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noelle-johnson-az-plant-ladyNoelle Johnson: AZ PLANT LADY®

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“…and the desert shall rejoice and blossom.” Isaiah 35:1

© 2008-2025
Noelle Johnson
All Rights Reserved.

az.plant.lady

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

How are your plants handling the summer heat? 🌿 How are your plants handling the summer heat? 🌿

I don’t have to tell you that the heat in the desert summer is intense and it can stress your plants. 🥵

Especially plants that have been planted recently or those that show signs of unusual yellowing.

Thankfully, there is a helpful tool you can use that makes it less stressful for plants.

What is it?

It’s shade cloth!

I am using it this summer on some new plants I added in the spring and it’s really helped them deal with their first summer.

Shade cloth comes in different strengths - I recommend 50% shade cloth for shrubs, groundcovers, and vines that may need protection, and 30% for succulents.

You can apply it directly on the plant. I use clothespins to help attach it to leafy plants, or you can use small rocks to anchor it to the ground.

It comes in different colors - in addition to black, there is green, and tan. Any color works just fine.

You can order it online, but local nurseries may also carry it. In the Phoenix area, @summerwindsaz usually has it in stock.

I recommend keeping it on until fall when temps dip down to the 80s. 

Have you used shade cloth before? It’s a game changer for the summer landscape.

#desertheat
#heatwave
#shadecloth
#wateringplants
#arizonagardening
#southwestgardening @summerwindsaz
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I 💚 using white plants in the garden! The colo I 💚 using white plants in the garden!

The color white has a soothing effect and glow as the day wanes.

This white trailing lantana is an excellent example of a groundcover that can create this effect in your garden.

Sometimes, they can be a little hard to find, however I have seen some at my local nursery, not at big box stores. It may be helpful to call ahead to make sure they have some in stock before making a trip.🌿

What white blooming plants do you have in your garden?
I’m in my office enjoying the comfort of air-con I’m in my office enjoying the comfort of air-conditioning on the very hot day.

However, my plants have to endure the heat. 🥵

But, there is one thing I did last night that is helping my plants endure the extra-hot temperatures today.

So, what is it?

It all comes down to water.

When temps are forcast to be over 110 degrees for a few days, I give my trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and vines an extra drink of water the night before.💦

So, last evening, I turned on my drip irrigation system to give them an extra hour of water. 

It’s important not to do this in the daytime when plants are already stressed by the heat and can’t take up water efficiently. 

Do it in the evening.

You don’t have to do this every night - just every 3 to 4 days when temps are extra hot.

How do you help your plants beat the heat? Comment below and share this post to friends who need help getting their plants through hotter than normal temps.

#desertheat
#heatwave
#wateringplants
#irrigating plants
#arizonagardening #azplantlady
I ❤️ tree decor such as bird feeder, birdhouse I ❤️ tree decor such as bird feeder, birdhouses, wind chimes, etc! 

What do you have hanging from yours?
You know you are officially a desert-dweller, whic You know you are officially a desert-dweller, which you get excited when it rains. For garden enthusiasts like me, rain in the forecast won’t slow me down - even when I am out of town. 

During my visit to Memphis as part of The Garden Fling, we dodged rainstorms to visit one of my favorite gardens.

It had a decided Mediterranean theme, which is my favorite style. I think it has a lot to do with growing up in Southern California where that is the prevailing style.

We had to wait inside our bus for the first wave of the forecasted thunderstorms to pass. My garden BFF, Andrea @andrea_whitelygarden and I almost always sit together when we tour gardens and go over our photos of gardens we just visited.

Finally, there was a break in the storm which gave us a good window of time to tour this beautiful garden.

Casa Rosa is the name of this beautiful home and property, which is about an acre in size. Ornamental grasses and coneflowers greeted us as we walked up the driveway.

Yuccas and Russian sage creates a dry garden feel, which is decidedly different from most garden styles of the region.

Coneflowers are a favorite flower of mine and as they don’t grow well in low desert climate, I make a point of enjoying them wherever I see them.

Do you have a favorite design style?

#gbfling2025
#gardendesign
#memphisgardens
@thegardenfling
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