plant care

The desert is not like many other places that have a consistent amount of rainfall per year and therefore there are unique plants that are indigenous to the southwest. Arizona can go over 100 days without seeing a drop of rain and so consistent watering of all non-native plants is necessary. The frequency and amount of watering can depend on several factors such as temperature (or time of the year) as well as  your soil conditions. Know your soil and if you have to water more frequently due to more rocky or sandy conditions, or less frequently due to compact and restricting conditions. If there is not enough sediment or soil, such as near mountains or rivers, the water could drain through quicker and not give the plant enough time to absorb the water it needs. On the contrary if there is too much sediment or clay or caliche, then drainage is not as quick and you should space out your watering further. A plant with Root Rot looks similar to the sun burning the plants but the plant is actually drowning or not getting enough oxygen to the roots.  Keep in mind that all plants need oxygen as much as it needs water and you can drown your plant as easy as you can let them dry up with no water. The best provisions would be to amend the soil by adding gypsum and sulfur to the bottom of the dug hole prior to putting the plant in the hole. After adding the gypsum and sulfur to the bottom of the hole, fill the hole with water to take the gypsum and sulfur into the ground under where the roots of the plant will be. Doing this will soften up that hard soil for better water drainage and less root restriction. Shade cloth is preferred to treat plants if they look like they are burning and you are watering properly. Simply drape the shade cloth on top of the plant during the hot months to get it through until it acclimates to the area.  

Bushes/Shrubs/Vines/Ground Covers/Roses/Palms - Every 2-4 days in the Summer, much less in the winter. Water in hours and separate watering by days. The roots are deep and what needs the water, not the top of the soil. water slow and long so the roots get the water it needs, and then chase the water to develop deeper toots.  

Trees/Citrus - Once a week in the Summer, 25-35 gallons, very slow rate of water flow so that it stays close to the roots. Once the tree is a few years old you can back off to once every other week as the roots should be deep by then.   

Cactus/Agave/Aloe - Once every other week at the most in the summer, a light soaking such as 1-4 gallons depending on cactus size.