The Vitex Tree
The Vitex tree botanical name: Agnus-castus. It likes full Sun – USDA Zones 6-10. Also called the Chaste tree, Chasteberry, and Lilac Chaste Berry. The growth rate is about 15-20ft. tall and wide sometimes taller after 30 years. A low water tree once established. Beautiful spiky dark lilac blooms late spring early summer. There is also […]
Xeriscape landscaping ideas
Xeriscape landscaping ideas. Gardening full time is a great way to relax, then enjoy the fruits of your labor. But there are still those who have a hard time gardening or don’t want to bother going outdoors and enjoy their landscape area. Whether you have too much going on at work or too many kids […]
Red Tip Photinia
Red Tip Photinia (P. fraseri) – A good evergreen hedge plant. Great for blocking the neighbor’s view or as a privacy windbreak wall. If left alone they will grow up to 12 ft. tall and about 8 ft. wide. Red Tip Photinias are good shrubs for landscaping. They will produce a large pale white flower during […]
Santolina Plant
Santolina Plant (Santolina chamaecyparissus). There are several types of Santolina and the most common one is the Gray Cotton variety. Also called the cotton lavender plant. A nice small pale yellow button-like flower. It loves sandy alkaline soil perfect for the dry arid Southwest. It is drought tolerant once it becomes established usually after the first […]
What is fertilizer
What is fertilizer? Have you ever wondered what are those three numbers on a bag, box or package of fertilizer suppose to mean? How do you analyze them? What about chemicals versus organic? Why do we need to fertilize our plants and trees? These numbers analyze the amount of Nitrogen, Potash, and Phosphate (NPK). These nutrients […]
Vinca Plant Care
Vinca Plant Care. Vinca Plants (Catharanthus roseus) Is a colorful plant that can tolerate heat. Commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle. They come in bright red, white, pink and purple and they thrive in full sun providing you water them every other day or so. Thick glossy leaves that repel insects. Do not get them confused with […]
Spanish Broom Plant
The Spanish Broom Plant (Spartium junceum) is a great semi-evergreen flowering shrub. It can grow up to 8-10 ft. tall and about 5-7 ft. wide. This native plant tolerates poor sandy soils perfect for the desert southwest. A drought tolerant plant that can be used in a rock garden landscape with smaller perennial or annual plants […]
Rose Bush Problems
IDENTIFYING COMMON ROSE PROBLEMS Be sure to follow all label instructions and local state regulation regarding insecticides. Rosebush problems solved no matter where you live. Aphids are insects and they love new growth on roses. Aphids are very small bugs about 1/8 inch long. They are green, red, black or brown in color. They usually attack […]
Penstemon plants for landscape color
Penstemon plants for landscape color. They will bloom from early spring until mid-fall with the majority of flowers showing up all spring long. They tolerate sandy soils which makes them perfect for the southwest. These plants are also called “Beardtongues“. They are deciduous and the flowers can be used as a floral arrangement. Where to […]
The Texas Mountain Laurel Tree
The Texas Mountain Laurel Tree (Calia secundiflora). A great flowering small to a medium-sized evergreen tree. It will produce very fragrant purple hanging flowers in early spring and usually around late March to early April. They grow up to 15-maybe 20 ft. tall and about 15 ft. wide. It loves full sun and thrives in and […]
