Climate is the key to landscape gardening in the Southwest. Our climate ranges from
subalpine to sub-tropical deserts, so a wide array of landscape trees and shrubs can be
grown in Southwest. Very few landscape trees and shrubs grow well over the entire
range of climates found in the region. Therefore, it is important to know how local
climate influences the types of plants that can grow in the region. Many climatic factors
play a role in determining the kinds of plants that will grow in a given location. Some of
these factors include geography, minimum winter temperature and maximum summer
temperatures, rainfall amount and distribution, humidity, day length and light intensity.
The Sunset climate system divides the Western United States into climate zones and
then lists many landscape plants and what zones they grow best in. Before viewing the
topic videos, review the website and readings, and answer the following questions
about climate. View the PowerPoint presentation on six important terms discussed in
this topic.
Climate Zones:
1. What factors are used to determine the Sunset Climate Zones?
2. What is a microclimate?
3. What climate zone is Phoenix in and how does this affect the trees and shrubs that
grow the best in this area?
4. How does the climate in the Phoenix area differ from the other desert climate zones
in the southwest including climate in cities such as Tucson, Las Vegas and
Albuquerque?
In order to understand this topic and your creative assignment for this module, you will
need to review some information about scientific classification. Read the University
of Florida information about scientific classification and be able to answer the following
questions.
Scientific Plant Names:
5. What is the first and second word in a plant’s botanical names called?
a. First
i. Genus
b. Second
i. Species
6. What part of the scientific name is capitalized?
Study Guide for Topic: Landscape Trees and Shrubs for the Southwest
a. genus
7. What does the word cultivar mean? Is the cultivar name usually written in Latin or
English?
Landscape Trees and Shrubs:
8. Be able to define the following terms by viewing the PowerPoint presentation
obroad-leaf
1. trees and shrubs that have wide leaves rather than slim, needle like
leaves, most are plants with flowering
onarrow-leaf
1. have narrow needle like leaves, some not all are (conifers) cone
bearing plants
oevergreen
1. maintain a full canopy of leaves throughout the year, remains green
and functional through more than one growing season
odeciduous
1. lose their leaves annually, usually at the same time. Loss of leaves
is often accompanied by a dramatic change in leaf color
ocanopy
1. layer of leaves , twigs and small branches the cover ground when
viewed from above
oaccent
1. visually apparent, striking foliage, flower or branch colors,
interesting textures or unique forms
You are now ready to watch the videos Landscape Trees and Landscape Shrubs. Click
on the video link in the Folder on the course website. At the end of the videos, you
should be able to answer the following questions based on information in the videos, the
presentations and readings.
9. What are the differences between shrubs and trees?
a.
10. What is a shade tree?
a. Indian rosewood
b. Chinese elm
11. Which landscape shrubs are frost or freeze sensitive?
a. Bougenviea
b. Lantana
c.
12. What pruning practice is best to maintain a natural and attractive shrub form?
a. Thinning cuts
13. What are the ranges of flower colors for each landscape shrub?
a. Pink
b. Purple
c. White
d. Yellow
e. Orange
f. Magenta
g. Lavender
h. gold
14. Which trees and shrubs attract wildlife?
a. Trees-
i. Paloverde
b. Shrubs
i. Red yucca
15. Which landscape trees produce edible fruits for people and wildlife?
a. Mesquite
b. Olive
16. Which landscape shrubs or trees cause respiratory allergies in many people?
a. Trees-
i. Paloverde
ii. Olive
17. What characteristics of form and accent define each of the landscape trees
reviewed in the video?
a.
18. Which landscape trees are evergreen? Which are deciduous?
a. Evergreen-
i. Indian rosewood
ii.
b. Decidous-
i. Chinese elm
Landscape trees and shrubs mentioned in these videos are listed below. If you want
more information about these plants, look them up in Dr. Chris Martin’s: Virtual Library
of Phoenix Landscape Plants .
(Plants are listed by their genus and species).
Landscape Trees
Dalbergia sissoo (Indian rosewood)
Olea europaea (olive)
Parkinsonia florida (blue palo verde)
Prosopis sp. (mesquite)
Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese elm)
Landscape Shrubs
Bougainvillea sp. (bougainvillea)
Hesperaloe parviflora (red yucca)
Lantana sp. (lantana)
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas ranger)
Nerium oleander (oleander)
Study Guide-Southwest Herbaceous Bedding Plants
In our last topic, we considered landscape trees and shrubs and their use in
landscapes. In this section we will be studying non-woody (herbaceous) plants and how
they can provide color in a landscape.
A. Plant Structure
Before we continue, you need to learn more about some aspects of plant structure.
Study the “Plant Structure: Leaves, Stems and Roots” PDF article in Topic 2 folder.
1. What are the functions of stems? Photosynthetic, storage, climbing/support.
Usually above ground, erect and self supporting.
2. What are the functions of leaves? Food storage, defence /water loss, attraction,
carnivorous. Main site of photosynthesis (production of cards using energy from the
sun)
3. What are the functions of roots? Tend to grow downwards, away from light and
towards water. They are for absorption, aeration, attachment, support.
4. Are roots always below ground and stems always above ground? Give examples
of plant structures that are above ground roots and those that are below ground stems.
(For example, an aboveground root is an aerial root and one example of a belowground
stem is a rhizome). Ginger is a plant that the stem grows below and, aerial roots are
above ground
B. Herbaceous Plant Descriptions and Cultivation
The climate of Arizona definitely influences what types of herbaceous plants are grown
and when we can grow them. Unlike more temperate climates, we can grow flowering
herbaceous plants during our winter (cool-season plants) but other flowering plants can
only be grown in the spring/summer (warm-season plants).
You are now ready to watch the video for this section, Southwest Herbaceous Bedding
Plants. Click on the Video link in the Folder on the course website and watch the video.
At the end of the video, you should be able to answer the following questions based on
information from the video and your textbook.
1. What is the difference between using plants to provide analogous and
complementary color in a landscape? Analogous are colors that a close to each other
on the color wheel. Complementary colors are ones that are opposite each other on the
color wheel
How should color and height be used when designing and planting a bed/border using
annual or perennial herbaceous plants? Plant higher plants in back and have different
heights, get colors that are complementary to each other,
2. Be able to recognize examples of annual and perennial plants that can be used
in Phoenix landscapes to provide color.
3. What examples of cool-season and warm-season annual bedding plants were
discussed in the video? Winter plants, pansies, petunias, stock, Summer plants-
marygolds, zenias.
What time of year are these types of cool-season and warm-season annuals planted
and grown in the Phoenix area?
4. What is a mass effect and how is this effect achieved with bedding plants? A
mass effect is when you place plants close enough together to create a mass of color
How can you determine how closely to space annual transplants in a planting bed?
Read the tag that comes with the plant
5. What factors should be considered when purchasing bedding plants? Color,
spacing, size, money. Make sure plants are not overgrown
What is the best way to prevent transplant shock when planting bedding plants? Do not
shake plants and work with the roots prior to planting it will cause shock to the plant and
make it hard to root properly. Water more a few days after planting
What are the steps in planting a transplant into a planting bed? dig hole prior to
planting, high in phosphorous, and nitrogen
6. What types of perennial bulbs and bulb-like plants shown in the video grow well
in Phoenix?
How deep should bulbs or bulb-like parts be planted? About 1 1/12 to 3 times the size of
bulb. Add phosphorus for bulbs.
Why is orientation important in planting bulbs?
Why are bulbs such as tulips and crocus difficult to grow in the Phoenix area? They
need a certain # of cold hours and AZ doesn’t get enough cold weather
7. How can wildflowers be used to provide color in landscapes?
What method is used to plant wildflowers? As seeds in the fall for spring color, mix with
sand, plant late fall early winter. And they reseed every year.
Plants mentioned in this video are listed below.
Alyssum – cool season annual
Calendula (pot marigold) – cool season annual
Dianthus – cool season annual
Eschscholzia (California poppy) – cool season annual
Freesia – cool season perennial
Iris – cool season perennial
Matthiola (stock) – cool season annual
Petunia – cool season annual
Ranunculus – cool season
Senecio (dusty miller) - perennial
Viola (pansy) – cool season annual
Tagetes (marigold) – cool and warm season annual
Zinnia – warm season annual
Study Guide-Southwest Turf grass and Lawns
In this topic, you will be studying turf grasses and lawns. Some people think that
growing lawns in the Southwest is not sustainable, but there are certain beneficial
aspects of growing a turf grass lawn that cannot easily be replaced. To learn more about
this debate, read the supplemental article posted in the folder.
Like herbaceous plants used for landscape color, the climate of Arizona definitely
influences what types of turf grasses are grown and when we can grow them. In
Phoenix, you can grow warm-season grasses that survive our hot summer but go
dormant in the winter. You can also grow cool-season grasses that grow well in the
winter and spring but cannot easily survive our hot summer.
Define the following terms:
Cool-season grasses
oBiologically active with temp between 40-80 degrees: rye grass, Kentucky blue
grass, fesque grass
Warm-season grasses
oActive in temp of 65-110 degrees: mid march to later nov: Bermuda grass,
Hybrid grasses
oOffspring from crosses of grass species or strains that have superior
genetically-determined traits: darker colored, finer texture, denser lower
growth habit, temp tolerant,
Sod
oRectangular sections of grass covered soil (1-2” thick) held together by
matted grass roots. Sod is sold in bulk by turf growers for fast installation
of a finished lawn:
Sprigs
o3-6” pieces of grass stems or runners without soil that are planted in rows
or broadcast spread and lightly covered with surface mulch to start a lawn
Plugs
o2-4” wide chunks or sod either round or square that are spaced evenly
over a surface to start or repair a lawn.
Overseeding
oThe laying of grass seed on top of existing grasses to promote new growth
or to replace the existing grass with a new strain for a season
Scalping
oRemoval of an excessice quantity of grass leaf tissue at any one mowing,
resulting in a stubbly brown appearance due to exposed stems, dead
leaves and even bare soil.
You are now ready to watch the videos for this section entitled Southwest Turf grass and
Arizona Cardinals Football Playing Field. Click on the Video link in the Folder on the
course website. At the end of the videos, you should be able to answer the following
questions based on information in the videos Adobe Presenter presentation.
1 What benefits are derived in the landscape from growing a lawn? Gather, relax and
recreate, local microclimate of cool air, 10-20 degrees cooler
What are some of the expenses involved when growing a lawn?
2 What examples of cool-season grasses were presented in the video as grasses that
can be used for lawns in the Phoenix area? j
What are examples of warm-season grasses? j
Why can’t people living in central Arizona grow a single type of grass year-round? j
3 What advantages/disadvantages were discussed in the video for each of the
different types of cool season-grasses? j
For example: What cool-season grass can be planted in the fall and will stay
greener longer throughout the winter into spring and early summer? j
Is it better to grow annual or perennial ryegrass? g
Which type of ryegrass is more expensive to plant and which is more difficult to
maintain? j
Which type of ryegrass is better if a person has children and pets? h
4 The video mentioned two general types of Bermuda grass - what are they?
And how are they different?
What are some of the advantages to planting hybrid Bermuda grass?
5 How do some of the examples of hybrid Bermuda grass that were demonstrated in
the video differ (Santa Ana, Tifway and Midiron)?
6 What types of turf grasses grow best in the Phoenix region in lawn areas under trees
and in shade?
What types are not tolerant of shade?
What is the best turf grass to use for a sunny residential Phoenix landscape location
in the summer?
In the winter?
7 When designing and planting a lawn area, what key points should one remember to
include and do? What is the difference between using seed, sod and sprigs to plant
a lawn?
How is common Bermuda grass typically planted?
How is hybrid Bermuda grass typically planted?
8 When does Bermuda grass turn brown and dormant?
When types of lawns in Phoenix are overseeded, and what type of grass is used in
the overseeding process?
What is the seeding rate per 1,000 square feet of lawn used for overseeding cool-
season grasses?
After overseeding, how often and for how long should one sprinkler irrigate to
establish?
9 Once established, about how often should a lawn be sprinkler watered?
10 What type of fertilizer is used to fertilize lawns?
How much fertilizer is generally needed to keep a lawn healthy?
11 Why is it important to regularly mow lawns?
How do mowing heights differ between the different types of grasses commonly
grown in the Phoenix area?
If you want more information about lawns, check out the websites in the External
Links/Turf grass folder on the course website. The Arizona Master Gardeners Manual
on Lawns is especially
