Newbie Gardener in the Desert

Victoria Larsen Stencils
by Victoria Larsen Stencils
I'm a designer by trade, so even looking at my plain, boring yard was all I could stand. I had to do something about it!
Moving to the Desert Southwest from the beautiful, lush Pacific Northwest was more of a shock when it came to gardening and landscaping than I ever thought possible. But I am taming the desert a little at a time!
When I purchased my house in New Mexico, there was little landscaping. Just dry, thirsty desert sand. Gardening seemed impossible and all the skills I had prior to moving here, flew out the window. I had to learn all over again.


I could no longer count on simple soil amendments to ensure my success. I had to learn to plant at new levels, water on schedules and mulch, mulch, mulch! Types of plants changed and I learned successful "transplanting" of purchased plants wasn't going to be an easy process.
One after the other, I had failed attempts at anything at all. But I finally got a lawn! In that, I learned that common grass seed just wasn't going to do the trick. So I finally opted for perennial rye grass and found it's wider blades held up to the desert heat better than anything else I had tried.
The first year was a struggle... the second year taught me that I really could get beauty and healthy plants.
Learning new plant varieties and finding that planting by seed was a far easier choice than store bought plants. These luscious Mexican Bird of Paradise have now become a prolific bush for my landscape. They grow from seed (and self seed easily!) and grow fast. They reward you with luscious blooms that are not only fragrant, but attract bees and humming birds galore.
Mulching the ground heavily helps to protect the plants and keep down weeds. New Mexico is known for Russian thistle (tumble weeds) that nearly got the best of me that first year.
Toward the end of my second year, my landscaping is the most lush in my neighborhood. And I just keep going!
My Oasis in the desert has taken shape and continues to get better and better. Now I'm considering doing my Raised Plaster Aspen Tree Stencil to create life sized trees on the stucco exterior of my home in white stucco. I can just imagine how elegant it will look!
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  • Karen Cox Karen Cox on Jul 26, 2015
    There are several garden clubs that you could consult. Contact the Albuquerque Garden Center. And you might consider harvesting rain water with barrels. Water is the future!
  • Mary Mary on Oct 18, 2016
    I live in the desert in Arizona. Our yard is planted with native plants that need very little water once established. We concentrated on those that would attract humming birds and butterflies. We love it!
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