How to use Sonoran Desert natives trees to cool our urban environment
The record-breaking heat and drought in Arizona’s towns and cities is stressing both people and the urban trees that shade us. We need more shade, but planting more trees means using more water at a time when drinking (potable) water supplies are stretched.
One way to grow more urban trees without using lots of drinking water is to plant native trees. Native Sonoran Desert trees are well-adapted to our desert heat and seasonal drought and typically need less water than nonnative trees. Planting native trees in appropriate urban locations and supporting them with harvested rainwater, stormwater, graywater, and condensate water can help grow shady, climate-resilient urban trees while saving drinking water and reducing water bills.
Ten Best Practices can help guide you through native tree selection, placement, planting, watering, mulching, and pruning, so you can grow healthy native trees that provide refreshing shade along with providing many other benefits.
Ten Best Practices for Using Native Trees in Urban Environments to Improve Urban Climate Change Resilience [Guidebook]
60-page, full-color guidebook provides photos and information about 14 native desert trees suitable for use in the urban environment. Learn how to help support trees with free harvested rainwater, stormwater, graywater, and condensate water. See how to select, place, plant, mulch, water, and prune native trees
Plant Native Trees to increase Tucson’s climate resilience [Brochure]
Two-page brochure shows the 14 native trees recommended for urban use, lists the Ten Best Practices, and describes native tree benefits. This document can be printed double-sided and folded with a “Z” fold for wide distribution
