Container Gardening 101 for New Desert Gardeners

Two pots against a wall in a desert back yard The Potted Desert

Rather you are a new or experienced gardener, it’s always good to come back to the basics. I wrote this article with new desert gardeners in mind, but everyone will benefit from these tips. Picture yourself in the Sonoran Desert, where the sun reigns supreme, and rainfall is a rare visitor. Knowing your environment is…

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Desert Gardening – Patience required

Initial October Planting white pot #1

If you have followed my winter garden this year, you know I have been frustrated. In the fall, we put five large pots into our 18-foot raised bed, making it easier for me to tend them. I devised a splendid plan (in my mind, at least!) and installed the pots and plants in late October.…

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January in your Desert Container Garden

Winter Pots by the Potted Desert

Greetings All! Happy New Year! In the above picture, there are two RBP’s, aka Really Big Pots are filled with winter color. The front pot has white Petunias, yellow Snaps. yellow Calendula and the pink flowers are Schizanthus, a winter plant that grows huge! The back pot has purple Petunias, Dusty Miller, and purple Osteospermums.…

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February in Your Desert Container Garden

Kale with Red Cyclmen in a Desert Winter Potted Garden The Potted Desert

Do not let a warm week in February allow you to think that winter is over. How’s your winter been so far this year? Cold nights and cool days? Are flowers and vegetables slow to grow? Limited rain, if any? Snow or hail? We can and most likely will have freezing temperatures this month and…

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Get Potted in a Desert Cottage Garden

Desert Cottage Garden by Barbara Wirth

Do you like cottage gardens? Have you ever grown one? … in the desert? Cottage gardens are an informal design style with dense plantings using floral, foliage and even edible plants. I would not say it is my style – a little too wild and unorganized for me and my more linear brain. However, the…

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How to Change the Soil in your Pots

How to Know When to Change the Soil in your Pots  Warning! This is a long article. Take it slowly and try to absorb the process. If you have any questions, please email me right away! Before we start, let me make one clarification. We don’t use soil or dirt in pots. There are specialty…

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The Right Plant for the Right Place and Time

Summer container garden jumbo pots by the spotted Desert

How to Choose Flowers and Plants for your Desert Pots The biggest challenge for new and experienced gardeners alike is in the desert’s harsh climate and knowing what plants to use in your garden pots. You must select suitable plants for your climate in the right season for your specific situation. Duh – obviously, correct?…

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