Part of living in the Anthem and Phoenix areas is enjoying the unique variety of native plants. Of course, the most easily recognizable desert plants are different kinds of cactus, including the iconic saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea). The saguaro’s tall stature and curved arms make it stand out, and the flowers it produces in the late spring and summer months are our state flower for a reason! If you’re lucky enough to have them on your property, you know that they need different care than your trees or flowers. Here are some things you may not know about the saguaro cactus: Not all of them grow arms. If well cared-for, they can live 150-200 years or more. Saguaros have quite the system for getting water – they have one deep taproot that can extend into the ground about 3-5 feet deep, but the rest of the roots are only 4-6 inches...
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“The right tool for the job” is more than just an old saying. It’s especially accurate when you’re going to prune your trees. The wrong tool, along with its wrong application, can seriously injure a tree—and possibly you, too. While we recommend all major tree work be done by a certified arborist, some homeowners prefer to do smaller pruning jobs themselves. To help you get the best results, this article describes the right pruning tools to use for specific pruning tasks, the features to look for when choosing your tools, and safety considerations to be aware of. PRUNING TOOL BASICS The first thing to consider when buying or using tools for tree work of any kind is their quality. A good tool may be inexpensive, but more often you will find that cheap pruning tools are weaker, lighter-weight versions of standard tools. Cheap pruning and tree care tools often use:...
Many people, including plenty of landscapers, plant trees too deep and this almost always results in damage to the tree (in fact, it’s often a fatal mistake). This is easy to remedy if you know what to look for and how to plant correctly. No matter their container size or type, all trees need to be planted at the right depth for their root system. Read on and you can avoid one of the most common tree-planting mistakes. How deep is too deep when planting a tree? The measure for tree planting depth is the tree’s root flare. Sometimes called trunk flare or root collar, this is the area just above where the topmost roots emerge from the trunk. Confusingly, there is not always a flare here, meaning that some trunks, especially on young trees, may look like a straight cylinder. Don’t worry. If you don’t see a flare, look...
We’ve gone over the myriad of benefits that trees provide in earlier blog posts: they remove pollutants, decrease stress, improve health, prevent storm runoff, provide food and shelter for wildlife…the list is endless. Yet I’m sure most of us in the greater Phoenix and Anthem areas would agree that there’s one reason in particular that we love trees: shade. Unlike man-made shade structures, trees actually lower the temperature of the air around them through a process called transpiration. So, when possible, planting a tree instead of building a structure reduces the overall temperature. In a city like Phoenix where the temperatures seem to keep rising every year, that’s important. Most yards in our area are small, however, so the options are limited when choosing a native tree that provides shade but doesn’t grow too tall, have invasive roots, or take up too much of your yard. Here are our suggestions...
If you’ve never used landscape lighting, you may be surprised at what a difference it can make. When daytime temperatures in the northern Phoenix area drive us indoors during the summer, the cooler nighttime hours become the best time to enjoy your yard and garden. And the right types of landscape lighting make all the difference. Where to Add Lighting to Your Yard A softly lighted pathway can lead the way to a pergola, a string of lights under your awning can make dining al fresco seem like a vacation, or highlighting a tree or favorite shrub with a soft glow can give an entirely different look at night. If you have steps or a dark walkway, lighting can also serve as a safety feature. And it’s not just hardwired lighting that enhances your outdoor spaces. Solar lights are a great option to line sidewalks, and there are also solar-powered...
Salty soil? In the desert? Really? Yes, really. We have pretty hard water in Anthem and the greater Phoenix area, meaning that there are a lot of minerals dissolved in it. When the water dries (including in your soil), minerals such as calcium and magnesium carbonate come out of solution and turn into hard crystals – that’s the whitish buildup you see around faucets. Those minerals are referred to as "salts." While salt is great around the rim of a margarita glass, when it gathers in soil you’ll start to see adverse effects (including death) in your plants and any trees that receive water from irrigation. What Causes Salt to Build up in Desert Soil? The biggest culprit in salt buildup is shallow, frequent watering. Picture this: If you have an irrigation system (like most Anthem and Phoenix-area residents), it’s probably on a timer to water twice a day for...
Your trees are probably infected with a fungus. How’s that for an attention-getter? But here’s the shocking part – it’s a good thing. In fact, you want to encourage this particular type of fungus to infect your trees, plants, and shrubs whenever possible. Let’s back up a minute to explain the strange relationship that this type of fungus (called mycorrhizae) has with plants. An Unlikely Pair In a true example of symbiosis, plants and mycorrhizae (pronounced mi-cor-ri-zay) work together, sharing nutrients and benefits with each other. The mycorrhizae (from the Greek mykes: fungus and rhiza: root) attach themselves to a plant’s roots. They then spread out from the roots in microscopic strings, gathering moisture and nutrients that the plant itself can’t reach and/or can’t break down to use. The mycorrhizae bring these nutrients to the plant and, in return, the plant gives the fungus carbon and carbohydrates (or sugars) that...
I was sitting outside a coffee shop the other day, watching appreciatively as a palo verde tree’s bloom-laden branches swayed gracefully in the breeze. The contrast of the bright yellow against the shockingly deep blue sky was mesmerizing. As I was admiring the tree, a couple walked out of the coffee shop. Catching sight of the tree, one of them grumbled, "Ugh, pollen!"" and walked away from the tree as quickly as possible. As an allergy sufferer myself, I understood. Allergies are miserable. If I don’t take an antihistamine daily, I can barely suffer through the day. Pollen is the source of most spring allergies, though some mold, dust, and pollutants cause allergies as well. But the bright, yellow flowers on the spring palo verde tree are not the only thing causing spring allergies here in the Phoenix area – and they are far from the worst culprit. Pollen and...
In 2010, Arizona State University and the City of Phoenix adopted a plan to create an urban forest in the city. The goal of the Tree and Shade Master Plan is to have a 25% tree canopy in Phoenix by 2030. As the city currently has an average tree coverage of only 9-11%, this is a plan that will need considerable support and help from Phoenix area residents and visitors to make possible. We highly recommend reading through the entire plan yourself, but below are the highlights of the Vision. By 2030: Phoenix has a healthy, diverse and sustainable urban forest that reflects and preserves the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Shade trees line streets and residential neighborhoods are cooled by tree groves. The urban forest lowers the temperature during summer months, reducing energy use and making the city more comfortable for residents and visitors. Citizens understand the benefits of...
Spring is the perfect time to assess and repair the irrigation system for your trees and garden beds, so you can correct problems before summer heat stresses your plants. It's also a good time to consider whether your irrigation system needs renovation. Why Renovate Your Irrigation System? There are plenty of reasons to evaluate the function and efficiency of your irrigation system and update or upgrade it. Foremost on the list is water savings. Even with our efforts to eliminate water-thirsty lawns and use xeriscaping principles, more than half of our household water bills typically go into the landscaping. You can conserve water and lower your bills with the right landscaping and a more efficient irrigation system. Another way to save money is to keep plants in your landscape healthy. Overwatering, underwatering or watering incorrectly can cause stressed plants. For example, you might have the right amount of water going...
As temperatures warm up in the low desert, trees and shrubs begin to grow more quickly or start adding leaves, flowers and fruit. Many trees and shrubs need extra energy for this spring growth. And that’s where liquid fertilizers can help. Use Fertilizers to Replenish Nutrients The dry heat of the low desert combines with high salt/mineral content in the water to deplete nutrients from the soil that supports your landscape plants. Much like how we need vitamins and nutrients to thrive, our landscape plants need a boost when resources run low in the soil, and even more so when the plants are growing, greening or producing flowers and fruit. Most fertilizers have a balance of the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) to help provide complete nutrition for your plants. Locally available products also can have nutrients that are often lacking in low-desert conditions, or extra secondary...
If you aren’t used to dealing with our native flowering shrubs, you might assume that shearing them (constantly cutting them into a particular shape, such as a rounded top or a cylinder) is the best way to manage them. After all, you see shrubs pruned like that all the time. In actual fact, it’s one of the worst things you can do for our native shrubs, as it stresses the plant and, ultimately, causes it to require more water. It may also reduce the life of the shrub and cut down significantly on the number of blooms it produces. The correct way to deal with certain (but not all) of our native shrubs may seem extreme, but the results speak for themselves. Every three years or so, shrubs like sage, bougainvillea, lantana and others benefit from something called rejuvenation or renewal pruning. It seems extreme because you are basically cutting...
Buying, watering and caring for a tree is an investment. But trees actually can save homeowners money. Here are a few ways trees produce a return on your investment: Trees Save Energy There’s a reason so many cities have renewed efforts to plant more trees. Even the City of Phoenix has a Tree and Shade Master Plan that aims to have 25% shade cover throughout the area by 2030 to help counteract the heat island effect ( see details here ) Trees have a cooling effect and can counter some of the heat generated by asphalt, concrete and other city structures. In summer heat, a well-placed tree can save a homeowner $100 to $250 each year. When you place a nice, full tree where it will cast cooling shade on the southwestern side of your home – especially onto west-facing windows – you can substantially cut the costs of cooling...
It’s tough when you realize it’s time to say goodbye to a tree you’ve enjoyed for years. Because the decision can seem emotional, and can make a significant and lasting impact in your landscape, here’s a list of five signs it’s time to remove a tree . Hopefully this list will make the decision a little easier. 1. The Tree is Dead A dead tree no longer brings shade or visual appeal to your yard. Plus, it can endanger your family, guests and property. How do you know if a tree is dead? Lots of shedding bark is one sign that the tree is probably dead. Another sign is falling branches; wind can break the branches of even healthy trees, but will break more and larger branches when a tree is dying. Leaning might mean the trunk is hollow, which often indicates (or leads to) tree death. And if you...
Monsoons here in Arizona could never be described as mild – they are thunderous, intense, impressive, and dangerous – but not mild. The sideways winds, the outpouring of rain, the flash floods, and the deafening thunder are all trademark signs of this unique season in the desert. The lightning, however, is often the image that sticks with people. During just one storm this past year, there were 35,000 lightning flashes, and over 4,000 reported lightning strikes. Most everyone knows the danger that lightning can impart to humans, and the importance of taking cover indoors during a storm. Trees, however, don’t have the option to hide from these electric currents, and their tall stature can mean that they often get struck during a storm. The sap and moisture inside of trees further attract electricity, making them a better conductor than the air around them. When Lightning Hits a Tree A lightning...
As summer winds down and cooler weather arrives, it's time to assess tree health and make a plan for pruning your trees. Many trees benefit from pruning while they’re dormant in winter or early spring (although mesquites prefer summer pruning). Why Trees Should Be Pruned There are several reasons to prune a tree: To remove dead or damaged limbs and maintain tree health To thin the canopy enough to let light in and improve wind resistance during monsoons For safety of people and structures, especially when broken branches are hanging down or hitting a roof and gutters, or nearing power lines To improve how the tree looks For increased production in fruit trees Problems With Improper Pruning Proper pruning helps your trees, but it can do more harm than good when performed improperly. We see a lot of poor pruning practices in the Anthem area, leading to deformed, unhealthy and...
We rely on trees to give for shade and cooling, but are we doing enough to help our trees survive the low desert heat? Let’s take a look at some signs of heat stress and how to protect trees during peak summer heat. How Heat Affects Trees Trees move water through their roots, trunks, branches and leaves, then into the air through a process called transpiration; it’s similar to sweating in people. This is a natural process that keeps a tree healthy and growing. Heat increases how much water the tree loses during transpiration. When a tree suffers stress from heat and loss of water, it is more vulnerable to disease or pest damage. Wounds on a tree trunk or branch are less able to heal because the tree is using all its energy just to stay alive in hot, dry weather. Signs of Heat Stress It can be difficult...
We don’t have to tell you it’s hot in the summer around Phoenix. Plants often need more water during peak heat, and trees are no exception. But it’s not just about air temperature when it comes to tree health – our unique Valley climate affects when and how much water trees need. So here are a few summer watering tips for Phoenix-area homeowners. August is Hotter, but Trees Often Need More Water in June In Phoenix, summers heat up toward the middle of the summer season, but the air also is more humid in July and August (especially after a good monsoon rain). Humidity might make you feel hotter but it can also slow a tree’s evapotranspiration. That’s the name for the loss of water through evaporation (from the soil) and transpiration, the process that carries water from a tree’s roots to its branches, leaves, and finally into the air...
The annual Phoenix monsoons can be exciting – and dangerous. Extending from mid-June through the end of September, monsoon season brings with it torrential rain, dust storms, violent thunderstorms, and high winds that put trees and property at risk. Monsoon damage to trees is usually caused by strong winds, especially if there’s been recent heavy rain. When our clay soils get saturated with rainwater, tree roots are less able to hold a tree firmly in place. This is particularly true for recently-planted trees that haven’t yet developed a large root system. The end result is trees being toppled by monsoon winds as the roots are pulled out of the ground. Storms also cause broken branches and even snapped tree trunks. While you can’t completely eliminate the possibility of storm damage during monsoon season, there are things you can do to protect yourself and minimize the risk. Much of the damage...
Shade is a top benefit of trees, but trees also can block wind or noise, offer privacy for homeowners and provide shelter and food for birds and other wildlife. Evergreen trees give you those benefits year-round. We usually picture evergreen trees on ski slopes and other cool locations. But the five evergreens listed below can handle desert heat and use little water. Think about adding one of these evergreen trees to your Anthem area landscape. Acacia - Especially Mulga ( Acacia aneura ) The Mulga is a thornless tree native to Australia that can bloom with puffy yellow flowers several times a year, usually in spring and summer. Its thin leaves are silver gray. The tree grows slowly to a mature height of at least 20 feet. The Mulga needs full sun, loves the heat of zones 8 through 11, and is a great evergreen choice for Phoenix-area xeric gardens....