Small Family Garden 5

Common name:Prairie Buffalo Grass
Botanical name:Buchloe dactyloides 'Prairie'

This perennial shortgrass grows 2-5" high and 6-12' wide. The rounded, hollow stems have gray/green curly leaves that are 1/10" wide and 2" long. This grass is very drought-resistant and turns tan in winter and lavender in autumn.

Common name:Arizona or Velvet Ash
Botanical name:Fraxinus velutina

This rounded tree will grow 30'-50' tall and has glossy, bright green leaves that turn yellow and gold in the fall. The leaves are soft and velvety, and the trunk is slender and gray. This tree is hardy to about -10 degrees F. This deciduous tree is heat tolerant and needs a moderate amount of water.

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.

Soils and Compost:

Physical weed control, including mulching, or hand removal protects the watershed from harmful chemicals.

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.