“The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” - Chinese Proverb Have you heard the above quote before? When you start really thinking about your yards as your own little sanctuary, what you plant and where you plant it make a big difference. Do you like lush greenery that make you feel like you're heading into a spa retreat when you get home from work? Or do you like the minimalism of local flora and let the desert decide what is the easiest to maintain? Are you feeling overwhelmed by choosing? Get some inspiration by taking a walk down the Tree Trail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhdjlGqoHN4 Looking for some more information? Thankfully, the city of Glendale's Water Conservation department has a lot of tips on their Tree Trail website, including lots of resources to help you get started. And what better weekend to get started than Arbor Day Weekend! Plant Trees First • Then plant large shrubs. Finish with smaller shrubs and groundcover. • When planting trees, remove the nursery stakes and install 2 – 2 inch lodge poles outside of the root ball with connective ties to the tree. • Carefully place trees and large shrubs to provide shade on the East and West sides of the house, sitting areas, or for other plants needing sun protection. You may also want to provide protection from the (prevailing) wind by planting on the Southwest exposure. • Be sure to plan for the mature size of the tree. Don't plant "full sun" plants in a spot that will soon be shaded by your tree. Thinking long term can help lessen the headache of digging up dead plants and replacing them with proper ones. Have you finished your yard, but still want to give back to your community? Did you know that you can Dedicate A Tree? Or even volunteer in the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden!