---- Olin Miller <> wrote:
> ---- wrote: 85020
>
> >
> > In April 2011 I had to Desert Museum Palo Verde trees planted (believe they were in 36" boxes) in my front yard. I have been slow watering them for 2 hours every other week since the weather turned warm; prior to that it was monthly. In the past few weeks I have had three Palo Verde beetles by my front door. When I googled the tree it stated the beetles attack trees that are stressed. Please advise how much water the trees should be receiving and if there is a fertilizer I should be using. They look healthy; in fact, I could email a picture if you feel that would be helpful.
> > Thank you for any information you can offer.
> > Kathleen Preble
> > ====================================================
>
Hi Kathleen,

Sorry about the mixup.

For a Watering schedule for Desert Trees, see the Desert Botanical Garden
watering guide at
http://dbg.org/gardening-horticulture/gardening-resources
and select “Watering Desert Trees and Shrubs”.

As to your fertilizer question, Palo Verde trees are drought-tolerant legumes
that transform atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants. By
fixing nitrogen, these trees make nutrients readily available often lacking in
desert soils such that supplemental fertilization is seldom necessary.

As to controlling the beetle, from:
http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/bugs/palo-bor.htm
“Currently there is little that can be done to control these beetles. They
attack stressed trees, so the best prevention is to keep trees as healthy as
possible. Turn off outside lights to avoid attracting the adults. Placing
pesticides in the exit holes does little good as the beetle is already gone. A
better strategy is to focus on improving the health of the tree to help it
outgrow the damage by providing adequate water and fertilizer”.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
Maricopa County AZ
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