My fiance and I are moving into our own apartment in December. We’ve been living together for just under a year in an apartment with two other roomates and a concrete patio. Just about every apartment I’ve ever lived in had either no patio, or a concrete patio. (Or a small backyard that was ALWAYS in direct sunlight and couldn’t grow a weed if it tried)
Our new apartment will have a small yard area outside and model that we looked at had some great little flowers planted in it.
It’s not a huge area, but I think it’s enough for a bit of a garden and maybe some stone steps (Here’s the floorplan)
Now here’s the problem. The only things I’ve ever grown were unintentional science projects in my refridgerator, unless you count lazy and cynical.
We’re in Phoenix, so whatever I plant will need to be heat resistant to some extent, but I am going to intentional choose a unit that doesn’t get too much direct sunlight, both for the garden and for our electricity bill.
I have a hunch that we have some pretty decent garden enthusiasts on this board, and I’d like to know what types of flowers, plants, etc. you guys would recommend.
I was going to suggest succulents as well. You can get a pretty nice looking garden with those. I was thinking of growing those somewhere, if I ever get all domestic and stuff with my house.
Whenever I go visit my grandparents in Phoenix I notice that some of their neighbors have rosemary bushes- we’re talking small hedges here. So it seems like it flourishes in the area, and I think having a big fragrant rosemary hadge sounds neat.
We live in California east of the coastal mountains, so the climate tends to be warm and dry (but not as much so as AZ). But I’m lazy, so I do best with plants that don’t require a lot of watering.
In general, go for plants with small leaves or no leaves over plants with big leaves. I think plants lose moisture through their leaves, so things with less leaf area will do better. Rosemary would be an example of this. I had much better luck with herbs with small leaves (sage, oregano, etc) than herbs with large leaves (basil). Mint might work well, though- mint plants are hard to kill.
I had good luck with miniature roses, and it seems like every other house where I used to live had at least one full-size rosebush in the yard. Some people in California also like to plant native wildflowers- this is something you might be able to look into. Also, if there are decorative plants in public places (median strips, entrance to your apartment complex, etc), they are most likely to be plants that don’t require a lot of maintenance to do well in your climate.
Ooh, these are all super suggestions. I’m gonna try to avoid cactus just because I’m severely over-cactused, being a Phoenix native and all.
I’ll definitely check out succulents, small leaf plants and rosemary. I can’t imagine keeping a rosebush of any size alive, but I guess it’s worth a try. =)
I’m dying to check out the moonlight garden, though I doubt I’d qualify since the flourescent zombies ate my brain and replaced it with a timeclock some years ago. sigh
Thanks, guys!
Here is a link about xeriscaping. It’s specific to North Dakota, but I don’t imagine it would be too much of a stretch for Arizona (have you ever BEEN to NoDak in August?!).
jayjay, this site is perfect. I have no idea what ND looks like in August though. I doubt it could be the blistering inferno that is the Valley of the Sun.
LBE, if you think the rocks won’t melt too, you’ve obviously never been here in July.
HA! The upper midwest may not get 120 degree temps, but it does get 90+ degree temps with 80% humidity for most of the summer. I lived in Minneapolis for two years. You sweltered in August and froze in January. You were comfortable for about a week in May and a week in early October.
My mother lives in Tucson, and attempts to grow lots of stuff. Her problem is that the native fauna eat everything she plants. So, first, before spending lots of bux on plants, make sure you’re not going to have that problem.
I would think that tomatoes would do well there, or chilis, but they’d both need more attention than it sounds like you’re willing to provide. (Not that I blame you…)
Whenever I think about tomato plants, I see myself draping cheese cloth over them, watering them only with Evian and speaking to them in Latin at exactly 12:43am every night.
It might not be that bad, but whenever I see anyone on a gardening show talk about tomatos, there’s always a laundry list of things that the tomato plant itself likes and does not like.
I don’t know that I’m willing to give up my “Highest Maintenance” title to the household plant.
I don’t know where you are in Phoenix, but why don’t you take a trip up to McDowell and go check out the botanical gardens. My wife and I have a home in Ahwatukee and we went there to get ideas for our outside garden. It is amazing what a trelace and some boganvilia (sp?) can do to an outside desert garden:) Also, the volunteers up at the botanical garden are all evry helpful in helping you find the right garden for your space. Have fun!
Here’s how some Israeli gardeners grow canteloupes. Bury a big unglazed earthenware jar so that the jar’s mouth is just above the ground. Fill the jar with water, and put a cover over it. The water will seep out through the clay, so you’ll have to refill it now and then. Plant some young melon plants around the jar, and the roots will all grow toward the jar. This method uses much less water than conventional watering methods, because all the water goes to the plants with no evaporation.
