Kim Kletscher
Here's the next round of planting for your yard: a Texas olive in the rose bed, a new small tree west of the desert willow, three citrus along the backyard side wall, and a mesquite out front by the driveway. All of it can go in together, and I'll stop by Friday to finalize the details with you.
Rose Bed
Texas olive, center of the bedThis is the Texas olive I mentioned. It goes right in the middle of the rose bed. It loves full sun, puts out big white trumpet flowers on and off from spring through fall, and stays a manageable size, usually topping out around 15 to 20 feet and getting there slowly. As it fills in, it gives the roses a bit of filtered shade during the hottest part of the day, which roses in the Valley really appreciate in summer.
It can tie into the existing irrigation line that was run when we planted the roses, so there's no new line needed for this one.
Texas Olive
Big white flowers spring through fall, evergreen, 15 to 20 feet. Handles full sun and heat, and takes less water than trees that aren't desert adapted.
New Tree West of the Desert Willow
Small, deciduousThis tree can't get large, because we don't want too much shade sitting directly in front of the hopseed. That's why I'm leaning deciduous here. These trees give you summer shade when it counts, then drop their leaves in winter so the hopseed gets full sun through the cooler months and keeps filling in.
You've got a few ways to go. Whichever you pick, it goes in as a 15 gallon.
Move Your Existing Desert Willow
We relocate the other desert willow, the one that isn't growing as fast as you'd like, into this spot. A fresh start with good soil prep often gets a slow tree moving. No new tree to buy.
Add Another Desert Willow
Leave the existing one where it is and add a new one here. Native, trumpet flowers through the warm months that hummingbirds love, deciduous in winter, 15 to 25 feet.
Chaste Tree (Vitex)
Purple flower spikes through summer, 15 to 20 feet, and bees love it. It does lose its leaves in winter and doesn't look great during that stretch, so know that going in.
Kidneywood
Native to our area, with fragrant white flower spikes that draw butterflies and bees. Stays small, around 10 to 15 feet, with light, airy foliage that won't heavily shade the hopseed. Deciduous in winter.
If you go with Option A and we move your existing desert willow, there's no charge for this zone.
Citrus Along the Backyard Side Wall
Backyard, side yardThree citrus trees along the side wall. First we pull the rock back away from the wall, put in a border to hold it there, and lay mulch down over the planting area. Mulch keeps the soil cooler and holds moisture where rock bakes it, and that makes a real difference for citrus roots. I'll stop by Friday to go over the specifics of the border with you.
These come from Greenfield Citrus as 16 inch B&B trees. Their B&B trees are different from what most nurseries sell. A 16 inch B&B is the equivalent of planting a 25 gallon tree, so you're starting with a much more established tree. We'll space them about 8 feet apart so each one has room to fill out.
You get to pick the types. Greenfield is where we source all of our citrus. They're the best place in Arizona for it and have a lot of good options. Their website lists the characteristics of every variety (size, fruit, harvest season), so browse greenfieldcitrus.com and choose the three you want. You can mix and match.
Citrus, Your Choice
16 inch B&B from Greenfield Citrus, about the size of a 25 gallon tree. Choose any three varieties from their site.
Pulling back the rock, the border, and the mulch will be finalized when I stop by Friday and aren't included in the total yet.
Front Yard Mesquite
Northeast side of the drivewayA mesquite on the northeast side of the driveway. I like native velvet mesquite for this. It supports local wildlife in ways the hybrids don't, gives you wide, filtered shade, and once it's established it takes far less water than trees that aren't desert adapted. It goes in as a 15 gallon, staked at install.
Velvet Mesquite
Native shade tree with filtered, open canopy, 20 to 30 feet. Fragrant spring catkins and a favorite of native bees and birds.
Your Planting Quote
6 trees, installedPlants and Planting
If we move your existing desert willow instead of adding a new tree in Zone 02, the total is $2,430. Rock pull-back, border, and mulch along the citrus wall get finalized Friday and are added then. Irrigation is not included.
Every tree goes in with native soil and a little compost in the hole, compost on top of the soil, and mulch over that, kept back a foot from the trunk. As a fertilizing client, everything we plant comes with a 90 day warranty.
50% deposit to schedule: $1,402.50, with the balance due when planting is done.
Text us to get scheduledQuick Reference
Citrus
Greenfield Citrus Nursery, greenfieldcitrus.com
Irrigation
Garrett, 480-678-9121
Questions
Text us anytime at 480-253-9261