Growing Tropical Trees in the Mojave Desert

Q. We want to plant some tropical trees and shrubs in our
garden. I am wondering if I should turn the soil in the whole flower beds over
and amend the soil OR I should only dig holes where the plants go and fill the
holes with amended soil.

A. A lot depends on the soil that you have, but I  think you can amend the existing soil where
these plants will grow and won’t need to amend the entire area. Keep tropical
plants grouped together for planting and irrigating ease.

Organics Added to the Soil are Important

            Cover the
area where these plants are growing with a thick woodchip surface layer (mulch)
when you are finished. You will rely on the woodchips decomposing to improve
the soil where roots will be growing over the next few months.

Basins, or donuts, around trees can be important to capture water if they are not on drip irrigation.

            After
planting, surround each plant with a “donut”
of soil about 3 to 4 inches deep. This “donut” acts as a water reservoir to get
the applied water deeper in the soil. Smaller plants have smaller “donuts”. Bigger
plants have bigger “donuts. Water daily the first few days after planting and
before turning it over to an irrigation system.