Differences Between Xeric and Mesic Plants

             Many homeowners don’t know the names of plants in their yards or landscapes. Most can look at a plant and know if it is a tree, shrub, or flower but not its name much less how often it should be watered and with how much.

This pyracantha was known as a "plant with berries" to a homeowner trying to calculate its landscape water use. Pyracantha does have berries but it is considered "mesic" in its need for water.

Xeric plants vs Mesic plants

Lower water use trees, shrubs and flowers are watered less often. They should get the same amount of water when they are irrigated but don’t need it as often. That’s how xeric, or lower water use, plants operate.

            One way to find out if an unnamed plant is xeric is to water it less often during the cooler months. In the long run xeric plants are watered less often. That’s how they, and you, save water in landscapes. If it starts looking bad to your eyes or dies, then it is most likely not xeric.

Big Trees are Seldom Xeric

            Another method is their size. Big trees are seldom xeric. Xeric plants are not big. They tend to be smaller. The bigger xeric trees and shrubs grow where water collects; arroyos, waterways, and desert springs.

This young shoestring acacia is a 40 foot tall mesic tree from Australia that grows along waterways.

This shoestring acacia was "topped" (not done that well I might add) probably because it was getting too tall for that spot. Shortening its height will reduce its water use but not how often it needs water.

Big trees use more water than smaller trees. This is true even if you buy one that is small and it grows big when it gets older. Just like kids. You don’t know if your child will become tall or not until they get closer to that size. Oh wow…which side of the family did HE/SHE come from?

How to Reduce Water Applied to Your Landscape

            During these cooler fall months, start watering less often and see what plants start looking not so good. Try adding more drip emitters to those plants looking not as good as you are watering less often. This gives these plants more water but still less often.

Glad You Selected a California Pepper Tree

Q. I have a California pepper tree near my pool that’s constantly dropping leaves into it. I am wondering if I can lower its height so it will drop fewer leaves and stems. Anything else I should think about?

Because pepper tress are usually evergreen during warm winters in southern Nevada they will drop their leaves all season long.

A. California pepper tree is a better selection than Brazilian pepper. But they are both evergreen and can pose a problem near water that you want to keep clean. Evergreen plants constantly drop leaves all season long but drop their leaves heaviest soon after times of new growth. A deciduous tree that drops its leaves for the winter months is a better choice near pools because you clean the pool only once.

Read more about pepper trees here

Make Sure its Not Water

Make sure it’s not dropping leaves because of a lack of water. Increase the amount of water and the frequency of application to make sure it’s not dropping its leaves because the soil is too dry. The recommended frequency of water application by water purveyors is correct for mesic trees growing in landscapes. Check to make sure enough water is applied each time to penetrate the soil 18 to 24 inches deep. Make sure that water is applied to at least half the area under the tree canopy. Water again when the soil at 8 to 10 inches deep is about half full of water or starting to dry out. To reduce soil evaporation and we growth, apply a surface mulch of rock or woodchips to a depth of 2 to 3 inches.

            Also remember to apply water on, or just before, windy days. Use your weather app on your phone to judge when it will be windy in the future.

You're Right

            You’re right in that lowering the trees height decreases the amount of leaves and stems you must clean up, but evergreen trees are still going to drop leaves at inconvenient times of the year. If you decide to lower the trees height rather than replace the trees, then pay the extra expense to have it done correctly by a licensed arborist. Not all licensed arborists are good at pruning trees. See some examples of their work before you employ them.

Please Dont Prune Your Palo Verde LIke This

I was dumbfounded. I saw it from the bus.