Henderson Tree Huggers

06/02/2026

Plant the natives, address the heat island and alter the street infrastructure

05/17/2026

💜 SUMMER CALLED, IT WANTS ITS COLOR BACK! 💜
If you think a Southern Nevada summer means sacrificing beautiful, lush purple blooms, think again. Say hello to Lilac Verbena (Verbena lilacina)—specifically the ‘De La Mina’ cultivar.
While everyone else’s garden is throwing in the towel this summer, this absolute rockstar will be thriving. It smells like a heavenly mix of lilac and vanilla, handles our 110°F+ heat like a champ, and native butterflies will literally line up for it.
The Golden Rules for Henderson success:
1️⃣ Give it a break from that brutal late afternoon sun (morning sun/afternoon shade is its happy place).
2️⃣ Ignore it a little! It hates rich soil and heavy fertilizer.
3️⃣ Give it a deep soak every 7-10 days in mid-summer, but let that soil dry out completely in between.
Stop planting boring landscapes and let’s bring some native-adjacent purple magic back to the desert! 🏜️🐝
📸 Magnificent photo credit: Robert Perry
🛒 Where to buy: If you want to skip the hunt at Star Nursery, support local at Mojave Bloom Nursery, or grab a starter pot online from Aventura Gardens. We threw the direct shopping link right in our bio for you! 🔗👇

05/05/2026

More greenery and less asphalt!

More trees, less asphalt reduce extreme temperatures in urban areas.

05/05/2026

Remove transport stakes for a healthy tree!

What’s going on in the garden Clark County? Let’s talk about something simple—but very important—when planting new trees - staking the correct way. It’s often overlooked: Take off the nursery (transport) stake at planting time. Mike Kauz, Master Gardener, provides useful information on the importance of removing the tree stake tightly tied to your tree trunk after you bring it home from the nursery and plant it.

Remove The Nursery (Transportation) Stake:

That stake tightly tied directly to the trunk is only there to protect the tree during transport from the nursery. Once your tree is planted, take it off right away.

Why this matters:

⚠️ It can damage your tree
- Wind causes the trunk to rub against the stake
- This scrapes bark and creates wounds
- Those wounds can invite insects and disease
- And yes… the scars can last for years (sometimes forever)

⚠️ It makes your tree weaker
- Trees need to move in the wind to build strength
- A tightly staked trunk won’t thicken properly
- Result = a skinny, weak trunk that’s more likely to bend or break

When should you stake a tree?

If the tree cannot stand on its own or is in a windy location, install support stakes. With southern Nevada winds, it’s generally a good idea!

If staking is necessary:
- Place support stakes just outside the root ball
- Use 2 straps at different heights (not tight!)
- Allow some movement—this helps the tree build strength
- Finally, cut the support stakes just above the highest strap to prevent them from rubbing against the branches.

Don’t forget removal!

- Gradually loosen the straps over time
- Once the tree is stable (usually 1 to 2 years), remove the stakes completely

Bottom line:

A little movement is a good thing! It helps your tree grow stronger, thicker, and better adapted to our desert winds.

Have you checked your trees lately? You might be surprised how many still have those nursery stakes attached!

Happy gardening, Clark County!

REFERENCES:

For more information on staking your trees, the following Seattle government website below provides practical information: https://www.seattle.gov/trees/planting-and-care/staking

A great reference for tree identification which also has tree staking information on page 34 is the “Southern Nevada Guide - Tree Selection and Care”; City of Las Vegas, Nevada; https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=sustain_pubs

Upcoming Classes:
For a list of all upcoming gardening events you can attend, please visit the following link: https://extension.unr.edu/master-gardeners/events.aspx

Clark County Master Gardener Help Desk:
Visit the Master Gardener Help Desk at the Clark County UNR Extension office (8050 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89123) | Monday – Friday from 9 AM – 3 PM
Contact: [email protected] | 702-257-5556

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Photo by Master Gardener Mike Kauz

04/26/2026

Buckwheat is way underutilized in Southern Nevada. It is a beautiful plant!

04/25/2026

When the trees come down, the heat goes up 🔥🌡️

Natural cooling from trees lowers heat without energy or pollution.

01/31/2026

Read what Norm has to say about SNWA lawsuit to save mature trees in Southern Nevada