Looking for a fruit tree to plant in your backyard garden? Need that fruit tree to actually grow and produce fruit in the Arizona heat? Of course do you. Below is a list of fruit trees to use in your Arizona backyard landscape
Healthy trees and a sweet, delicious harvest are the goal as you tend your oranges throughout the year. Follow these few steps to help grow healthy orange trees.
Orange Tree
So far in this series we have looked at planting, watering, and fertilizing. Today we are going to look at propagation, pest and a quick question and answer section.
Citrus trees are typically propagated vegetatively by growing a select variety on top of a rootstock variety. There are two reasons for doing this. The first reason is that a tree grown from a seed will not produce fruit that tastes like that of its mother or father tree. It is possible that a seeds fruit could be superior to that of its parents but more than likely it will be inferior since select varieties are products of thousands of years of breeding. Also, a seedling tree would take much longer to start producing fruit. The second reason is that certain trees are better adapted to growing in certain types of soils.
Yesterday we talked about landscaping in Arizona with citrus trees. Today we are going to focus on planting, watering, and fertilizer.
Avocado Tree
Dig a hole at least twice the size of the rootball. At a minimum, make the hole 2 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. Work in a 20/80 mix of compost to soil. Be sure to mix the compost and soil as thoroughly as possible. It also is a good idea to finish with the hole an inch or two recessed so that a watering basin is formed.
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Citrus grow extremely well in the lower desert and in fact have been a commercial crop here for over 100 years. The most important aspect of growing healthy citrus is proper watering.
Surprisingly, the weather in the Arizona desert produces some of the best tasting citrus in the world. Heat produces sugar in citrus fruits making them sweeter and cool weather produces acid making citrus more tart. The hot summers and cool winters in the desert therefore produce a much fuller flavored product than can be grown in either consistently warm climates such as Florida, or in consistently mild climates such as the California coast. California’s desert regions produce comparable quality to that of Arizona.
Another advantage that Arizona has over other regions is that citrus here can still be grown on Sour Orange root stock (see propagation section below for an explanation of root stocks), which produces some of the best tasting fruit. California and Florida have both had to ban Sour Orange because of its susceptibility to Tristeza, a citrus disease carried by a brown aphid. Fortunately, this aphid cannot survive the lower desert heat.
Citrus are categorized into the following major varieties. Within these major varieties are many cultivars. There are also some varieties that are hybrids of these varieties, such as Tangelos which are a cross between a mandarin (Tangerine) and a pummelo. The varieties below are arranged from least frost tolerant to most frost tolerant.
Citrus tolerate the summer sun well in Phoenix but will always get some sun burned leaves during the hottest weather. Varieties that grow vigorously manage to keep ahead of the sun burn better than varieties that grow more slowly. Kumquats and blood oranges suffer more from the sun than average for this reason.
The trunk and branches of citrus trees when subjected to direct sun can burn badly. In fact, if the trunk of a tree is fully exposed to sun it can kill it. Citrus naturally branch to ground and therefore protect their trunks. However, when a citrus tree is trimmed as a shade tree it exposes the trunk. This is the reason that trimmed up trees have their trunks painted white. Also, young trees should have their trunks wrapped until their branches provide shade. Furthermore, to hasten the establishment of newly planted trees the entire tree should be shaded from afternoon sun the first summer. Newly planted trees do not have a strong root system and can suffer substantially the first summer if subjected to all day sun.
Freezing is generally not a concern in the lower desert unless one lives in an extreme micro-climate, such as a low spot that collects cold air. Most citrus will not be damaged until temperatures are as low as the middle twenties Fahrenheit for several hours. Kumquats are the exception and can handle temperatures as low as 15 degrees F. In slightly cooler climates, such as Tucson, measures should be taken to protect citrus on the coolest nights. See the variety list above to learn how citrus varieties compare to one another for frost tolerance.
Tomorrow we will be looking at Arizona Landscaping with Fruit Trees: Part 2-planting, watering, and fertilizing.
Orange Tree
We are starting a new series this week where we will be talking about growing and caring for fruit trees in your Arizona backyard landscaping.
The warm Arizona sunshine and arid desert climate creates the ideal conditions for growing luscious fruit that can be enjoyed all year round.
Stayed tuned this week for tips and tricks to help you grow incredible fruit right in your own backyard. Whether you use a licensed arizona landscape contractor or you do it yourself, you and your family will benefit from the shade, beauty and fruit of Arizona grown fruit.
Citrus trees are all over the landscape from Arizona, as they have been a commercial crop here for over 100 years, but they don’t have to be solely commercial as many Arizona landscape contractors and homeowners know. They can be the perfect addition to any back or front yard landscape design. And if you are in Arizona you are lucky enough to live in one of the best climates in the US for growing citrus. With our hot summers and cooler winters, a much more full flavored fruit can be grown than in other climates where it may be consistently warm (Florida) or cool (California coast).
One very important thing you need to know is that proper watering is the key to healthy citrus in Arizona. Sinice citrus needs to dry out between waterings, the watering schedule is dependent on the time of the year. The summer requires watering once every one or two weeks and in the winter probably only once every four to six weeks. When the temperature is between those two extremes, vary your waterings accordingly. If the citrus tree has been planted in the last two weeks, water it every three days and then normally after that.
Kumquat image taken from Wikipedia
Also in Arizona, there tend to be fewer pests on citrus trees due to the climate, but we still do get leafhoppers and others of the sort. It can be dangerous to use pesticides on these pests since they poison will often kill the pest’s predators as well an leave the tree open for the pests to come back stronger. Many argue that generally, there are not pests in Arizona that will require pesticides to kill since they pesticides will do more damage then the pests.
There are such a variety of citrus trees that can be grown and planted and you should do additional research to find what type would work best in your specific climate and yard as well as what kind tastes best to you! For example, kumquats grow more slowly and therefore tend to be more susceptible to sun burn. However they are also the exception when it comes to freezing and can handle temperatures as low as 15 degress F.
What is your favorite citrus to grow in Arizona or other climates? Have any other tips for homeowners or landscape designers? Let us know in the comments!
Image of Geranium taken from Wikipedia
A garden is a perfect addition to any outdoor landscape, but this can be a difficult thing to manage in Arizona or any other dry, desert climate. With an average annual rainfall of only 9.2 inches in Gilbert, a garden of drought resistant plants can help bring your yard to life while not being a drain on your resources such as time and water. Drought resistant plants also hold up better to the extreme heat of Arizona summers and tend to be hardier and sturdier plants in general. While many people assume drought resistant plants mean dull, boring or even dangerous (think cactus), there are numerous plants you can find of this variety that are vibrant and colorful.
If you are looking for plants to add to your garden or anywhere around your yard, drought resistant plants are an easy way to add life and give your landscape that “professionally designed” look.
Generally, drought resistant plants should be heavily mulched, as this will help them retain water during the dry, hot Arizona summer days. Flowers are one type of plant that is not usually synonymous with drought resistance, but you would be surprised as to how many different varieties there are. Whether you are looking for flowers to help spruce up a front yard flower bed or to devote a garden entirely to them, there is no shortage from which to choose. Some varieties include:
There are also different herbs that are especially drought resistant if you are looking to add a nice scent to an area of your yard. Thyme, oregano and mint are just a few varieties that are sure to be found in many gardens and landscapes across Arizona.
While these flowers and herbs are just a handful of things that can liven up an Arizona garden or landscape there are many others species and varieties of plants that could work. Have you had success gardening or designing your landscape in Arizona or another desert climate. Let us know in the comments!