We thought you might be interested in reading a variety of questions posed by our readers. For the responses, we went straight to those in the know--experts at gardening. We always learn a few new things, and we hope you will, too.
Can you give me some tips on designing a really great backyard on a budget?
~Anne Rajotte
Do-it-yourselfers beware: The road to a completed landscape is fraught with peril. Incorrect plant choices, improperly installed irrigation systems, and out-of-date design elements will cost you more in the long run—both in money and in headaches. The best bet is following a few tried and true steps.
First, have a plan and use it as your road map. Landscape blueprints allow you to make the best use of your money, permitting a phased approach to landscape installation that does not look haphazardly pieced together. Also, use a goodlandscape designer as you would a travel guide. They'll be able to tell you what plant material works best in your space so that your overall design makes sense.
Next, in the Southwest it's imperative to install irrigation. Many homeowners will try and cut costs by committing to hand watering instead of automatic irrigation systems. Don't do it. Your plants will suffer and your yard will be in shambles. If you purchase a home with an existing irrigation system, consult a landscape contractor to make sure the system was installed properly.
Finally, whatever you do—maintain, maintain, maintain. Nothing can crush your spirits or the overall health of your landscape like neglect. Regular weeding, fertilizing, and pruning are essential to ensure the investment in your landscape not only survives, but also thrives.
Jason Isenberg, owner,
Urban Organics Landscaping,
791- 9131, www.uolandscaping.com
Are there any varieties of avocado that can be grown in Tucson?
~Deborah Hansen
Avocados in Tucson aren't a very good prospect, but growing them can be a fun thing to do. You can buy the smaller Mexican variety at grocery stores and grow them from seed. The larger California variety can also be grown as a houseplant. Look for a sticker on the avocado to see where it is from. The avocado won't bear fruit until it is 10 years old. You might be able to find a tree in a local nursery to give you a head start, though avocado trees are seldom carried. Try Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery, Catalina Heights Nursery, or Green Things.
Many people start their avocado seed by placing it in a tumbler of water and holding it in place with 3 toothpicks to stop it from sinking. The water level should be a third of the way from the top of the seed, with the seed pointed end up. Keep the tumbler in a sunny place and a shoot will come out of the top of the seed, nourished by the food stored inside. Leaves will appear in due course and after 4 or 5 have grown, it's time to pot the plant in a 2-gallon container of soil. A planter mix—free of chemicals—is appropriate because the plant is still growing from its own resources.
Put the container in a place with good light, in direct sun in winter, but partly shaded during the summer months. After a year or 2 you can supply fertilizer by adding a teaspoon of Miracid to a gallon of water, using it at every watering.
In 4 or 5 years the plant will be ready for planting in the ground or in a larger container. Find a place with good drainage and protection from winds and frost.
Dig a large hole (one that measures 5 feet deep and 5 feet square assures there is no caliche underneath), and return the better part of the excavated soil together with organic matter (which can include some steer manure), ammonium phosphate, and soil sulfur. For the exact amounts regardless of the size of the hole you dig, check out page 96 of my book Desert Gardening-- Fruits and Vegetables .
Stomp down the backfill and water before you plant in order to get the soils properly settled. You don't want the sinking soil to drag down your newly planted tree. Keep the soil moist. Avocado trees are sensitive to salt, so water deeply to wash any away, rather than doing lawn-type watering, which accumulates it.
George Brookbank, education director,
Community Gardens of Tucson,
2940 N. Santa Rosa,
795-8823, www.communitygardensoftucson.org.
Author of Desert Gardening, Desert Landscaping, and The Desert Gardener's Calendar.
How can a drip irrigation system provide enough moisture for landscaping?
~Michael Budka
A drip irrigation system is a terrific way to irrigate in Tucson as it's a tremendously efficient way to take care of sparsely planted areas. A traditional sprinkler system waters a broad area, usually grass, and goes through 12–15 gallons per minute. Much of that water then runs off the soil and is wasted. Drip systems, however, water individual plants right where they need it and are measured in gallons per hour. During this extensive, low-volume watering, a plant can get more than a gallon of water, but because of the slow flow rate,
the water is not wasted as runoff.
When setting up a drip system, a large drip line can be run either above- or underground, then smaller drip lines are attached and run to the base of each plant. The smaller drip lines can also be buried so that only the small end of the dripper sticks out of the ground, the sight of which is usually obscured by your plant. The entire system can be connected to a timer and is so efficient it can water all your plants using as little as a single zone, unlike sprinkler systems that usually need to be set up in multiple zones so they don't exceed your water capacity.
Dave Johnson, director of corporate marketing, Rain Bird,
6991 E. Southpoint Rd.,
800-Rain-Bird, www.rainbird.com