DIY Network

The Skrtich Family: Their Plan, Costs and Products Meet the family and find out the gardening challenge plan. From "Garden Sense" episode DGAR-410

Host Walter Reeves (right) with the Skrtich family.

Meet Jerry and Carolyn Skrtich and their children Amanda and Natalie. They live in the dry climate of Arizona. They want to add some color and interest to their landscape but aren't sure which plants can withstand the heat and arid climate. They have another challenge as well. Their neighborhood association has strict landscaping guidelines they need to follow.

They want an area where they can sit in the morning and watch sunrise while drinking a cup of coffee or in the afternoon when it's shaded for relaxation. Jerry Skrtich spends most of his free time restoring classic cars but now he wants to focus some attention on his landscape.

Walter Reeves and his DIY Garden Sense team have a plan to help the Skrtich family build a lush area that is an escape from the desert outside their fence.

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Gardening Challenge

Before — long view

Before — close-up

After — long view

After — plants in bloom

Required Project Timeline

The desert landscape project took just one day to complete.

Project Details

Host Walter Reeves had some strict guidelines to follow for this project. First, he needed to consider the strict guidelines of the Skrtich family's homeowners association. He also needed to find plants that thrive in both shade and sun.

The DIY Garden Sense team started by adding color in little pockets around the courtyard. The Bird of Paradise has bright yellow flowers that will come every spring and summer. The orange flowers from the Mexican Honeysuckles will provide almost year-round color and a bold red Bougainvillea draws the eye. They also added Gazania to brighten up the courtyard.

For texture, the team added a lot of southwest favorites such as the Santa-Rita Prickly Pear with its cool purple pads plus six Golden Barrel Cacti plus an Ocotillo.

Gardening by Zip Code If you're looking to start a gardening projectbut don't know your gardening zone—visit the National Gardening Associations's USDA Hardiness Zone Finder. Enter your Zip Code to identify the proper zone.

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