Spring is in full swing which means that right now is the absolute best time to plant everything. Flowers are popping, our fruit and citrus trees are about to produce delicious homegrown fruit, and all the deciduous trees are starting to leaf out for amazing summer shade.
If you honey-do-list is all checked off for the spring and the FINAL THING is the landscape, DO NOT PUT IT OFF TO NEXT YEAR. Do not wait until we're hitting summer temperatures. Plant now so your trees and shrubs will have ample time to establish a root system before it's too hot. As we do every month, our nursery professionals have listed a few tips and chores for your landscape and they have also listed the top trees and shrubs to plant this month!
- Control Your Weeds: Weeds are everywhere and if weeds haven't started to sprout on your yard consider yourself one of the lucky ones! It's best to control your weeds now until it gets too hot and your weeds are uncontrollable. No one wants to pull weeds in triple digits. Moon Valley Nursery stocks all of the things you will need for your weed prevention plan at our locations.
- Fertilizers: It's the prime growing season right now, and you can give everything on your landscape a boost with a custom blended fertilizer from Moon Valley Nurseries. All of our fertilizers have been specifically crafted for our native soils. We have fertilizers for everything on your landscape. From palms, to fruit and citrus, to flowering trees. In addition, we also have fertilizers that can assist in the material on your landscape that is still recovering from the winter or any stress. These can be purchased at all Moon Valley Nursery locations or online.
- Watering: It's starting to heat up and you're going to want to keep a close eye on the temperature and how everything is doing in your landscape. Always remember to deep water. Small and short applications do not assist in the development of a strong root structure. For more information on deep watering practices download our water guide help you get a better idea on how to just take care of your landscape.
- Mulch: The temperature isn't hot now, but it will be and it's always a good idea to prepare your landscape with some mulch. Adding a few inches of mulch can help keep your soil cool during the warmer summer months and warm during the cooler days. Mulch is available at any Moon Valley Nurseries location.
Bottlebrush
Named for its bright crimson bottlebrush shaped flowers, the Bottlebrush tree (Callistemon citrinus) is a perfect fit for our region. There are two aspects that make the Bottlebrush a fantastic choice. It's ability to create a massive amount of year-round shade, because it is an evergreen, and its red flowers that have a lemony scent to them. Pollinators, especially butterflies and hummingbirds love this tree. Now, don't let the graceful appearance of this tree throw you off. The Bottlebrush is one of the hardiest trees around. It is drought tolerant and it can handle both cold and heat. At Moon Valley Nurseries, we offer this tree in tree form or as a shrub for a colorful privacy wall.
Orchid
These medium sized trees offer many landscape uses, shade, privacy and focal being some. Due to their deep-rooted nature, surface roots are rarely an issue and allow the Purple Orchid tree to be planted nearly anywhere. While these trees may look delicate they are best planted in a full sun area. Once established the Purple Orchid tree is drought tolerant and the Purple Orchid is a fast growing orchid tree that fits into most landscape sizes. Its slender trunks topped with arching branches are clothed in two-lobed butterfly shaped leaves.
Ficus
Our customers are always looking for two things. Year-round shade and minimal maintenance. Seems like you'd never find this perfect combination, but it exists and it is called the Indian Laurel, also known as the Ficus nitida. Our #1 selling tree can block out the sun or unwanted views in no time. It is a very fast growing tree with a growth pattern is tall and wide, creating a massive umbrella-shaped canopy of shade. They handle the heat very well and can be pruned to any shape. We offer three different variations of Ficus: Single-trunk, multi-trunk, and column. Because these trees are so clean, you can plant them anywhere. Even next to a pool! If you're looking for shade, this is the tree for you.
Chinese Elm
Great for families, a mature Chinese Elm tree is good for climbing or attaching a tire swing. Homeowners looking for an attractive picnic tree will love this good-looking shade provider on their lawn. The mottled bark of this tree resembles camouflage-like patterns that give it a unique and attractive look. Feel free to leave a long lasting memory by engraving your initials into the single trunk. It is a fast grower that thrives in the sun and loves to grow in hot areas. Once planted, it will not be too long until you can enjoy the many benefits this tree can bring to your landscape. If you are looking for a massive shade provider that is easy to care for, you will find much to love about this Chinese Elm Tree. Moon Valley Nurseries sells vibrant and healthy, professionally nurtured mature specimens.
Desert Museum Palo Verde
The other great shade tree on this list is the Museum Palo Verde (Cercidium-parkinsonia hybrid). This beautiful tree is a hybrid of different older Palo Verde species that brings out the best qualities in each. This unique combination results in a tree with fuller foliage, large and prolific yellow flowers, and a thornless trunk that has an eye-catching blue-green color that provides a start contrast to just about any landscape. The shade is layered, which at various times throughout the day, the sunlight will penetrate through. This provides two great benefits, as the tree looks light in your yard while providing sunlight to any shrubs you'd like to plant below the massive umbrella shaped canopy. This tree is a fast grower and requires minimal water once established. The bottom line is this: you will love this tree and it will turn heads in the neighborhood.
Japanese Privet
The Japanese Privet, Ligustrum japonicum, is a small to medium tree that can bring natural beauty to a wide range of Southwestern landscapes. Native to China, Korea and Japan, this evergreen tree is a moderate to fast grower and great for use as a privacy screen, lawn tree or as a windbreak. It will require moderate watering and will thrive with full sun exposure or partial shade. A round headed tree with a dense shade capacity, it is also a great choice when you want shade for small areas. It is good for patio planting, too. Homeowners will appreciate the versatile landscape uses of this tree.
Mediterranean Fan Palm
This striking medium sized palm is the only palm native to Europe and it is prized for its unique multi-trunk vertical growth, fan-shaped fronds, and aesthetically pleasing growth pattern that looks fantastic around pools and as centerpieces to any landscape. The reason why the Mediterranean Fan Palm can serve as a centerpiece is due to its growth pattern. The trunks of the Chamaerops humilis palm clump together, giving the palm a full thick look. Because they can be grown to display a full look, many homeowners have planted these palms in a cluster to create a barrier wall. Mediterranean Fan Palms also can fill in empty spots between large trees or in containers as well.
Live Oak
Southern Live Oak, Quercus virginiana, is the "mighty oak of the South" that looks right at home planted in Southwestern landscapes. It is native to the coastal plains of the southeastern U.S and grows at a moderate rate. It is a large evergreen shade tree noted for its beauty and extreme drought tolerance. In fact, the Southern Live Oak was the lone survivor during the recent great Texas drought! Once established it will require low water, just let nature do the rest. This beauty will thrive in your landscape with full sun and little to no special care required.
Queen Palm
Specially grown at Moon Valley Nursery farms, the Piru Queen Palm is unlike other Queen Palms. Our Piru Queen Palms feature thicker and harder trunks, denser and greener fronds, and produce fuller crowns than other Queen Palms. Moon Valley Nurseries Piru Queen Palms can handle hot summers, cold winters, and windy days. The Piru Queen Palm is supported by a narrow trunk which makes it ideal for tight spaces around your pool, but it does require overhead space as the palm grows to statuesque heights.
Torch Glow Bougainvillea
The Torch Glow produces multiple compact stems that grow upright and out from the base. This growth pattern gives the Torch Glow a formal looking layered look that looks clean in any landscape. The stems twist as they grow and they are covered in tiny green colored leaves. The stems form a conical shape at the top where a vibrant display of showy pink flowers clusters together. This is how the Bougainvillea gets its name. The top of the stems looks like a torch. The Torch Glow’s stems are not like a vine, so a support system is not needed.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus are medium to large growing shrubs with very lush, dark foliage and beautiful flowers that come in a wide variety of colors. These beautiful flowering plants prefer to be planted in well-prepared garden soil that drains well and needs even moisture for their roots. Be careful though as heavy soil tends to suffocate them. We have them available in red, pink, white, and yellow.
Lantana
Lantana is one of the most colorful plants used in warm climates. Seen on highways, municipal grounds, commercial property and around homes, Lantana is great for adding color to desert landscaping and tropical settings. Plant them in part to full sun and water deeply. We offer three varieties of lantana at Moon Valley Nurseries: Trailing Lantana, Dwarf or Mounding Lantana, and Bush Lantana. All these come in red, yellow, purple, white, and multi-color.
Moon Valley Nurseries is your one stop shop for all your landscape needs. Our experts have decades worth of experience and they will be able to assist you with any and all projects you may have. Click here to map a nursery near you.
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