Planting Season in the SWDesert
I love a yard with beautiful landscaping. It really makes it look inviting and homey, and sets it apart from others on the same block. Curbside appeal can really raise the value on your home, as well, if done right.
The weather has finally turned a bit cooler here in the good ole SWDesert and I was out doing a bit of trimming on my garden plants. The nurserys and orchards have many a sale on plants right now and I wondered exactly what I should plant for this particular desert zone and winter temperatures. There's a lot of good deals out there.
I did a little investigation and found that although we have rare freezing days, the occurance happens every so often, so a desert dweller should avoid plants that go dormant for the winter, or those that freeze easily.
Natives like Mesquite, Palo Verde, and Acadia trees do well. shrubs like the Fairy Duster, Rosemary, Texas Ranger (those silver-leaved shrubs with the purple flowers you see all along the freeway medians), Feathery Cassia, Chrysactinia, Turpentine Bush, and Salvias are good as well.
Tender plants to avoid include Queen's Wreath, Lantana, Red Bird of Paradise, and the ever-colorful Bougainvillea. Those, along with most cacti prefer spring planting - especially sahuaros.
I find it's fun to gather up the pots of Mums for sale almost everywhere. If you bring them in on a cold night, you can have blooms lasting way into December and beyond!
And if you have citrus trees in your garden plans -- you missed the best planting season in the SWDesert by just a few months - September gives them a good start for the next year.
For photos of some of our beautiful desert blooms, visit my blog post entitled, Tucson, AZ, Pictures Say It Best.
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