Why We Grow Desert Trees
Cliff Douglas, Arid Zone Trees
Our home, the Sonoran Desert, is a very unique and wondrous place filled with an abundance of beautiful plants and wildlife. The trees that are native to our desert have adapted over the millennia to this desert environment.
Many years ago an award winning landscape architect, came to me and asked if we would be interested in growing desert trees for landscapes. He told me he had difficulty finding desert trees for his projects. At the time the company had about 2,400 acres of farm land and we decided that a few acres could be devoted to growing trees.
For many years southwestern landscapes were designed, in part, to deny that we live in the desert, and landscapes needed to look like some other part of the world. In selecting the initial varieties to grow, we decided to concentrate exclusively on desert adapted trees and not grow trees that were, in our view, aesthetically and horticulturally inappropriate for the desert southwest. As proven by the many award winning landscapes using desert trees, not only are they most adapted to our environment, but are part of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. It took many years for developers to accept desert trees and shrubs for their projects, but over time it was shown that the most beautiful and successful landscapes used these desert plants.
AZT has always had the option to grow other species of trees like Oaks, Elms and Sissoos. We believe that devoting our resources to the selection, propagation and production of premium quality desert tree varieties (i.e. ‘Variety AZT’) is in keeping with our commitment to this desert we call home.
Desert Excellence
Mayo Clinic Phonix
This world class medical boasts an equally remarkable landscape that creates a sense of place in the Sonoran desert..
AZT Hosts ANA/ASLA Nursery Tour
On October 2 56 AzASLA & ANA members spent the morning touring the demonstration garden and production yard at AZT. Enrolled Landscape Architects received CEU credits from presentations made by Kevin Salamandra, Justin Morrow and Ed Mulrean on proper pruning, root management and clonal propagation of desert trees. Look for more photos and a complete summary in the next SW Hort Magazine.
Cliff takes group around the demonstration garden.
Kevin reviews AZT's Root Management Program.
Justin talks about basic pruning techniques.