As anyone who lives in Las Vegas knows, the climate is less than ideal for gardening. The summer days can get extremely hot whilst during the winter the temperature can drop below freezing. However, this does not mean it is impossible to have a garden. In fact, you could view it is as a challenge. Knowing what to do and when to do it will make creating and maintaining a garden a lot easier. Our Guide to planting a perfect garden in Las Vegas takes a look at the main factors which will determine whether your garden flourishes or fails.
Guide to planting a perfect garden – main factors
Sun is essential for plants. Living in Las Vegas you can be sure that you will have plenty of sunlight. This suits a variety of fruits and vegetables so it’s a good thing. As soon as you decide which plants you wish to grow, check what they require in terms of sunlight, temperature, and water. This will help you choose the right place and position in the garden for each plant. Even if the label on a pack of seeds suggests that a plant should be planted in full view of the sun, you can rest assured this does not apply to desert areas and the desert sun. Try to learn how to garden in the desert city, consider your options. It is probably a good idea to try and gather a few tips and tricks from your local nursery.
There are many ways for you and your garden to overcome Nevada’s heat. Desert areas are known for their hot weather but in Las Vegas, it can get really cold too. These cold temperatures can be very stressful for plants that enjoy a warm climate and flourish in 110° heat. Certain types of plants such as succulents or cacti cannot survive temperatures below freezing. It might be wise to cover these plants with some kind of nylon during the winter to achieve a greenhouse effect and keep the temperature around the plant above freezing.
The nutrients that plants need to grow are all contained within the soil. The hard and rocky nature of desert soil makes it less than ideal for gardening. This is because it usually has poor water retention. It is also usually not very nutrient-rich. Luckily, there is an entire array of options at your disposal to modify soil properties and create a soil that will not only sustain plant growth but encourage it. Even if you are yet to move to Las Vegas and wondering how to move your garden there are several things you can do to the soil to make it more fertile, including:
- worm casting which has a high level of nutrients
- add compost
- you could add steer and poultry manure
- put in organic fertilizer which supplies and reloads nutrients
Drip irrigation is perhaps the most efficient and most commonly used method of irrigation in desert areas. One advantage of drip irrigation is that you can bring water precisely to the base of every plant in just the right amount. This will ensure your water bills don’t skyrocket.
Some of the tips you could follow are:
- Try to use a drip irrigation system with a timer.
- Set the timer to water the plants early in the morning or in the evening.
- Maintain your irrigation system to avoid leaks.
Search online and ask around in your local nursery for plants that you like and that can survive the desert climate. A vast majority of the plants available at your local nursery should be able to survive in your region. Some of the plants that we could recommend are citrus trees, kale, asparagus, tomatoes, soya beans, and squash. Native plants will be more durable in the desert weather, so be sure to plant some of them too. Having a perfect garden can be one of the reasons you will enjoy living in Las Vegas.
What and when – The Las Vegas Gardening Calendar
If you, for example, want to plant a vegetable garden, it is good to have a detailed calendar that will guide you through the process of planting a perfect garden in Las Vegas.
- prune your roses and fruit trees
- spray plants with horticultural oil and a copper-based fungicide
- great time for getting plants in the ground
- for your lawn use high nitrogen fertilizer
- put soil sulfur around your plants
- about three weeks after pruning roses use Epsom salts, superphosphates, and fertilizer
- feed your fruit trees with the same things that you use on roses (add a high-nitrogen fertilizer)
- plant some seeds in small pots for your vegetable garden (move them outside in the second half of March)
- adjust your irrigation timers to springtime settings
- check if your irrigation system is working properly
- if you already see weeds coming up, use broadleaf weedkiller
- use a fertilizer with a good amount of nitrogen for shrubs, vines and leafy trees
- you should make sure that you are watering deep
- add organic matter and conserve moisture by putting a layer of mulch around plants
- iris, canna lilies, and other summer bulbs can be planted now (put them in with starter fertilizer and be sure to feed them with granular flower food every few weeks)
- change your irrigation timer to a summer schedule (three days a week, but it should provide a long, deep drink when it does run)
- lookout for pests in your garden, especially aphids and grubs
- you can still plant palm trees if you have them then start fertilizing them in late May
June and July
- check whether you have a problem with weeds emerging
- check for fungal growth and treat it with fungicide if necessary
- water your grass only in the early morning period
- beetles lay their eggs, in two weeks they become grubs, you can put down a granular grub control substance.
- use low nitrogen fertilizer when your shrubs, trees, or grass show signs of nutrient deficiency
- plant peppers and tomatoes (start them indoors or in a place where they’ll get morning sun and afternoon shade)
September and October
- cut back on your watering (three days a week for grass and two days a week for trees and shrubs)
- start a winter vegetable garden (prepare beds with fresh compost, put seeds of spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower directly in the ground)
- if you want to plant any deciduous trees or shrubs, now is the time
November and December
- reset your irrigation timers to a winter schedule
- stop watering succulents and cacti
- protect the plants you need to from frost by covering them with a material that allows sunlight in
- plant your spring bulbs at the end of December to ensure a bright and colorful garden when March arrives (tulips, hyacinth, and daffodils)
Remember to enjoy yourself while working around your garden. Few things can provide such a sense of achievement as watching an area of barren desert land turn into a green oasis of plant life. Bring life to your surroundings with the help of this guide to planting a perfect garden in Las Vegas.