In part 1, we went over the starting principles for hanging baskets. In part 2 (here), we’ll go through some design ideas which you can adapt with plants suited to your area, and discuss some common issues hanging baskets face. Designs Here are some design inspirations to help you create your own hanging baskets. A Trailing Paradise You can frame the edge of your hanging basket with trailing plants like lobelia and ivy geranium....

Greenspace is wonderful, but sometimes there’s, well, not enough space. Hanging baskets are a brilliant way to add pockets of color to your home and garden. Whether it’s a small patio, a pergola, or a wall-mounted bracket, most spaces can accommodate a hanging basket. In Part 1, we’ll go through different types of hanging baskets and planters, and how to choose plants for them, setting you up for a colorful, vibrant display, or a mini, delicious garden....

In the Desert Southwest, freezing temperatures tend to be rare, brief, and highly localized, but when they do occur, they can be surprisingly destructive. A single radiational freeze—characterized by clear skies, still air, and rapidly dropping nighttime temperatures—can damage buds and new growth, and kill young seedlings outright. These freezes can be sudden, often not predicted until the day before, so it’s important to watch the weather. In this article, we’ll explore how frost behaves in the Desert Southwest, how to plan your garden with frost (and even snow) in mind, and practical ways to prepare for sudden cold snaps when they occur....

Sometimes called “nature’s cement,” caliche is a hardened layer of calcium carbonate that binds rock, sand, and soil together into a cement-like barrier that roots—and water—struggle to pass through. In the Desert Southwest, caliche can create real challenges for gardeners, affecting drainage, root growth, and overall soil health. In this article, we’ll look at some practical ways to manage caliche in your yard. A Bit More About Caliche Caliche is common in desert environments from the USA to Australia....

The Desert Southwest is fortunate to have not one, but two growing seasons: a cool season from October through May, and a warm season from May through September. With careful planning, many plants can thrive through both seasons, providing fresh produce year-round. Herbs are especially well-suited to this climate, offering flavor, fragrance, and resilience. The Planter Team’s herbs series is an excellent resource for learning about herbs and how to use them....

For many gardeners, winter is a time to rest and reflect on the year and dream up plans for next year’s garden. It’s time for festivities and merriment. But it’s also the time of year when sniffles and sneezes make the rounds. Now’s a great time to plan a winter wellness garden. Imagine being able to step outside and harvest remedies from your yard. With a little planning, you can have your own winter wonderland of wellness....

We’re dreaming of a green Christmas…or at least we’re dreaming of our gardens filled with lush green plants! And while we’re at it we’re rounding up our top gardening gift picks for 2025. This year we’ve got a gamut of gardening gift ideas from must-read books, to handy gadgets, to eco-friendly gardening goodies! Great Gardening Reads Gardener Scott’s Guide to Raised Bed Gardening Image source: Amazon Gardener Scott is one of the foremost gardening experts on YouTube, and in his new book Gardener Scott’s Guide To Raised Bed Gardening he introduces gardeners to every aspect of raised bed gardening....

Gardening is a journey. It takes years to build up enough knowledge and experience to get consistently good harvests. In the beginning of our journey we might make mistakes with our garden and not even realize it. Even with some gardening experience under our belts, it’s easy to still make ’newbie’ mistakes when we forget (or ignore) gardening fundamentals. So what are some common gardening pitfalls, and how can we avoid them?...

Fall has firmly arrived in the desert Southwest, and it’s wonderful. Although our daytime highs still linger in the high 80s, mornings are cool again, and the dew has returned. With shorter days and lower UV, it’s the perfect time to start cold-season crops and work in the garden all day without drying out. Here’s what’s happening in my garden right now. Crops I only have two things in the ground at the moment: corn (Zea mays) and my loofah....