Growing plants in dry climates and hot conditions is not easy, but Mother Nature provides a good template. Be prepared for slow growth. Take your time and give your plants lots of space. If you really cannot stand a bare spot, consider putting in pots or artificial turf until other plants start filling in.
Use and Create More Shade
Shade can do a lot for some of your more delicate flowers and even veggies. Start with the north end of your house and work around to the east. The sun that wakes up flowers in the morning may well cook them in the afternoon, so the east side of your house is a nice spot for more delicate items.
Consider adding a weeping shade tree or a flowering tree. Many trees in the desert tend to be a lighter shade of green as opposed to a lush pine, so think about adding a bold color with a container or some yard art. You can also change things up with colored solar lights.
Tall grasses can also be used to create shade. If you can find a spot to get some Sideoats Grama Grass going, consider planting a groundcover on the east side of it and be patient. The groundcover will stop water evaporation, and the grass will shade the groundcover during the hottest part of the day.
Work with Containers
Containers allow gardeners in dry climates to create a microclimate for more delicate plants. If you love tomatoes, grow them in pots or, even better, grow them upside down in buckets. With your tomatoes in a bucket, you can add compost, calcium, and water until your tomatoes go crazy. Small tomatoes are an excellent crop in a bucket. Hang it and let the tomato grow out the bottom.
For more visual variety in a desert yard, consider painting a few pots with glow-in-the-dark reflective paint so things start to brighten up like the sun. Be aware that these pots will take at least 4 coats for a good cover. No matter what you plant things in, get in the habit of watering early in the day to keep your plants going when the temperatures climb.
Use Groundcovers to Reduce Heat Reflection
A durable groundcover can do a lot to add color to your yard and keep soil in place. When choosing the right groundcovers for your space, make sure that you avoid putting anything that does not like water in a spot where water may stand.
Ice plants, for example, are quite easy to grow if left in dry soil. However, if the spot is low or if any rain runoff or AC runoff soaks your ice plants, you may lose them. They really do not like water. That being said, their bright pink flower is well worth trying until you find the right location.
Use Grasses to Create Variety
Native grasses offer a wide variety it shapes, heights, and colors in the landscape. Getting these grasses started can actually be quite quick. You may find some in the wild or need to cultivate a spot to encourage them, but once you get deer grass or Mexican thread grass started, it may be tough to control.
From native grasses to artificial turf in Tampa, a pretty stand of grasses can make a world of difference in a flat desert landscape. To keep things interesting and useful, plant your grass gardens far from your house. When they dry out, they can be a fire hazard.
They can also be a terrific source for crafters. Dried grasses in a clay jar can make a striking accent piece. In addition, you can cut back your native grasses and use them as mulch for an intended garden plot. Finally, in years past there were nomads who bundled and burned dried grasses for heat and cooking fires. While this is not recommended indoors, you can still manipulate tall grasses into tight bundles to burn in a fire pit, as long as you have a wide firebreak around the pit.
For those who love traditional tulips, desert gardening may be frustrating. However, the desert plants found in the wild have a remarkable beauty that cannot be denied. Leave room between plants and be patient. Get some yard art for visual variety while your plants fill in.
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