We start a garden to beautify. In the process we get hooked on the practice of interacting with our incredible desert landscape and placing our hands in earth. Our gardens become a character in our lives, populated by favorite plants each with their own stories. A big part of the wonder is that the learning never ends.

It seems simple enough on the surface. A successful strategy starts with plants, watering, and soil. But desert rains are variable or non-existent, each season is different than the previous, and every property has a multitude of micro climates. How do we approach a landscape with no hard and fast rules?

First let’s unpack a few basics. From there let your plants tell you how you’re doing. We hope this helps turn your wheels in the right direction whether you’re looking for a jump start or for deeper inquiry. Be sure to view our Planting Hacks video for more insights!

Onward!