Xtremehorticulture of the Desert

Q. We Live in the Phoenix, Arizona area and have two 10'x10' planters made of pavers and want to plant ‘Red Push’ Chinese Pistache i...

Thinning fruit, or fruit removal so the remaining fruit become larger, does not have to be a mystery. It is a management process that you mu...

Learn why Bottle trees are NOT desert trees, managing spider mites in home landscapes and the reasons for the yellowing of plants growing in...

Our light intensity is very strong in the desert. Some thin barked trees and shrubs get sunburned if they don't have enough protection...

As I was walking my property, I was thinking about landscape maintenance contractors and what they should be doing when going from job to jo...

Q. I found your blog, Xtremehorticulture of the Desert, and hoping you can tell me if my tree is a Bay Laurel or not. I looked at pictures o...

Q. The bottom layer of my palm fronds turned an orange - yellow color almost overnight. Is this from too much water or not enough water? ...

            I had reports sent to me about peach trees with yellow leaves on a single branch. You might see this on other fruit trees such...

Q. We have three Japanese Blueberry trees in our yard: two in the back and one in the front.   All three have dead branches that snap off wh...

Q. How often should I water my trees and shrubs with all this heat. The weather got hot so quickly, I’m not sure when to water. I have a Cal...

Q. I recently harvested my garlic crop, wrapped it in burlap, and hung it up to dry.   How long should I let it dry in the Vegas heat? Last ...

Q. I have a 2-year old Flavor Supreme pluot and a four-year old Flavor King pluot. Recently my Santa Rosa plum (their pollinator) died from ...

            I am getting quite a few emails about cacti dying, particularly agave. Some are guessing the culprits are ants, diseases and o...

Q. I have a Mexican Bird of Paradise and ‘Sun Trumpet’ Tacoma plant growing close together. Both have deformed, dwarfed growth, and damage...

Q. I applied Bonide Tree and Shrub insect control for borers and miners about six weeks ago. Now my plants are growing weird and possibly d...

Q. I am growing hot peppers in big plastic pots with soil for vegetables I bought from a local nursery. The plants grow fine but the blosso...

Q. I have an Ocotillo plant that is now sprouting beautiful flowers and leaves. I have been watering it with a mist spray near the top. Now...

Q. I received a Thornless Blackberry plant as a gift from an online nursery. Can I grow this blackberry bush in our yard? We have lots of r...

Q. I want to give my son a housewarming gift of a Butterfly Bush for his new home in Summerlin. Would there be any special care for growing...

Q. Several years ago I purchased a Raywood Ash and I have been pruning off infected branches at the beginning of each season. Last week so...