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.
Tree with fall color ๐ ๐ , when yellow leaves are normal, free cactus removal service ๐จโ๐พ๐ต, & more ๐ ๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, Last week's storm was a record breaker. While we can always use the rain, it unfortunately came with flooding, property damage, and loss of plants. Sadly, a lot of cactus broke or fell down, including saguaros. If you lost a cactus, you might be unsure what to do next. Can it be saved? Should you pay to have it hauled away? Most gardeners hate seeing plants go to waste, and landscaper Damonich Meister decided to do something about it. He started Anita Cactus, a free...
Happy Halloweed! ๐ ๐ป What to do in November ๐จโ๐พ๐ , orange flowers ๐งก (love 'em or not?), & more ๐ ๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, I can't believe it's already November! I've been having so much fun in my garden that October flew by. Be sure to check out the November monthly "to do" guide. November is still a great month to plant most plants, but it's getting a little late for some that are frost-sensitive. There are a few routine tasks you should take off your list since they contribute to winter cold damage. ๐ฉ๐พ ๐ ๐ฉ๐พ I hope you have a fun filled Halloweed, I mean Halloween. (Yeah, I really did type...
Wildflowers made easy ๐ต๏ธ, the "bluest blue" ๐, save your pumpkins ๐ ๐ , & more ๐ ๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, It's been a crazy fall and some Southwest gardeners experienced damaging storms this week. I hope everyone is safe and did not sustain too much damage to their gardens, homes, vehicles, or other personal property. If you lost a tree or even a large branch, keep an eye on any plants that were shaded by it. Fortunately, this time of year it's not too critical, but by next spring and summer, plants may balk at their new sun exposure. ๐ ๐ช๏ธ ๐ Now is the perfect time to sow...
Pink flamingo ๐ฆฉ (not that kind!), caterpillar invasion ๐ (what to do?), plant sales, & more ๐ ๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, How about this wind? It's a good day to stay inside and plan what you'll do in this garden this weekend. A few things I'll be doing are cleaning up my wind-swept mess of a patio, dividing some perennials, and planting a new Texas ranger. ๐ ๐ช๏ธ ๐ Recently, social media (and my inbox) have been inundated with people freaking out over caterpillars on their plants. A good rule of thumb is to never kill anything on your plants before you know for certain what it is. It may be...
Grow your garden on a budget ๐๐ฒ, native monarch magnet ๐ฆ , new at TBG ๐ & more ๐ ๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, October is prime planting time, but you may find your "plant budget" getting stretched thin. There is help! I've found a surprising number of ways to acquire new plants at very reasonable prices or even for free. While I love all the plants in my desert garden, the ones I appreciate the most are the ones that I rescued, propagated, or otherwise acquired for free. Learn how to grow your garden on a budget in today's featured post. (If you've seen this article before, I've...
Goodbye Monsoon ๐๐ฆ๏ธ , digging a $5 hole โ๏ธ๐ฒ , top butterfly shrub ๐ฆ , & more ๐ ๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, The monsoon is officially over, and for many of us it went out with a BANG. And now we have well-watered plants, full rain barrels, and soil good for digging. I hope this was the case for you. Since October is prime time for planting, you may be digging some holes this weekend. Like many things in desert gardens, digging holes is different here. If you don't get this right, nothing else you do for that plant will matter. Learn the finer points of hole digging in our...
What to do in October ๐ฉโ๐พ ๐ , fabulous but flawed ๐ ๐ณ, what to know before you buy, & more ๐ ๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, Here in Tucson, September is closing out with rain and cooler temperatures, giving us a "sneak preview" of fall. It's been delightful! October is right around the corner, so get ready... this is the month we've all been waiting for! Itโs prime time for planting most (but not all) desert landscape plants. Be sure to check out the October monthly "to do" guide which will help you get your new plants off to the best possible start and much more. And I've included a new...
A lawn substitute you can love ๐, what to plant month by month ๐, fall vs spring planting ๐, & more ๐๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, A common question I get is whether there are any low water use ground covers that can take the place of a lawn. (Many of us miss large expanses of green!) None of the usual options are ideal. Artificial turf is hot and not environmentally friendly. Grass lawns are high maintenance and thirsty. Some ground covers provide a pleasant expanse of green, but you can't walk on them. But now thereโs a relatively new option to consider โ this week's featured plant, Kurapia. ๐ฎ ๐ก ๐ฎ...
Native shrub that's "for the birds" ๐ฆ, dreaded witches' broom ๐ง๐งน, "must have" watering guide ๐ง, & more ๐๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, This week I received several questions about weird growths on various plants that had the same answer -- witches' broom. It has several underlying causes -- mostly natural and one man made. It affects many desert landscape plants, especially roses, lantana, and palo verdes. But regardless of the cause, the treatment is the same. See today's featured post to learn how to prevent it and what to do if you see it on your plants. ๐งน ๐ง ๐งน I frequently mention on my website that...
A perennial sunflower ๐ป, when bougies don't bloom ๐ฅฌ, butterfly-saving tip ๐ฆ, & more ๐๐ต
Hi, Desert Gardener, Have you noticed an increase in butterfly activity in your garden? Many people are reporting swarms of butterflies. I've never seen so many in my yard before! They especially are flocking to my Gregg's mist. However, I was horrified to find 2 queen butterflies tangled in a spider's web on my Gregg's mist. I was able to carefully extricate them and they flew away, but I learned a new gardening lesson: If you have a plant that's attracting butterflies like crazy, remove...
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.