50 MARCH 2018 Arc A d A News By Rachael Bouley Springtime sunshine is upon us, and that means it’s time to kick your gardening into high gear! Many people get excited about spring gardening, but it can be difficult to keep track of all the do’s and don’ts of growing beautiful plants and flowers. Luckily, experts from two local nurseries have provided the following advice on how to grow your best garden yet. When you’re preparing for plants and flowers, it’s important to keep in mind the unique desert climate we live in. Carolyn Hills from Arcadia Color Garden Nursery says you shouldn’t plant according to the dates on seed packets, because they are meant for the entire country. Instead, the dry and hot Phoenix weather means you should follow the dates outlined by Maricopa County Master Gardener calendars. These guides are available online at https://goo.gl/AHv8tX and include many of the most popular vegetables and flowers, and detail when you should plant and how long it will take to harvest. “Everything else on the seed packet is good, but the dates do not match our particular climate in Phoenix,” Hills said. “What may be great in the summer somewhere else does not grow well here.” There are actually many plants that like to grow in the spring heat, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra and squashes. When in doubt, head to your local garden center. “Go to a reputable nursery because they are only going to carry what works here, whereas big box stores stock their stuff based on the whole United States,” Hills added. As for flowers, Hills suggests Zinnias, Sunflowers and Cosmos. She also loves Coleus with its beautiful, multicolored leaves that do well in shady spots. “Now is not the time to be planting leafy greens like lettuce or kale,” Hills said. “Basically, we hit 100 degrees and they stress out and die. We should plant them in the fall in the cool season, because in the spring it’s just too hot.” While many plants and flowers need the sunshine to thrive, Arizona can be a bit extreme. Once temperatures hit triple digits, you should consider purchasing a shade cloth that will minimize heat stress on the plants. Some of the biggest problems the Color Garden staff sees are caused by watering or fertilizing mistakes. Gardeners with any concerns are encouraged to bring photos into the nursery to determine the best solution. Now is also the time to start planting trees, shrubs and roses, before the scorching temperatures hit, according to Melinda Walton from Berridge Nursery. She says people often make the mistake of trying to force plants into the garden too late. “Sometimes in the spring, people wait too long to plant things, and that’s probably the biggest problem,” Walton said. “If you’re going to try and force a plant into an exposure, you need to do that in the fall, not the spring.” Walton also says the key to success is watering longer but less frequently. This will get the plant accustomed to going longer between watering sessions, which encourages deeper root growth and reduces salt build up. Watching for pests and diseases is another good idea. “It’s easier to stop them now than wait until the problem becomes much greater,” Walton said. “Oftentimes when people have pest problems they think the plant is just going to die, but in many cases it’s easily treatable and there are simple solutions to treat certain pests.” Lastly, gardeners who make time for their plants are better able to encourage stronger root systems and healthier leaves. In turn, this attention and care makes plants better resistant to diseases and sets you up for a gorgeous garden! Tips and tricks for springtime gardening Novice gardeners need to keep Phoenix’s unique climate in mind before planting. A Challenging, College-prep STEM Middle School We prepare our scholars for admission to top STEM High Schools and Colleges: MIT, Cal-Tech, Stanford and Harvard! ■ SySTEM is the only exclusively STEM middle school in Central Phoenix. ■ Focused on the specific needs of middle school aged students during their formative years. ■ Diverse student population, only 150 students school wide, small classes. ■ Free laptops ■ Free after school clubs: Biotech, Girl/Boy Scouts, Coding, Robotics, Leadership, Orchestra, and more ■ Free breakfast, lunch, and snack for ALL students ■ PLUS: Free top college visits for students every year around the country. systemschools.org 1301 E. Almeria Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006 | 602.710.1873 ALWAYS STUNNING SCOTTSDALE | 480.850.7777 | TALKINGSTICKRESORT.COM Online reservations available. Locally owned and caringly operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Dine in style with world-class entrées and wines, live entertainment and unparalleled views of the McDowell Mountains. 16571-5_TSR_OrangeSkyLifestyle_5x6.indd 1 9/19/17 2:05 PM

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