Tag: Summer Landscape Tips

Dos and Don’ts for a Splendid Summer Garden

As we experience uncertain times in a world that has drastically changed, we are definitely getting a lot more done at home. Shelves are organized, refrigerators are clean, and now it’s time to start looking at the backyard. That large corner on the far end of your yard has become nothing more than a catch-all for kids’ toys and lawn equipment; wouldn’t it be nice to have a splendid summer garden to enjoy during this pause from the hustle and bustle we’ve become used to? We’ve created this guide to dos and don’ts to ensure your summer garden will be the envy of the neighborhood, even if they can only see it from periodic glimpses over the wall or out their bedroom window!

Choosing the Right Plants

First and foremost, be sure to choose flowers or vegetables that can survive the desert heat. When temperatures can reach 100 degrees plus, the wrong choices can lead to a big ugly dirt patch in the corner of your yard, instead of the picturesque green or floral landscape you’ve been imagining. Some flowers that thrive in the desert include hibiscus, lavender, and honeysuckle, all of which are colorful plants that survive in high temperatures and full sun.

If you’re planning a summer vegetable garden, choices can include sweet potatoes, okra, Armenian cucumbers, and basil. Summer vegetable gardens will do best in shaded areas, so perhaps you may want to choose to plant next to the gazebo you built last summer. Summer gardeners can also plant under a tree or create shade with shade cloth and garden stakes.

Conserving a Precious Resource

Irrigation is important as well. Considering an irrigation method such as a drip system can save you time, stress, and money, as well as saving precious resources. Determining how much water is needed is important and setting up a drip system ensures that you don’t have to think about it; the smart systems available today do all the thinking for you!

Even though it’s cooler for the gardener, night watering can lead to mold and diseases that attack the soil, so if you’ve been choosing to water the old-fashioned way with hose or water pail in the cooler hours of the night, you should probably reconsider your choice and think about installing a drip system and change your watering hours to morning; soaker systems work as well!

Protection from Storms

Although the desert is generally an arid space, during monsoon season the storms can be impressive, tearing through your carefully tended gardens, leaving a giant mess if not protected. Stakes, poles, and tomato cages can help plants stand strong against the worst of the storms, as can planting your garden in a protected area such as between the shed and the cinder block wall that surrounds your yard, under the eaves of your home, or under your covered patio, in the case of container gardens.

Mulch

This is a step many people forget, but the right mulch can serve a variety of purposes in keeping a summer garden healthy. Mulch can prevent the soil from drying out as quickly, keep the soil cool, and protect the roots of the plants you are growing. Bark mulch is a popular choice, but be warned: Scorpions thrive in bark mulch, so if you have a critter problem, this may not be an option for you!

Container Gardens and Shade from the Sun

Not all desert dwellers have large yards with room for garden space. Many of us have little more than a patio and a postage stamp sized yard, but that’s ok. Container gardens don’t need a lot of space and can add a cheerful atmosphere to a boring patio with one caveat: If you don’t want your flowers, herbs, and vegetables withering away into brittle pieces of straw, they must be kept shaded during the hottest parts of the day (between 10 AM and 4 PM). They also need more watering than garden beds do, so count on watering twice a day.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help With Your Summer Garden

Sometimes gardening manuals can be boring and slightly incomprehensible as they discuss the pathology of plants and the specific pH levels of soil in the desert. We love the landscape part of our job and can help you make sense of the madness. There may be wrong ways to garden, but there are no wrong ways to learn how to create the garden of your dreams, including asking your favorite pool and landscaping business for tips and suggestions! Give us a call today and let’s talk about what your simple summer garden needs to become a splendid one!

Water Conservation in Arizona During Summer Months

Arizona is hot and dry during the summer and this can make keeping your garden and landscape alive and healthy a challenge. If you want to do your part for water conservation in Arizona and keep your garden alive and thriving in the summer months, follow these simple steps.

Choose Plants that Love the Heat

There are some plants that love the heat, and these will thrive during the summer. Armenian cucumbers are a type of muskmelon that taste and look like a cucumber. These heirloom melons, also known as yard-long cucumbers, love the heat, don’t need a ton of water, and will produce a high yield. Sweet potatoes will also do well in the hot summer heat of Arizona and don’t require a lot of water. The leaves of the sweet potatoes will survive and thrive during the summer and you can harvest them in the fall. Okra, basil, and certain melons that are native to the region, such as the Chimayo melon, will also grow well during the hot summer months.

Water Your Plants at the Best Time of Day

The best time of day to water your garden is in the early morning. This allows the water plenty of time to run down into the soil without evaporating too quickly. If you cannot water your garden in the early morning, early evening works as well. You just want to avoid the hottest parts of the day, as the water will evaporate before your plants can get what they need.

Arrange Shade in Your Garden

Shade cloth is a great way to create shade in your garden. You can attach the cloth to existing stakes or trellises and grow plants such as tomatoes and bell peppers in the shade. The shade will protect your plants from the sun as well as help keep water from evaporating as quickly.

Use Native Plants

There are many plants native to Arizona that thrive and survive in the harsh summer environment without a ton of water. Prickly pear, desert marigold, grape ivy, and ironwood are just some of the many plants that will survive the summer.

Mulch Your Garden

Mulching your garden can help plants survive the summer by retaining water and keeping the soil cool. Mulch insulates the soil, which helps keep water from evaporating as quickly. Mulching also prevents the soil from forming a harder top layer of crust so water can more easily seep into the roots of your garden.

Self-Watering Containers for Water Conservation in Arizona

Add self-watering containers to your garden. These containers have spouts that go into the ground of your garden. They provide a slow release of water to your plants and help reduce water waste by delivering the water directly to the roots instead of dripping down the leaves.

If you would like help starting your garden and maintaining, as well as tips for water conservation in Arizona, please contact us. We provide landscaping tips and services and can help you design your garden so that it will survive the hot summer months.