Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Posted By on Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 3:00 PM

I feel like I threaten to start a garden every week or so, generally right after spending more than I care to on produce at Sprouts, but hey...where do you even start such a venture here in the desert? Thankfully, the fine folks at the Community Food Bank have a new helpful video on gardening here in the Old Pueblo, plus they have a bunch of classes in October to help you take the next steps:

Soil and Compost Saturday, October 4
Rainwater Harvesting Thursday, October 9
Planting a Healthy Garden Saturday, October 11
Backyard Chickens Saturday, October 11
Garden Basics Intensive Tuesday, October 14
Water Saving Irrigation - Saturday, October 18
Wormania! - Saturday, October 18
Sustainable Design - Friday, October 24
Irrigating with Gray Water - Saturday, October 25
Diseño Sostenible - Saturday, October 25
Soil and Compost - Friday, October 31
All About Soil - Saturday, November 1
La Tierra y el Abono - Saturday, November 1
Planting a Healthy Garden - Friday, November 7
Seeds and Sprouts: Gardening for Kids - Saturday, November 8
Fruit Trees: Selection, Care, Pruning and Propagation - Saturday, November 8
Cultivar un Jardín Saludable - Saturday, November 8
Wormania! - Saturday, November 15
Home Canning, Freezing and Drying - Thursday, November 20

For gardening info and resources galore, check out the Food Bank's website.

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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Posted By on Thu, Sep 11, 2014 at 10:00 AM

An offer from the Arbor Day Foundation:





Everyone from Arizona who joins the Arbor Day Foundation in September will receive 10 free Arizona cypress trees as part of the Foundation's Trees for America program.



Through Trees for America, everyone is encouraged to plant trees that will benefit the environment and improve the quality-of-life. With one million members, the Arbor Day Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees.



"Arizona cypress trees can be used as an ornamental tree, as a windbreak or privacy screen or as a living Christmas tree in your landscape," said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "These trees will also add to the proud heritage of Arizona's 25 Tree City USA communities. For the last 38 years, Tree City USA has supported effective urban forest management across Arizona, and planting these trees will enhance the state's tree-planting tradition."



The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between October 15 and December 10. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Planting instructions are enclosed with each shipment of trees.



New members of the Arbor Day Foundation will also receive The Tree Book, which includes information about tree planting and care.



To receive the free Arizona cypress trees, send a $10 membership contribution to Ten Arizona Cypresses, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by September 30, 2014, or join online at arborday.org/september.


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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Posted By on Tue, Jul 8, 2014 at 9:00 AM

2013s Queen of the Night in full bloom at Tohono Chul Park
  • 2013's Queen of the Night in full bloom at Tohono Chul Park

A magical summer occurrence unique to the Southwest and Tucson is almost upon us. We're not talking about July's watermelon eegee's; our late-afternoon monsoon showers; or making more than two lights in a row on Ina Rd.

Bloom Night is nigh.

According to Tohono Chul Park's Director of General Services Lee Mason, the legendary Queen of the Night Cereus flower, aka Peniocereus greggii, is poised to bless us with her annual one-night-only appearance.

I've been watching the Queen all weekend. On Friday afternoon it appeared to be on the verge of something happening. On Saturday they broke out of the stall stage (appears the change in weather had the desired effect) and on Sunday they were definitely moving. This morning they are in the 80 to 90 MM range, which tells me Bloom Night will happen sometime in the next 5 to 7 days. I will keep you informed so stay turned!

Tohono Chul is home to the world's largest private collection of the Cereus and up to 2500 people attend Bloom Night each year. The Cereus rely solely on hawk moths and other bugs for survival, as the flowers cannot self-pollinate. The flowers usually bloom en masse between the hours of 5 to 8 p.m.; soon after sunrise the next morning, its petals have already wilted.

The exact date of the bloom, however, is a mystery, thus is the allure of the Queen of the Night. The legend has been passed down through generations, from the oral history of the Tohono O'odham to a modern email notification list you may join here.


The Bloom of the Night even has its own fragrance line! I personally prefer it to I-10 & Prince's "Odor de Effluent."

We will keep you informed of the progress, but until then, check out some of the history of the Night Bloom and tips to better prepare yourself for this annual event.

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Monday, February 24, 2014

Posted By on Mon, Feb 24, 2014 at 7:00 AM

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The Potted Desert Edible Garden

1. Get in another planting of all your cool season veggies, if you have room. Go ahead and transplant some more greens for an early spring salad. (Spinach, all lettuces, mesclun, swiss chard, kale)

2. Get your garden ready for the warm season planting. But, be ready to cover if it freezes again.

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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Posted By on Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 11:00 AM

Winter in a Desert Potted Garden
  • The Potted Desert
  • Winter in a Desert Potted Garden

In order to keep your winter flowers blooming into May, you need to provide them with some regular attention. Take a morning coffee break with your garden a couple times a week so that you can enjoy your labors for several more months!

1. Deadhead your flowers weekly. Be sure to pinch them back to the originating stem, not just the flower. This will support continuous bloom.
2. Cut back ornamental grasses to just above ground level in February.
3. Fertilize your potted plants every two weeks with a water soluble fertilizer. Best applied with a hose applicator.
4. Plant color annuals such as pansies, petunias, larkspur, primrose, poppy, stock, violas, alyssum, snapdragon and marigolds (warmer areas only.)
5. Watch shallow-rooted newly planted annuals, which can quickly dry out with spring winds.
6. Adjust watering schedule according to winter rains.

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IDEA OF THE MONTH
Create a “Tea Pot” as a fun gift for a tea-loving friend. Use a light weight pot or other container with drainage and good potting soil. Herbs that thrive in our desert heat can be mixed in the pot. Be sure to label them so your friend knows what each herb is. Include some information about the teas they can make with each herb.
Peppermint - this is a perennial favorite for many people. Its refreshing taste is uplifting and cleansing, as well as wonderful for stomach troubles of all kinds. Peppermint is generally very easy to grow and enjoys sunny and semi-shaded spots. Grows very, very easily and unless you want it escaping across the garden, keep it pot-bound. The leaves are the part used for making tea.
Violas — These cute flowers will add color to your pot and the flowers are edible. Freeze them in water making decorative ice cubes to put into the Peppermint ice tea!


Want to keep your money out of the compost heap? Sign up for the Desert Potted View and our Free Monthly Potted Garden tips - sign up at Potted Desert Newsletter.

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Marylee is the founder and former owner of Tucson’s The Contained Gardener. With more than 15 years of successfully designing and growing potted gardens in the desert’s challenging and oftentimes harsh climate, Marylee has become known as the Desert’s Potted Garden Expert. Marylee is available for in-home or digital consultations and you can always email her with your questions and comments. Follow The Potted Desert on Facebook!
Marylee is also available for business growth counseling.

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Posted By on Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 9:30 AM

Winter in Desert Potted Garden
  • The Potted Desert
  • Winter in Desert Potted Garden

We have had an inconsistent winter this year so far. Warmer than average temperatures while the rest of the country suffers through freezing, snowing conditions. Our fluctuations have confused our plants so extra care is needed. Do not let a warm week in February allow you to think that winter is over. We can and most likely will have freezing temperatures this month and possible into March. Average last frost date is March 15 and remember — That is the AVERAGE!!!

Fertilize your citrus around Valentine’s Day Special Attention Needed in February
1. Water both the day before and immediately after applying granular fertilizers.
2. Use a granular fertilizer according to the directions on the package. Size and age of the trees determine how much fertilizer you use.
3. Fertilize mature trees away the trunk, meaning the outer two thirds of the ground of the leaf canopy where the most active roots are.
4. Give the trees a deep soaking watering after applying the fertilizer.
5. Newly planted trees do not need fertilizer the first 1-2 years after planting).
6. Note: Whether you use Ammonium Sulfate, Ammonium Phosphate or Citrus Food fertilizer it's important to read instructions because the amount of fertilizer need per year will vary depending on the age, size, and type of citrus tree. For example, a medium-sized adult tree 5-6 years after planting needs 6.2 pounds of Ammonium Sulfate per year (split into three applications). Grapefruit trees 5 or more years after planting need half the amount for other citrus.
7. Continue to pick your citrus. You do not need to harvest all of the fruit just because the trees come into flower. Grapefruit and Valencia oranges will continue to sweeten while left on the trees.
(Source: Pima County Master Gardener Program)

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  • Image courtesy of Master isolated images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 Do not be tempted to prune back frost damaged plants yet.
 We need to wait until the danger of frost is over (average date March 15)
 Watch for a surprise frost and cover tender annuals.

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Monday, February 3, 2014

Posted By on Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 11:00 AM

Enjoy Roses in Your Desert Garden
  • The Potted Desert
  • Enjoy Roses in Your Desert Garden

You will want to finish pruning your roses by early-February (preferably this week in the Palm Springs desert) so that they can rest for a couple weeks before our early spring tells them to start growing! Follow these steps for a healthy spring bloom! The same instructions apply for all Hybrid Tea and Floribunda roses.

Pruning Use bypass pruners that work similar to scissors. Anvil-type pruners will crush your rose stems.

Rose Bushes before Pruning
  • The Potted Desert
  • Rose Bushes before Pruning

1. Prune the rose bush down to a height of 8-12”. Yes — this will remove ½ to 2/3 of the plant.
2. Remove any dead canes and small twiggy growth.
3. Remove any canes that are crossing through the middle of the bush or rubbing against other canes. This also opens up the center of the plant. You want your bush to have a “vase” shape to it.
4. Make your cuts about 1/4 inch above a bud eye that is facing out from the center of the bush.
5. Strip all leaves from the canes.
Roses after pruning - with new growth!
  • The Potted Desert
  • Roses after pruning - with new growth!

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Monday, January 27, 2014

Posted By on Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 10:00 AM

Robellini Palm Creates a Tropical Look
  • The Potted Desert
  • Robellini Palm Creates a Tropical Look

Designing Tips for your Desert Home Oasis

1. Plan your tropical garden near your home, part of your seating area. Since the majority of the plants require heavily filtered light, you can make the garden be part of your outdoor living area as you appreciate similar conditions.

2. Plan the flooring to be as cool as possible. Non-reflective colors in earthtone or blue hues work well. You might add an outdoor carpet to the seating area.

3. Think in levels or layers of plantings as you would see in a tropical garden. Low plantings around the seating areas in low pots will do well. Also bordering walkways. Then mid-height plants in taller pots or pots up on pedestals or pots with trellises for some vines.

Thinking in Levels
  • The Potted Desert
  • Thinking in Levels

4. Further back towards walls or further from the patio, you can think about larger plants and trees, still trying to keep the layered effect of the three heights of plants in the landscape. Perhaps a couple citrus or palm trees or an evergreen Pistache tree with a mixture of hibiscus and a blue leafed agave such as the Agave colorata. And definitely keep in mind your Bougainvillea and Birds of Paradise- both tropical (shade) and Mexican (sun)!!

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Monday, January 13, 2014

Posted By on Mon, Jan 13, 2014 at 3:00 PM

A Display Rack for Tropical Plants
  • The Potted Desert
  • A Display Rack for Tropical Plants

Living in the desert, we are able to stretch our plant choices a further than other areas of Arizona, as long as we can provide most of the plants with heavily filtered sun or afternoon shade.

The south side of my home is shaded by my neighbors towering oleanders. This is really the walkway to the back yard but I was able to transition the 8 foot wide side yard into a mini oasis which tends to be about 10 degrees cooler than other areas of my landscape. One side gets mostly shade all day long and the side along the house gets heavy sun making it the more challenging area. This area is therefore also protected from some of our lighter freezes.

Many plants that we have come to know as ‘house plants” are actually tropical plants that cannot survive the cold temperatures that most of the United States experiences. We are familiar with names like Pothos, Dracaena, Philodendrum and other common house plants. In full shade and with cold protection when the temperatures go below 40, these are tropical wonders for our patio oasis. However, once temps plummet below freezing, you will want to take the plants inside your home or Arizona room.

Plants that will tolerate more sun (but still will want afternoon shade most of the year are the Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus, Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta), Day Lilies offer clumps of arching sword-like leaves and can be evergreen, semi evergreen or deciduous depending on the species, Agapanthus, Butterfly Iris, Cordyline and Coleus.

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Monday, December 30, 2013

Posted By on Mon, Dec 30, 2013 at 9:00 AM

What is your gardening resolution for 2014?

Mine is to continue to supply you with container gardening tips that will help you grow successful desert potted gardens all year long!

Have a safe and happy New Year! See you in 2014!

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Email Marylee with your questions and comments. Follow The Potted Desert on Facebook! Happy Holidays!