Maintaining an attractive and healthy lawn is not easy in our desert climate. While bermudagrass (our summer-active turf) is drought and heat tolerant, it still requires a great deal of time, resources and energy to keep it looking good. If a year-round green lawn is desired, winter ryegrass needs to be seeded each fall, creating more work and requiring more …
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Our landscapes cradle the world between the wild and the civilized. If you are lucky enough to own or rent a little piece of land, you have a chance to create your own private paradise that marries nature with individuality. But how do you get started? And what if you need help? How do you select a landscape professional? How …
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Description The gray leaves of Desert lavender, Hyptis emoryi, are covered with fine hairs and are soft to the touch. A pleasant lavender scent is released following rains or if you brush against the foliage. Individual leaves are 1-inch-long by ¾ inch wide, broader at the base than the tip. The edges have rounded teeth. The branches grow upright to …
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The fall planting season has arrived! Temperatures are cooler, and it’s a great time to replace plants you may have lost during the hot summer. Why is fall planting so good for plants? Soil temperatures are still warm, encouraging root growth and development and allowing plants to get much better established before next summer’s heat sets in. Also, with cooler …
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Tamara C. shared this photo overlooking Roosevelt Lake and bridge from a rocky shoreline. ABOUT THE LAKE Roosevelt Lake was created in 1911 after the completion of Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River as part of the Salt River Project. The dam enabled early settlers to grow citrus, cotton, and even farm animals. The dam continues to provide a means of …
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Description Desert Milkweed, Asclepias subulata, has slender gray-green stems that grow vertically to 4 feet from a woody base. The plant’s spread can reach 2 feet or more. Leaves 2 inches long by 1/8-inch-wide appear on new growth but soon drop. The white milky sap that oozes from cut stems contains rubber. From spring through fall, flat-topped clusters of pale …
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It’s summertime! Your grass is finally greening up and is even filling in nicely where you had brown spots. The conditions are perfect … perfect for killing your lawn, that is. Keeping a green, attractive lawn isn’t a simple task in the low desert. Grass doesn’t just grow where there is bare ground. You have to water it, feed it, …
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Monsoon season is upon us and one important change you can make to help prevent ‘wind throw” (trees blowing over) has to do with watering. You should avoid watering near the trunk. Wet soil near the trunk discourages roots from growing out to the edge of the canopy where they should be. Wet soil near the trunk is also unstable and …
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Discover how to keep your backyard healthy and environmentally friendly Maintaining a sustainable backyard can be difficult during summer months. However, you can keep your yard green and healthy without water waste by implementing these four tips. Take advantage of native plants Keeping your backyard healthy and vibrant starts with the plants you’re using. In order to more easily save …
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C. Sullivan shared a photo where water meets the perfect sunset! Looking for a summer getaway to escape the heat of the Valley? You might want to consider Flagstaff, and a visit to Upper or Lower Lake Mary. These lakes offer a number of outdoor activities and are open year-round. Lower Lake Mary and Upper Lake Mary, two reservoirs in …
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With a shift away from grass-filled lawns that require water, energy, and resources like gas and oil to maintain, many people are seeing the benefits of more natural landscaping environments that include water features. Below are some methods you can use to maximize the positive environmental impact of your backyard pond. Enhance Nature, Don’t Disrupt it When you’re looking to …
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We are thrilled to announce the winner of this year’s Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab giveaway. DRUMROLL please! Congratulations to Paul M. from Tempe, Arizona! Out of a record-breaking 11,576 entries, Paul has won a gorgeous Xeriscape landscape makeover package valued at $9,000. Paul, who grew up in Scottsdale and is a flight attendant with American Airlines, is thrilled for the …
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