plants – Garden Social

Is Summer Really a Bad Time to Plant in Southern Arizona?

Jun 27, 2026

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in Desert Weather, Landscape Horticulture, Water & Irrigation, Xeriscape

An expert opinion on the most controversial topic in Arizona landscaping. In Southern Arizona, we’re often asked the same question every summer: “Is it impossible—or just bad timing—to plant during peak heat?” My answer isn’t as simple as you might imagine. My name is Austin Lynn, owner of Garden Social AZ and Common Ground Landscape…

Confronting Pests and Disease in the Garden

Jun 23, 2026

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Austin Lynn

in Landscape Horticulture, Pests & Disease

A healthy garden is never completely bug-free, and it shouldn’t be. Most insects that you’ll find in your garden-space are harmless or helpful, while some become pests only when their numbers grow large enough to damage plants. The same is true of leaf changes and common disease: yellowing, curling, spotting, browning, and wilting are not…

Citrus Trees Don’t Belong in the Sonoran Desert: Confronting the Challenges

Jun 20, 2026

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Austin Lynn

in Desert Weather, Unique Plants

Citrus trees are some of the most beloved fruiting plants in warm-climate landscapes, it definitely hits home to imagine they don’t belong in the low, arid desert regions of southern Arizona, especially with so many available options! Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, and pomelos all belong to the citrus family, a group of evergreen trees…

Growing Winter Greens in Chilly Southern Arizona

Nov 28, 2025

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Austin Lynn

in Desert Weather

Make the Most of Mild Winters for Bountiful Greens—and a Splash of Color Winter Gardening in Arizona For most gardeners throughout North America, winter marks the season to put away trowels and seed packets as gardens succumb to snow and freezing temperatures. In much of the continent, winter gardening means indoor seed starting at best,…

Sun Position and Its Impact on Gardening in Southern Arizona

Sep 30, 2025

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Austin Lynn

in Desert Weather, Landscape Horticulture

Understanding Seasonal Sun Cycles for Healthier Desert Gardens The Sun’s Role in Southern Arizona Gardening Gardening in Arizona is a rewarding challenge, shaped by the intense and ever-changing sun. If you’ve ever wondered why your plants thrive in one season and struggle in another, the answer often lies above: in the sun’s seasonal patterns and…

Welcoming Fall in Arizona: A Personal Guide from Austin at Garden Social

Sep 25, 2025

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by

Austin Lynn

in Desert Weather, Landscape Horticulture

Embracing Autumn’s Rewards with Family, Community, and a Love for Local Plants Hey there! I’m Austin — a proud Arizona native, father of three wild and wonderful kids, Horticulture in the Sonoran Desert blog writer, and the owner of Garden Social Nursery and Garden Center. My journey into horticulture started as a little boy exploring…

Desert Gardening Unlocked: The Power of Microclimates in the Sonoran Sun

Sep 21, 2025

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by

Austin Lynn

in Desert Weather, Landscape Horticulture

How Shade, Soil, and Smart Design Transform Arizona’s Harshest Spaces By Austin Lynn, Garden Social AZ LLC The Challenge: Gardening Under the Brutal Sonoran Sun Gardening in the open environment of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert is a lesson in resilience, ingenuity, and adaptation. The landscape, unforgiving and wild, tests even the most seasoned horticulturists. Here, sunlight…

Mulberry Trees

Sep 4, 2025

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by

mikemannamanharris

in Uncategorized

What a sweet tasty treat to have mulberries! Better yet, have mulberries growing in your yard that produce every spring in Late March and April! Mulberries are my favorite fruits growing in my home garden that produce abundantly every year. I have always loved the fruit and the broad leaves that are amazing for shade.…

Unexpected Benefits of Haboobs for Garden Plants and Soil

Aug 25, 2025

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by

Austin Lynn

in Desert Weather, Fertilizer & Microbes

How Sonoran Dust Storms Can Nurture Green Spaces By Austin Lynn, Garden Social AZ LLC When we think of haboobs—those impressive, towering walls of dust that race across arid landscapes—we often imagine chaos, grit, and damage. Yet, beneath their dramatic appearance, haboobs can offer surprising benefits for garden plants and soil, weaving a story where…

Clay Soil – A Grower’s Turmoil

Aug 9, 2025

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Austin Lynn

in Fertilizer & Microbes, Living Soil, Water & Irrigation

A gardener’s roadmap to understanding, nurturing, and thriving in the challenging soils of the Sonoran Desert – By Austin Lynn, Garden Social AZ🌿 Gardening in Southern Arizona is an act of optimism—a belief that beauty can defy severity, that color and life can flourish despite the odds. If you have ever picked up a shovel…

Tag: plants