Last week, as my husband and I, were pulling out of our local Home Depot when I saw what looked like mini Christmas trees throughout the parking lot islands.
mini Christmas trees
I grabbed my cell phone and took a picture of these funny-shaped plants.
Those cone-shaped plants are in reality badly pruned Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses.
These are my favorite ornamental grasses for the desert climate and although they are badly pruned, they did get some things right.
– For one, Pink Muhly is a great plant for parking lot islands as they can handle full sun.
– In addition, they were pruned at the right time of year.
Just not the right way…
Pink Muhly grasses should be pruned back to 3 inches in height, straight across when the last frost date has passed. In the Phoenix area, where I live, that is early March.
Believe it or not, pruning them the correct way is easier than making them cone-shaped and once the warmer temperatures of spring arrive, these beautiful ornamental grasses will leaf out again.
Once fall arrives, they produce lovely, burgundy plumes…
In winter, the plumes will fade and become straw colored, which adds a nice touch of wintery color.
The Pink Muhly grasses, below, weren’t pruned the right way either.
They resemble rounded balls and weren’t cut back enough. But, they look much better than the mini Christmas tree-shaped ones. Don’t you think?
I love these grasses and have planted them in many areas, including along golf courses, churches, and other common areas. And, I just recently planted them in my backyard around my flagstone seating area.
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You would think that the beauty of these shrubs, in flower, would be enough for people to stop pruning them into absurd shapes, but sadly, this is not the case. In the Desert Southwest, there is an epidemic of truly horrible pruning that affects not only Texas Sage (Leucophyllum species), but also Cassia (Senna species), Fairy Duster (Calliandra species),and even Oleander.
The Consequences of Excessive Pruning
Unsurprisingly, excessive pruning like this is NOT healthy for shrubs and it strips them of their beauty.
The ‘Frisbee’ Phenomenon
You don’t have to go far to see these sad shrubs. All you need to do is drive down the street as I did…
Okay, it should be rather obvious, but I will say it just the same,
“Do not prune your shrubs into the shape of a ‘frisbee’.
The ‘Pillbox’ Pruning
I kept driving and found even more examples of truly awful pruning. Sadly, all are within a 5-minute drive of my house.
I call this ‘pillbox’ pruning.
These Texas Sage & Cassia shrubs were located across the street from the ‘frisbee’ shrubs.
An attempt at creating a ‘sculpture’?
Texas Sage ‘Green Cloud’ (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’)
A second attempt at creating a sculpture?
Let’s get real. Shrubs pruned this way does nothing to add beauty to the landscape. And, when pruned this way, they cost more, take more time, and use more water – it’s true!
‘Cupcake’ Pruning: An Unappetizing Approach
Now on to some of my favorite ‘cupcake’ examples:
An entire line of ‘cupcakes’.
‘White Cloud’ Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘White Cloud’)
Do you think they use a ‘level’ to make the tops perfectly flat?
I honestly wouldn’t put it past them.
You can see the dead area on the top, which is caused from this shrub being sheared repeatedly.
This dead growth is caused by lack of sunlight. Repeated shearing (hedge-trimming) keeps sunlight from reaching the interior of the shrub.
As a result, branches begin to die.
After driving around for a while, I drove toward home when I saw the saddest ones of all…
Flowering Shrubs Need Pruning, but these are Disappointing
Now if you look closely, you can see a light layer of gray-green leaves, which really don’t begin to cover the ugly, dense branching that has been caused by years of repeated shearing.
I actually like topiary, but not when done to a Texas Sage.
Some people prune up their shrubs so that they can clean up the leaves underneath more easily.
The Goal Should be to Prune with Purpose
Now, I am not against formal pruning, when performed on the right plants. But, it is not attractive when done on flowering, desert plants and it is also unhealthy for the shrubs themselves and contributes to their early death in many cases. Add to that the fact that it greatly increases your maintenance costs due to repeated pruning and having to replace them more frequently.
Now if you have shrubs that look like any of these pruning disasters, don’t panic! They can be fixed in most cases.
Now, why would anyone want to remove the flower buds from your shrubs by shearing,
when you can have flowers like this?
Join the ‘Cupcake-Free’ Movement
If you are tired of unnaturally shaped shrubs in your landscape, I understand. Believe it or not, most flowering shrubs need pruning once or twice a year at most – and NOT the type of pruning into weird shapes. I find it ironic that your yard will look better when you do less.
So, if you are wanting to declare your landscape a ‘cupcake-free’ zone, I have something I think you’re gonna love. I invite you to check out my popular online shrub pruning workshop where I teach you how to maintain flowering shrubs by pruning twice a year or less. Hundreds of students have taken the course and are reaping the rewards of a beautiful outdoor space filled with colorful shrubs at a fraction of the work.
Are you ready to break out of the cycle of green blobs?
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Do you like the idea of using household cleaners that are natural? I do. Especially after I noticed a build-up of ‘blue’ cleaning product in the small crevices of my bathroom counters.
So, I decided to focus on using natural cleaners using something straight from my garden – citrus!
Did you know that citrus (all kinds) have natural cleaning properties? It does. Citrus cleaner smells great, cleans well and I feel great using something that I grew.
Introduction to Household Cleaners
Creating your own all-natural household cleaner using leftover citrus peels and vinegar is not only environmentally friendly but also highly effective. Citrus fruits like grapefruit, lemon, and oranges possess natural disinfecting properties, making them excellent ingredients for homemade cleaners. This DIY citrus cleaner is a fantastic way to put your citrus peels to good use while avoiding the harsh chemicals found in many commercial cleaners.
Harnessing the Power of Citrus
Many commercial cleaners incorporate lemon or orange for a reason – citrus fruits naturally disinfect and can help remove stains and mineral deposits. By making your own citrus cleaner, you’re taking advantage of these natural cleaning properties while reducing waste.
Crafting Your Homemade Citrus Cleaner
Gathering Ingredients and Supplies
To get started, you’ll need a few simple ingredients and supplies:
Citrus fruit (grapefruit, lemons, or oranges work well)
A large jar with a lid
Regular distilled vinegar
Strainer
Spray bottle
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to create your homemade citrus cleaner:
Begin by peeling your chosen citrus fruit or simply cut off the peels.
Place the citrus peels into your jar, ensuring the jar is completely filled.
Add vinegar to cover all the peels.
Store the container in a dark, cool place, such as your pantry or cupboard, for approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
After steeping, strain the citrus peel and vinegar mixture through a strainer to remove any pulp or debris.
Fill half of a spray bottle with the citrus and vinegar mixture, then top it off with water – that’s it!
Versatile and Cost-Effective Cleaning
Your homemade citrus cleaner is now ready for use as an all-purpose cleaner on various surfaces, including floors, stovetops, appliances, and glass. It’s effective and budget-friendly. However, please avoid using it on marble or granite countertops, as the vinegar could potentially damage them.
Tip: Stock Up on Citrus Peels
If you don’t have enough citrus peels initially, consider freezing them until you accumulate a sufficient quantity to fill a jar.
*Optional: For a customized fragrance, add herbs like rosemary or mint, or incorporate essential oils to enhance the scent of your homemade citrus cleaner.
Crafting a Disinfecting Citrus Cleaner
For those seeking a quicker disinfecting solution, follow these steps:
Take the peels from one citrus fruit of your choice and add them to 4 cups of water.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from heat and allow it to cool.
Remove the peels.
Add 6 tablespoons of distilled vinegar and 3 teaspoons of borax to the cooled citrus water.
Transfer the solution to a spray bottle and use it immediately on non-porous surfaces.
Embrace DIY for a Greener Home
Crafting your homemade citrus cleaner not only creates an eco-friendly product but also reduces waste, utilizing items like citrus peels that might otherwise end up in the trash. Discover the benefits of natural cleaning with this simple and effective DIY project for your home.
So, if you have a tree filled with citrus, or even if you have to buy some at the grocery store – this cleaner is well worth it!
Addressing Issues in Landscaping: A Guide to Pruned Shrubs
Have you ever driven past a landscape that had some problems with it? As a horticulturist and landscape consultant, my attention diverts whenever I see ‘Landscape No-No’s’ like this one. In this article, we’ll examine a landscape example and highlight the problems it presents.
Introduction: Identifying Landscape Problems
A while ago, I shared the photo of the landscape, above, on my Facebook page and invited people to identify three things wrong with the landscape. I received a lot of comments including “looks like Versailles by the inept” and “shrubs arranged like funny-looking ottomans spread across gravel.”
It’s essential to clarify that the purpose of showcasing landscapes like this isn’t to shame homeowners. Instead, our goal is to help you identify common problems and provide straightforward solutions to correct or prevent them in your landscaping projects.
So, using this landscape as an example, let’s look at the problems and later, focus on how to solve them:
1. Overcrowded Shrubs
It’s obvious that there are too many plants in this area and the mature size of the shrubs weren’t factored in the original design. The types of flowering shrubs in this area – desert ruellia(Ruellia peninsularis),Baja fairy duster(Calliandra californica), and ‘Green Cloud’ sage(Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’) are good choices. They are clearly spaced too closely together due to poor pruning.
2. Lack of Plant Diversity
As you can see, there is a tree, a couple of succulents (prickly pear cactus & yucca), and a LOT of shrubs. While there is a variety of plants in the landscape, there’s an overabundance of shrubs compared to other types. The landscape lacks a balanced mix of different plant types, resulting in an imbalance that affects its overall aesthetics.
3. Incorrectly Pruned Flowering Shrubs
These lovely, flowering shrubs are contorted into anonymous, green blobs. They lack in beauty and character. In fact, you would have to look closely to be able to identify what each shrub is. The problem is what is missing from this landscape. Primarily attractive shrubs which grow into their natural shapes, covered in colorful flowers. Other problems associated with maintaining flowering shrubs this way are that it is stressful for the plant, shortens their lifespan, causes them to use more water to regrow their leaves, and creates more maintenance.
Solutions: Correcting the Landscape
Now that we have identified the problems, we can now look at the solutions. I will use the landscape above as my example:
Remove excess shrubs. Remove 24 of the 32 shrubs. You will be then have eight flowering shrubs. To decide what shrubs to remove, learn what type of shrub they are and look up how large they are at maturity. Then, make sure that the ones that remain have enough room to grow. Place shrubs up near the house. This anchors the corners of the landscape, and flank an entry.
Severely prune back remaining shrubs. Many shrubs have a ‘restart button’ where much of the damage that has been done due to excessive pruning can be reversed. Severe renewal pruning entails pruning back shrubs to approximately 1 1/2 feet tall and wide in spring. You’ll have nothing left but woody branches and little to no leaves. However, this stimulates plants to produce new, healthy growth. Do this pruning in spring. The key is to keep hedge trimmers away from your newly pruned shrubs forever. Prune with hand pruners, loppers, and pruning saws. This will work with most shrubs except for a few that were in declining health.
Photo: Which one would you rather have? Learn how to maintain shrubs the right way in the desert garden in my popular shrub pruning workshop
Incorporate lower-growing plants such as groundcovers and succulents. A well-designed landscape has plants with varying heights, including those at ground level. For the landscape above, I’d add a few boulders and plant some gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) and twin-flower agave (Agave geminiflora) alongside them. Other ideas for low-growing succulents include ‘Blue Elf’ aloe, Moroccan mound, and artichoke agave. Flowering groundcovers would also look nice like angelita daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis), blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum), and sandpaper verbena (Glandularia rigida). I like to use damianita, trailing lantana, and penstemon for color at lower heights.
Photo: Attractive desert landscape with room for plants to grow
Achieving a Balanced and Beautiful Landscape
Here is a snapshot of a landscape area at the Desert Botanical Garden where plants have room to grow. They grow into their natural shape and form.
Transforming the problematic landscape shown earlier, and others like it aren’t difficult, and the results are dramatic. What a beautiful landscape filled with healthy plants that use less water and need little maintenance.
Are you tired of shapeless shrubs that look like green blobs? I invite you to learn more about how to prune the ‘right’ way. Attend my online Shrub Pruning Workshop.
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I have had a love affair with roses for over 26 years.
It all began when we bought our first house. I was a young mother with two girls who was giddy with the possibilities of having her very own spot of garden to grow roses in.
We would take our girls around to the local rose gardens where so could see what types of roses to pick for our new rose garden.
The rose garden was located in the front yard along the side of the driveway. At the time, money was tight so we ended up purchasing twenty different ‘grade 1 1/2’ roses for $3 each at Home Depot.
Exploring the World of Roses
‘Grade 1’ roses are considered to be the cream of the crop and the best type to purchase based on the their size and number of canes (stems).
A few months later, my roses were in full bloom and the talk of the neighborhood (we definitely stuck out from the surrounding neighbors since we had taken out a large chunk of lawn to grow a LOT of roses).
A Growing Rose Obsession
Many people ask if I had a favorite hybrid tea rose and the answer is “yes”. Mr. Lincoln with its deep red blossoms which were incredibly fragrant always stands out in my memory of our first rose garden. At one time, it reached almost 6 ft. tall and had over 30 blossoms covering it.
Three years later, I had gone from 20 rose bushes to 40 – all a different type of hybrid tea or shrub rose. I realize that I maybe went a little overboard, but I loved growing roses – no two roses were the same.
Roses Across Continents
Whenever we were traveling, if there was a rose garden nearby – we would visit it…
The rose garden at Kilkenny Castle in Ireland.
That’s me posing by the roses and the castle in 2003.
Santa Barbara Mission rose garden in California
Passing on the Love
After we sold our home in Phoenix, we moved out to the suburbs to be closer to my husband’s job. As we built our new home, I knew that I did want room for a few roses.
After adopting our three youngest kids, I was eager to share my love for roses with them. They each picked out their own rose from a rose catalog and helped plant them. It was a fun experience, complete with finding earthworms in the soil and more.
While their roses did grow, they didn’t have the best location, which was rather shady and so they turned out rather straggly. Needless to say, they were pulled out a couple of years later.
Captivating Rose Destinations
Even though I didn’t have roses growing in my garden, I still went out of my way to enjoy them whenever I found myself on the road.
International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon in 2015.
Stopping to smell the roses in Santa Barbara, CA in 2016.
A Rekindled Love Affair for Roses
A few years ago, I realized that my love affair with roses never ended and that it was time to think seriously about growing a few again.
Surprisingly, not a single one is a hybrid tea rose. In fact, all are David Austin shrub roses.
Shrub roses are easier to grow, more resistant to disease and insect pests and smell amazing!
One of the cool aspects of being a local garden expert is the the folks at David Austin send me free roses to test in my garden. In return, I tell them how they do in the desert climate and share my findings with you too!
‘Olivia Rose’ David Austin Shrub Rose
My favorites for the desert garden are ‘Ancient Mariner’, ‘Darcey Bussell’, ‘Lady of Sharlott” and ‘Olivia Rose’. All of these are available through mail order via this link.
Embracing the Rose Growing Passion
I am so happy that I have returned to growing the plant that inspired my passion for gardening years ago.
Winter is the best time to add new bare root roses to the desert garden. I invite you to consider adding some to your garden.
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Do you have parts of your backyard landscape that you would like to change? Perhaps you have areas you like in your garden. There are also plants you are tired of or are struggling to manage.
I want to show you what I did in my backyard, where I blended both old and new elements. First, a little history:
Balancing Old and New in a Backyard Landscape
Preserving What Works
I was fairly happy with the areas bordering the walls of the backyard. These areas have colorful shrubs such as Bougainvillea, Coral Fountain, and Yellow Bells.
Bid Farewell to the Dominant Lawn
We removed the large lawn that had dominated the center of my backyard space last year. We made the decision to replace the grass with a focus on plants that I love and that would blend well with the existing plants.
Creating a Harmonious Landscape
A New Focal Point
The focal point is a new flagstone seating area with Adirondack chairs arranged around a portable firepit. Around this area, boulders add height and texture. Angelita Daisy, Artichoke Agave, Blackfoot Daisy, and Pink Muhly grasses surround the seating area, which adds year-round color and texture.
In another area, a gentle mound stands planted with a ‘Bubba’ Desert Willow tree. Purple Trailing Lantana grows around the tree and will soon cover the entire mound in a mass of purple blooms.
Embracing Change and Growth
At this point, the new plants are still rather small. However, plants grow quickly in the desert climate and, in another year, will soon reach their mature size.
The Beauty of Seamless Integration
The result? A backyard landscape where the new and old will blend seamlessly together. I am delighted with how the finished product looks. It took me a long time to decide what to do with this area – it is so much easier to design someone else’s yard than your own.
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Do you like to use herbs to flavor your favorite dishes? If so, then you’ll want to try herb salt.
Unveiling Herb Salts – Nature’s Flavorful Blend
So what are herb salts, you may wonder?
They are a mix of the herb of your choice combined with kosher or sea salt and they add delicious flavor to food.
In short, they capture the fresh flavor of herbs and are used in place of regular salt.
Herb salts are easy to create and they make great gifts.
I like to make herb salts, which includes rosemary salt.
How to Make Rosemary Salt
Since I don’t have a rosemary shrub in my garden, I got some from my sister’s house. All it takes are a few fresh sprigs of rosemary cut from the shrub. (You can also use fresh rosemary from the grocery store).
Crafting Your Rosemary Salt
You will need 3 1/3 cups of kosher salt and 1/3 cup of fresh rosemary along with a jar to store it in.
1. Rinse the rosemary sprigs in water.
2. Remove the leaves, starting from the top downward.
3. Put the rosemary and salt in your food processor and pulse until the rosemary leaves are approximately 1/8 of an inch long.
4. Place the rosemary salt onto a baking sheet and put in an oven that is heated to 200 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Let the herb salt cool and then put in jars with a lid.
That’s it! I told you it was easy.
Savoring the Rosemary Salt
Rosemary salt tastes great on your favorite meat dish including beef, chicken or pork. I also like to sprinkle it on the top of buttered rolls – yum!
Exploring Herb Varieties for Herb Salt
While rosemary salt is delicious, it is just the beginning – there are other herbs that can be used to make herb salt.
Basil Salt
Basil salt is a great flavoring for Italian dishes such as marinara sauce or sprinkled on pizza.
If you love cilantro, how about a sprinkle of cilantro salt on your favorite Mexican dish?
Cilantro is one of those herbs that many people can’t get enough of. Click here for instructions to make your own cilantro salt.
A Tasty Gift-Giving Idea
Whether you choose to cultivate these flavorful herbs in your very own garden, peruse the vibrant offerings at your local farmers market, or simply pick them up during a routine grocery store visit, you’ll find that herb salts are an exquisite and versatile addition to your culinary arsenal. Their delightful blend of herbs and salt can transform everyday meals into gourmet experiences, elevating your cooking to new heights.
Moreover, consider the pleasure of sharing these homemade herb salts with fellow food enthusiasts in your life. As thoughtful, handcrafted gifts, they’re perfect for the ‘foodie’ who values the art of gastronomy. Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or a simple gesture of appreciation, presenting a jar of herb salt infused with your love and culinary creativity adds a personal touch that’s sure to be savored. So, explore the world of herb salts, and let their aromatic, flavorful essence enhance your dishes and brighten the palates of those you cherish.
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Do you love the beauty of bougainvillea? Many of us will agree that bougainvillea is beautiful, but many homeowners hesitate to grow them for a variety of reasons. The most common that I hear is that they get too big and as a result, too messy.
Embracing Bougainvillea: Maximizing Beauty while Minimizing Hassle in Containers
While both statements are certainly true, wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the captivating and vibrant beauty of bougainvillea in a more controlled manner? One can find great satisfaction in discovering how to strategically grow bougainvillea, harnessing its enchanting colors and delicate blooms while mitigating the challenges associated with its exuberant growth and occasional unruliness.
Thriving in Harsh Desert Summers: Consider Growing Bougainvillea
Let’s face it; summers in the desert can be brutal and bougainvillea are one of the lush green, flowering shrubs that thrive in intense heat and sun. So, why not consider adding one in a high-profile area where you can enjoy their beauty throughout the warm season?
Grab my FREE guide for Fuss-Free Plants that thrive in a hot, dry climate!
The Advantage of Potted Bougainvillea: Small Size, Less Mess
Growing bougainvillea in pots limits their overall size, and with smaller shrubs, there is less mess. It also makes it easier to protect them from frost damage in winter by moving the container to a sheltered location, such as underneath a patio or covering them with a sheet.
Bougainvillea make excellent container plants. In fact, many gardeners who live in cold climates, only grow them in pots and move them indoors in winter. I met a gardener in Austin, Texas who treats bougainvillea like an annual plant, planting a new one every year to replace the old one lost to winter cold. Thankfully, we don’t need to do add a new one every year.
Simple Steps to Cultivating Bougainvillea in Pots
Growing bougainvillea in pots is easy to do. Select a location in full sun where it will promote the most bloom. Bougainvillea are one of the few flowering plants that can handle west-facing exposures.
Nurturing and Feeding Your Potted Bougainvillea for Optimal Growth
Provide support for them to grow upward if desired. You can also grow bougainvillea as more of a compact shrub form if you wish.
Water deeply and allow the top 2 inches to dry out before watering again. Bougainvillea does best when the soil is allowed to dry out between watering.
Apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring, after the danger of frost is passed. You’ll want to reapply fertilizer every three months until September.
Winter Care and Final Thoughts: Flourish with Potted Bougainvillea
Growing bougainvillea in pots keeps them small enough to make it feasible to cover them when freezing temperatures occur. So, if you like container gardening, consider growing bougainvillea in a pot for great success.
Let’s face it. Hot summers are not surprising to desert dwellers. In fact, a typical desert garden with native and desert-adapted plants will weather intense heat with little fuss.
However, this summer has been one for the books and I’ve seen signs of heat-stress that I’ve never seen before. And yes, within my own garden.
Heat-stressed Rock Penstemon and Golden Barrel Cactus
I must admit that it’s been hard to see certain plants struggling in my desert garden and I know you may have similar feelings. So, why has this summer been so much more difficult than others?
Pink Trumpet Vine partially defoliated due to the heat
While it is normal to have several days above 110 degrees F., the summer of 2020 is one for the record books. We have experienced not just a couple of stretches of above-normal temps but, several long spans of infernal heat. Damage to plants is often cumulative. This means that the more days of above-average (or below-average) temperatures – the higher incidence of reaction from plants.
Take a walk outside in your garden. You will likely notice some plants that are yellowing, wilting, or have given up and died. However, you may also note that there are some that are doing well.
Why is that? Let me show you some examples from my own garden – the good AND the ugly.
Let’s start with the ugly:
New Mexican Fence Post cactus transplants
In March, much of my backyard was renovated. This included the addition of two separate plantings of Mexican Fence Post cacti. They are located along my back wall and as you can see, one is doing very well while the other makes me cringe when I see the yellowing.
Does the yellowing cactus need more or less water? No. Many succulents yellow in response to summer heat. Of course, this very hot summer has made it more severe. So, why the difference between the two?
The one on the left gets filtered shade in the afternoon from a nearby Palo Verde tree. You can tell that the one on the right doesn’t get any shade but full afternoon sun. In a normal summer, it would be normal to see some yellowing that will return to green once temperatures cool. I am hopeful that will happen. As plants age, they tend to handle heat stress better and as these are young, the stress was especially severe.
Signs of heat stress
In another area of my garden, I have Green Desert Spoon and Hardy Spineless Prickly Pear, which are very heat-adapted. Yet, they do show signs of mild heat-stress that I haven’t seen before. But, they will green back up in fall. Other plants that are struggling include Artichoke Agave, Gopher Plant, and Shrubby Germander.
I am thrilled that my young Desert Willow tree in this photo is thriving despite the heat. I have four others scattered throughout my landscape and all are doing just as well.
Here are some of the good:
Young Baja Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis) doing very well. The neighbor’s Dwarf Myrtle isn’t.
‘Sparky’ Tecoma shrub (Tecoma ‘Sparky’)
Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). Will soon burst forth in burgundy plumes in fall.
Gold Lantana in full sun all day
Feathery Cassia, Purple Trailing Lantana, and Yellow Bell shrubs are also doing well.
Here are a couple of exceptional performers that get full, reflected sun:
‘Rio Bravo’ Texas Sage
Bougainvillea
There are still six weeks of summer heat ahead of us. So, what should we do for now?
Be sure plants are receiving enough water. You may need to increase the frequency when temps are above 110 degrees.
Don’t fertilize. Feeding plants simply makes them work harder to produce new growth when all they are trying to do is deal with the heat.
Don’t prune away heat-damaged growth until September. While brown leaves are ugly, they are protecting the interior of the plant. Some pruning is recommended in mid-September, which I teach in my Shrub Pruning Workshop.
We don’t know if this summer will be an anomaly or the beginning of a new normal. But, instead of throwing in the towel, I invite you to do the following instead:
Take a stroll through your garden and take note of which plants are doing well and those that aren’t. If this is to be the new norm, it would be a good idea to add more of those that handle the heat well.
I am not going to make any major changes in my own garden. Most of my plants have done just fine in past summers. I’ll replace the few plants that died but am hopeful that next summer will be one with average temperatures. If not, then I know what plants have withstood the heat best.
Before we know it, fall will be here, and I for one, can’t wait!
https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/desert-garden-summer.jpg480640arizonaplantlady@gmail.comhttp://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/favicon.pngarizonaplantlady@gmail.com2020-08-19 20:44:582020-12-13 04:09:06Lessons From a Heat-Stressed Desert Garden
I have a shocking confession to make… Believe it or not, I’m relatively new to growing houseplants.
Yep, it’s true.
As a horticulturist, I’ve focused my career almost solely on outdoor plants with only the occasional foray into growing a houseplant or two. To be honest, I was almost embarrassed to admit that I didn’t have a house filled with plants.
However, with my life being so altered with Covid-19 and spending a lot more time at home, I’ve decided to change a few things. For one, I’m cooking more, creating more online gardening classes, and adding some houseplants to the inside of my home.
You may have seen a lot more interest in houseplants lately. Honestly, they have exploded in popularity and with good reason. People like the idea of being a ‘plant parent’ while enjoying the beauty and air-cleaning benefits of growing plants indoors.
There are countless different types of plants suitable for growing indoors.
Quite frankly, I am ready to embark on a new gardening adventure and I’m going to share it with you. To help me with my ‘plant parent’ journey, I visited Lora at Pink Moon Botanicals, located in North Scottsdale, AZ. This boutique houseplant nursery is located within Lora’s hair salon.
The shelves are lined with a healthy variety of houseplants in different sizes suitable for variety of growing conditions. Lora, is simply wonderful and provided me with helpful tips as to how to raise my new plant.
Lora chose a lovely Philodendron ‘Birkin’, which will thrive in the moderate light that hits my kitchen table.
It’s important to select a plant based on the light exposure available in your home – much like we do for outdoor plants. So, look at what areas you want to add a houseplant and see what type of light is available. There are low, moderate, and high light conditions within most interiors.
Low light
No bright light available.
Moderate light
Bright light, but no direct sun.
Sunny light
Area with direct sun for at least part of the day There are many houseplants able to do well within each different light situation. If you have a particularly dark space where you want a plant, look into adding artificial lighting.
*Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
To help me on my houseplant journey, I read the fabulous NEW book, “Houseplant Party” by Lisa Steinkopf. This book is available to pre-order, at the time of me writing this post. I received a free copy to review. Lisa breaks down how to grow houseplants into simple steps and lists her favorites.
She also shows how to create fun projects to highlight the houseplants in your home. One project I may do is to create wooden frames so I can hang houseplants on my walls. I enjoy exploring new things and am excited about gradually expanding my houseplant collection.
However, I think I’m off to a great start with my Philodendron ‘Birkin’, don’t you? Do you have a favorite houseplant or have any tips you’d like to share? Share it with me on Instagram and tag me @az.plant.lady – I’d love to see them!
https://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/houseplants_arizona_pink_moon_botanicals-003.jpg640417arizonaplantlady@gmail.comhttp://www.azplantlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/favicon.pngarizonaplantlady@gmail.com2020-07-29 12:12:392020-12-13 04:30:55Dipping My Toes Into the Wonderful World of Houseplants
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Mini Christmas Trees? More Bad Pruning…
AZ Plant Lady, PruningLast week, as my husband and I, were pulling out of our local Home Depot when I saw what looked like mini Christmas trees throughout the parking lot islands.
mini Christmas trees
I grabbed my cell phone and took a picture of these funny-shaped plants.
Do you want to know what they are?
No. They aren’t Christmas trees…
Those cone-shaped plants are in reality badly pruned Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses.
These are my favorite ornamental grasses for the desert climate and although they are badly pruned, they did get some things right.
– For one, Pink Muhly is a great plant for parking lot islands as they can handle full sun.
– In addition, they were pruned at the right time of year.
Just not the right way…
Pink Muhly grasses should be pruned back to 3 inches in height, straight across when the last frost date has passed. In the Phoenix area, where I live, that is early March.
Believe it or not, pruning them the correct way is easier than making them cone-shaped and once the warmer temperatures of spring arrive, these beautiful ornamental grasses will leaf out again.
Once fall arrives, they produce lovely, burgundy plumes…
In winter, the plumes will fade and become straw colored, which adds a nice touch of wintery color.
The Pink Muhly grasses, below, weren’t pruned the right way either.
They resemble rounded balls and weren’t cut back enough. But, they look much better than the mini Christmas tree-shaped ones. Don’t you think?
I love these grasses and have planted them in many areas, including along golf courses, churches, and other common areas. And, I just recently planted them in my backyard around my flagstone seating area.
Shrubs Aren’t Meant To Be Cupcakes, Frisbees, or Pill Boxes
Arizona garden, AZ Plant Lady, AZ Plant Lady Classes, California desert garden, desert gardening, Landscape No-No, Las Vegas gardening, Nevada garden, Pruning, ShrubsThe Pitfalls of Improper Pruning: A Tale of Flowering Shrubs
Flowering Shrubs need pruning, but how they are pruned makes such a difference. Aren’t these shrubs beautiful?
Texas Sage ‘Green Cloud’ (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’)
Texas Sage ‘Green Cloud’ (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’)
Thunder Cloud Sage (Leucophyllum candidum ‘Thunder Cloud’)
Thunder Cloud Sage (Leucophyllum candidum ‘Thunder Cloud’)
Rio Bravo’ Sage (Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Rio Bravo’)
‘Rio Bravo’ Sage (Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Rio Bravo’)
You would think that the beauty of these shrubs, in flower, would be enough for people to stop pruning them into absurd shapes, but sadly, this is not the case. In the Desert Southwest, there is an epidemic of truly horrible pruning that affects not only Texas Sage (Leucophyllum species), but also Cassia (Senna species), Fairy Duster (Calliandra species), and even Oleander.
The Consequences of Excessive Pruning
Unsurprisingly, excessive pruning like this is NOT healthy for shrubs and it strips them of their beauty.
The ‘Frisbee’ Phenomenon
You don’t have to go far to see these sad shrubs. All you need to do is drive down the street as I did…
Okay, it should be rather obvious, but I will say it just the same, “Do not prune your shrubs into the shape of a ‘frisbee’.
The ‘Pillbox’ Pruning
I kept driving and found even more examples of truly awful pruning. Sadly, all are within a 5-minute drive of my house.
I call this ‘pillbox’ pruning. These Texas Sage & Cassia shrubs were located across the street from the ‘frisbee’ shrubs.
An attempt at creating a ‘sculpture’? Texas Sage ‘Green Cloud’ (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’)
A second attempt at creating a sculpture?
Let’s get real. Shrubs pruned this way does nothing to add beauty to the landscape. And, when pruned this way, they cost more, take more time, and use more water – it’s true!
‘Cupcake’ Pruning: An Unappetizing Approach
Now on to some of my favorite ‘cupcake’ examples:
An entire line of ‘cupcakes’. ‘White Cloud’ Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘White Cloud’)
Do you think they use a ‘level’ to make the tops perfectly flat? I honestly wouldn’t put it past them.
You can see the dead area on the top, which is caused from this shrub being sheared repeatedly.
This dead growth is caused by lack of sunlight. Repeated shearing (hedge-trimming) keeps sunlight from reaching the interior of the shrub. As a result, branches begin to die.
After driving around for a while, I drove toward home when I saw the saddest ones of all…
Flowering Shrubs Need Pruning, but these are Disappointing
Now if you look closely, you can see a light layer of gray-green leaves, which really don’t begin to cover the ugly, dense branching that has been caused by years of repeated shearing.
I actually like topiary, but not when done to a Texas Sage. Some people prune up their shrubs so that they can clean up the leaves underneath more easily.
The Goal Should be to Prune with Purpose
Now, I am not against formal pruning, when performed on the right plants. But, it is not attractive when done on flowering, desert plants and it is also unhealthy for the shrubs themselves and contributes to their early death in many cases. Add to that the fact that it greatly increases your maintenance costs due to repeated pruning and having to replace them more frequently.
Now if you have shrubs that look like any of these pruning disasters, don’t panic! They can be fixed in most cases.
Now, why would anyone want to remove the flower buds from your shrubs by shearing, when you can have flowers like this?
Join the ‘Cupcake-Free’ Movement
If you are tired of unnaturally shaped shrubs in your landscape, I understand. Believe it or not, most flowering shrubs need pruning once or twice a year at most – and NOT the type of pruning into weird shapes. I find it ironic that your yard will look better when you do less.
So, if you are wanting to declare your landscape a ‘cupcake-free’ zone, I have something I think you’re gonna love. I invite you to check out my popular online shrub pruning workshop where I teach you how to maintain flowering shrubs by pruning twice a year or less. Hundreds of students have taken the course and are reaping the rewards of a beautiful outdoor space filled with colorful shrubs at a fraction of the work.
Are you ready to break out of the cycle of green blobs?
DIY Natural Household Cleaner From Citrus Peels
Arizona garden, Citrus, DIY, Fruit TreesHousehold Cleaners
Do you like the idea of using household cleaners that are natural? I do. Especially after I noticed a build-up of ‘blue’ cleaning product in the small crevices of my bathroom counters.
So, I decided to focus on using natural cleaners using something straight from my garden – citrus!
Did you know that citrus (all kinds) have natural cleaning properties? It does. Citrus cleaner smells great, cleans well and I feel great using something that I grew.
Introduction to Household Cleaners
Creating your own all-natural household cleaner using leftover citrus peels and vinegar is not only environmentally friendly but also highly effective. Citrus fruits like grapefruit, lemon, and oranges possess natural disinfecting properties, making them excellent ingredients for homemade cleaners. This DIY citrus cleaner is a fantastic way to put your citrus peels to good use while avoiding the harsh chemicals found in many commercial cleaners.
Harnessing the Power of Citrus
Many commercial cleaners incorporate lemon or orange for a reason – citrus fruits naturally disinfect and can help remove stains and mineral deposits. By making your own citrus cleaner, you’re taking advantage of these natural cleaning properties while reducing waste.
Crafting Your Homemade Citrus Cleaner
Gathering Ingredients and Supplies
To get started, you’ll need a few simple ingredients and supplies:
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to create your homemade citrus cleaner:
Versatile and Cost-Effective Cleaning
Your homemade citrus cleaner is now ready for use as an all-purpose cleaner on various surfaces, including floors, stovetops, appliances, and glass. It’s effective and budget-friendly. However, please avoid using it on marble or granite countertops, as the vinegar could potentially damage them.
Tip: Stock Up on Citrus Peels
If you don’t have enough citrus peels initially, consider freezing them until you accumulate a sufficient quantity to fill a jar.
*Optional: For a customized fragrance, add herbs like rosemary or mint, or incorporate essential oils to enhance the scent of your homemade citrus cleaner.
Crafting a Disinfecting Citrus Cleaner
For those seeking a quicker disinfecting solution, follow these steps:
Embrace DIY for a Greener Home
Crafting your homemade citrus cleaner not only creates an eco-friendly product but also reduces waste, utilizing items like citrus peels that might otherwise end up in the trash. Discover the benefits of natural cleaning with this simple and effective DIY project for your home.
So, if you have a tree filled with citrus, or even if you have to buy some at the grocery store – this cleaner is well worth it!
Shrubs Aren’t Meant To Be Cupcakes, Frisbees, or Pill Boxes
Landscape No-No’s and How to Fix Them: Over Planted, Poodle Pruned Shrubs and Lack of Variety
Cactus/Succulents, desert, desert gardening, Horticulturist, Landscape No-No, Landscape Problems, Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting, Shrubs, Southwest gardenPhoto: Landscape No-No
Addressing Issues in Landscaping: A Guide to Pruned Shrubs
Have you ever driven past a landscape that had some problems with it? As a horticulturist and landscape consultant, my attention diverts whenever I see ‘Landscape No-No’s’ like this one. In this article, we’ll examine a landscape example and highlight the problems it presents.
Introduction: Identifying Landscape Problems
A while ago, I shared the photo of the landscape, above, on my Facebook page and invited people to identify three things wrong with the landscape. I received a lot of comments including “looks like Versailles by the inept” and “shrubs arranged like funny-looking ottomans spread across gravel.”
It’s essential to clarify that the purpose of showcasing landscapes like this isn’t to shame homeowners. Instead, our goal is to help you identify common problems and provide straightforward solutions to correct or prevent them in your landscaping projects.
So, using this landscape as an example, let’s look at the problems and later, focus on how to solve them:
1. Overcrowded Shrubs
It’s obvious that there are too many plants in this area and the mature size of the shrubs weren’t factored in the original design. The types of flowering shrubs in this area – desert ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis), Baja fairy duster (Calliandra californica), and ‘Green Cloud’ sage (Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’) are good choices. They are clearly spaced too closely together due to poor pruning.
2. Lack of Plant Diversity
As you can see, there is a tree, a couple of succulents (prickly pear cactus & yucca), and a LOT of shrubs. While there is a variety of plants in the landscape, there’s an overabundance of shrubs compared to other types. The landscape lacks a balanced mix of different plant types, resulting in an imbalance that affects its overall aesthetics.
3. Incorrectly Pruned Flowering Shrubs
These lovely, flowering shrubs are contorted into anonymous, green blobs. They lack in beauty and character. In fact, you would have to look closely to be able to identify what each shrub is. The problem is what is missing from this landscape. Primarily attractive shrubs which grow into their natural shapes, covered in colorful flowers. Other problems associated with maintaining flowering shrubs this way are that it is stressful for the plant, shortens their lifespan, causes them to use more water to regrow their leaves, and creates more maintenance.
Solutions: Correcting the Landscape
Now that we have identified the problems, we can now look at the solutions. I will use the landscape above as my example:
Photo: Which one would you rather have? Learn how to maintain shrubs the right way in the desert garden in my popular shrub pruning workshop
Photo: Attractive desert landscape with room for plants to grow
Achieving a Balanced and Beautiful Landscape
Here is a snapshot of a landscape area at the Desert Botanical Garden where plants have room to grow. They grow into their natural shape and form.
Transforming the problematic landscape shown earlier, and others like it aren’t difficult, and the results are dramatic. What a beautiful landscape filled with healthy plants that use less water and need little maintenance.
Are you tired of shapeless shrubs that look like green blobs? I invite you to learn more about how to prune the ‘right’ way. Attend my online Shrub Pruning Workshop.
DIY Natural Household Cleaner From Citrus Peels
My Love Affair With Roses: Looking Forward and Back
Arizona, CaliforniaIntroduction to a Passion
I have had a love affair with roses for over 26 years.
It all began when we bought our first house. I was a young mother with two girls who was giddy with the possibilities of having her very own spot of garden to grow roses in.
We would take our girls around to the local rose gardens where so could see what types of roses to pick for our new rose garden.
The rose garden was located in the front yard along the side of the driveway. At the time, money was tight so we ended up purchasing twenty different ‘grade 1 1/2’ roses for $3 each at Home Depot.
Exploring the World of Roses
‘Grade 1’ roses are considered to be the cream of the crop and the best type to purchase based on the their size and number of canes (stems).
A few months later, my roses were in full bloom and the talk of the neighborhood (we definitely stuck out from the surrounding neighbors since we had taken out a large chunk of lawn to grow a LOT of roses).
A Growing Rose Obsession
Many people ask if I had a favorite hybrid tea rose and the answer is “yes”. Mr. Lincoln with its deep red blossoms which were incredibly fragrant always stands out in my memory of our first rose garden. At one time, it reached almost 6 ft. tall and had over 30 blossoms covering it.
Three years later, I had gone from 20 rose bushes to 40 – all a different type of hybrid tea or shrub rose. I realize that I maybe went a little overboard, but I loved growing roses – no two roses were the same.
Roses Across Continents
Whenever we were traveling, if there was a rose garden nearby – we would visit it…
The rose garden at Kilkenny Castle in Ireland.
That’s me posing by the roses and the castle in 2003.
Santa Barbara Mission rose garden in California
Passing on the Love
After we sold our home in Phoenix, we moved out to the suburbs to be closer to my husband’s job. As we built our new home, I knew that I did want room for a few roses.
After adopting our three youngest kids, I was eager to share my love for roses with them. They each picked out their own rose from a rose catalog and helped plant them. It was a fun experience, complete with finding earthworms in the soil and more.
While their roses did grow, they didn’t have the best location, which was rather shady and so they turned out rather straggly. Needless to say, they were pulled out a couple of years later.
Captivating Rose Destinations
Even though I didn’t have roses growing in my garden, I still went out of my way to enjoy them whenever I found myself on the road.
International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon in 2015.
Stopping to smell the roses in Santa Barbara, CA in 2016.
A Rekindled Love Affair for Roses
A few years ago, I realized that my love affair with roses never ended and that it was time to think seriously about growing a few again.
Surprisingly, not a single one is a hybrid tea rose. In fact, all are David Austin shrub roses.
Shrub roses are easier to grow, more resistant to disease and insect pests and smell amazing!
One of the cool aspects of being a local garden expert is the the folks at David Austin send me free roses to test in my garden. In return, I tell them how they do in the desert climate and share my findings with you too!
My favorites for the desert garden are ‘Ancient Mariner’, ‘Darcey Bussell’, ‘Lady of Sharlott” and ‘Olivia Rose’. All of these are available through mail order via this link.
Embracing the Rose Growing Passion
I am so happy that I have returned to growing the plant that inspired my passion for gardening years ago.
Winter is the best time to add new bare root roses to the desert garden. I invite you to consider adding some to your garden.
What Kind of Roses Should You Grow?
Old and New Blend Together in a Backyard Landscape
AZ Plant Lady, desert gardening, Ground Covers, Landscape Design, Shrubs, Southwest gardenRevamping Your Backyard Landscape
Assessing the Need for Change
Do you have parts of your backyard landscape that you would like to change? Perhaps you have areas you like in your garden. There are also plants you are tired of or are struggling to manage.
I want to show you what I did in my backyard, where I blended both old and new elements. First, a little history:
Balancing Old and New in a Backyard Landscape
Preserving What Works
I was fairly happy with the areas bordering the walls of the backyard. These areas have colorful shrubs such as Bougainvillea, Coral Fountain, and Yellow Bells.
Bid Farewell to the Dominant Lawn
We removed the large lawn that had dominated the center of my backyard space last year. We made the decision to replace the grass with a focus on plants that I love and that would blend well with the existing plants.
Creating a Harmonious Landscape
A New Focal Point
The focal point is a new flagstone seating area with Adirondack chairs arranged around a portable firepit. Around this area, boulders add height and texture. Angelita Daisy, Artichoke Agave, Blackfoot Daisy, and Pink Muhly grasses surround the seating area, which adds year-round color and texture.
In another area, a gentle mound stands planted with a ‘Bubba’ Desert Willow tree. Purple Trailing Lantana grows around the tree and will soon cover the entire mound in a mass of purple blooms.
Embracing Change and Growth
At this point, the new plants are still rather small. However, plants grow quickly in the desert climate and, in another year, will soon reach their mature size.
The Beauty of Seamless Integration
The result? A backyard landscape where the new and old will blend seamlessly together. I am delighted with how the finished product looks. It took me a long time to decide what to do with this area – it is so much easier to design someone else’s yard than your own.
Stay Tuned for more Transformations:
Progress! One-Year Post Desert Landscape Renovation
DIY Rosemary Herb Salt
DIY, herb gardening, Recipes From the Vegetable GardenElevate Your Culinary Creations with Herb Salt
Do you like to use herbs to flavor your favorite dishes? If so, then you’ll want to try herb salt.
Unveiling Herb Salts – Nature’s Flavorful Blend
So what are herb salts, you may wonder?
They are a mix of the herb of your choice combined with kosher or sea salt and they add delicious flavor to food.
In short, they capture the fresh flavor of herbs and are used in place of regular salt.
Herb salts are easy to create and they make great gifts.
I like to make herb salts, which includes rosemary salt.
How to Make Rosemary Salt
Since I don’t have a rosemary shrub in my garden, I got some from my sister’s house. All it takes are a few fresh sprigs of rosemary cut from the shrub. (You can also use fresh rosemary from the grocery store).
Crafting Your Rosemary Salt
You will need 3 1/3 cups of kosher salt and 1/3 cup of fresh rosemary along with a jar to store it in.
1. Rinse the rosemary sprigs in water.
2. Remove the leaves, starting from the top downward.
3. Put the rosemary and salt in your food processor and pulse until the rosemary leaves are approximately 1/8 of an inch long.
4. Place the rosemary salt onto a baking sheet and put in an oven that is heated to 200 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Let the herb salt cool and then put in jars with a lid.
That’s it! I told you it was easy.
Savoring the Rosemary Salt
Rosemary salt tastes great on your favorite meat dish including beef, chicken or pork. I also like to sprinkle it on the top of buttered rolls – yum!
Exploring Herb Varieties for Herb Salt
While rosemary salt is delicious, it is just the beginning – there are other herbs that can be used to make herb salt.
Basil Salt
Basil salt is a great flavoring for Italian dishes such as marinara sauce or sprinkled on pizza.
To learn how to make basil salt, click here.
Cilantro Salt
If you love cilantro, how about a sprinkle of cilantro salt on your favorite Mexican dish?
Cilantro is one of those herbs that many people can’t get enough of. Click here for instructions to make your own cilantro salt.
A Tasty Gift-Giving Idea
Whether you choose to cultivate these flavorful herbs in your very own garden, peruse the vibrant offerings at your local farmers market, or simply pick them up during a routine grocery store visit, you’ll find that herb salts are an exquisite and versatile addition to your culinary arsenal. Their delightful blend of herbs and salt can transform everyday meals into gourmet experiences, elevating your cooking to new heights.
Moreover, consider the pleasure of sharing these homemade herb salts with fellow food enthusiasts in your life. As thoughtful, handcrafted gifts, they’re perfect for the ‘foodie’ who values the art of gastronomy. Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or a simple gesture of appreciation, presenting a jar of herb salt infused with your love and culinary creativity adds a personal touch that’s sure to be savored. So, explore the world of herb salts, and let their aromatic, flavorful essence enhance your dishes and brighten the palates of those you cherish.
Container Gardening: Growing Bougainvillea in Pots
Arizona garden, Containers, desert gardening, Drought Tolerant, Shrubs, Southwest gardenDo you love the beauty of bougainvillea? Many of us will agree that bougainvillea is beautiful, but many homeowners hesitate to grow them for a variety of reasons. The most common that I hear is that they get too big and as a result, too messy.
Embracing Bougainvillea: Maximizing Beauty while Minimizing Hassle in Containers
While both statements are certainly true, wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the captivating and vibrant beauty of bougainvillea in a more controlled manner? One can find great satisfaction in discovering how to strategically grow bougainvillea, harnessing its enchanting colors and delicate blooms while mitigating the challenges associated with its exuberant growth and occasional unruliness.
Thriving in Harsh Desert Summers: Consider Growing Bougainvillea
Let’s face it; summers in the desert can be brutal and bougainvillea are one of the lush green, flowering shrubs that thrive in intense heat and sun. So, why not consider adding one in a high-profile area where you can enjoy their beauty throughout the warm season?
The Advantage of Potted Bougainvillea: Small Size, Less Mess
Growing bougainvillea in pots limits their overall size, and with smaller shrubs, there is less mess. It also makes it easier to protect them from frost damage in winter by moving the container to a sheltered location, such as underneath a patio or covering them with a sheet.
Mastering Bougainvillea Growth: Container Planting Insights
Bougainvillea make excellent container plants. In fact, many gardeners who live in cold climates, only grow them in pots and move them indoors in winter. I met a gardener in Austin, Texas who treats bougainvillea like an annual plant, planting a new one every year to replace the old one lost to winter cold. Thankfully, we don’t need to do add a new one every year.
Simple Steps to Cultivating Bougainvillea in Pots
Growing bougainvillea in pots is easy to do. Select a location in full sun where it will promote the most bloom. Bougainvillea are one of the few flowering plants that can handle west-facing exposures.
Nurturing and Feeding Your Potted Bougainvillea for Optimal Growth
Provide support for them to grow upward if desired. You can also grow bougainvillea as more of a compact shrub form if you wish.
Water deeply and allow the top 2 inches to dry out before watering again. Bougainvillea does best when the soil is allowed to dry out between watering.
Apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring, after the danger of frost is passed. You’ll want to reapply fertilizer every three months until September.
Winter Care and Final Thoughts: Flourish with Potted Bougainvillea
Growing bougainvillea in pots keeps them small enough to make it feasible to cover them when freezing temperatures occur. So, if you like container gardening, consider growing bougainvillea in a pot for great success.
Creative Container Gardening Tips
Lessons From a Heat-Stressed Desert Garden
Agave, Arizona garden, Cactus/Succulents, California desert garden, desert gardening, Ground Covers, Landscape Problems, Nevada garden, Shrubs, Southwest garden, Succulent Gardening, TreesLet’s face it. Hot summers are not surprising to desert dwellers. In fact, a typical desert garden with native and desert-adapted plants will weather intense heat with little fuss.
However, this summer has been one for the books and I’ve seen signs of heat-stress that I’ve never seen before. And yes, within my own garden.
Heat-stressed Rock Penstemon and Golden Barrel Cactus
I must admit that it’s been hard to see certain plants struggling in my desert garden and I know you may have similar feelings. So, why has this summer been so much more difficult than others?
Pink Trumpet Vine partially defoliated due to the heat
While it is normal to have several days above 110 degrees F., the summer of 2020 is one for the record books. We have experienced not just a couple of stretches of above-normal temps but, several long spans of infernal heat. Damage to plants is often cumulative. This means that the more days of above-average (or below-average) temperatures – the higher incidence of reaction from plants.
Take a walk outside in your garden. You will likely notice some plants that are yellowing, wilting, or have given up and died. However, you may also note that there are some that are doing well.
Why is that? Let me show you some examples from my own garden – the good AND the ugly.
Let’s start with the ugly:
New Mexican Fence Post cactus transplants
In March, much of my backyard was renovated. This included the addition of two separate plantings of Mexican Fence Post cacti. They are located along my back wall and as you can see, one is doing very well while the other makes me cringe when I see the yellowing.
Does the yellowing cactus need more or less water? No. Many succulents yellow in response to summer heat. Of course, this very hot summer has made it more severe. So, why the difference between the two?
The one on the left gets filtered shade in the afternoon from a nearby Palo Verde tree. You can tell that the one on the right doesn’t get any shade but full afternoon sun. In a normal summer, it would be normal to see some yellowing that will return to green once temperatures cool. I am hopeful that will happen. As plants age, they tend to handle heat stress better and as these are young, the stress was especially severe.
Signs of heat stress
In another area of my garden, I have Green Desert Spoon and Hardy Spineless Prickly Pear, which are very heat-adapted. Yet, they do show signs of mild heat-stress that I haven’t seen before. But, they will green back up in fall. Other plants that are struggling include Artichoke Agave, Gopher Plant, and Shrubby Germander.
I am thrilled that my young Desert Willow tree in this photo is thriving despite the heat. I have four others scattered throughout my landscape and all are doing just as well.
Here are some of the good:
Young Baja Ruellia (Ruellia peninsularis) doing very well. The neighbor’s Dwarf Myrtle isn’t.
‘Sparky’ Tecoma shrub (Tecoma ‘Sparky’)
Pink Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). Will soon burst forth in burgundy plumes in fall.
Gold Lantana in full sun all day
Feathery Cassia, Purple Trailing Lantana, and Yellow Bell shrubs are also doing well.
Here are a couple of exceptional performers that get full, reflected sun:
‘Rio Bravo’ Texas Sage
Bougainvillea
There are still six weeks of summer heat ahead of us. So, what should we do for now?
We don’t know if this summer will be an anomaly or the beginning of a new normal. But, instead of throwing in the towel, I invite you to do the following instead:
Take a stroll through your garden and take note of which plants are doing well and those that aren’t. If this is to be the new norm, it would be a good idea to add more of those that handle the heat well.
I am not going to make any major changes in my own garden. Most of my plants have done just fine in past summers. I’ll replace the few plants that died but am hopeful that next summer will be one with average temperatures. If not, then I know what plants have withstood the heat best.
Before we know it, fall will be here, and I for one, can’t wait!
Gorgeous Germander for Desert Gardens
Dipping My Toes Into the Wonderful World of Houseplants
Book Review, HouseplantsI have a shocking confession to make… Believe it or not, I’m relatively new to growing houseplants.
Yep, it’s true.
As a horticulturist, I’ve focused my career almost solely on outdoor plants with only the occasional foray into growing a houseplant or two. To be honest, I was almost embarrassed to admit that I didn’t have a house filled with plants.
However, with my life being so altered with Covid-19 and spending a lot more time at home, I’ve decided to change a few things. For one, I’m cooking more, creating more online gardening classes, and adding some houseplants to the inside of my home.
You may have seen a lot more interest in houseplants lately. Honestly, they have exploded in popularity and with good reason. People like the idea of being a ‘plant parent’ while enjoying the beauty and air-cleaning benefits of growing plants indoors.
There are countless different types of plants suitable for growing indoors.
Quite frankly, I am ready to embark on a new gardening adventure and I’m going to share it with you. To help me with my ‘plant parent’ journey, I visited Lora at Pink Moon Botanicals, located in North Scottsdale, AZ. This boutique houseplant nursery is located within Lora’s hair salon.
The shelves are lined with a healthy variety of houseplants in different sizes suitable for variety of growing conditions. Lora, is simply wonderful and provided me with helpful tips as to how to raise my new plant.
Lora chose a lovely Philodendron ‘Birkin’, which will thrive in the moderate light that hits my kitchen table.
It’s important to select a plant based on the light exposure available in your home – much like we do for outdoor plants. So, look at what areas you want to add a houseplant and see what type of light is available. There are low, moderate, and high light conditions within most interiors.
Low light
No bright light available.
Moderate light
Bright light, but no direct sun.
Sunny light
Area with direct sun for at least part of the day There are many houseplants able to do well within each different light situation. If you have a particularly dark space where you want a plant, look into adding artificial lighting.
*Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
To help me on my houseplant journey, I read the fabulous NEW book, “Houseplant Party” by Lisa Steinkopf. This book is available to pre-order, at the time of me writing this post. I received a free copy to review. Lisa breaks down how to grow houseplants into simple steps and lists her favorites.
She also shows how to create fun projects to highlight the houseplants in your home. One project I may do is to create wooden frames so I can hang houseplants on my walls. I enjoy exploring new things and am excited about gradually expanding my houseplant collection.
However, I think I’m off to a great start with my Philodendron ‘Birkin’, don’t you? Do you have a favorite houseplant or have any tips you’d like to share? Share it with me on Instagram and tag me @az.plant.lady – I’d love to see them!