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Dear Craig,

I have two questions I hope you can answer. First I planted vinca as annuals in the early spring. They were planted in pots and started out well and grew great until the onset of the hot weather. Now some of them seem to wilt and die even though I give them plenty of water. What am I doing wrong? Is it the heat? I am an avid gardener and love plants and colorful shrubs, but I have been told not to plant during the summer months. Could you please clarify the right time to install new plantings?

Jenny

Dear Jenny,

Regarding your annual plantings of vinca. Vinca are superb summer annuals. They love the heat and may last up to two years, if properly maintained. These plants need lots of sunlight and watering on a regular basis. The problem you are having is the one drawback I have found when planting vinca in pots, especially in early spring. Vinca need constant heat and may develop fungus, especially when planting in containers with a peat base potting soil when evenings are cool and daytime temps are high. The fungus causes root rot, wilt and ultimately death. I find that planting vinca directly into well‑drained, enriched soil works best. For your plants, I would suggest spraying with a fungicide and replacing any that look even close to wilting. Now that the nighttime temperatures are warm, any new plantings should do well.

As for the right time to install new plantings, anytime is great here in the southwest. If a plant is grown in a container or box, they can be planted all year long. Southwest summers are more of a problem for the installer than the plant since most of the arid plantings don’t really get growing until the temperatures reach above 95 degrees.

The one disadvantage to planting in the summer is that the plants will require more water than the rest of the year, but with a properly installed drip system that is not really a problem.

There are a few plantings that may have problems during the summer months. Any plant that is shade grown and then planted directly in the summer sun is going to have difficulty adjusting and may even die. Plants that are stored in shady areas prior to sale and then planted directly in the summer sun without any acclimation period will have a hard time getting established. Otherwise, all plants should have no problem when planted in the correct location for their variety.

Here are some simple rules to follow:

In the southwest, the growing period is long. It starts in March and ends in October, with the best growth taking place during June, July and August. It takes heat and lots of sunlight for photosynthesis and the summer provides plenty.

All containerized plants can be planted all year long. In fact, they will grow better in the ground than in a container.

If you have frost, even just a light frost once in a while during the winter months, frost‑tender plants should only be planted during the spring, summer or fall. If you plant frost‑tender plants such as lantanas, bougainvillea or verbena during winter months, you should plan on providing frost cloth for protection during cold evenings.

Bare root plants such as roses, grapes and fruit trees should be planted during the winter months.

I say, if you can tolerate the heat, Plant! Plant! Plant! This is the growing season for many of our native plants.

Craig Allison is a registered landscape architect with more than 30 years of landscaping and nursery experience. He currently owns and manages Carefree Gardens, a retail nursery located at the corner of Carefree Highway and Central Avenue in Desert Hills. Listen to Craig and call in Sunday mornings from 8 to 9 a.m. on KFNX 1100 AM talk radio.

If you have landscape or garden questions you would like answered, e‑mail your questions to AskCraig@carefreegardens.net or fax your questions to Carefree Gardens “Ask Craig” at (623) 742‑7216. Past articles can be found at www.thecarefreegardener.tv.

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