Arizona
Gardening Tips
Here are
some
Landscaping Ideas and Tips for the Phoenix Valley and immediate
Surrounding Areas:
Landscaping can be one of the best ways to improve your home for sale.
Do not over do it.
Part A.
–
Things to Generally Avoid …
Avoid planting Fruit Trees
they generally don’t do well in
the heat. Also they require a lot of care including having a net cover
to avoid the birds from eating the fruit. They also attract gnats and
bees. To do well they need to be on a separate
drip system line and watering time.
Avoid planting Cactus.
They look nice, but grow slow. They don't like a lot of water so again
plants of this nature need watering conditions. Also if you have
children cactus can be very dangerous. The large desert Saguaro Cactus
also
attract a variety of birds including woodpeckers that may attack and
harm the outside of your house or other trees.
Avoid a Vegetable
Garden
if possible. They attract varmints, snakes, and insects. Varmints
(mice, rabbits, cats, etc.) attract coyotes and sometimes bobcats.
Avoid having a Compose
Pile. There are more germs in a compose pile than on your
toilet seat. They also attract nasty critters and insects.
Avoid putting in Grass or
Lawns.
Water is expensive here. It takes a lot of water to properly upkeep
grass. It needs to be cut (moved). It dies off and turns brown easily
and suffers from a variety of infestation. If you really like it, put
in
artificial turf and make a putting green.
Avoid planting Palo Verde
Trees.
Yes this is the state tree. It is ugly, has thorns, is hard to trim
and dispose of the cuttings. It also attracts a type of worm or snail
that is harmful to most other tress. It borrows in the ground and eats
the tree roots. Children are often injured around these trees.
Avoid Tropical
Plants and Trees of any kind such as banana plants, rubber
trees, and bamboo. This is the desert, not the jungle.
Avoid planting Rose Bushes
or Climbing
Vines.
(1) Roses again require a lot of care.
They need to
be adjusted for a different watering schedule. They are not good around
children.
(2) Climbing Vines will destroy the
exterior stucco of your home.
Avoid putting in a Birdbath
or items that have water such as Rock
Gardens.
Again water is expensive. Many HOA's do not permit these. They also
attract snakes and feral cats, but the biggest thing they attract is
mosquitoes.
Avoid putting in Bird
Feeders.
Pigeons are a real problem here. Bird feeders will attract them.
Pigeons are one of the biggest carriers of disease on the planet they
are up there with rats, ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Not to mention
your neighbors will hate you if they get a Pigeon problem.
Part B. –
Things that generally work …
If planting a shade
tree then choose a Ficus Tree. Buy a 24-inch
box.
Cut the lower branches high to start with. The nursery will do this for
you if you ask them.
If
planting citrus trees try a Lime, Lisbon Lemon, Ruby Red Grapefruit,
and Naval Orange. They generally all do well here in the valley. Plant
15-gallon trees. Space fruit trees at least 10 feet apart and not
closer
than 5 feet to the wall, house or any other object or tree.
For
plants and shrubs you generally can’t go wrong with
Oleanders.
They are very hearty, grow fast, and do well. The best ones in the dwarf
size (maximum height of 5 to 6 feet) are the Pink Oleander. Buy them in
5-gallon sizes. Plant them about 18 inches from the perimeter wall
and 24 inches from the house. Space them about 30 inches apart.
They also make excellent hedgerows. If this is the intention,
definitely
use the Pink Dwarfs and plant them in a straight line 24 inches apart.
For height, such as a garden type fence, use full size oleander plants.
Again buy 5-gallon size and plant them about 18-inches from the
perimeter
wall and space them about 30-inches apart. The best ones are White and
Pink, alternate the colors, this makes a good pattern.
Planting
Tips: The soils in the valley are dramatic in nature from fair to
poor. So when planting mix the soil with regular sand, gypsum, and
topsoil.
These items can all be purchased form a Home Depot at reasonable cost.
I usually mix a bag of topsoil with 2 shovels of sand, half bag of
gypsum,
and an equal amount of ground dirt. Water well. After about a week mix
some Miracle Grow, as per instructions, and add to the plants. Do this
early
in the morning. The plants will do better if you do this once per week
for about
6 straight weeks.
Watering
Tips: New plants require a lot of water. So water every day
for an hour for shrubs like oleanders for the first 4 months. Then you
can change to watering once every 4-days for one hour.
For citrus trees, deep water once every 2 days for one hour until a
year old, then change to once every 4 days for 4 hours. Twice per
year add citrus fertilizer. Ask a Home Depot garden center person
for guidelines and assistance.
Palm
Trees are good for the front yard. I like Pygmy Palms,
I recommend a 15-gallon size. Also the tall Queen Palms in a
24-inch box. They both do well here.
Planting
times are best from mid March to mid-June, especially for
citrus trees. You can plant from the March 1st through September 30th
and be safe. After May 1st you should only plant early in the morning.
I personally wouldn’t plant anything from November through
February.
Part C.
– Misc.
exterior work …
--
If
you don’t have a drip system, one is recommended for plants
and shrubs. If you have trees, especially citrus, put them on a
separate
drip line. You will need a timer box. I recommend putting the drip
system in after all the planting is completed. You can water by hand
with a garden hose until the drip system is installed.
--
Stone
is preferable to grass or sod.
--
Also,
try some large boulders, get some odd shaped sizes and lean
them into one another. These do well in the front yard and are
decorative.
--
See
how other people in the neighborhood have landscaped their homes.
--
If
you are planning outdoor lights avoid those, which use solar energy.
--
If
you are thinking more expensive such as concrete or flagstone,
consider either acid stained concrete or a concrete overlay in a
flagstone design. This method saves money.
This is also an excellent repair makeover for garage floors and
driveways that are stained. Get this type of work done before
any new planting or yard work starts including exterior painting.
--
Again,
be careful that spending equals return when property is sold.
--
Hint:
A Nursery will often do planting free of charge if the you buy
enough plants or trees. Trees that come in 24-inch boxes are heavy
and it is best if delivered and planted by the nursery or a landscaper.
I have found that most people in the landscaping business including
nursery workers give bad advice. Either they tell you what you want
to hear or they are looking out for themselves and just want to sell
you something. Shop around for prices. Get bids from landscapers
and nurseries.
--
If
you are a do it yourself planter /gardener then you may want to
buy your plants, shrubs, flowers, and trees from Home depot. They
give a one year warranty, where most nurseries give 3-months.
Nurseries however, will generally have better selections and more
varieties.
--
You
want the house to be move in ready and look nice but not over
done. People who buy will make changes no matter what you do.
--
Important:
Make sure you don’t o anything that is against building
codes, ordnances, or HOA regulations, i.e. CCRs.
NOTICE
I am still developing and updating this web page