Titan Tree Blog

Agaves are striking accent plants in Phoenix-area gardens and a favorite in our hot, dry landscapes. A frequently-seen agave is the century plant ( Agave americana ). It's a large and gorgeous agave with sharp spines along its blue-green leaves and puts up a towering bloom stalk before the plant dies. Healthy agaves can grow for 25 years or more. When mature, agaves need to be planted in soil that drains well and gets plenty of sun; young plants need a little shade. Other than that, the plants need little care and have few pests or problems. However, there is one pest that can destroy agaves. The agave snout weevil is a large black beetle that can attack and kill agave plants, and it seems to favor the large century plant, especially as the plant prepares to bloom. Symptoms of Agave Snout Weevil Infestation The most common sign of agave...

Here in the low desert of the Phoenix metro area, we should see our final winter frost in mid-February. That means it's time to fertilize some of your trees just before or as the low desert spring emerges and trees begin to grow or form leaves and blossoms. Why Fertilize Trees Not every tree benefits from fertilizing, but it's essential to add nutrients to the soil for several types of trees you might have in your yard. The soil can only provide so much nutrition to tree roots, and Arizona soil typically lacks the important macronutrients nitrogen and phosphorous and the micronutrient iron, although specific soil makeup varies from one region of the Valley to another. Trees typically need nitrogen (N on your fertilizer ingredient list) for healthy, green leaves and trunk or branch growth. Phosphorus (P) helps stimulate root growth, which is especially helpful for young trees. Phosphorus also...

A new tree is an investment that needs proper care for it to thrive. And if you plant a tree for shade in the hot Arizona desert, you're probably anxious for it to reach mature size. So it’s not surprising that people will do everything they can to get their trees off to a good start. It's common to see people, including landscapers, staking young trees. However, trees seldom need that kind of help. In fact, staking a tree often does more harm than good. Drawbacks of Tree Staking Often, staking ends up damaging a tree, largely because the staking is done improperly or left too long. Staking trees improperly is one of the leading causes of tree death in urban yards. In many cases, the ties attaching a tree to a stake cause girdling, which is cutting through a ring of bark around the entire circumference of the trunk....

Typically, trees go into a period of hibernation during winter's cooler, shorter days, conserving energy by dropping leaves and slowing growth. Still, most trees in our North Phoenix yards need occasional watering during the winter. Reasons to Water Trees in Winter Trees less than one year old need more water than mature trees, regardless whether or not they’re xeric (or “water wise”) trees. An immature tree's root system is actively growing the first year and the roots and tree are more susceptible to injury from lack of water during the winter. Desert trees grow roots in winter in preparation for spring and summer growth. The roots need water to grow, especially during winter’s drier conditions. If you’re growing orange and other citrus trees they’ll need year-round watering to stay healthy, although the amount of water they require in winter is much lower than in other months. See this publication from...

Now that fall has arrived and nighttime temperatures are cooling, it's a great time to plant trees and shrubs in the Phoenix area The moderate fall weather gives tree roots an opportunity to grow and establish in the ground before any chance of winter frost, and without scalding daytime temperatures. Simply put, fall planting gives your trees a better shot at growth and good health. Here are some tips to remember when planting trees to make sure they thrive in the desert sun: Select the Best Tree For Your Area Who doesn’t want fall color in their landscape? But which trees can you plant to give you that color? The key is to choose the trees and shrubs that will thrive in our area while needing less maintenance. For example, you might love the gorgeous fall colors of a Bigtooth Maple ( Acer grandidentatum ) but, while it’s native the...