Gardening in an Arid Climate
When gardening in an arid climate, choose plants that tolerate the dry conditions and excessive summer heat. Conditions in the low deserts allow two growing seasons each year. In the high deserts, you must choose plants that grow quickly or tolerate the freezing temperatures of winter. Often native plants thrive best in an arid climate. Does this Spark an idea?
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Water Conservation
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In the arid climate of the southwestern deserts, many practice xeriscaping because water is expensive and often scarce. Xeriscapes use plants that need little extra water to thrive. Native flowers, trees or landscaping shrubs grow well in this arid climate. Other plants, introduced from other dry regions like Mexico or Australia, can add beauty and interest to your garden or landscape.
In an arid climate, a few practices help make the best use of water. You should irrigate your plants in the evening when the hot sun will not evaporate the water before it soaks into the ground. You must also separate plants according to water need, keeping those that need little water away from plants that need daily watering. Since even deserts receive some rainfall, place your garden in a low area where it can benefit from the rain. Use mulch around plants and flowers to impede evaporation, and mulch with wood chips, sawdust or compost to add organic material to the soil.
Vegetables
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The low desert remains warm in the winter with only occasional light frost. You can plant many vegetables in January and February. In the high desert, often with freezing nights, planting begins in February or March. Plant broccoli, greens and root vegetables early. You can plant other vegetables in late March and April. Many arid climates allow two growing seasons. In August, you start again.
For the second growing season, plant celery, cucumbers, peas and asparagus for a winter harvest. Tomatoes grow well in the low desert if they can be sheltered from the heat; planted early, you can harvest them before it becomes too hot. All kinds of peppers like heat and grow well here. Tomatoes grow well in the high desert where the heat seldom reaches 110 degrees F. In both locations, tomatoes planted in the fall provide fresh fruit for Thanksgiving. All vegetable gardens need irrigation in arid climates.
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Fruit Trees
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Fruit trees thrive in arid climates with extra irrigation. The low deserts with hotter summer temperatures provide ideal conditions for citrus, mulberry and fig trees. Lemon, orange and grapefruit trees bloom in the spring and shade yards in the summer. They grow quickly and need little care except for water. Fig trees do not need as much water as the citrus. Because the high deserts have freezing temperatures in winter, the more temperate fruit trees grow well there. Plums, apricots, nectarines and nuts grow well here with irrigation.
Landscaping
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In arid climates, avoid large expanses of lawns. You may want a small plot of turf for a child's play area; otherwise, water-conserving ground covers are much less expensive to maintain. Thyme or rosemary add flowers and color and attract butterflies and birds. In low-use areas, use colored gravel, and for accents, add hardscape items including fencing, retaining walls and large rocks. Many native species of cactus and agave thrive here with little extra water and minimal care.
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References
Resources
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