Oasis Garden 10

Common name:Prairie Verbena, Sandpaper V.
Botanical name:Glandularia rigida (Verbena)

Perennial groundcover grows quickly to 2' x 4'. It has rough, dark green leaves and vivid purple flowers spring through summer. When it starts to look ragged, cut it back to the ground. Will even bloom some during winters. Produces color over a long season. Perhaps the hardiest of the verbenas. Native to South America, but it has naturalized across the southwest.

Common name:Ornamental Crabapple
Botanical name:Malus (In Variety)

Malus is a large group of deciduous trees that have ornamental fruit or berries. Malus is known for its outstanding white, pink or red flowers that may have a musky scent in spring. Leaves appear after bloom period, usually pointed but roundish and fuzzy found in green to purple colors. During summer, small red, orange or yellow apples appear; they can be edible, decorative or both. This tree does best in well draining fertile soil and needs winter chill. It is prone to disease. It can be espaliered.

Soils and Compost:

Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.

Water Saving Tip:

Remember to check your irrigation system at least once a month, especially your valves, sprinkler heads, and drip emitters.

Integrated Pest Management:

Attract, or buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to control pest outbreaks in your garden.