Pansies - The Barometer of Tucson's Potted Gardens

Did you see the temperature forecast for this week? It looks like we are finally making it to fall in Tucson! I have always held off our winter annual plantings for our clients until the last week of October. Yes, the flowers are in the nurseries at the beginning of the month and yes, landscapers are planting wildly around town. However, typically we have a high heat spell mid-month and by the end of the month the nighttime temperatures creep under the 60 degree mark.


The reason for the delay is that pansies and violas need those cooler nights to thrive. We want them to last until May through any freezing weather we have. To give them a strong start, we cannot tire them out with high nighttime temps.

...and no - I am not a meteorologist. I do not track the weather except in my memory. In my 14 years in business where I attend a mid-October Octoberfest, I know more years than not, it has been in the 90's for that event. If it is too hot for me to stand out in the sun all day, I know it is too hot for my pansies too!

Need help with your potted gardens? Send me an email and I will be happy to make some recommendations. Also, check out my free potted garden classes this Saturday (Oct 29) I will be talking about creating potted cactus and succulent gardens. Visit  the class link for more information.

Fall is in the air - but watch the return of 90 degrees

Getting Ready for a Party!
Planting and Picture by Martha of The Contained Gardener

The mornings are beautiful! It is certainly a joy to go outside. After our unseasonably cool weather last week, watch out for the temps creeping back up this weekend. I still want to wait another week before planting some of the young tender annual flowers like pansies and violas.

Our flowers are going to start arriving this week! What a glorious time it is to see them all in the yard as we prepare them to go out to our clients' homes and businesses! I will post some pictures so you can enjoy it right along with me!

Shoot me an email if you have any questions!

Fix your landscapes potted gardens now and save!

Have you been away all summer or stayed right here in the Hot Ole Pueblo? Either way, your patio landscape may be suffering and I want to help!

 Email me to take advantage of this offer or call today to make your appointment.

If your gardens don't look like this, you may be throwing your money in the compost heap. We can help by doing it for you or come to our free classes!

Click here for more information on this Saturday's classes. Be sure to scroll down the page for the complete class schedule.

Free Container Gardening Classes - beginning this Saturday!

Saturday, September 17 - Free Classes

8:30 AM  Enhance Your Outdoor Living Spaces 

Your patios, porches and courtyards are extensions of your home as outdoor “rooms” to enjoy, use for entertaining or just for a restful break. 

Learn how to think about and plan these areas with potted gardens to define these rooms, add some dramatic impact with structural plants or maximize a small space.

9:30 AM  Successful Planting in Pots

When planting in containers, there is a definite method for plant survival, particularly in Tucson’s challenging climate. Learn our tried and true techniques to planting successful potted gardens in and for all seasons.

Classes are 45 minutes in length and are held back-to-back in our air-conditioned studio.

Register on our website, email me or by call 733-3359

The Contained Gardener 

2522 E Ft Lowell Rd, Tucson 85716

Just east of Tucson Blvd. Park in the gravel parking lot, studio in the rear of the building.

Potted Gardens - without abundant monsoons

Our monsoon flow has been pretty minimal over the last 10 days. This means our plants are showing signs of a struggle in the heat again. Be sure to give them some TLC and water aplenty during our continued high heat.

Do not fall into a sense of complacency though - be prepared for a monsoon storm. Batten down the hatches as I expect that we will see one this week. NO - I am not a meteorologist so don't go running off to the bank on that comment. :) It just seems that we are due for a storm and in tracking our local meteorologists, the systems are setting themselves up for one.

Have a great day and take time to enjoy the early mornings before the heat hits.

How much water is enough for your potted plants?

Be sure that you have enough rain to stop watering plants. Here are some implications if you jump too fast to just turn it off:

1. Are some pots under cover where they do not get rain? If you turn off the irrigation, they will dry out pretty quickly.
2. A deluge of 15 minutes of rain will not deeply soak your pots. Check to see how wet they are 6-8" into the soil for annuals and 10-16" down for perennials, shrubs and trees.
3. Your pots of flowers are getting daily watering. One day of good rain means you might be able to take a break for one day - not beyond that.

Be Mindful! Check your pots!!
 Keep in mind other Monsoon Cautions:

• Dump standing water to reduce mosquito populations.
• Anchor pots to reduce the risk of tipping over in high winds.
• The same goes for all furniture and patio belongs.
• Heed monsoon warnings and travel safely!

 

How Large is Large?

In the world of pots that is! With Tucson’s desert climate, the smallest suggested size for a potted garden in the sun begins at 18 inches. I add to this recommendation that the measurement is the interior diameter of the pot.  To give your plants a fair chance at survival, they need enough soil to hold moisture and insulate them from the heat.

Too often I speak with people looking for help with what to plant in their pots and when I ask what size they are, they say they are very large. I ask them to define that and the answer is 16 or 18”. In my world of potted designs, this is a small to medium pot.

How large is large? Try this on for size:

16-18” Medium

20-23” Large

24-28” Extra Large and so on.

The biggest pot you can put in the space is the one you want!! The bigger the better in the desert!

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Have a question? Just email Marylee!