If you’ve lived in Tucson for a while, then you know that we do get below freezing several times throughout the winter months. All it takes is one especially cold evening to deliver a crippling blow to your garden. As long as you keep an eye on the weather report and take the appropriate measures, you should be able to keep your garden intact until spring. Here are a few tips for protecting your desert plants this winter:

Choose Cold-Tolerant Plants

When choosing plants for your landscape, it’s important to be realistic. If you plant delicate varieties, you shouldn’t expect them to make it through the winter. Instead, you should choose plants that are well adapted to the Southwest climate. Autumn sage, bunny ears cactus, and red yucca are just a few beautiful plants that should thrive in your Tucson garden. To learn more about cold-resistant plants, consult your landscaper. 

Use Frost Blankets

If it gets cold enough, even your cold-tolerant plants may not survive without the proper protection. If the temperature is slated to get well below freezing overnight, you should consider putting frost blankets over your garden. Several different manufacturers offer special frost blankets, though you can also use old blankets or bed sheets. Never use plastic as it is not a good insulator. Be sure to put a light beneath the blankets to generate additional heat, and remove the tarp in the morning so your plants can get some sun. 

If you have any questions about how to keep your plants alive this winter, call Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. Our three owners have over 75 years of combined experience in the landscaping business, and their love of the craft shows in their work.

With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s time to celebrate with beautiful lights, decorations, and of course holiday plants. We’ve put together a list of our favorite holiday plants to brighten up your home, business, or outdoor space.

1. Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

The classic Christmas bloom, potted red Poinsettias, will bring the holiday spirit into your home. You can start this plant inside your home or office and then transfer it outdoors to complement your landscaping after the danger of frost has passed. For optimal outdoor growth and flowering, plant Poinsettias during the fall and water minimally.

2. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)

Christmas Cactus is a long-lasting, colorful cactus with varieties in reds, whites, and pinks. These cacti do best in cooler temperatures.

3. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

The aroma of fresh Rosemary will put you in the holiday mood. Rosemary’s use in many holiday recipes also makes this plant a great choice for chefs or as a hostess gift when visiting family and friends. Place in a sunny environment both indoors and out. Keep the soil moist but not wet. This hardy plant can make a beautiful addition to your outdoor desert landscaping.

4. Amaryllis (AmaryllisHippeastrum)

Planting Amaryllis bulbs in the fall will result in beautiful blooms during the holiday season. Variations include red, pink, white, and orange flowers. Many people don’t realize you can get the Amaryllis to bloom repeatedly. When the leaves start to die on the first bloom, store the plant in a dark place where it won’t freeze. About 10 weeks later, you should start to see new growth. Then bring the plant back into the light and enjoy!

Thank you for a great year and we hope that you enjoy these holiday plants. Santa Rita Landscaping wishes you a great holiday season and a prosperous 2014!

Most industries hold awards ceremonies in order to recognize great work and promote excellence. Within the Arizona landscaping industry, the chief awards ceremony is the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association (ALCA) “Excellence in Landscaping” Awards. Here’s a closer look at the ALCA and how their awards ceremony recognizes the state’s finest landscapers.

The Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association

The ALCA is dedicated to providing guidance to contractors throughout Arizona. This involves education about new rules and regulations, helping contractors reduce the cost of doing business, and organizing occasional workshops. The ALCA also seeks to improve the image of the landscaping industry and provides networking opportunities for Arizona landscapers who help make properties throughout Arizona more beautiful. Any service provider that’s serious about offering their clients outstanding quality is an ALCA member.   

Excellence in Landscaping Awards

Another function of the ALCA is to recognize excellence in Arizona landscaping. Outstanding projects and firms are recognized with the Award of Excellence, Award of Distinction, Judges Award, and other special awards. The Best Sustainable Landscape Management Award goes to the firm that places an emphasis on conservation in their gardening and irrigation efforts. The Xeriscape Award recognizes a project that makes the best use of Xeriscape principles, while the Presidential Award is the ceremony’s “best in show” accolade.    

The 37^th Annual ALCA Awards

The ALCA is set to award this year’s outstanding Arizona landscapers on Saturday, November 23. The ceremony will take place at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Tucson’s own Santa Rita Landscaping will be in attendance. Having won more than 20 ALCA awards in the past, we are hoping to win a few more this year!

Santa Rita Landscaping has entered four prospects this year:

• Businger  Residence – Single Family Residential Installation
• Sokol Residence – Single Family Residential Installation
• Marcus Residence – Residential Redesign
• McMaster Residence – Residential Redesign

Wish us luck! We will keep you posted on the outcome. You can view a few of our entries on our Facebook page.

For award-winning landscaping, choose the experts at Santa Rita Landscaping. We can install a project of any size and we practice Sustainable Landscape Management in all commercial maintenance projects. Call our Tucson office at (520) 623-0421 or visit us online to learn more about our services.

When most people think of flowers, they think of springtime and warm weather. While spring certainly brings an overwhelming display, some flowers actually prefer the winter. Also, the Tucson area’s relatively warm winters make it possible for flowers to bloom here all year round. Mid-October is a great time to get annual color planted. If you’re interested in planting a beautiful winter garden, consider these annual color ideas: 

Crimson

During the winter, many Tucson residents look for warmth wherever they can get it. Achieve warmth in the garden by planting crimson cyclamen. These charming flowers can also be found in pink, salmon and other cheerful tones. 

Yellow

Use flowers to brighten up the shorter, colder, and cloudier days of winter. To bring a little bit of sun into your yard, you might plant yellow penny pansies and snapdragons. Snapdragons have a strong resistance to cold, and their large, bright blooms can give your garden personality. 

Orange

Orange is another warm color for your garden. Orange gazania, viola, and pansies are an excellent choice because they’re some of the hardiest plants available and can bloom all winter. If you’re not sure whether orange is for you, you’ll be glad to know that pansies come in many more colors. 

White

Since it rarely snows in Tucson, the best way to guarantee a white Christmas is to plant white flowers. Since white flowers are so popular, you’ll have a wide range of species to choose from, including alyssum, petunia, snapdragons, stoch, and many others. If you plant enough white flowers in your garden, it’ll at least look like a layer of snow!

Call the landscaping experts of Santa Rita Landscaping to find out how to grow a gorgeous winter garden. Since 1985, we’ve provided stellar landscaping design throughout the Tucson area. Reach us at (520) 623-0421 or visit our website to find out why we’re one of the finest landscaping companies in Tucson.

With 350 days of sunshine per year, it’s easy to forget that the temperature in Tucson can sometimes dip below freezing. Though Tucson temperatures reach freezing only a dozen or so times each year, it’s still worth protecting your landscaping by making the appropriate preparations. Below we’ll explain how covering your irrigation pipes in winter can help you avoid damage to your yard.

Frozen Pipe Dangers

Water expands when it freezes. If you let the water in your irrigation pipes freeze, the pressure inside your pipes will build until they burst, causing a considerable leak. If you fail to turn off your main water shutoff valve in time, your yard could become flooded. In a typical installation you only need to insulate the pipes above ground that are exposed to the cold weather. Also, a burst pipe will lead to a higher-than-average water bill.     

Frost Blanket Installation

To prevent your irrigation pipes from freezing and bursting, you should place frost blankets on any water pipes that are above ground. Frost blankets come in many forms for insulating pipes. You can use a true frost blanket that is made of a heavy fabric, or you can use insulated tape that you wrap on the pipe. Foam insulation and fiberglass insulation that you wrap around the pipe works well also. 

Insulation Benefits

If you’ve ever had to repair your irrigation pipe, then you know how costly and stressful it can be. Watching the weather reports and installing frost blankets at the right time can help you avoid the expense and hassle of repairing broken pipes.

To learn more about keeping your irrigation system and landscaping in good shape, call Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. We provide a number of landscape maintenance services for home and business owners throughout Tucson. Visit our website to learn how we can improve your Tucson-area landscape.