Choosing New Trees

When buying a container-grown tree, look for a firm, straight trunk and an equal balance of branches around the tree. A good nursery will let you check the roots as well.

Lift the tree from the container to make sure the soil mix stays in contact with the roots. Never buy a tree with tightly congested roots or roots poking through the drainage holes. Look for water efficiency, too.

Staking

The trunk of a healthy, well-developed tree should be strong enough to hold itself upright. But trees in open areas may need staking, especially if the area is particularly windy. Tree staking supports the trunk in a upright position to anchor it until sufficient root mass grows to hold the tree firmly in the soil. A tree should only need to be staked for a maximum of two years.

Useful tips:

• Promptly remove the transportation stake provided by the nursery once it is planted
• Keep stakes at least 12 inches from the trunk to prevent damage to the bark
• Drive stakes outside of the planting pit where the soil is hard
• Use a tie material that is broad, flat and flexible and avoid nylon cord, wire or string
• Stakes should remain stationary while the upper portion of the tree and ties should allow for slight movement
• Cut the stake off above the ties to prevent branches from rubbing against the stakes and being damaged
• Remove the stakes and tie material as soon as the tree is firmly established

Colorful, water-smart trees

There are a variety of trees that can survive and thrive in the Las Vegas area. Some of the more colorful are listed below. You can also refer to the 2005 Trees for Tomorrow (PDF) booklet, a publication of the High Desert Resource Conservation & Development Council.

Sweet Acacia — Puffy, yellowish-orange flowers perfume the air from February through April.

Palo Verde — A shower of golden-yellow blooms begins in March.

Desert Willow — Native to local washes, this tree attracts hummingbirds and bees. Its clusters of fragrant, orchid-like blossoms range from white to deep purple.

Texas Mountain Laurel — Large, purple clusters of wisteria-like flowers look as good as they smell.

Chaste Tree — Dense, spiky purple flowers cover this shrub-like tree in early summer.