“Killed My Plants,” Avoid Colossal Garden Mistakes In Southern Utah

If you are new to the St. George area and want to grow a garden, you may be surprised how early you need to start and how soon the weather heats up and destroys your plants. There are some really good resources to help you learn to grow in this climate. 

Amazing Resources in Place to Learn About Desert Plants 

The Washington County Water Conservancy District has some amazing resources for how to grow gardens and plants of all kinds in the Southern Utah desert. They have a series of classes that cover everything from gardens to landscapes. 

Not only do they teach the classes, but they have the Gardens at Tonaquint park with all kinds of plants with information on how to grow them. This is over by the All Abilities Park in Green Valley. 

The Red Hills Desert Garden above St. George by Sugarloaf is a beautiful place to visit where you can get ideas on how to landscape your yard. It is well cared for and there is a wealth of information.

Plant Early, Provide Some Shade, and Work the Soil 

The first thing you need to know is when to plant. You can start peas in the fall after Halloween. They will survive the winter and then grow to maturity before the sun destroys them in late May. 

Wait on tomatoes until mid-March after the last freeze. It also helps to provide some shade with a screen or place your garden by a tree or the house that blocks the afternoon sun. When the summer heat comes on, it is hard for garden plants to get by. 

Read More: Plant Copper: Will This Really Make Your Utah Garden Grow?

The soil has a lot of clay, rock, and sand. This means you need to add compost and work the soil. Doing a soil test will help you know what you dirt may need. It is possible to have a nice garden in Southern Utah if you take the time to learn the best practices.