Desert gardening has two big problems – dry heat and lack of rain.  Some areas of the world have no problem with rainfall, and even during dry times of the year they receive more rain than desert areas.

So when we are thinking about doing desert gardening, we need to think about identifying plants which are hardy, and which do not require moist conditions to thrive in.

Lawn Or No Lawn?

You might think that desert gardening doesn’t allow room for a lawn of any kind, but you would be wrong.

It is quite possible to have a lawn but it needs extra care to make sure it thrives throughout the year.  Native grasses are ideal – the turf you would commonly find in gardens in areas used to lots of rainfall won’t be suitable for desert gardening. 

Buffalo grass is commonly used in dry areas, although there are other varieties you can use equally well.  Ask your local garden center for advice on which type of native grass is best suited to the area you live in.

Think Alkaline

Desert gardening requires a little more knowledge to make a real success of it.  Desert areas tend to be alkaline in nature, so the trick to creating a garden which will look good all year round is to concentrate on growing plants which thrive in soil that has a high alkaline content.

Good compost will also help the development of your plants, and give them the nourishment they need.

Which Plants Are Ideal For Dry Areas?

 The obvious answer everyone will come up with is cacti.  There are many different varieties, and they do have the advantage of having that in built security factor.  If you plant them underneath your windows you won’t have much of a problem with intruders.

Not all desert gardening has to do with prickly plants however.  Plants such as the Arizona poppy, the yucca and the ocotillo with its bright red flowers can brighten up a desert garden enormously.

Desert gardening isn’t the best way – or the easiest – for a beginning gardener to get started, but with some perseverance and research you can soon be the proud owner of some truly attractive and blooming plants and flowers.

Related posts:

1. Successful Elements for Desert Vegetable Gardening
2. Kinds of Desert Plants
3. Gardening Problems For The Beginner

But after accepting this fact of nature, buying a good farmer’s almanac and following these guidelines, your desert vegetable gardening experience should be a success. Success however depends on the planning of your vegetable garden. Your planning begins with the best possible location, the best soil preparation and the care after the planting of your vegetable garden. Desert vegetable gardening is not impossible and can be quite fun when following these guidelines.

Preparation of the Garden

Desert vegetable gardening starts with raised beds. Find your ideal site and begin mulching and raising your beds. Surrounding your raised beds with a wood frame is also a good idea. Next be sure that furrow irrigation is implemented. Once you have your beds raised, the irrigation should be simple to accomplish. Desert vegetable gardening should be irrigated every 7 to10 days when the temperature is below 100 degrees. Irrigation needs to be done twice weekly when the temperature goes over 100 degrees.

But also remember, desert vegetable gardening plants need less water in the cooler season. After your plants are well established and they are showing proudly in your garden, fertilization is the key. Desert vegetable gardening depends greatly on a well balanced fertilizer.  Your local extension office will be happy to guide you through the mixtures for your specific area.

Additional Hints for the Garden

In order for your vegetable garden to be a success your tomatoes and peppers will need additional protection from the intense desert sun. Also, be sure to soak corn, beans, peas and squash before plantings as this will hasten their germination. The majority of desert vegetable gardening success stories have begun with transplanted seedlings versus seeds. The overall success rate in gaining beautiful vegetables is overwhelming when using seedlings.

Desert gardens fare much better when planted in spring and late winter. It is no surprise that desert vegetable gardening does not do well under the hot summer sunshine. Vegetable gardening in the Southwest is not much different than anywhere else except, of course, for the climate and water situation. Once you have tackled these two elements, your desert vegetable gardening experience should be quite a pleasant one. Your vegetables will be large and strong and your garden will be ready for next year’s planting.

Related posts:

1. Successful Tips for Growing a Vegetable Garden
2. The Problems Associated With Desert Gardening
3. The 5 Steps to Vegetable Gardening in North Carolina