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Make the Summer Monsoons Work for Your Yard

Arizona’s summer monsoons provide the desert with much-needed water, but that water is not always put to the best use. You can ensure that your landscape takes advantage of monsoon rainwater, and save on your water bill for the summer, with helpful steps below.

Invest in a Collection System

Rainwater collection systems are a great way to take the water falling off your roof or directly from the sky and contain it in a large barrel. Most barrel collection systems will be placed under or attached to a downspout off your house’s gutters. The rainwater will travel down the roof and into one or more barrels. The water can then be used to water plants in the yard or in pots. This water can also be used for drinking water, but it must be properly sanitized before consumption.

Set up Rainwater Irrigation

You can also take greater advantage of monsoon rain by setting up irrigation hoses throughout your property. These hoses will be attached to the collection barrels or directly to the downspouts. As long as the hoses are on a downgrade toward your lawn or garden, then the water will easily flow into basins for maximum water collection at the roots. This method can be best used watering your plants that require more water and are still growing.

Work with Expert Landscapers

Working with a landscaper experienced in Southwest climates and landscapes will be the best choice to ensure your yard takes full advantage of monsoon rains. Southwestern landscapers can properly grade your property so the water flows to your plants, and they can help you choose drought-resistant plants that can survive when water is scarce.

Santa Rita Landscaping can help you have a beautiful and water-conservative yard in Tucson, AZ. We have been working in Tucson since 1985, and our founders have experience and degrees in Tucson water conservation. Please call us at (520) 623-0421 to learn how we can help make the monsoons work for you.

Look at Your Different Hardscaping Options

Hardscapes are a great addition to every landscape, because they allow for places to walk, sit, and provide shade. You can add pavers, decks, pergolas, and so much more to make your landscape more attractive. Let’s take a closer look at your hardscaping options.

Pavers

There are countless types of pavers that can be used for a patio, walkway, or driveway. Paving stones—such as Turfstone-Permeable pavers and Non-Tumbled Catalina Valencia pavers—can provide a natural or classic look to your landscape.

Fences

Fences come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Even if you have a cement block wall surrounding your property, you can enhance the landscape with smaller fences around a garden, patio, or pool. If you design a fence to surround a pool, then ensure it meets the requirements set forth by state safety regulations.

Decks

Decks are another type of patio that are typically raised above the rest of the property. Decks are a great addition if you want a greater view of your entire landscape or pool area. They are also a great fit for smaller backyards to give you more room for your landscaping.

Arbors

Keep your paved walkways shaded with arbors located around the property. These quaint hardscape additions are generally made in a lattice construction to allow for climbing and vining plants. This is a beautiful hardscape option to provide shade and areas for attractive greenery throughout your yard.

Pergolas

Pergolas, gazebos, and ramadas are larger hardscape structures that usually provide shade and a place for furniture. Pergolas are like arbors, because they may have a slatted or lattice roof that climbing plants can be trained to cover.

Learn about all your hardscape options with the knowledgeable landscaping crew of Santa Rita Landscaping. We specialize in commercial and residential landscape design and construction, so we know the best hardscapes for Tucson, AZ. Please call us at (520) 623-0421 to get started.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

 

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a lush oasis that is nestled next to Prospect Park in the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York. When you take your next trip to the city, be sure to tour the amazing landscaping and exotic plants that are featured throughout the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s extensive grounds. Let’s review some of the highlights that you can expect to see when you make a visit to the BBG.

Cherry Blossoms

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is widely acclaimed for its beautiful cherry blossoms, which come to life each spring. In fact, the Flowering Cherry Collection at the Garden includes 26 different species of flowering cherries. Before you make a visit to see the blooms, you can check their interactive maps to see which trees are currently flowering.

Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

Another top attraction at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is their Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. This remarkable garden has been landscaped with features that are inspired by ancient gardens in Japan. As you stroll through this section of the gardens, you will enjoy the tranquil sight of waterfalls, reflecting pools, and beautiful foot bridges. At the center of the garden, a Shinto shrine provides visitors with an authentic taste of Japan.

Native Flora Garden

While the Brooklyn Botanic Garden features plants and species from all over the globe, they are also known for their native flora collection. This part of the Garden has recently been expanded to include local flowers and plants from the Hempstead Plains region of Long Island. When you visit the Native Flora Garden, you will be treated to of the natural beauty of the Long Island region.

Kew Royal Botanic Gardens

When it comes to gardens that combine rich history with gorgeously lush growth, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens are near the top of the list. These gardens put plants and fungi in the spotlight, and they represent the incredible diversity of plant life. Attractions like a tall treetop canopy and a few areas that are designed for children make the trip even more fulfilling, so keep reading to learn about the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.

Plants and Fungi
If you’re looking for diversity, the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens will not disappoint. The Gardens have a wider variety of living plants than any other botanical garden, so you’ll have to spend quite a long time there before you get bored. You’ll find plants from all different kinds of climates, from tropical to alpine. In addition, there are thousands of trees to admire during your visit, and some of them are too rare or old to find in many other areas.

Treetop Walkway
With so much to see, you may be wondering how you can feast your eyes on all that Kew Royal Botanic Gardens has to offer. The Treetop Walkway gives you a breathtaking vantage point and allows you to walk amongst the trees for an up close look. The Walkway is 200 meters long and 18 meters off the ground, making for an exhilarating experience.

Kids’ Areas
Kew is for kids and adults alike, but some areas are specifically geared towards children. There are several play areas, a natural area, and glasshouses to enjoy.

Choosing the Right Plants to Add Color to Your Desert Garden

The Southwest desert is filled with color from beautiful cacti to green trees to blooming plants. You can add this color to your property with a few hardy plants that do well in Tucson’s sun and water conditions. Here is a brief look at some colorful and beautiful desert plants for your garden:

Yellow Columbine – Salvia Greggii
Yellow columbine flowers are dainty in appearance, but they are tough against Arizona’s heat. These pretty, yellow flowers can grow to about three feet tall, and they attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. Your landscaper can also encourage year-round blooms by deadheading the dead flowers.

Lantana Montevidensis
Lantana Montevidensis are a type of groundcover plant that produces dark red blooms. Groundcover plants are a great choice for your desert garden if you frequently have encroaching weeds. Even when the Lantana Montevidensis are not blooming, the groundcover foliage is still attractive and productive in your garden.

Bunny Ears Cactus
There are many types of flowering cactus that will add color to your garden. If you typically stay away from cactus due to the spines, then bunny ears cactus is the right choice. This evergreen cactus rarely has spines, and it produces large yellow flowers throughout the spring and summer.

Agastaches – Red Yucca Hesperaloe Parviflora
Agastaches can add a variety of colors to your desert garden throughout the summer. This plant is drought-resistant, and it can produce orange, red, and apricot colors in its tubular blooms. Agastaches may grow to four feet tall, and they thrive best in full sun.

Indian Paintbrush – Baja Fairy Duster Calliandra Californica
Indian paintbrush plants can keep your garden colorful from spring into the winter frost. They attract hummingbirds with their bright red blooms, and they do well in full sun and low-water conditions.

Work with Tucson’s best landscapers by calling Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. We can help you design a beautiful desert garden to add color to your property. Visit our website and give us a call to learn more about our extensive history and relationship with Tucson and the Southwest.