DESERT ROOTS
- The Book -
What's inside Garden Roots?
1. WHERE TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN
Learn the 8 most important rules for choosing the right garden location in the Arizona desert. This chapter covers sun exposure by season, radiant heat dangers, microclimates, shade cloth use, and how to avoid common placement mistakes that kill gardens before they start.
4. GARDEN DESIGNS & EXAMPLE PHOTOS
Visual examples of row gardens, square-foot gardens, and hybrid layouts, with diagrams and real-world photos to help you picture what works best for different yard sizes and shapes.
2. CONTAINER OR IN GROUND?
A clear, side-by-side pros and cons comparison to help you decide whether a container garden or in-ground garden makes the most sense for your yard, budget, rental situation, and long-term goals.
5. WATERING
Watering is one of the biggest failure points in Arizona gardens. This chapter breaks down five desert-appropriate watering systems, explaining what works, what doesn’t, and why—complete with photos, parts lists, brands, and where to buy them.
Watering systems covered include:
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Garden Grid systems
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Soaker hoses
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Poly drip with bubblers
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½” tubing with emitters
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PVC drip systems with drilled holes
3. DESIGN YOUR GARDEN
Before planting anything, learn how to measure, plan, and sketch your garden so you know exactly how many plants you need, how they’ll be spaced, and how watering will work. This chapter prevents overcrowding, wasted money, and unrealistic expectations.
6. TIMERS
Consistent watering is critical in the desert. Learn how and why to use timers, how often to water in extreme heat, and how different garden setups, shade, and microclimates affect watering schedules.
7. WHAT TO PLANT
This section helps you confidently choose what to plant and when, using Arizona-specific charts and tools, including:
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When to plant by season
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Plant spacing guidelines
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Tomato varieties that grow best in Arizona
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A blank planning chart to organize your garden
8. SOIL
Learn how to work with Arizona soil instead of fighting it. This chapter explains:
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When native soil can be used
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How to amend it properly
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Where to find quality bulk compost and soil in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma
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Trusted bagged soil options for raised beds and containers
9. REFERENCE GUIDES
A collection of printable, reusable planning tools, including:
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Companion planting charts
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Quick-reference guides
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How many plants you need per person
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Garden grids for sketching layouts
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An Arizona desert planting calendar for fruits and vegetables