Keep your landscape looking good all summer long

How to water, what to plant and more!

We are just one month into the three month summer season that we'd all like to fast forward, and if you have been keeping up with our blog, we're sure your landscape is looking like the best in the neighborhood. If you haven't been keeping up with our regular monthly landscape and garden tips, now is a great time to read up on what our experts recommend for a fantastic looking landscape all summer long. 

If the material in your landscape is starting to show heat stress, do not panic! We are here to help you. Below, our nursery pros have covered some important areas for you when if comes to summer tree care. If you have any further questions, you are more than welcome to give us a call or you can visit any of our nursery locations. 

To Do List:

• Watering: You want to water early in the morning sometime between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. as this reduces the evaporation loss and always want to deep water which is a slow application of water over a period of time. This allows the entire root zone to become saturated. The amount of water you apply depends on the tree or shrub you are watering. With trees, you will want to wet the soil at least 3 feet deep and with shrubs at least 1 foot deep. Use a soil probe to determine the depth of watering. Now, this is a quick overview on summer watering and for a more in depth look and for answers to common questions like "how much water do I use" and "how often do I water" are answered here in our Best Watering Practices. 

• Fertilize: The summer sun is relentless, and if something in your landscape isn't receiving summer shade relief it will suffer. You can give the material on your landscape a helping hand with our highly developed specialized blends of fertilizer designed to trigger growth responses and supplement the essential micro and macro nutrients that plants need to thrive in our region. We have fertilizers that can help trees, palms, and shrubs recover from any heat stress. These can be purchased at all Moon Valley Nursery locations or online. 

• Protect The Trunk Of Your Trees: Trees, just like us, can also get sunburn. However, a bottle of sunscreen isn't going to be enough. Young trees, especially citrus, need protection from the sun when temperatures increase. You can protect the trunk of a new tree from sunburn with Protective Tree Wrap. Available at any Moon Valley Nursery location. To further protect your tree, young or old, you can stake them. This provides stability when high winds or monsoon comes in. Moon Valley Nursery also offers staking services as well. Click here to map a location near you.

• Mulch: A super easy way to keep the soil moist all summer long is to apply mulch around the base of the tree. 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. 

Below are a few trees our experts recommend planting for this month

Tipu
If you're looking for a tree that can grow on its own with minimal assistance from you, then the Tipu tree is the one for you. he Tipu tree is one of the most popular trees we offer at Moon Valley Nursery, and it is everywhere in our city. We guarantee you passed one on the way to work today. They are very fast growing trees that have an upright growth pattern creating and providing a large area with shade. These trees are also drought tolerant once established and they can handle even the hottest summer days. It produces a unique show of golden blooms from late spring and into early summer.

Live Oak
You're probably thinking, 'a Southern tree in our region'? The answer is yes, and the Southern Live Oak, Quercus virginiana, 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.

Chilean Mesquite
This hybrid Chilean Mesquite brings all the classic desert look with a few beneficial surprises. For starters, this is a thornless variety of mesquite! No need to worry about hurting your hands when around this tree. It has a wide canopy of soft, bright green, fern like foliage covering its dark twisting branches. No two Chilean Mesquite trees are the same as the branches always have a different growth pattern. Available with single or multiple trunks, our drought tolerant hybrids can fill many landscape needs with the versatility of being able to grow in the open desert, transitional areas and even in lawns.  

Chinese Elm
The ideal shade tree is the Chinese Elm. Homeowners looking for an attractive picnic tree, hammock, play area, and more 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 Desert Museum Palo Verde is a stunning tree that will attract eyes to your landscape due to its multitrunk grow, layered shade, and beautiful yellow flowers. This beautiful tree is a hybrid of different older Palo Verde species that brings out the best qualities in each. Back to the trunk, its blue-green color provides a great contrast to its yellow flowers and the layered shade 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.

Ficus
These fast-growing evergreen shade trees are the perfect option if you're looking to block out a large from the summer sun. It's foliage dense which allows no sunlight to penetrate through its canopy and as an evergreen it will keep its foliage all year. It can be pruned to any shape and because its canopy is so dense it provides great privacy as well. When properly placed around a home, its canopy can provide enough shade to help cool down the backyard and your home, which can lead to lower utility bills.

Crape Myrtle
A beautiful flowering tree, the Crape Myrtle is available in many different varieties and colors. These small to medium sized trees are summertime bloomers offering an abundance of color throughout the season. These are easy to plant in tight areas due to their small non-invasive root structure. Click to see more flowering trees

Mexican Fan Palm
A classic resort style palm tree, the Mexican Fan Palm features a single trunk and is desired for its ease of growth. It can handle cold weather and thrives in the sun. The Mexican Fan Palm looks great when planted in clusters and its trunk can be skinned for a unique “cigar cut” effect that lends itself to a more formal appearance.

Canary Island Date Palm
Named for its resemblance to a pineapple when the palm is younger, the Pineapple Palm produces wide fronds and requires space when planted around a pool. It grows slowly, eventually forming a wide trunk and its fronds begin to rise from the ground, creating a classic palm tree shape. The Pineapple Palm can handle the cold and loves the sun. It’s a popular choice for tropical landscape and is commonly seen around resorts.

Lantana
One of the most colorful plants around, the Lantana thrives in the hot summer months and blooms throughout the spring and fall in purple, white, pale yellow, red, gold, or pink colors. In the winter, the Lantana will drop its foliage and then re-leaf in the very early spring. The Lantana is one of the fastest growing ground covers and is drought tolerant.