2026 January issue of InMaricopa Magazine

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temperature recorded locally was 37.9 degrees Fahrenheit in December 2015. Since snowfall generally requires temperatures at or below 32 degrees, Maricopa simply does not meet the conditions needed for snow. That does not mean winter weather can be ignored entirely. While snow is essentially off the table, cold nights can still pose problems for plants and pets used to warmer desert conditions. Many plants begin to struggle when temperatures fall below 45 degrees. Tropical plants are even more sensitive and can suffer damage below 60 degrees. Some plants can be moved indoors, but many are rooted in the ground and need protection. Annual plants are the exception. They are not meant to survive beyond their growing season, so there is no need to intervene. For everything else, preparation makes a difference. If plants cannot be brought indoors, a few simple steps can help protect them during cold nights. It is best to test these methods ahead of time, so you know what works in your yard.

• Cover plants with frost cloth, burlap, or old sheets or blankets to reduce cold exposure. Do not use plastic, which can damage leaves. • Water plants before a freeze or unusually cold night. Moist soil retains heat better and helps protect roots. • Add mulch around the base of plants to trap warmth near the soil. • Use old fashioned incandescent Christmas lights, not LED lights, around the base of plants to provide gentle heat. This works best when combined with the other methods, especially for newer plants. Even cacti are not immune to cold. Because they store water in their tissues, they can freeze when temperatures drop below 37 degrees. So, while snowmen and sledding are not part of Maricopa winters, cold weather care still matters. Take steps to protect your plants and pets, and if you are hoping to enjoy snow this winter, plan on traveling north to find it.

O NE OF THE MOST COMMON challenges I see with self-managed landlords isn’t finding tenants or collecting rent — it’s deciding when and how to handle maintenance. A dripping faucet. An aging A/C unit struggling through another summer. A flat roof that “looks fine for now” until monsoon season arrives. A water heater dealing with years of hard water buildup. An electrical outlet that works... most of the time. The question is always the same: Do I fix it now, patch it or wait? On paper, waiting often feels like the smart financial choice. In reality, delayed maintenance is one of the most expensive decisions a landlord can make. Small issues rarely stay small. A slow leak becomes cabinet damage. A struggling A/C turns into an emergency replacement in July. A minor roof concern becomes interior repairs after the next storm. By the time action is taken, costs are higher, the tenant is frustrated and the situation feels urgent instead of manageable. Self-managing landlords also face decision fatigue. Every repair means finding a vendor, comparing prices, questioning recommendations and wondering whether the work is truly necessary. Without clear standards or trusted systems, hesitation sets in — and hesitation almost always costs more in the long run. Tenants feel that uncertainty as well. When responses are delayed or inconsistent, even good tenants begin to lose confidence. Requests increase, patience decreases and relationships start to strain. The most successful rental properties aren’t the ones with no maintenance — they’re the ones with clear expectations and timely Fix it now or pay for it later The maintenance decision that trips up landlords BY SHERMAN AND EUPHEMIA WEEKES

Frost things first Cold truths every Maricopa gardener should know

Crest Premier Property Management Team supports rental property owners by implementing clear maintenance systems, consistent service standards and proactive property oversight.

decisions. Knowing when to repair, when to replace and when to act immediately protects the property, preserves tenant satisfaction and prevents emergency pricing. For many self-managed landlords, the real cost isn’t the repair itself — it’s the time, stress and uncertainty that come with every maintenance decision. Often, that’s when landlords realize they don’t need to give up control — they need better systems, better coordination and experienced guidance to protect their investment long-term. Sometimes the smartest decision isn’t whether to fix it, it’s deciding not to carry the burden alone.

BY CHERYL PURVIS

VERY WINTER, THE SAME question pops up in Maricopa: Could it ever snow here? Not in any meaningful or

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measurable way. Maricopa sits in the Sonoran Desert, where winter temperatures rarely drop low enough for snow to form. Over the past decade, the coldest

Cheryl Purvis is a Pinal County Master Gardener.