Given the time of year and warmer weather we have now, this is one of two ideal times to plant new trees and plants in your yard as this is a prime growing season and planting now will allow roots to grow and establish before the onset of the summer months.
In the Valley of the Sun, we generally have two types of landscaping - xeriscape and normal landscape. Xeriscape simply entails a more natural desert landscape with desert vegetation that requires very little in the way of water usage and maintenance. Normal landscaping involves the use of lawns, trees, and plants (all that may require more water usage and maintenance).
The benefits of nice landscaping from a real estate perspective are that it creates curb appeal which translates to a perceived greater value for the home by buyers. Nice landscaping sets the house off from the moment it is seen.
Having said that, if you have been thinking about putting in new plants and trees, then now might be a great time for you to do that. The nurseries have been significantly slower than in the past and as a result, are running special seasonal pricing that will allow you to save.
If you are looking for a great nursery, then here are a couple of my favorites as recommendations:
For trees, plants, and some cactus, don’t buy before you have been to Treeland Nursery in Mesa. Treeland offers a wonderful selection of specimens. Their staff is very knowledgeable and can help you find exactly what you are looking for or offer suggestions on what you might like. In addition, their pricing is always competitive and straightforward in my opinion. I feel their pricing approach, knowledge, and the quality of their stock is superior to what I have seen at a local competitor, Moon Valley Nurseries.
A second recommendation for strictly desert plants and cactus is Arizona Cactus Sales in Chandler. The collection of cactus varieties they have is amazing. In the past, I have sometimes visited just to enjoy walking around the various saguaros, barrel cacti, ocotillos, and many other desert plants they have there. They have reasonable prices as well and the staff their knows just about all there is to know about cactus.
Here’s a couple of my personal tips as I enjoy working in the yard.
- When you think about landscaping, try to have a vision as to what you want your yard to look like and add plants and trees to complement that vision.
- Stagger trees at inconsistent distances so as to create depth in your yard. In other words, if you are lining trees along a wall, plant trees closer and further away from the wall so you don’t create straight lines. This adds depth.
- Think of your landscaping from a vertical point of view in terms of layers. Your smallest ground cover is the lowest level or level. A larger shrub would be at level two. A low tree would level three, and a more mature tree would count for level four or five. In this sense, think through how your trees will grow over time. For instance, a smaller queen palm works well for providing cover when it is in that third or fourth level. However, when it grows much taller, unlike other trees that have extensive foliage, palms will open up gaps below them as they get taller. In other words, if you were relying on that palm to permanently cover the direct eye-to-eye view of your neighbor’s window, it won’t do that as it eventually grows taller and opens that view up below its frawns.
- Have all your plants and trees on drips that need regular water. They just won’t survive if they are reliant on your watering them on schedule - we all just get too busy for that.
- Use fertilizer spikes on plants and trees at least 3 times a year to get solid growth out of them. From an old neighbor who taught me this trick, it’s like ‘putting plants on steroids.’ They will simply grow more quickly, be healthier, and become more lush - and without the attitude.
So, if you are looking to make some changes to your landscaping, consider that this may be a great time to do it not only for the timing of the year but also that prices may be lower now than they have been. Happy planting!
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