DIY Network

The Berrys: Their Plan, Costs and Products From "Garden Sense" episode DGAR-208

Meet the Berry family: Liz and Steve live in Arizona with their three children, Stephanie, Matthew and Lauren. The family likes to play games and travel. Steve, Liz and Matthew are runners.

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They have asked DIY Garden Sense for help with their front yard. They say it lacks a focal point and color and believe the backyard needs some work too. Liz says, "We would love to have a landscaped yard worthy of the fabulous place we call home."

The challenge: Adding a colorful landscape that will thrive in their dry Arizona climate. The Berrys have basic gardening skills but need plants that don't require major maintenance.

Gardening Challenge

Before

After

Required Project Time
The project to brighten this desert landscape took eight hours to complete.

Project Details

• Our plans were designed to make the Berrys' landscaping more interesting and colorful.
  
• We dug up the existing agave that didn't fit well in the front yard and transplanted its pups into another part of the yard.
  
• We treated the transplanted agave leaves with dusting sulfur to prevent Snout Nose Weevils, which can get into the plant and secrete a damaging chemical.
  
• We scraped up the granite to locate the drip system and protect it during planting.
  
• We saved the granite to reuse in the landscape since granite is so expensive.
  
• We added plants that do well in dry conditions but will add color, like Penstemon, Mexican Honeysuckle, Bougainvillea, and Mexican Fencepost.
  
• We also added color by placing plants in containers on the porch.

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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