Here's how to choose the right trees for your Tucson backyard

Dominika Heusinkveld

Dominika Heusinkveld
May 18, 2022
May 18, 2022 Updated May 28, 2024

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Mesquite tree provides shade — This mesquite tree provides a lot of cool shade on the patio.
Doug Kreutz / Arizona Daily Star

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In the heat of summer, Tucsonans usually look to trees for their backyards to create an oasis from the desert sun. Here are five articles to help you choose the right trees for your needs and plant them correctly so they will thrive.

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Fast-growing shade trees for your Tucson yard
Shrubs and small trees to create privacy in your Tucson yard
The best way to plant a tree in Tucson
7 tall trees for the Tucson landscape
Which trees and shrubs to plant for a lush green desert yard

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Do you have any gardening topics you'd like to see covered in the Tucson Garden Guide? Email me at dheusinkveld@tucson.com with your suggestions and questions. Thanks for reading!

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Fast-growing shade trees for your Tucson yard

If you're looking for some shade for your yard, check out these fast-growing trees.

Shrubs and small trees to create privacy in your Tucson yard

If you'd like some privacy and screening from your neighbors, here are some great options for shrubs and small trees to plant.

Plant of the month: Arizona ash

The Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina), also known as velvet ash, is a pretty, lush, deciduous …

7 tall trees for the Tucson landscape

Have space in your yard for a tall tree? Here are some great native trees that grow over 30 feet and should provide you with great shade and lots of bird habitat.

Plant of the month: Pineapple guava

If you're looking for a beautiful small fruit tree, look no further than the pineapple guava. It's tough, it's edible, and it's versatile.

No muss, no fuss, and plenty of food: Native perennial food plants for the Tucson desert garden

Want to grow food but don't have the patience for vegetable beds? Here are some low-maintenance native desert food plants to try out like mesquite, palo verde, hackberry, wolfberry, prickly pear and more.

Making garden microclimates work for you in your Tucson yard

Do you know the microclimates in your yard? Here's how to figure out the hot, cold, dry and windy spots and help you locate your plants in the right place.

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Ironwood trees are a great, drought-tolerant addition to your Tucson yard, assuming you have enough room and have a spot where the thorns will not be a problem.

Which trees and shrubs to plant for a lush green desert yard

If you miss the lush green look in your Tucson yard, check out these trees and shrubs!

Plant of the month: Desert willow

The desert willow is a small tree native to the Sonoran desert, a great choice for Tucson gardens. It has non-invasive roots, beautiful flowers, and is heat tolerant.

Helping your plants get through Tucson's summer heat

Tucson's dry desert summers are a challenge for plants. Here's how to help them survive the heat.

How the urban heat island effect impacts Tucson gardens

What is the urban heat island and how does it affect your plants? Read on to find out how to mitigate its effects and have a cooler yard.

How to care for your Tucson trees

If you have some nice tall trees in your yard, here are some tips on keeping them healthy and strong.

Harvesting the Rain Part 2: Active rainwater harvesting

Active rainwater harvesting involves the use of gutters and tanks to channel and store rainwater. This allows you to “bank” rainwater in Southern Arizona's unpredictable climate so you can stretch out the period of time rainwater is available for irrigating plants.