advertisement
7 October 2024
As temperatures soar in Arizona, homeowners and gardeners must take proactive measures to ensure their plants remain healthy and vibrant. With the intense heat, here are some essential tips to help gardens thrive during the scorching summer months.
Arizona’s extreme heat presents unique challenges for plant care, especially during the summer months. Many gardeners are concerned about maintaining lush landscapes when temperatures reach dangerous levels. Proper watering and care techniques become imperative to protect plants from the harsh climate.
Watering is one of the most critical aspects of plant care in hot weather. Newly planted trees, for instance, require consistent moisture until they establish robust root systems. It’s recommended that they be watered regularly, ensuring the soil remains moist but not soggy. Established plants, mainly native species, should be watered deeply and infrequently—typically every 20 to 30 days during high temperatures.
To assess soil moisture accurately, a fiberglass rod is suggested. This tool can help gauge how deeply the water has penetrated the soil, ideally reaching about three feet. This approach prevents leaf burning, a common issue during intense heat.
Potted plants require more frequent watering than their in-ground counterparts. Excess water must drain from the pot to avoid root rot. Observing the plants closely can help gardeners detect signs of stress, such as leaf burn, indicating that adjustments may be needed in their care routine.
In addition to watering, fertilization is vital for plant health. Organic fertilizers can enhance soil quality and support plant resilience against heat stress. Mulching around plants helps retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for frequent watering and promoting microbial activity that benefits the plants.
Foliar feeding, a method of applying liquid nutrients directly to the leaves, can be especially beneficial during hot weather. Using liquid seaweed or nutrient-rich solutions early in the morning can provide an extra boost, helping plants recover from heat stress and thrive.
Caring for plants in Arizona’s extreme heat requires a strategic approach, emphasizing proper watering, fertilization, and mulching techniques. By implementing these practices, homeowners can ensure their gardens survive and thrive, even in brutal temperatures. With a little effort and attention, it’s possible to maintain a beautiful and resilient outdoor space throughout the sweltering summer months.
advertisement
When someone suggests a night out in Phoenix, the plan probably involves cocktails, breweries, happy hour, or dinner. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but what if you want to actually do something? Fortunately, the Phoenix area has plenty of night-out options that don’t require alcohol to be the main event. From museums and botanical gardens to live music, escape rooms, board games, bookstores, and even a nighttime drive into the desert, there are plenty of ways to have an interesting evening without spending it sitting at a bar. Whether you’re planning a date night, meeting up with
If it seems like pickleball courts are suddenly everywhere in Arizona, you’re not imagining things. Parks are adding courts. Resorts are advertising pickleball vacations. Retirement communities have thriving leagues. Indoor pickleball clubs are popping up across the Valley, and major professional and amateur tournaments are bringing thousands of players to the state. Pickleball has become one of America’s biggest recreational sports, and Arizona has emerged as one of the country’s major pickleball destinations. But Arizona’s connection to the sport actually goes back decades. advertisement What Is Pickleball? Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table
Arizona is an amazing and remarkably diverse state. It is best known worldwide for the Grand Canyon, the spectacular mile-deep gorge carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. But those of us who call Arizona home know there is much more to the Grand Canyon State than its most famous landmark. Arizona is a place where you can find one of America’s largest cities, one of its snowiest communities, enormous pine forests, incredibly remote villages, vast tribal lands, and some of the sunniest weather anywhere on Earth. Here are seven fascinating facts that show just how surprising Arizona
Deep in the rugged mountains of southern Arizona, a motion-activated camera captured something extraordinary: a large spotted cat silently moving through the wilderness. It was not a mountain lion or a bobcat. It was a jaguar. The animal would eventually become known as El Jefe, Spanish for “The Boss.” For several years, he was the only known wild jaguar living in the United States, making him both a local celebrity and a powerful symbol of a species that once roamed across a much larger portion of the American Southwest. El Jefe’s story is also surprisingly hopeful. After disappearing from Arizona
