Southwest Gardener
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
February in the garden π, time to feed citrus π, stunning winter-blooming vine πΏ, & more ππ΅
Hi, Desert Gardener, I received a lot of feedback regarding last week's featured article on why you shouldn't put rocks in your pots, including some great ideas. My favorite? Marylee Pangman of The Potted Desert suggested using grow bags as cache pots and placing them inside large or tall pots. Brilliant! πͺ΄ πͺ΄ πͺ΄ If you have citrus trees, February is prime time to fertilize. For best results, there are a few factors to consider: when to fertilize, how much fertilizer to apply, and what to look...
Rocks in your pots? βοΈ, "had to have it" β€οΈ, fixing a "lollipop" shrub π, & more ππ΅
Hi, Desert Gardener, Have you ever bought a plant because you "had to have it" but it was the wrong time of year to plant it? Well, I just did that. Oops. I've been pining for a tall slipper plant and found one at a great price. But I know that succulents should be planted in the spring when the warm soil encourages their root development. So... I left it in the nursery pot and plunked the whole thing into a large decorative container. And that's where it will stay until it warms up. In the...
How "low can it go"? π‘οΈ, free cactus removal π΅, garden use for sports tape π©Ή, & more π
Hi, Desert Gardener, Recent freezing temperatures had a lot of gardeners scrambling to cover their plants. But covering landscape plants is rarely necessary and depends on how cold it will get and on how cold hardy your plants are. So I created a Desert Plant Cold Hardiness Guide with the cold hardiness temperatures of over 180 plants. I hope you find it helpful for the next freeze. π₯Ά π΅ π΅ π΅ Most gardeners love sharing plants and cuttings, and hate seeing a good plant go to waste. Landscaper...
What to cover? π₯Ά, ghosts vs lollipops π»π, black spots on cactus, & more π΅π
Hi, Desert Gardener, In Tucson and Phoenix, December was the warmest on record. And for a while, it looked like we might not have "winter" this year, but it's finally arrived. As the nighttime lows dip towards freezing, you may be unsure which plants to cover. I've written a post (see below) that should take the guesswork out of which plants need protecting from the cold and which do not. π΅ π΅ π΅ Over the holidays, I finally redesigned Southwest Gardener's home page. (I'm chagrined to admit...
January in the garden β, gardening vs resolutions π₯³, take down Santa hats π , & more π΅π
Hi, Desert Gardener, Happy 2026! I hope your holidays were exactly like you like them to be -- whether quiet and contemplative or full of festivities. π π₯³ π Every year there's a slew of articles on New Year's resolutions. As I read a few "Top Resolutions" lists, it occurred to me that many of them -- losing weight, getting healthier, and starting a new hobby -- can be fulfilled by gardening. And if you like to grow your own food, you can check a few more off the list -- saving more money and...
Wishing You Peace & Joy ππ
Wishing you peace and joy during the holiday season and all through the new year! I wish to thank Sheryl Hester who generously gave me permission to share her artwork. She is also a nature photographer and wildlife advocate. You can see some of her fantastic wildlife photos at ProjectCoyote.org. View this email online You're receiving this email because you previously subscribed via Southwest Gardener. Want to stop receiving emails?Unsubscribe | Update your profile 113 Cherry St #92768,...
Happy Winter Solstice! β, the antidote to "blah" winter gardens π»πΈ, & more π΅π
Hi, Desert Gardener! Flowers and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly, but here in the desert southwest, winter, not summer, is the best time to be outside enjoying your yard. So it makes sense that youβd want your yard to have pops of color in the winter. In today's featured post, you'll find 20+ plants that add color to winter gardens. π»πΈ π» Green Things Nursery in Tucson is Arizona's largest grower of poinsettias. They are currently having a "buy one get one free" sale. (Please...
Happy Poinsettia Day!, desert plants with a holiday connection ππ², & more π΅π
Hi, Desert Gardener! With this warm weather, it doesn't feel like the holidays are right around the corner, so let's get in the spirit with some plants with holiday connections. π² π π² Today, December 12th, is National Poinsettia Day. Poinsettias are a beloved holiday plant, but they are also a "near native" that grow in the dry tropical forests of Mexico and Guatemala. Have you ever had a poinsettia and wondered what to do with it after the holidays? While most people treat it like an annual...
What to do in December π², why you should rock your trees πͺΎ, common winter mistakes π₯Ά, & more π΅ π
Hi, Desert Gardener! It's hard to believe that it's December already. Every December, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that: December in Tucson and Phoenix is the coldest month of the year (although just barely). By mid-month (December 10th), the evenings start getting longer. (Woot! I'm not a fan of long, dark evenings. How about you?) This month there is still plenty you can do in the garden, but there's not much that you have to do. Be sure to check out December's...
Have Wonderful Southwest Thanksgiving π¦π₯§ (& why I'm grateful for my desert garden)π
Happy Thanksgiving! I want to take this time to express how grateful I am for readers like you who share my interest in desert gardening. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I'll be back next week with "the usual". 7 Reasons I Appreciate Gardening in the Desert Desert gardening has its challenges, but there is much to appreciate about gardening in the desert, too. Here's why I am grateful to be living and gardening in the desert southwest. Read more β Garden Quote βLet us be grateful...
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.