The Garden NerdYour planting proposal
This is the final plan with the changes we talked about on our walk: one ficus in the turf area, two trees north of the garage, a longer hopseed line in the back, a new hopseed hedge on the west side of the front yard, the twisted myrtle cove, and pollinator plants through the front yard and easement.
Where there are options, every choice is the same size and price, so the numbers below hold no matter which one you pick.
A few things on your end
Removals. We don't handle removals. That includes the turf, the bottlebrush along the driveway and the walkway, the cactus and agave along the block wall, the two cypress and the orange jubilee out front, and the rock along the west wall and north of the garage. Those need to be cleared before we plant. If you need someone for it, I'm happy to give you a referral.
Irrigation. We need to make sure your irrigation is working and reaches every new planting spot before anything goes in the ground. New trees and hedges depend on steady water through their first few months to root in. If you need someone to look at it, call Garrett at 480-678-9121.
Mulch. Mulch for the old turf area isn't included in this quote. We'll see if Garrett can bring that in for you.
Driveway and block wall hedge
Arizona rosewood lining the driveway, heading south to the west facing wall, north along that wall, then the full length of the south facing wall to the gate. Planted on 4 foot centers for one continuous hedge line.
Arizona Rosewood
Native and dense. It can grow up to 20 feet for height and privacy, or be kept trimmed shorter.
Shade trees
A single ficus in the center of the turf area once the turf comes out. It's a large, open space, which is exactly what a ficus nitida needs to spread out into a big shade canopy without its roots running into the house, walls, or hardscape.
North of the garage, two trees to cool that hot corner: a red push pistache on the east side and a desert ironwood on the west side.
Ficus Nitida
Dense, evergreen, and fast, with a big rounded canopy. Needs a large open area like this one to give its roots room.
Red Push Pistache
Solid summer shade, red and orange color in fall, and well behaved roots. Clean outside of one winter leaf drop.
Desert Ironwood
Native and evergreen with lavender flowers in spring. Slow and steady, and one of the toughest trees for a hot western exposure.
Hopseed along the cinder block wall
Replacing the oleander line along this hot, east facing wall, now extended a little further along the wall. Handles heat and full sun and should fill in within about two years.
Hopseed
Fast and thick. Five more than the original plan to cover the extended section of the wall.
Hedge against the house and mesquite shade
Finishing the ruellia hedge along the east side of the house, lining the outer edge of the walkway, and two mesquites, one on each side of the walkway.
The walkway border is 9 plants for now. If you decide to narrow the walkway, we'll adjust the count to fit.
Ruellia
Continuing the existing ruellia, pruned on the sides and left to grow 5 to 6 feet.
Walkway Border
Coral fountain grass, Baja fairy duster, or Texas sage. All stay a few feet tall along the walk.
Mesquite
One on each side of the walkway, starting the shade that wraps the front yard.
Hopseed hedge
A new hopseed hedge along the west side of the front yard for privacy and screening from the afternoon sun.
Hopseed
Fast, dense, and handles full western sun. Fills in as one continuous hedge.
Shade, vines, and a hidden cove
Two more mesquites across the front, creeping fig where the cypress come out, dwarf myrtle under the windows, and a longer twisted myrtle hedge.
The twisted myrtle now juts out away from the house to form a little hidden cove, so we're adding 10 more to the original 6.
Mesquite
Matching the east side for a uniform line of shade across the front.
Creeping Fig
Vine against the front wall in place of the two cypress.
Twisted Myrtle
Replaces the orange jubilee and wraps out from the house to create a hidden cove.
Dwarf Myrtle
A lower hedge against the windows that matches the twisted myrtle.
Pollinator plants
We're adding 22 pollinator plants, 5 gallon, placed sporadically through the front yard, with some out in the easement as well. Scattering them this way gives the yard a natural look and keeps something blooming for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds through the year.
Below is the full list of the pollinator plants I usually recommend. Since you like agave, I included Perry's agave. Take a look and let me know which ones you like and which ones you'd rather steer away from, and we'll build the mix from there. They're all the same price, so the number below holds no matter which ones you pick.
Perry's Agave
Tight blue gray rosettes that hold their shape year round. Great in small groups.
Baja Fairy Duster
Red puffball flowers most of the year. A hummingbird magnet.
Pink Fairy Duster
Native, with soft pink puffball flowers in spring.
Globe Mallow
Orange spring flowers and soft gray foliage. Bees love it.
Penstemon
Tall spikes of tubular flowers in late winter and spring. Hummingbird favorite.
Chuparosa
Red tubular flowers winter through spring.
Autumn Sage
Red, pink, or coral flowers in spring and fall.
Greg's Mistflower
Lavender flowers that queen butterflies swarm in fall.
Desert Milkweed
Monarch host plant with pale yellow flowers.
Red Bird of Paradise
Red and orange flowers all summer.
Texas Sage
Silver foliage with purple flowers after summer rain.
Trailing Indigo Bush
Silver gray native with purple spring flowers.
Damianita
Bright yellow flowers in spring and fall.
Angelita Daisy
Tight mounds of yellow daisies nearly all year.
Blackfoot Daisy
Small white daisies spring through fall.
Desert Honeysuckle
Orange tubular flowers most of the warm season. Hummingbirds visit it constantly.
Red Yucca
Grassy clumps with tall coral flower stalks spring through fall. A hummingbird favorite and very low care.
Desert Marigold
Bright yellow daisies nearly all year. Native and loved by bees and butterflies.
Brittlebush
Silver leaves covered in yellow daisies in late winter and spring. Native and fast.
Emu Bush
Tubular flowers in winter and spring when little else is blooming. Bees and hummingbirds both use it.
Planting investment
| Backyard | |
| Arizona rosewood hedge25 plants, 5 gallon | $2,125 |
| Ficus nitida, center of the turf area1 tree, 15 gallon | $375 |
| Red push pistache and desert ironwood, north of the garage2 trees, 15 gallon | $750 |
| Hopseed, west wall19 plants, 5 gallon | $1,615 |
| Front yard, east side | |
| Ruellia house hedge6 plants, 5 gallon | $510 |
| Walkway border9 plants, 5 gallon | $765 |
| Mesquites2 trees, 15 gallon | $750 |
| Front yard, west side | |
| Hopseed hedge8 plants, 5 gallon | $680 |
| Front of house | |
| Mesquites2 trees, 15 gallon | $750 |
| Creeping fig2 plants, 5 gallon | $170 |
| Twisted myrtle16 plants, 5 gallon | $1,360 |
| Dwarf myrtle7 plants, 5 gallon | $595 |
| Front yard and easement | |
| Pollinator plants22 plants, 5 gallon | $1,870 |
| Bulk planting discount10% off planting labor, 114 plants | −$627 |
Removals, turf removal, and mulch are not included. The walkway border count may change if the walkway is narrowed, and we'll adjust the price to match.
Text me to move forwardHow we get started
- Send me your pollinator picksLet me know which plants on the list you like and which to skip.
- Confirm with a quick textLet me know you're ready to go ahead.
- We get you on the scheduleI'll send the invoice for the 50% deposit, due before we begin.
- Removals and irrigationEverything cleared and your irrigation confirmed working.
- We plantOnce removals and irrigation are done, we come out and get everything in the ground.
Monthly organic fertilizing
- Monthly liquid soil treatment. An organic blend applied across your landscape, feeding the soil biology that makes nutrients available to your plants.
- Compost three times a year. Organic matter added back to the soil to keep that biology fed, including all the new trees and hedges.
- A recap video after every visit. So you know what was done and what we're seeing.
90 day plant warranty. Anything we plant is warrantied for 90 days for active fertilizing clients. If something doesn't establish, we make it right.