Brian Hill - Garden Guides

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Stories By Brian Hill

Trees

Trees By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022

Pine Trees That Grow Well In Phoenix, Arizona

Pine Trees That Grow Well in Phoenix, Arizona. Pine trees are abundant in Phoenix, providing shade and adding the beauty of their evergreen color to homeowners' yards, parks, golf courses and office complexes. Perhaps more associated with higher elevations, certain varieties of pine trees can do quite well in the hot, dry desert climate of southern Arizona provided they are supplied with sufficient water. During the hottest times of the year, pine trees may drop some of their needles if they become too thirsty. On the other hand, in the warm desert areas of Arizona, pine trees can be planted as late as October and still have time to grow roots, even with the arrival of cooler temperatures.
By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022 Read More
Trees

Trees By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022

How To Grow Pecan Trees In Arizona

How to Grow Pecan Trees in Arizona. Though native to cooler regions, such as the Midwest and Southeast, pecan trees can be healthy and productive in Arizona yards, even in the lower deserts. The Arizona home gardener would plant pecan trees for the shade these tall and broad trees provide and for the crop of nutritious nuts that mature trees produce. One tree can produce 40 lbs. or more of pecans annually. The tree must be in the ground three or four years before it begins producing. Pecan trees are heavy water users, so they are not good choices for homeowners seeking to create a low water-usage landscape.
By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022 Read More
Produce

Produce By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022

What Vegetables Grow In Arizona From August To December?

What Vegetables Grow in Arizona From August to December?. The desert climate of southern Arizona is a draw for gardeners because there are two distinct growing seasons. The first is the spring-summer season that runs from the end of frost danger in February until the summer heat begins to cause stress for vegetable plants in June. The second season runs from August through December. Many Arizona gardeners prefer the second season, according to the Arizona Cooperative Extension Service, because the days are warm enough in August, September and early October to encourage rapid germination, but cool enough in November and December that developing plants do not suffer. The heat of late spring and early summer can put a lot of stress on vegetables just as they are trying to produce, and require significantly more water than the fall garden will.
By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022 Read More
Produce

Produce By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022

How To Grow A Container Vegetable Garden In Arizona

How to Grow a Container Vegetable Garden in Arizona. The Arizona desert, including the cities of Phoenix and Tucson, has a long growing season. It's possible to grow vegetables all year long--and many Arizona gardeners do just that. This summer you can plant a salsa garden in a container. The vegetables used as ingredients for salsa all have the same growing requirements.
By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022 Read More
Lawn Care

Lawn Care By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022

How To Grow Grass In The Desert

How to Grow Grass in the Desert. In desert regions, Bermuda grass is popular because it can withstand the intense heat of summer. When the cool winter temperatures arrive, Bermuda grass turns brown and many homeowners choose to overseed the Bermuda with rye grass. Overseeding takes place at the end of summer and through mid-October. The Bermuda takes over from the rye grass in late April or early May, when daytime temperatures can exceed 90 degrees. By using both of these varieties of grass, you can have a beautiful green lawn year-round.
By Brian Hill November 4th, 2022 Read More
Trees

Trees By Brian Hill November 3rd, 2022

How To Grow Lemon Trees In Arizona

How to Grow Lemon Trees in Arizona. The desert regions of southern Arizona, including Phoenix, have long been known as having a favorable climate for growing many different kinds of citrus trees, including lemons. The mix of extremely warm summers and cool winters causes the citrus fruits to be extra flavorful and complex, both tart and sweet. Citrus remains an important cash crop in the state. Citrus trees are also grown in many residential yards both for decorative purposes and for the fruit they produce.
By Brian Hill November 3rd, 2022 Read More
Lawn Care

Lawn Care By Brian Hill November 3rd, 2022

How To Grow Bermuda Grass From Seed

How to Grow Bermuda Grass From Seed. Bermuda grass is a warm season grass that requires soil temperatures above 65 degrees and ideally around 75 degrees for germination and healthy root growth. It is normally planted in the spring or early summer. This perennial grass grows well in tropical regions or in warm dry areas such as the southwestern United States, providing the lawn gets adequate water. Bermuda grass goes dormant in the winter and turns brown. Homeowners seeking green lawn year round often overseed the Bermuda with annual rye grass, which thrives in cooler temperatures.
By Brian Hill November 3rd, 2022 Read More
Trees

Trees By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022

Shade Trees For The Desert

Shade Trees for the Desert. When desert temperatures head toward the 100-degree mark in late spring, homeowners are thankful for the shade provided by the broad, green canopy of a tree. Trees allow you to get more enjoyment from your backyard during the hottest months, June through September, when many desert dwellers stay indoors. Trees that block the blistering sun on summer afternoons keep your patio and the exterior of your house cooler, which translates into lower air conditioning costs. You can find trees that are in perfect harmony with a low water usage landscape design.
By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022 Read More
Produce

Produce By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022

How To Grow Vegetables In Zone 10

How to Grow Vegetables in Zone 10. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zones divide the country into zones based on the average annual minimum temperature a given area is likely to experience during the year. There are 11 zones. Zone 10 is the second warmest, with average annual minimum temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees. Zone 10 includes the balmy coastal areas of California, the southwest deserts, parts of Texas and Louisiana and the southern part of Florida. In Zone 10, winters are so mild that it is possible to grow vegetables year-round, in three different growing seasons.
By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022 Read More
Trees

Trees By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022

The Best Desert Shade Trees In Arizona

The Best Desert Shade Trees in Arizona. By planting shade trees in an Arizona backyard, a family can enjoy being outdoors well into the hottest months of June, July and August. Groupings of mature trees that shade and cool the western exposure of a house can contribute to lowering summer air conditioning costs. Ideal candidates for desert shade trees are those that grow as wide as they are tall rather than tall and skinny. Look for trees with a dense canopy of foliage that remains on the tree all or nearly all year round.
By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022 Read More
Trees

Trees By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022

Fruit Trees In Phoenix

Fruit Trees in Phoenix. Arizona has distinct climate zones based on length of the growing season, average temperatures in the winter and elevation. Phoenix is in the low desert zone that enjoys warm winters---with very hot summers---and a long growing season. For gardeners, this long season is ideal, providing the opportunity for almost year-round harvesting. Phoenix is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9.
By Brian Hill September 6th, 2022 Read More
Lawn Care

Lawn Care By Brian Hill March 23rd, 2022

How To Grow Grass In Tucson, Arizona

How to Grow Grass in Tucson, Arizona. In southern Arizona where Tucson is located, the summers are hot and the winters are relatively mild. Many homeowners plant Bermuda grass to grow in the spring and summer, then overseed it with rye grass, which grows well in cooler temperatures. The overseeding takes place in mid-October. Bermuda grass goes dormant in the winter and turns brown. The rye grass germinates quickly and provides homeowners with a beautiful green lawn through late fall and into the winter months. It then dies out when the weather warms in mid-April and the Bermuda grass comes back to life.
By Brian Hill March 23rd, 2022 Read More