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Practical Ways to Start a Thriving Garden in the Southwest

You’ve been thinking about the benefits of planting a garden. You want to grow your own food, boost your home’s appraisal value, and experience the many health benefits that come with gardening. Now, you’re ready to create a productive garden that will flourish for years to come.

One thing to keep in mind is that planting a garden in the Southwest is different from other areas of the country and world. Hot, arid summers and other quirks make this region a unique climate for crops, which means that you must strategize how you plant and maintain your garden.

Make Your Initial Decisions

Let’s begin with some of the first decisions you will have to make concerning your garden:

Choose a location for your garden that will allow for six to eight hours of sunlight each day.
Research which crops will grow best in your region. Consider the season as well!
Opt for native plants that will require minimal maintenance. Look for crops that thrive in fall and winter.
Search local planting guides to learn the best techniques and strategies for growing a sustainable garden in the Southwest.

Tailor Your Methods

Now, let’s dig into the most critical methods you can use to grow your garden:

Install drip irrigation to ensure your crops stay healthy and fruitful.
Plant diverse crops close together to help boost production and create living mulch.
Try rotating your plants by season. For example, avoid planting the same species in the same spot for more than two consecutive seasons.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Finally, here are some other things you can do to keep a bountiful garden:

Use seed adapted to the Southwest climate, and save some of the seed for the future.
With sustainability in mind, look into eco-friendly ways that you can garden.
Never stop learning how to manage your garden better and keep it healthy for years to come.

Creating a garden is an excellent way to boost your health and well-being. But if you live in the Southwest, you will need to make special considerations when planning, planting, and maintaining your garden. Implement the tips above to get off to a strong start, and consistently seek to grow your gardening knowledge so that you can keep your crops multiplying!

Brought to you by Stephanie Haywood of MyLifeBoost.com.