Three Tips to Keep Plants Alive!

1. Treat them like people with different temperature preferences.

Like us, plants have different preferences. My granddaughter, Lily, enjoys cold. Her smiley eyes and happy cheeks are a total giveaway as she plays in Michigan snow. I prefer bubble baths with flickering candles. Twinkle lights from a chandelier and turning compost in a 90 degree garden. That's me! Which do you prefer?

Now, ask this same question about your veggies, flowers and shrubs. Find out if a plant prefers cold or heat before you select and place it. Each plant will be most active and cheerful in the season of it's preference. Use plants that prefer cold in Arizona's cool season and/or situate them in the coolest parts of your yard. Select plants that thrive in heat during Arizona's warm season and/or situate them in the sunniest parts of your landscape. Peek at these guides: Veggie Selection. Flower Planting. Desert Adapted Trees & Shrubs Guide from a local grower.

2. Know where the sun doesn't shine.

Walk your landscape at different times of day, throughout the year, to find sun/shade patterns. Look for trees, gates, walls or high points on your home which cast dark shadows. Make note of sunny spots as well.

I planted both sets of veggies on the same day but the Swiss Chard and Broccoli, in the top photo, grew about ten-times larger than the same veggies in the bottom photo. Why? The bottom set got three-hours of sun daily. Those in the top photo got six-hours sun daily.

Since most Arizona veggies require a minimum 6-hours of sun everyday to fully mature, you definitely want to choose a known sunny location for planting veggies (unless you're growing for a doll's tea party).

3. Observe after planting.

Don't think you've got a black thumb if a plant begins to struggle. Instead, re-check it's sun and temperature preferences.

Again. Two photos, same day. Top photo: purple Angelonia with a few miserable blooms. Why? Simple answer: This location is getting more sun than Angelonia prefers. It's burning.

Meanwhile, eighteen feet to the left... This Angelonia is thriving! Why? Same front yard. Same water. The only difference is that a nearby tree provides dappled shade every afternoon, protecting it from our intense summer sun.

To rescue the struggling Angelonia, I'll water it; carefully dig it up and transplant it to an environment that makes it happier.

Same story with these purple pansies. Top photo (3-hours sun). Bottom photo (adequate 6-hours sun). What a difference!

YOU MAY BE A WONDERFUL GARDENER WAITING  TO DISCOVER
the preferences of the plants you love. Don't lose hope. Ask questions before you buy. Choose the right plant and select the right location.

Happy gardening!