PHOENIX — Even though Monsoon 2024 is underway, it's not too late to make sure your yard is ready for the summer heat and storms!
"One of the best ways to prepare for the summer heat and for the monsoon storms is by choosing the right plant for the right place," City of Chandler Urban Forester Ryan McCartney said.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Cómo preparar su patio para la temporada de monzón
A tree's position and direction it faces can help reduce energy bills by blocking sunlight and providing shade to a house.
It's all about timing. You definitely don't want to plant anything during the hottest months of the year. Let's go over what you can do right now so that you're ready for the summer heat and storms.
McCartney emphasized proper irrigation will help us prepare for the summer. This includes watering out to the drip line.
"The drip line is going to be where the edge of the canopy of the tree is," McCartney explained. "Imagine a line from the edge of the canopy down to the ground. That's where you want to be watering out or a little bit further to encourage roots to grow outward."
McCartney also suggested using a smart controller. This way, you can set the appropriate time and days for watering. Your plants and trees must be healthy so they can face intense heat and winds.
During the summer, even your thirstiest plants need to be watered no more than two times per week. Desert landscapes need water no more than two times per month.
Proper pruning will allow your trees to withstand strong monsoon winds. You want to make sure to prune at the tree's ends or tips where the branches grow out. This will reduce the weight on the ends of the tree, so the tree can stand up to the stress of intense winds.
You want to make sure your trees have a healthy root system so they can tolerate monsoon winds and storms.
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