AFM: If a plant is beginning to die in the summer heat, is it salvageable? If so, what can be done to save it?
NJ: Plants that are newly planted and are ill-suited to the hot, arid climate will usually start to show signs of stress when the summer arrives. In most cases, they should be removed since they are unlikely to do well in the desert climate. Most native and arid-adapted plants can be saved if a few steps are taken. First, make sure that they are being watered at the correct frequency and depth (new plants will need to be watered more frequently than established plants). The second step you can take is to provide temporary shade using shade cloth or placing a patio chair to shield it from the afternoon sun. Next, determine if the plant is located in the wrong place—for example, if it needs a shadier spot to grow in, you may want to try to transplant it in winter, when temperatures are cool.
AFM: What other tips are there for enabling plants to have the best chance of survival in these hot summer temperatures? Any special soil or food that can be given to the plants?
NJ: Select plants that are native or adapted to the desert climate. There are many beautiful plants that thrive despite temperature extremes in the desert. Don't waste time, money and resources with plants that are ill-suited to the desert. Avoid fertilizing plants in the summer, which causes them to divert resources that they use to cope with the heat. Mulching around plants can help keep the soil cooler and prevent water from evaporating quickly.
AFM: What are some of the best heat-resistant plants to invest in for the summer months?
NJ: Angelita Daisy (Hymenoxysacaulis), Artichoke Agave (Agave parryi var. truncata'), Blue Bells (Eremophilahygrophana), Bougainvillea, Damianita (Chrysactiniamexicana), Desert Ruellia (Ruelliapeninsularis), Desert Willow (Chilopsislinearis), Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemoneatonii), Murphy Agave (Agave murpheyi), Red Yucca (Hesperaloeparviflora), Texas Sage (Leucophyllumfrutescens) and Valentine (Eremophilamaculata 'Valentine').
Noelle Johnson is a horticulturist and certified arborist who lives and gardens in the desert southwest. Growing up in Southern California, it wasn't until she married and moved to Arizona that she began to try her hand at gardening. She received her degree in urban horticulture and went to work managing landscapes for golf courses and later working as a landscape designer.
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