Landscape Committee

Helping keep Pueblo Villas an oasis in the desert

This early spring we will be planting indigenous, drought-tolerant trees that feature a nice canopy spread in our common areas. This can only happen if residents are willing to water these trees until they get established. Once our new trees settle in, their shade will help to protect all of our agave, cacti, bushes, and wildflowers from the heat of summer and help them to flourish.

Here's a document from the Landscape Committee including photos of the trees that are available to adopt. Adopt a Tree

If you are willing to help us get these new trees established, we'll need your help following the basic watering guidelines below:

Apply 3" of water to our Sandy Loam soil to ensure that water reaches a depth of 3'.
Apply the water to the root ball initially but as the tree begins to take hold, the water should be applied out at the drip line (the outside edge of the canopy growth).
- Most of a plant's water-absorbing roots spread 1.5-3 times as wide as the plant's canopy and are within a foot of the soil surface. Most water will be absorbed around the canopy drip line.
Do not apply water too quickly. Water is heavy and if applied too much at a time, it can compact the soil around the root ball. Only apply the water as quickly as it can be absorbed by the soil.
Apply the same amount of water in both summer and winter but water the plants less frequently during the winter months. This includes both native and drought-tolerant plants.
Mulch can be used to help reduce water evaporation in the hot summer months. Three to four inches of plant-based mulch under the plant's canopy will help keep soil cool, reduce water evaporation, and discourage weeds.
When planting new or young trees, try to follow the schedule below.
- Every 3 days for the first two weeks after planting
- Two to three times per week during summer months
- One to two times per month during winter months
- Maintain this schedule for the first year or two then drop to one to two times per week during dry summer months or once per winter month without rain.
- If you see curling or dropping of leaves during the hot summer months, increase your watering schedule.

Below are the tree varieties the Landscape Committee will be able to plant.

Sweet Acacia (Acacia Farnesiana)

A fast-growing evergreen tree reaching 35 feet tall & wide but generally smaller in most desert soils. Naturally multi-stemmed but can be pruned to a single trunk. Sweet smelling, yellow flowers in late winter & spring. Excellent shade or patio tree with lush appearance. Adds nitrogen to the soil. Tough & tolerates drought.

MAINTENANCE: Periodic deep watering. Must be pruned to achieve single trunk.

Catclaw Acacia (Acacia Greggii)

A long-lived shrub or small tree, with a slow to moderate growth. Reaches 10 to 25 leet high with a wide, spreading canopy. Can be pruned into an attractive single or multi trunked tree. Winter-deciduous gray-green leaves; small and finely-divided leaves producing moderate shade. Fragrant creamy flowers in April and May , Very drought and cold tolerant Effective screen or barrier. Attractive to birds and other wildlife a Excellent for honey production.

MATNTENANCE:. Growth rate is improved with deep soil and ample water, but no supplemental water needed once established.

Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

A moderate to fast growing multistemmed tree up to 30 feet tall] with an open and spreading growth habit. Thornless branches with winter deciduous leaves that cast light/moderate shade in summer. Showy pink/purple flower clusters in May and June & throughout the summer that attract hummingbirds. The flowers grow on new wood, so light pruning can stimulate more blossoms.

Desert Ironwood (Olneya tesota)

A long-lived (up to 500 years) nearly evergreen Tree, growing 30 ft tall and wide, with a slow to moderate growth. Lush. dense gray green foliage persists year round. Dramatic pink, pea, like flowers appear in May and again with summer rains. Excellent choice as a focal point tree or as a large screen for hot arid sites. Provides excellent habitat for both wildlife and the establishment of other plant species as an important "nurse tree" providing needed shade for saguaro seedlings and other native plants. Adds nutrients to the soil. Provides food for wildlife.

MAINTENANCE: No water required once trees are established, but grows faster and looks better with infrequent deep watering.

Westen Honey Mesquite (Prosopis Glandulosa var. Torreyana)

A small to medium size tree 15 io 30 ft tall and wide with moderate growth rate. Produces fragrant yellow flowers in late spring. An ideal shade tree with attractive bright green foliage. Provides food birds, mammals, and bees. All mesquites are nitrogen fixing; making nitroger available in the soil for other plants through special nodes on their roots. This variety is a native to Chihuahuan desert but is becoming established throughout the Sonoran desert.

MAINTENANCE: Mesquites are winter deciduous. Be sure to walk deeply through ils first summer so tap root will go deep and anchor the tree. After established, should only need supplemental watering in hot summers with little rain.

Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis Velutina)

A medium sized tree up to 40 feet tall and wide with loose spreading crown. Fast to moderate growth rate. Produces fragrant yellow flowers in April and again after summer rains. Excellent shade tree but needs a fair amount of room due to horizontal branching. Provides food for wildlife and honeybees.

MAINTENECE: Deep-water for faster growth, to develop the tap root and encourage height when first planted. Deep irrigation is not as important when trees mature.

BIue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia Florida)

Blue palo Verde is a short-lived ( less than 90 years), fast growing. naturally multi stemmed tree 25 feet tall and wide. This tree needs a lair amount o[ room when mature. Has a tendency to self-prune when stressed; provides shade even when leaves fall in response to drought! Tree is deciduous. Produces yellow flowers briefly in late March -early April; the seed pods are food for birds and mammels.

MAINTENECE: Requires little additional water, but regular watering will produce moderate growth rate-.This tree needs a fair amount o[ space when mature. Prune during the warm season; this tree does not take well to winter pruning.

Southern Live Oak (Quercus Arizonica)

This tree is slow growing (12 inches per year) but will reach up to 60 feet with a spreading crown that provides fantastic shade. The tap root does not interfere with underground utilities. Its leaves are evergreen. It is highly heat and drought tolerant. It produces acorns that are food for birds and mammals.

Please contact Jim Blake with Copper Rose if you'd like to sponsor a new tree here in our community. jimb@copperrosellc.com