Desert Gardening 101
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Let’s Plan Some Gorgeous Desert Gardens!

My name is Noelle Johnson. I am a horticulturist, landscape consultant, and author who lives in the Phoenix area. I am passionate about gardening in hot, dry climates.

Whether you have just moved to the desert or long-time resident and need some assistance with your existing landscape… I can help.

Gardening in a hot, arid climate is different

It’s no surprise that trying to grow and maintain plants in the desert can be confusing. If you are tired of watching plants struggle to survive or have no idea where to begin in your landscape – I have the answers you need.

My passion is helping people learn how to create, grow, and maintain a beautiful garden in the desert. So, before you throw in the towel and settle for only cactus and rocks in your landscape, let me assure that there is so much more possible! I have been helping people like you for over 20 years to achieve their goal of an attractive outdoor space that brings them joy.

Filling Desert Gardens With Beauty

As a landscape consultant, I provide people with the information and guidance they need to achieve a lovely landscape that thrives in a hot, dry climate with little fuss.

And yes, it can be filled with color and beauty!

A consultation helps you learn what you need to have an attractive, low maintenance garden AND saves you money with the recommendation of appropriate plants, placement, and maintenance guidelines, including watering scheduling.

Common Landscape Problems

Most people over-maintain their landscape by excessive pruning, over-watering and fertilizing plants that don’t need it.

In addition, they have plants that struggle to survive in our hot, arid climate and often waste money buying trees and plants in larger sizes from the nursery when fast-growing smaller sizes will work just as well.

Landscape Consultant
Desert landscape backyard

So how is a ‘landscape consultant’ different from a landscape contractor, designer, or nursery professional?

I offer recommendations based on not only my expertise as a horticulturist and extensive experience but what I recommend is completely independent of conflicting interests.

I don’t sell plants, offer maintenance or installation services. My advice is based solely on your needs and not on any hidden profits.

The focus of my consultations is to help people create and learn how to maintain functional, outdoor spaces using beautiful, low-maintenance plants that thrive in our arid climate – that’s it.

So in what type of situations is a landscape consultation helpful?

  1. New desert dweller who want to learn about their existing plants and how to care for them while personalizing the landscape to their taste.
  2. Homeowner who is tired of having a lackluster landscape despite spending a lot of money on the maintenance of it.
  3. Someone who has a newly designed landscape and no idea how to care for it.
  4. A person who wants a colorful landscape with little fuss.

Let’s get into what a LANDSCAPE CONSULTATION includes…

Which Type Of Experience Is Right For You?

You can choose an in person or online session. Details below!

1. IN-PERSON LANDSCAPE CONSULTATION

Click here for a map of my service area. *Live outside my service area? Scroll down for my virtual consultation option.

During our 90-minute visit, we walk through your current landscape together, discussing your goals from low-maintenance, adding color, attracting wildlife, creating more interest, etc.

Verbal recommendations for new plants, along with suggested plant removals, pruning, and watering guidelines, will be discussed.

I’ll help you learn how to care for your existing plants and identify any potential problems. A customized, written report with watering and fertilizing guidelines, a personalized list of new plant recommendations, and maintenance guidelines for existing plants are included.

**In-person consultations will resume in mid-September.

Fee: $650

*Please email info@azplantlady.com to be added to the waitlist.

2. VIRTUAL LANDSCAPE CONSULTATION

In addition to the Phoenix metro area, I offer virtual landscape consultations for residents in the greater Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Tucson metro areas.

  • A virtual consult consists of a 90 minute online meeting with me via a Zoom video call.
  • You will submit photos of your landscape along with a filled-out questionnaire before our virtual meeting.
  • I will prepare recommendations based on your goals and photos before our online call.
  • During our online call, we will discuss your goals and how to accomplish them. Recommendations for new plants along with suggested plant removals, pruning, and watering guidelines will be discussed.
  • After the virtual consultation, I will provide you with a written landscape report. Written watering and fertilizing guidelines, a personalized list of new plant recommendations, and maintenance guidelines for existing plants are included.
  • You will receive a link to a recording of our consultation for you to review as needed.

Fee: $650

Let’s Work Together Online!

HOW TO SET UP A VIRTUAL CONSULATION:

  1. Fill out the contact form below
  2. Email me photos of the areas you want me to cover during our consultation to noelle@azplantlady.com
  3. I will send you a questionnaire to fill out regarding your goals, problems, etc.
  4. I’ll contact you to set up a time for us to meet online via Zoom
  5. Payment is due before our appointment and an invoice will be sent to you via PayPal for you to pay online
  6. After our meeting, I will send you a written landscape report within 7 days

*Doesn’t include a drawn landscape design

I would love to assist you with your landscape and help you realize its potential with much less work than you think!

Fill out the contact form below to set up a consultation with me.

Book Now!

*Plant placement is an important element in creating a pleasing design and I offer verbal suggestions for where to add new plants. A consultation doesn’t include a drawn design. 

Book Now!

Payment Details

Payment is due at time of consultation for in-person consultations. Pre-payment is required for virtual consultations.

I accept cash, check, or credit card.

Click here for a map of the areas where I offer in-person consultations.

Please fill out the form below to set up a consultation.

TESTIMONIALS

I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our meeting with you! Such a pleasure spending time with you. Both of us could not stop commenting on how awesome it was as well as how knowledgeable you were. So many really great ideas and suggestions as well as helpful instruction on specific challenge areas and plants. We have already begun some of the process of improving our landscape…
Thanks again for helping us out, you made a huge difference.

Karen Sternberg

OMG !
You have brought a beautiful gift to our family! Cannot believe how patiently Noelle listened, then beautifully designed a landscape in the desert suitable for our needs. Equally exceptional was how quickly Matt’s team came in and in two days transformed the backyard so I am able to see the vision; and it’s the same as mine and what I hoped we could achieve.

Debbe G.////

“We are from the Midwest so everything is new to us here. We had a good landscaping service but never felt comfortable with their skills besides mowing grass and trimming bushes. When we noticed that there were serious issues with our beautiful trees we knew we needed help. We contacted Noelle, which turned out to be the turning point for our home and garden. With calm and depth of knowledge, she guided us on correcting issues from watering, pruning and fertilizing. She also connected us with a skilled arborist team to tackle and correct some of the bigger issues that had been overlooked for some time. She is a joy, loves what she is doing and honestly gave us back control and hope for a successful garden here in Arizona.”

Marc SChandler//–//

“THANK YOU so very much for the consultation. You really are awesome – so full of information and efficient. I was looking forward to updating the area before. Now, I’m positively excited and just cannot wait to get underway!!! Thanks again!”

TesPhoenix//–//

“It was so nice to meet you. Your advice was useful and I know will help us create the yard we look forward to. The notes were perfect. Thanks again.”

Karen BSurpris//–//

“I wanted to thank you for the landscape plan. I was looking out the front window at 3 butterflies enjoying some of our flowers. I enjoy looking out at all the pollinators bumping about our various flowers. Without your well laid out plan and guidance, I would have had no idea where to start! Thank you again – we are loving the plan and guidance, the beauty and the habitat we are building!”

LindaRio Verde//–//

“My husband and I bought a house earlier this year. What attracted us to the house was its serene Zen-like desert landscaping, which later we found out Noelle designed. We recently did a basic consultation with Noelle to learn more about the plants and how to maintain them. She is a fountain of knowledge about how to get plants to thrive in our harsh climate. She identified all of the 35 plus plants in the yard and patiently and clearly explained how to water, prune and otherwise care from them. Noelle is also a landscape artist. She had great ideas about plants to add that would develop the yard’s texture and color.”

Deirdre PAhwatukee//–//

“We want to thank you for coming out to meet with us concerning our lack of wisdom on Arizona plants and how to care for them. After meeting with you and all your wonderful information on plantings that will enhance our landscape, we are so excited to start on the project. Thank you for helping us with our trees, we knew they needed help but just did not trust ourselves or a landscaper to do the right thing.”

Lyn & Lynda LPeoria//–//

“I learned so much from you while you were here and now I’m more excited about my garden and its future. I’ve started the work you suggested and now that I know what I’m doing, I’m enjoying it tremendously.”

Miki HBuckeye//–//

“I can’t sing your praises enough! I am so excited about all of your suggestions.”

Linda PPhoenix//–//

“Noelle, thank you for the great information. Your visits and reports were exactly what I hoped for – I now have confidence that I can take care of my yard and plants.”

Meg CTempe//–//
Previous Previous Previous Next Next Next
 

While You’re Waiting….

Because of the tremendous response I’m getting for consultations, (thank you everyone!), I wanted to remind everyone that I have some really helpful classes if you need immediate help!

online-class-desert-gardening-101

DESERT GARDENING 101

LEARN HOW TO CREATE, GROW, AND MAINTAIN A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE IN THE DESERT

Learn More!

Contact Noelle Today

Please reach out to me for information on setting up a landscape consultation.I normally respond in a few hours, but it can take up to 2 business days to get a response. Contact me at info@azplantlady.com  to set up a consultation. I look forward to assisting you!

I promise not to sell or share your email with anyone.

Privacy Policy

az.plant.lady

🌵 Horticulturist + Desert Dweller
🌸 Lover of flowers + BLUE pots
🌿 Helping people create beautiful landscapes
🌞 Phoenix, Arizona

For more information and to purchase my spiral bou For more information and to purchase my spiral bound pruning booklet, or a digital download, check out the link in my bio.🌿🍃✂️
I definitely have this! Do you?😅 I definitely have this! Do you?😅
DIY Drip Irrigation Hack from The Water-Smart Gard DIY Drip Irrigation Hack from The Water-Smart Garden! 🌿⁠
⁠
Got a thirsty plant that needs a little extra water? This easy, low-cost solution uses a recycled water or milk jug to deliver moisture right where it's needed—slowly and efficiently.⁠
⁠
🔥To make:
1. Heat the tip of a nail over a flame.
2. Poke 3–4 small holes in the bottom of the jug.
3. Fill with water and place next to your plant.⁠
⁠
Unlike using a hose, this method delivers water gradually—giving it time to soak deeply into the soil instead of running off. It also helps you control how much water each plant gets.⁠
⁠
Perfect for helping new plantings, veggies, or anything that needs a little extra hydration between irrigation cycles!⁠
⁠
♻️ Bonus: You’re reusing plastic and saving water at the same time.⁠
⁠
📖 Find more simple, water-wise tips like this in my book, The Water-Smart Garden!⁠ Book link is in my bio.
Do you have any areas in your garden with west-fac Do you have any areas in your garden with west-facing exposure? I call this the wall-of-death where it’s hard to keep anything alive.🥀
How many places have you been to?🌵☀️ How many places have you been to?🌵☀️
Landscape No-No ⁠🌾 ⁠ This newly designed la Landscape No-No ⁠🌾
⁠
This newly designed landscape might look nice, but there’s a big problem hiding in plain sight: invasive fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum).⁠
⁠
While it may seem like a harmless ornamental, this grass spreads aggressively by seed and has escaped into the natural desert—where it outcompetes native plants for water and space. I often see it growing unchecked where the desert meets neighborhoods.⁠
⁠
👉 If you want that wispy, grass-like texture in your garden without harming the surrounding ecosystem, choose these non-invasive alternatives:
✔️ Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
✔️ Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens)
✔️ Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum') – sterile and won’t spread⁠
⁠
🌵 Did you guess correctly?
Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating your current landscape, this class will give you practical, water-wise design tips to help you create a beautiful and sustainable outdoor space that thrives in our desert climate. Come learn, ask questions and get inspired!
With the imminent arrival of fall, I can’t wait With the imminent arrival of fall, I can’t wait to get to the nursery to select plants for some empty spots in my landscape.🍂🌼🍁

If you’re like me, you may be thinking of adding plants this fall too. If so, I have some tips for you.

Today’s tip is - Smaller Sizes Can Be Better 🪴

Of course, you will be saving money, but did you know that smaller plants can have an easier time becoming established.

Another bonus is that you don’t have to dig as large a hole! 

Do you prefer purchasing large or small plants?🪴
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