Microclimates for Garden Success in AZ

[@thegr8stm8]

Very good presentation… Helps us all a lot. Many thanks and stay safe.

[@ericbowers1620]

Great, informative video. I dont think I have space for a nice waterfall and pond but I may have to add more fountains for that humidity which the plants seem to love especially during the monsoon periods when they perk up. Hope I can get my Reed Avocado to survive like your Brogden. :)

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks! Yes; fountains are a great choice when space is limited. While June was pretty rough, starting an avocado this year was a good thing with the wet weather we have had. I'm not enjoying the mosquitos but the plants are very happy this year. Best wishes on your Reed taking off. Fall is right around the corner!

[@keithlong5461]

Your videos are the best! Your really explain things in simple yet S that is easy to understand! Thanks!

[@LG-gw6xw]

Yes very helpful thanks. I just wish I had a normal size yard instead of a mini sized lot. I’m amazed at all the different plants that you have. I couldn’t believe that you had a normal barren new construction lot. Remind me the size again? 1/2 or 1/3 acre.

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks for watching. I lucked out on finding my lot. It's just under 1/2 acre.

[@sheri023]

Does your Brogden seedling have to be grafted to produce avocadoes?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

While there are exceptions, most of what I have read says grafting is the way to go to guarantee fruit within a few years for avocados. And it is my plan for this seedling. I started with a seedling versus a grafted plant to allow selecting a cold hardy variety, get it acclimated to the soil and climate young, and also get a strong vigorous root system going. In a year or so, I will head it back and multi-graft some good varieties on.

[@sheri023]

@@EnlightenmentGarden great, hope it does well. I have a 20 yr old small Mexicola variety for 9A zone. It froze here in the teens one yr and it died back but made new branches the following yrs. and is 15 ft tall. I never got a crop until I sprayed last yr. with honey water during pollination time. Finally the bees came last yr and I had over a hundred avocadoes. This yr, nothing, because it out-did itself last yr. Love avocadoes. Good luck with your variety.

[@ericbowers1620]

If I recall correctly you also have the typical varieties of apples that do well in our area. But with the yard becoming so well established now and with the microclimates developing even more have you tried any other varieties that are tougher here and if so how are they doing? Stuff like Fuji,Gala,Granny Smith,or Pink Lady as examples of tougher stuff. Thanks!

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Correct! I have Anna and Fuji in ground. Fuji is a shy bearer. I do plan on doing some grafting in Winter on the apple trees to experiment and increase cross pollination for the Fuji.

[@ericbowers1620]

@@EnlightenmentGarden great! Look forward to seeing how it goes!

[@rebeccaryan6229]

Great video! Thanks!

[@musaadfelton3909]

Very informative 👍

[@sheri023]

Love the geeking-out about microclimate in our yards. I've noticed walking in the back yard at night especially, there seems to an air current of warm air always in the same place. The 'air path' is about 2 ft wide and continues like a stream would of at least 20 ft.. I don't know if it is dependent on the soil or other structural factors, but it is interesting, anyways and quite noticeable. Great video, Natasha.

[@ronmarshall4223]

Excellent video, I’m up by show low. Microclimate is what I’m looking to establish up here. Do you know of any cold Hardy plants that might survive I believe it’s zone 6B/7a . I am propagating fixed now and hope to have roots within a month thank you for your time. Ron

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks! I'm not too familiar with trees that do well in your zone but when shopping I would look for evergreen species that can provide a true canopy year round to serve as your tier 1 or overstory so you can create some windbreaks and coverage for other plantings. Magnolia might be a good contender. You can grow fruiting mulberry and stone fruit (apples, pears, plums, peaches, apricots, cherries) in your climate and can even get away with a more cold tolerant fig tree like Chicago Hardy and Improved Celeste.

[@hannahmakingrivendell4347]

Where did you get your really tall Mexican sunflower seeds/plants from? (Im in mesa) Thanks!

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

The Mexican Sunflower plant starts came from Green Dreams in FL. Growing from seed is very difficult with this species. The starts really take off after planting in ground. www.greendreamsfl.com/online-store/Mexican-Sunflower-Tithonia-diversifolia-p212387036

[@Not_Built_For_This_World]

Were you in AZ in 2013 and 2014? Did any of the polar vortex kill any of your plants or trees?

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Yes; I've been in AZ since 2004 but started fruit trees in 2015/16. I had shade trees during 2013/14 like Jacaranda and Ficus nitidia as well as citrus but they were not bothered and I did not cover them. The most I did for them is water heavy the night before expected freezes

[@Not_Built_For_This_World]

@@EnlightenmentGarden Good to know. Thank you!

[@paulm965]

On a mostly-bare lot where I need shade ASAP, are there any fast-growing trees you'd recommend to get things started like moringa or mulberry?

[@paulm965]

(You mentioned both as good shade for mango and avocado, but do you think moringa and mulberry (or Mexican sunflower) could withstand full, all-day sun here in AZ? Thanks)

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

@@paulm965 Moringa, mulberry and mexican sunflower take all day sun, no problem. The fastest growing shade tree that is not an edible would be Tipuana tipu. Sissoo grows fast too but they'll send runners all over your yard so I don't recommend that one.

[@danielfisch655]

Great info, thank you for sharing.

[@gardengainzz9191]

Beautifully said. Can we get a tour of your fruit trees? Especially figs and tropical/ subtropicals. Take care 🙂

[@EnlightenmentGarden]

Thanks! I am planning to do the full yard tour in Fall like prior years...marathon hour plus video but will try to get something smaller out soon.