El Paso Desert Botantical Gardens 1

Common name:Sprawling Prickly Pear
Botanical name:Opuntia phaeacantha

This attractive cactus grows slowly to 3' x 3'. It has sage-green pads and yellow-orange flowers that bloom in summer. It is extremely drought tolerant. Accepts full sun to partial shade. Needs good drainage.

Common name:Deer Grass
Botanical name:Muhlenbergia rigens

Mounding grass that grows quickly to 4' x 4'. Leaves are medium green and turns tan in fall. Tall flower spikes appear in fall they start out green and dry to tan. Accepts full sun or partial shade. Very frost tolerant. This is a versatile grass with lush foliage and interesting flowers. Great for softening a landscape. Native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico.

Soils and Compost:

Incorporate compost 6" into your soil to retain water, reduce compaction, feed earthworms, and provide valuable nutrients to your plants.

Water Saving Tip:

Different areas of your landscape have different water requirements.

Shrubs need much less water than lawns and drip systems should never be scheduled on the same program with lawns.

Establish separate watering schedules for those areas.

Integrated Pest Management:

Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.