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BENEFITS OF AN OUTDOOR FIRE PIT

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Fire Pits, Landscaping.

Tucson’s cool desert nights make it the perfect place to enjoy a fire pit.  Adding a fire pit to your outdoor living space offers the perfect place to relax or enjoy the company of family and friends during social gatherings. We can help you design and install the perfect outdoor fire pit for added home value and enjoyment.

Outdoor Comfort and Enjoyment

Fire pits are designed to improve your outdoor comfort, especially at night. A fire pit will allow you to continue enjoying time spent outdoors by providing heat as well as light for your patio, deck, or yard once the sun has set and temperatures start to cool. A fire pit can also serve as the perfect place to BBQ meals, host parties, family gatherings, or simply just relax after the day’s activities are done providing a warm, safe, and welcoming environment.

Visual Appeal for Your Property

Fire pits add increased visual appeal to your property. Whether you want your fire pit to blend in with existing features or stand out as the centerpiece of your yard, there is a wide range of styles available for you to choose from. Installing a fire pit will increase the value of your home whether you plan to remain in place or are considering selling your property in the near future.

At Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc., we specialize in both landscaping and hardscaping to help you create a beautiful and appealing home or commercial property. You can reach an experienced landscaping expert in Tucson today by calling (520) 623-0421, or visit our website to check out our past projects, landscaping blog, and complete landscaping services.

PROTECTING YOUR YARD FROM SUMMER HEAT

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Irrigation Systems, Landscaping, Monsoons, Mulch.

Summer heat is here and you need to prepare your yard for the harsh conditions that come with it. Here are some recommendations on how to protect your yard this summer.

Water Timing

Now is the time to tweak your daily watering schedule to make sure your plants are receiving the water they need. Never water during the hottest times of the day, you will waste water and money since the water will dry up before it can soak into your plants. Instead, water your plants during the cooler mornings and evenings, so they can receive the most benefits. Set up an irrigation system or sprinkler to water your plants during these cooler times.

Mulching

Mulch provides an added layer of insulation that surrounds your plants and trees. This layer keeps the soil moist and it protects your plants’ roots from hot temperatures. There are many types of mulch that will benefit your plants and can also add some color to your yard.  A common mulch to use would be gravel. You may also consider grass clippings, wood mulch, straw, compost, and shredded newspaper.

Shade

Sensitive plants need protective shade in the summer heat. Their leaves can get sunburned and stop flowering if they become overheated. You can provide protection by placing a shade cloth over sensitive plants and gardens during the hottest part of the day. Your landscaper can recommend ultraviolet-rated plant covers, shade trees, and patio umbrellas to keep your plants protected.

Work with Santa Rita Landscaping to keep your yard protected and beautiful year-round in Tucson, AZ. We have over 30 years in business as Tucson’s premier landscapers, so we know how to keep Tucson plants healthy. Please call us at (520) 623-0421 to schedule our services.

How to Prepare Your Yard for Monsoons

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Citrus Trees, Landscaping, Monsoons.

The arrival of the monsoons brings heavy rains and high winds that can cause serious damage to your landscaping. Roadways flood roofs leak, and without the right preparation, your landscape could suffer the consequences. We’ll help you prepare your landscape for the upcoming storms.

Staking Out Trees

If you’ve ever gone camping, you know to stake out your tent in case of excess wind. Preparing your trees for the monsoon season follows the same basic principle—  younger, fast-growing trees need to be staked out with guy wire for stability. Small trees can be staked using two lodgepole stakes to stabilize them. Trees over a year old can benefit from guy wires too. For maximum stability, trees should be staked out at three separate points that are out of range of the root system.

If you are unsure of how to stake your trees, consult a landscaper to help you secure your trees during the monsoon. You may want to have the ties and stakes adjusted or removed when the monsoon storms are over since tree growth can be inhibited by ties.

Trimming Trees

Monsoon storms can create wind gusts. You will see large tree branches blowing when winds are at 30 miles per hour. When wind speed increases, the entire tree will move to cause structural damage.  Winds above 50 miles per hour can uproot an entire tree.

You can control how your trees are prepared for these wind gusts. Trim back branches and thin out treetops to improve how much wind can pass through them. Decreasing this resistance may give your trees a better chance of surviving the monsoon and staying rooted.

Call Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421 to find out how we can help you prepare your landscaping for the summer monsoon. We have been serving Tucson’s landscaping needs for 28 years.

YOUR ESTABLISHED CACTI CAN USE A LITTLE HELP

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Cactus / Saguaro, Landscaping.

Many homeowners chose to landscape their grounds with local plants native to the Sonoran Desert, including succulents and cacti. Here are some ways of caring for these desert floras through the hot summer months:

TYPES OF CACTI

Although the saguaro is the most iconic type of cactus in the desert region, Arizona features many more species. Prickly pears, with their large, flat arms, barrel cacti produce many colorful, small blooms in the spring and agaves add great architectural elements.

CACTI RECEIVE LITTLE MAINTENANCE

Cacti have evolved to thrive in the harsh environments of the desert, making them a hardy plant that requires little maintenance. They need to be fed once or twice per year and need plenty of sunlight and a small amount of water to grow and bloom.

WATERING YOUR CACTI

Although they are hardy to our dry environment, cacti still require some water to stay healthy. Cacti will appreciate a gallon or two of water every other week in the months of May and June.

During the hot summer months before the monsoon season, you should water your cacti once every couple of weeks to make sure that they don’t stress.

PROTECTING YOUR CACTI

Cacti can get sunburned when newly transplanted even though they are desert plants. If you notice yellow or brown spots on cacti, cover them with shade cloth to protect them from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Santa Rita Landscaping of Tucson can help you take good care of any cacti on your property, and even plant news one for you. With over 75 years of combined experience maintaining landscapes in the Old Pueblo, we know how to care for all types of cacti. Call us today at (520) 623-0421 to inquire about our services.

WHEN TO FERTILIZE YOUR SHRUBS

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Fertilizing Trees, Landscaping.

Diverse and resilient, shrubs can add new life to your home’s landscape.  By following the proper steps for fertilization, your shrubs will stay vibrant.  Here are some fertilization techniques for shrubs:

 FERTILIZE ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS

A good way to remember a fertilization schedule for your shrubs is by using the major holidays during the warm months of the year. You should fertilize on Easter, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day to keep your shrubs looking great all year round.

CHOOSING A FERTILIZER

Make sure you select a good general-purpose fertilizer. We recommend a granular fertilizer for regular use.  It is easy to use with no mixing required.  Select granular fertilizer that contains around 10% Nitrogen (N), 10% Phosphorus (P), and 10% Potassium (K), (10-10-10).  Granular Fertilizer is usually very concentrated, so make sure to follow the directions. Apply the fertilizer evenly around the plant from the trunk to the outer edge of the plant canopy.  Don’t pile it up in one spot. Granular Fertilizer dissolves slowly over time.   It is a good idea to give the plant a good watering before and after application.

POOR FERTILIZATION SIGNS

Yellow leaves on a plant is a sign of poor fertilization as well as the absence of blooms on flowering shrubs, thinning of leaves, and weakened branches.  You may have to change your pruning routine for your shrubs and adjust watering as well as selecting a new fertilizer to solve these problems.

For more tips on caring for your Tucson, Green Valley, or Oro Valley home’s landscape, consult Santa Rita Landscaping today. You can explore our custom residential design and commercial maintenance services by visiting our website or calling us at (520) 623-0421.