If you think that the desert is all sand and tumbleweeds, think again! The desert is a wonderful place to grow beautiful and colorful plants and flowers. You just have to know which ones and how to do it. These desert gardening books will point you in the right direction.
Western Garden Book
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This Sunset Book is often considered the Bible for gardening in the western U.S. Determine your zone, and the book will walk you through the dos and don'ts of gardening in your region. A must have for anyone with a lawn, flowers or plants.
Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes
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By Judy Mielke. Even if you want to conserve water, you can have wonderful color, fragrance, shade, and lush vegetation of a traditional garden.
The Desert Gardener's Calendar: Your Month-By-Month Guide
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By George Brookbank. No color photos, but it provides a monthly planner and tips for planting and preparation for future months. Ruled lines give the book owner an opportunity to write notes specific to your own garden. A nice companion to "Desert Gardening for Beginners" which is listed below.
A Desert Gardener's Companion
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By Kim Nelson. A week-by-week planner for creating and maintaining a desert garden. Everything from fruit trees to vegetables, to annual color and houseplants.
Gardening in the Desert: A Guide to Plant Selection and Care
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By Mary F. Irish. Lots of diagrams, maps and color photographs. The anecdotal style of the book is pleasant and is designed to help stop the desert gardener from fighting the desert elements and, instead, enjoy them.
Desert Gardening: Fruits and Vegetables
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If you live in a desert that's less than 3,500 feet above sea level (Phoenix and Tucson qualify!) you'll be able to put this how-to manual by George Brookbank to good use. Join the many desert dwellers who enjoy fruit and vegetables from their garden all year long.
The Garden Guy
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By David Owens. Subtitle: Seasonal Guide to Organic Gardening in the Desert Southwest. Written by the well-known gardening guru, the "Garden Guy," David Owens shows the experienced and novice gardener how to grow organic foods in the desert.
Desert Landscaping
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Subtitle: How To Start and Maintain a Healthy Landscape in the Southwest. By George Brookbank. Includes information about soils and how to install appropriate irrigation. This book focuses on how to do it right the first time so you have the least possible maintenance going forward.
Scotts Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard
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Even in the desert, you might want to have a lawn. If so, this book will help you to have a healthier lawn, with fewer weeds, fewer pests and more efficient care. For beginning lawn-ers and experienced lawn owenrs alike!
Edible Landscaping in the Desert Southwest
Edible fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers can decorative in the garden. In Arizona, you can have vegetables all year long in your desert garden.