Common name:Italian Alder
Botanical name:Alnus cordata
Italian Alder has predominately vertical growth in the early years. It has an interesting display of tassle-like, male flower catkins in front of the leaves. It has a very short deciduous period. The female flowers develop into small woody cones that decorate branches in the winter. This tree can grow to 40' and is well adapted to all areas of the Southwest except for the high deserts.
Common name:California Pepper, Mission Pepper
Botanical name:Schinus molle
The California Pepper is a fast growing evergreen tree that will mature to a height of 25'-40' and as wide. Its bright green leaves are divided into many narrow, 1.5"-2" long leaflets.
Dealing With Drought
More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.
Click in the green box for more information
| Designer: Verdant Landscaping | Slatted Shade in the Patio |
Photographer: GardenSoft |
Soils and Compost:
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Water Saving Tip:
Mulching and adding compost to soil can minimize evaporation and help soil absorb and store water.
Integrated Pest Management:
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.