TUCSON, Ariz. — Rain and snow fell in February, and the sun came out for a warm start to March. Horticulturalists say it is a great time to start gardening, and there is a phone app newly available in Tucson to help homeowners connect with lawn professionals.
“I love my flowers, and I love my yard, it’s my little place,” said Rose Novack.
Rose Novack says the only drawback to gardening is finding room for all her citrus.
“I pick fruit and I take it to the fire station, and I take it to work, and I take it to the food bank, and I still have fruit!”
Early march is a great time for picking citrus in Arizona. It’s also a great time to think about planting.
“It's not too hot yet, and we probably won't see any more cold (freezing temperatures),” said Mesquite Valley Growers Horticulture Advisor Rodney White. “So, it’s a great time.”
White says colder spots may want to hold off on tomatoes for a bit and gardeners should be ready to protect them in the summer.
“For things like the tomatoes they would like a little afternoon shade come the heat of summer, come May and June when we are really hot and really dry.”
If you’re not really a green thumb and want a professional to do it for you, there is an app for that now. It's called GreenPal. Founders say it is like Uber for lawn care connecting homeowners to landscapers. It recently launched in Tucson and 30 lawn care professionals are available.
“We make sure they have commercial grade equipment, they have references, a valid social security number,” said Co-Founder Gene Caballero. “Also a valid bank account at an institution.”
Rose says there is only one important rule to remember while gardening.
“Just enjoy it.”
