Gardening in the hot, dry desert southwest might seem hard, but in many ways, it’s just different than gardening in other climates.
We definitely have our challenges — death-star sun, drought, and temperature extremes.
But fortunately, there’s an amazing array of plants that shrug off these harsh conditions — your choices aren’t limited to cactus and gravel.
You can have a yard filled with low-maintenance trees, shrubs, succulents, and flowers in every color of the rainbow, if you so desire.
To do this, you’re going to have to forget almost everything you knew about gardening elsewhere… but it’s not always easy to find the information you need.
That’s why I created Southwest Gardener.
Is Southwest Gardener Right for You?
Southwest Gardener is right for you if you want to:
- Have a beautiful low-maintenance yard that’s a joy, not a struggle
- Stop wasting money on plants that die
- Reduce your water use… and lower your water bills
- Spend less time on tasks you don’t enjoy
The information on this site is created to help gardeners in arid parts of zones 9 – 11. This includes (but is not exclusive to) the major population centers and the surrounding areas of:
- Phoenix and Tucson
- Las Vegas
- Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego)
Not sure of your zone? Check out this map, or enter your zip code here.
Here’s How to Get Started
Successful desert gardening boils down to three things:
Choosing the right plants.
Planting them in the right place.
Giving them the right care.
And here are three ways you can get started.
Use the Desert Plant Library
In the ever-growing Plant Library, you’ll find comprehensive “plant profiles” of over 100 popular desert landscape plants.
You’ll learn exactly how to take care of the plants you have. And you’ll learn how to choose new plants that will thrive (not die!) in your garden.
If you don’t see what you are looking for, please stop back soon. This is a new site and I’m adding new content frequently.
Check Out the Desert Gardening Basics
Whether you are new to gardening in the desert or have been at it a while, there is always more to learn. In Desert Gardening Basics, you’ll find “must know” gardening information that is based in science and “best practices” according to the experts, not the latest TikTok fad.
You’ll learn all aspects of plant care — watering, pruning, fertilizing, and pest management plus tips to make gardening less work and more fun!
Sign Up for the Southwest Gardener Newsletter
The easiest way to get started is to sign up for the free weekly newsletter where you’ll learn everything you need to create and maintain a beautiful, low-maintenance desert garden, including:
- Featured “foolproof plants”
- Timely gardening info you can use now
- Pro gardening tips
- What to do in the garden this month
- and more!
And for my fellow Tucsonans, you’ll get weekly reminders of all the cool stuff going on around town in the Tucson Gardening Events Calendar. 😎