can enjoy Tohono Chul's "Chillin' at the Chul" and the Arizona-Sonora Desert...

My big gardening "yuck" 🀒, agave vs yucca, #1 tip to grow lavender πŸͺ», & more 🌡

Hi, Desert Gardener! It pains me to say this, but the heat is on. It looks like it will be 90+ for the foreseeable future. 😒 So it's definitely time to adjust your watering to your "summer" schedule. For the first time since I've had my rain barrel, the water level fell below the spigot. So I figured it was a good time to empty it and clean it out. Holy guacamole! πŸ₯‘ I could not believe how disgusting the dregs were. I'll spare you the details, but let me just say I will NEVER go two years...
purple fountain grass

Why mid-May is "summer", do your leaves have circles? 🐝, take a pass on this grass, & more 🌡

Hi, Desert Gardener! It's mid-May, which means it's time to decide -- Is it summer? Or is it still spring? If you look at various watering schedules, you’ll find that spring is considered β€œMarch through May” while summer is considered β€œMay through September”. I suggest adjusting your irrigation to a summer schedule as soon as your daytime highs are regularly above 90. If you struggle to keep your potted plants looking good (or even alive) during the summer, be sure to check out "It's Too Darn...
mediterranean carpet

The "perfect" plant, time-lapse cactus blooms πŸͺ·, the last hose you'll ever buy, & more 🌡

Hi, Desert Gardener! I hope you were one of the lucky gardeners that got some rain this week! We had just enough to make the cars look dirty. We also had a sudden burst of hail, so of course I ran out in it to move my potted plants to cover. Do you ever do things like that, too? πŸ˜… If you are in awe of beautiful cactus flowers, be sure to check out the time-lapse photography site I recently discovered. I don't use this word lightly -- it's awesome. In this week's newsletter, we cover: Featured...
saguaro flowers

What to do in the garden in May πŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸŒΎ, javelina-proof plants πŸ— , harvesting seeds 🌻 , & more

Hi, Desert Gardener! Happy May! It's a new month and things are changing fast in desert gardens, so be sure to check out May: What To Do in the Garden This Month. While there are still plenty of gardening activities to be done in May, there are some tasks that you should skip β€” they are best done in cooler weather. It's time to wrap up planting most plants. (The list of plants that like to be planted in May is a small one.) I'm excited about a Four Arrows Garden Center event next Saturday...

In honor of Arbor Day -- Our "All Tree Edition" 🌳🍊🌴

Hi, Desert Gardener! In honor of Arbor Day (April 25th), I've prepared an "All Tree" edition. No one enjoys the oppressive heat we've had the past few summers, but there's something you can do to make your immediate environment cool. Plant a tree! Just to prove to myself how much cooler it is under the shade of a tree, I did a little experiment. Using my infrared thermometer gun, I took the temperature of various surfaces in my yard -- wood mulch, gravel, concrete, and bare dirt -- in full...

Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.