How do i create a garden with plants from various zones and have it work?

OK, i live in phoenix, Arizona and I'm from Salem, Oregon..... i hate living here but honestly my finances say oh well, but i have a small back yard and want to beautify it. my problem is that now i live in a dessert i have to do things that i never had to do before. like for example major pH balancing. my major problem is that I'm good with plants but i never really had to follow the zone rule because i could grow just about anything in Salem. in phoenix........not much and it has been quite a kick in the ego when it comes to my plants. i live in downtown phoenix and have a very small back yard (approx 15' X 25' ) and i want GREEN! i cant build a green house enclosure over the back yard because i unfortunately am limited by a home owner association (which by the way is some thing I've never experienced) but i still want beautiful plants that i used to have. any help would be appreciated and if you need further detail in regards to my plant selection please, just ask. i have many more questions regarding this subject and also with pH balancing because it is something i have never had to do in such a drastic amount. thanks, Cameron.

How do i create a garden with plants from various zones and have it work?
Going to be difficult to reproduce a Salem garden in Phoenix. One can usually fudge a bit with the hardiness zone recommendations, but the Oregon and Arizona climates are significantly different in soils, temperatures, humidity, heat units, and just about everything else.



But you can probably get your green garden using plant species adapted for your new area. Below are some Master Gardener sites in the Phoenix area which can give you ideas, plant recommendations, and sources for further information.



I have my soil tested through the University of Massachusetts, which do it for $13 a sample, are fast, easy, and give great soil conditioning recommendations. See the link below.
Reply:Call Western Organics at 1-800-TOPSOIL or look them up at www.1800TOPSOIL.com. They are very large and very reputable. They can tell you exactly what to do and how to do it and they can sell you the stuff too. My cousin actually moved out there and was in the same predicament as you. He used these guys and was very satisfied.

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