House on the Hill 7

Common name:Oleander
Botanical name:Nerium oleander

Oleander is a dense, upright evergreen shrub that grows quickly to 6' x 4'. Leaves are dark green, leathery, and glossy. Accepts reflected sun. Flowers appear spring to fall. Excellent screen. Good summer color. Native to the Mediterranean.

Common name:Blue Palo Verde
Botanical name:Parkinsonia floridum

Upright, desert tree to 30' x 30'. Will grow moderately fast with monthly irrigation. Trees bloom profusely in spring with clusters of bright yellow blossoms. Can be drought or cold deciduous. Blooms before Cercidium microphyllum. Branches form erect rounded graceful tree usually low branching. Great nesting for native birds. Native to the Sonoran desert.

Soils and Compost:

Practice grass-cycling by leaving short grass clippings on lawns after mowing, so that nutrients and organic matter are returned to the soil.

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.