If you live in the desert environment such as Arizona, don’t mistake warm and sunny as ideal planting conditions. Planting now may be similar to planting in cooler areas during the winter months.
The time of year you decide to add new plants, can determine the success of their growth.
The same as you would avoid planting in freezing temperatures, in hotter climates you’ll want to sheer clear of doing so when temperatures are above 100 degrees. It’s recommended that most planting be done in the spring of fall. Still, some are going to choose to plant anyway.
One suggestion is to be sure your plant purchases are made logically. This means not making impulsive buys that won’t pan out. For example, ensure that any plant you’re planning to purchase is locally grown, as cooler area plants won’t survive a desert summer.
Planting during the warmer months is going to require extra watering and monitoring for indications of water stress and sunburn. At the same time you don’t want to drown them, but simply keep the area evenly moist for a few weeks before backing off gradually into a more regular water schedule.
The types of plants that are fine to plant in the summer include most native desert trees including mesquite and paloverde. Vines of the passion and yellow orchid varieties are also fine. Although cactus, aloes, and other succulents can be planted now, you should hold off during the high humidity season, such as Arizona’s monsoon.
When planting, dig a hole wider than the pot in which the plant comes. Be sure that the soil isn’t too wet; it should crumble in your hand. In general, you needn’t amend the soil, as desert plants are generally fine with native soil.
After loosening the root ball, place the plant in the hole and fill it in without tamping all the air out of the soil. Immediate watering is recommended unless the plant is a cactus or succulent, which should be plants dry and not watered about a week. For other plants, moisture will be needed for several weeks.