Queen Palm Trees

Queen palms, unlike Mexican fan palms, require special care. Queen palms preferably should be on a separate irrigation line from shrubs to provide watering. Queen palms also need to be watered more often than other palms. You’ll need to fertilize your Queen palms with:

• 2 tbsp. of ammonium sulfate once per month
• 1/4 cup of epsom salt once every 90 days
• Palm tree food every 90 days

These palms also prefer to have enriched compost around the top of the root ball.

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Cactus

Cacti need good drainage away from the roots and do not require fertilizer. Most cacti need supplemental water to establish themselves in the beginning. After they are established, you may slowly take away regular watering.

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Ocotillo

This type of cactus requires supplemental water during dry periods and requires the branches to be misted periodically.

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Non-Desert Trees

Non-desert trees such as citrus, ficus, elms, and palms (just to name a few) prefer additional water supplied from a separate irrigation line. These trees will require more fertilizers and generally do better when planted as a young tree (15 gal. or smaller) vs. a mature specimen which will have a hard time with acclimation.

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Desert Trees

Desert trees are native to this area and do not require and fertilization. Your drip emitters will be close to the root ball of the tree when first installed, and should be pulled away as the tree matures to approximately half the diameter of the canopy. This will help prevent the tree from blowing over and assist in developing a healthier root system. Once the tree is established, you should eliminate the drip system to the tree and water deeply with the hose twice per month.

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Shrubs

Desert shrubs require no fertilization. Non-desert shrubs require fertilization twice per year with ammonium sulfate or a general fertilizer (16-8-4), once in the spring and once in the fall.

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Dormant Schedule

Listed below is a partial listing of plants which go into a dormant state during part of the year. This means the plant appears to by dying ie. no flowers, no leaves, brown in color, etc…

Plants Dormant During the Winter

• Chinese Elm
• Desert Willow
• Lantana
• Lysiloma
• Mesquite
• Palo Brea
• Red Bird of Paradise
• Ruellia Brittonia
• Ruellia Katy
• Shamel Ash

Plants Dormant During the Summer

• Blackfoot Daisy
• Brittle Brush
• Bursage
• Desert marigold
• Mexican Primrose
• Pentsemon
• Salvia Greggii
• Verbana

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Water Emergency Shut-Off

If your system will not shut off from the clock, go to where the main water line enters the house. Off to the side you will see a small metal device which has two handles. Turn either handle in the opposite direction and this will stop water to your irrigation system.

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Irrigation System Components

Clock

You must learn to adjust your clock’s watering schedule. This schedule needs to be changed according to the change in seasons, and with the change in maturity of the plants. Your clock will always be located next to your outside electrical panel.

Vacuum Breaker

This is installed next to your front yard hose bibb. It prevents irrigation water from entering your drinking water. It has two handles which can be turned to shut off the irrigation system.

Electrical Valves

The electrical valves are located below ground in a plastic box. The grass valves need no maintenance. The drip valves have a filter that needs to be cleaned out once per year.

Grass Sprinkler Heads

Grass sprinkler heads should be checked for adjustment every 90 days. The filter in each head needs to be cleaned out once per year.

Plant & Tree Emitters

The water lines should be moved away from the trunk as the tree matures. Failure to move the water away from the trunk will cause your tree to blow over in high winds. Plants & tree emitters should be checked at least twice per year for proper water flows and/or damage.

Image provided by nancybeetoo.