Jessie Byrd with the Native Plant Nursery in Pima County says it’s mostly due to overwatering. Palo verdes can grow quickly, but these growth spurts lead to weaker bark.
“If people buy a nice palo verde or there's one in their yard they tend to water it a lot to make it grow faster,” Byrd said. “And when that happens the wood becomes really really weak and so it’s not a tough, strong, slow desert tree.”
Byrd also recommends gradually moving irrigation lines farther and farther away from the trunk of the tree.
This allows the roots to grow deeper and out farther, strengthening the base and reducing the likelihood that it will fall in strong winds.
“It's good to try and encourage native plants but part of why they have problems is the way that we treat them, so I always encourage people to use a wild plant but also try and treat it like a wild plant,” she said.
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We think great stories start with curious questions, and KJZZ wants to investigate your questions — big or small — from the Valley or across the state. -
If you’ve driven down Interstate 17 near Northern Avenue in Phoenix lately, you’ve probably seen that progress is being made at the construction site that was once a former Kmart. -
Questions remain about whether the way the ballot order is set in Arizona is fair, and whether those listed first have a small but potentially significant advantage. -
On Sept. 8, KJZZ water reporter Alex Hager presented your questions and concerns to a panel of experts.
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Heading into the 2026 general election in Arizona, residents will not see the governor or lieutenant governor candidates debate.
