Desert Gardening

Gardening in the Valley of the Sun can be a challenge, especially to green thumbs transplanted from other parts of the country where gardening seasons, plants and conditions are very different from the desert environment. Luckily, there are many local resources for novice desert gardeners and those who just want to understand the basics of maintaining their yard throughout the year.

There are many knowledgeable landscape maintenance and design services in Arizona that can help plan and maintain your yard and planters, leaving you to enjoy your golf game or lounging poolside. However, for those who want to be more active gardeners, the first place to gather information and get a good look at a variety of desert plants is the Desert Botanical Garden. This 145 acre facility features over 50,000 plant displays in outdoor exhibits, and offers a variety of classes year-round for the casual to serious gardener.

Checking with your local municipality is another option. The City of Scottsdale, for example, is offering free workshops on plant selection, plant care and landscape makeovers this fall. Glendale also has landscaping and water conservation workshops on the calendar, and Gilbert’s schedule features “Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardens” as well as “Drip Irrigation Design and Install” workshops.

As you consider creating a desert-friendly yard or garden, you can also visit one of the beautiful Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens in the area. These gardens provide great examples of plant usage and plant combinations which are sure to generate ideas for transforming your own landscape. Also be on the lookout for the tenth annual “Real Gardens for Real People” garden tour coming up in 2011, sponsored by the University of Arizona’s Master Gardener Program. Visit their website for a wealth of desert gardening resources, from books to classes and other events.

Don’t be intimated by the desert landscape – it can be prickly, but by making the most of local resources you’ll be surrounded by a beautiful landscape in no time.