If you are interested in growing herbs in Tucson, you’ll be happy to know you can grow them all year long. The trick is to make sure you are swapping different herbs in and out of your garden depending on the season, so you get the healthiest plants possible. Some herbs will grow throughout the year in Tucson, and many of these herbs can also double as landscaping features. If you’re interested in boosting your herb garden, here is what you need to know.
Winter and Summer Herbs
From roughly October through May in Tucson, herbs that don’t tolerate high temperatures grow well. These include things like cilantro, parsley, dill, and caraway. When temperatures creep up, these herbs bolt, which means that they flower and then die. To keep these plants going next season, remove the winter herbs in May and save their seeds. Replace them with herbs that can tolerate the Tucson summer heat. Herbs that grow well in the heat include basil, lemon balm, lemon verbena, oregano, mint, and garlic chives. Mexican mint marigold—also referred to as Texas tarragon and winter tarragon—is a heat-loving version of tarragon that is well suited to Tucson’s summer climate.
Landscaping Herbs
Herbs that can grow year-round in Tucson are easily integrated into landscaping. A popular example of this is rosemary, which many people in the region use for groundcover in their landscaping. Germander is another popular choice for this purpose, as is lavender. If you opt for lavender, stay away from English varieties and look for French or Spanish lavender, which will be better suited to the climate in Tucson. Some summer herbs, such as lemon verbena and lemon grass, can be used for landscaping as well, if they are planted in protected areas and covered in the case of frost.
For help with all of your landscaping needs, including choosing appropriate plants for the Tucson climate and soil, trust Complete Landscaping. Find out about all our landscaping services in Tucson, from installation and construction to tree services, by calling (520) 323-8918.