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

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.

Fee: $650

*Please email info@azplantlady.com to schedule your appointment.

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//–//
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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.

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az.plant.lady

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

Instagram post 18117982240478337 Instagram post 18117982240478337
The goal of this isn’t to water the base of your The goal of this isn’t to water the base of your plants, but rather to wet the foliage.🌿 Do you ever do this in the summer?
Instagram post 17862230019350320 Instagram post 17862230019350320
What is your go-to plant to create privacy?🌿 Th What is your go-to plant to create privacy?🌿 The shrub in this photo is called Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa).
There is always something in bloom when you visit There is always something in bloom when you visit a botanical garden. I always have a great time when I visit one of these garden gems. 

Did you know that your local botanical garden is the BEST place to find the newest plant introductions? It’s true!🌼

So why not be a trendsetter in the landscape in your neighborhood?🌵
Instagram post 17940369168002152 Instagram post 17940369168002152
Looking for a beautiful, bird-friendly tree that t Looking for a beautiful, bird-friendly tree that thrives in the desert? Meet the Texas olive (Cordia boissieri) – one of my favorite Southwest natives!🌳
With its dark green leaves and large, white trumpet-shaped flowers, this small tree brings striking contrast and beauty to the landscape. People often mistake it for oleander, but unlike oleander, Texas olive isn’t toxic and boasts even bigger blooms!
- Evergreen foliage
- Flowers off and on in summer and fall
- Attracts birds with its small olive-like fruit
- Can be grown as a large shrub or shaped into a tree
- Best in full sun or reflected sun
While it does drop some fruit and flowers, making it a bit messy for pool or patio areas, its low-maintenance nature and year-round color make it well worth planting in the right spot.
Plant Information:
Native to: Texas, Mexico
Plant Zone: Hardy to 20 degrees F.
USDA Zone 9.
Exposure: Full to reflected sun
Mature Size: 10-25 feet tall and wide Characteristics: Lush dark green, soft-leathery leaves. White flowers appear in summer and fall. Naturally grows as large shrub but can be
trained into a small tree.
Would you consider this tree for your landscape?
Water - Use It Wisely, is a wonderful resource for Water - Use It Wisely, is a wonderful resource for those living in Arizona.

What time of day do you water garden?🕰️🌿🪻 ##wateruseitwisely #watersmartgarden #azplantlady #smartwatering arizonalandscaping #gardenlife #plantmom #plantlover #zone9b  #landscapedesigner #desertgarden #waterwisegardening #arizonalandscape #diygardening #landscapingtips #desertplant #gardeningtip  #landscapedesign 
#Backyard
#lawnandgarden #outdoorgarden #backyarddreams #backyardliving #outdoorspaces #backyardoasis #outdoorcharm #houseandgarden #outdoorinspiration #outdoorgardendesign #desertgardening
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